The American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society, recently launched a new web-based resource to enhance understanding and communication of the science underpinning global climate change.
The project, more than a year in development, was one of the major initiatives that Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D., ACS president, put forth for his year in office. Shakhashiri, the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, described the toolkit as a unique resource, with a sharp focus on the scientific concepts that determine Earth’s climate.
“The ACS Climate Science Toolkit fills a need for education, and equips scientists with the information and other resources necessary to develop a robust intellectual structure to communicate on this key topic,” said Shakhashiri. “Climate change affects everyone and everything on Earth, and ranks as one of the greatest global challenges of the early 21st century.”
Shakhashiri explained that the ACS is among the major scientific organizations with position statements acknowledging the reality of climate change and recommending action. The ACS policy statement mentions that people need a basic understanding of climate science in order to make informed personal decisions. And it describes climate change education for the public as “essential.” Not explicit in the statement, however, is the responsibility of individual ACS members to take active roles in this education process as both scientists and citizens.
“Scientist-citizens must use their expertise and credibility as scientists―as the ACS Mission Statement expresses so eloquently―‘…for the benefit of Earth and its people,’” Shakhashiri added. “Recruiting individual scientists to take on this responsibility requires encouragement and exhortation. It also requires providing convenient access to reliable tools for doing so.”
The ACS Climate Science Toolkit discusses greenhouse gases (GHSs), how the Earth’s heating mechanism works, how the vibrational energy from molecules changes into translational kinetic energy and much more. The toolkit also provides a package of “Climate Science Narratives” that can be adapted and personalized when scientists have the opportunity to speak about climate science to other audiences. Those may include students, schoolteachers, college and university faculty, industrial scientists and business leaders, civic and religious groups, professional science and educational organizations, and elected public officials at all levels and in all branches of government.
Work on the toolkit began in 2011, when Shakhashiri formed the ACS Presidential Working Group on Climate Science, a panel of distinguished scientists and science communicators chaired by physical chemist and science educator Jerry A. Bell, Ph.D. The panel worked on two tasks. One was to develop a toolkit that ACS members and others could use for self-education on climate science, to understand the fundamental chemical and physical processes that determine Earth’s climate. The second was an ongoing task of developing strategies for using the toolkit in communicating about climate change to other audiences.
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Research, Response for Future Oil Spills: Lessons Learned from Deepwater Horizon
A special collection of articles about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill provides the first comprehensive analysis and synthesis of the science used in the unprecedented response effort by the government, academia, and industry. Papers present a behind-the-scenes look at the extensive scientific and engineering effort—teams, data, information, and advice from within and outside the government—assembled to respond to the disaster. And, with the benefit of hindsight and additional analyses, these papers evaluate the accuracy of the information that was used in real-time to inform the response team and the public.
For the most part, information presented publically during the spill was accurate. Oil was rapidly consumed by bacteria, seafood was not contaminated by hydrocarbons or dispersants, and the oil budget was, by and large, accurate. The only part of the oil budget that was later found to be inaccurate was the fraction of oil that was chemically dispersed versus naturally dispersed. That information had no impact on public safety, seafood safety, or the response effort, but understanding the amount of oil that was dispersed chemically vs. naturally is important for future such efforts.
One of the most controversial issues concerned the rate at which hydrocarbons were spewing forth from the damaged well. The lengthy time it took for the scientific team to determine the flow rate led to considerable speculation that the government was withholding information. In reality, as described by the papers, the government/academic team charged with determining flow rate took the time they needed to get it right. The accuracy of the flow rates improved with time as more and better in situ data were acquired and more independent methods reported results.
Valuable lessons were learned, with preparation and knowledge being two key elements needed to respond to disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, one of the worst environmental emergencies in the history of the US and one that also took the lives of 11 oil rig workers.
Two overview papers and 13 specialty papers constitute a special section of the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Of the 15 papers, three are newly published: two introductory papers and one specialty paper provide an inside look at the scientific and engineering aspects of stopping the flow of oil, guaranteeing the integrity of the well once it was shut in, estimating the amount of oil spilled, capturing and recovering oil, tracking and forecasting surface oil, protecting coastal and oceanic wildlife and habitat, managing fisheries and protecting the safety of seafood. The papers describe the process underway to determine the impact of the spill on the natural resources and ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico, but because those analyses are not completed, no conclusions are presented. The remaining 12 papers have been previously published online.
“While the federal family was well versed in oil response and remediation, and we brought many resources to bear, the scale and complexity of Deepwater Horizon taxed our organizations in unprecedented ways,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We learned much during this extraordinary disaster and we hope the lessons learned will be implemented before and used during any future events.”
In one of the papers—“Science in support of the Deepwater Horizon response”—lead author Lubchenco and her co-authors suggest future oil spill response preparedness include:
- Gather adequate environmental baselines for all regions at risk
- Develop new technologies for rapid precise reconnaissance and sampling to support a timely and robust response effort
- Fill large information gaps regarding biological effects of oil, changing climate, and other simultaneous drivers of variability in coastal and aquatic ecosystems
- Require future oil extraction permits be conditional on having mechanisms in place to rapidly assess flow rate
- Conduct research on the impacts of dispersants and dispersants-plus-oil on a wide range of species and life stages
Another paper—"Application of science and engineering to quantify and control the Deepwater Horizon oil spill” —describes the unprecedented collaboration among government, academic, and industry scientists and engineers. Lead author Marcia McNutt, Ph.D., director of the USGS, explains how scientific and engineering information was crucial to guide decision-making for questions never before encountered, especially during the tense hours after the well was capped, but might still be leaking underground.
"Although we all hope 'Never again!' will there be an oil spill like the Deepwater Horizon, there will always be some risk as we move into deeper water and more difficult environments in our quest for the planet's remaining fossil fuels," said McNutt. "A significant drawback in addressing many of the issues we confronted in Deepwater Horizon was the lack of peer-reviewed scientific publications from prior marine-well blowouts to help guide our actions; we will not make that mistake again by neglecting to publish for posterity the scientific lessons from this tragedy."
The event also showed the value of federal partnerships with academic institutions.
“The coordination within and across agencies was impressive, but so too was the engagement of academic scientists in a joint effort to respond to the disaster” said Steve Murawski, a co-author on both introductory papers, chief scientist at NOAA Fisheries during the response effort and now a professor at the University of South Florida. “Through these partnerships, new scientific discoveries were made such as estimating flow rate from atmospheric measurements, testing for dispersant in seafood, understanding the behavior of the loop current, and discovering novel microbial communities in the Gulf.”
A final paper—“Scientific basis for safely shutting in the Macondo well after the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout”—further points to the unprecedented level of coordination among scientists, engineers, and emergency response officials in the public and private sectors. In this paper, scientists describe the geological hazards of shutting in the well and the conditions under which this could safely and successfully be done.
“Without this level of cooperation and round-the-clock engagement by people from many disciplines, it would not have been possible to carry out the continual scientific analyses needed to ensure the well was not leaking below the sea floor once the capping stack was closed,” explained lead author Steve Hickman, USGS research geologist. “For the government scientists onsite at BP headquarters, rapid acquisition and analysis of critical data sets and open exchange of ideas and possible outcomes was essential to ensuring the well had enough integrity to remain safely shut in until it was killed and sealed with cement.”
US and Local Governments Achieve $50 Million Settlement to Address Contamination at Superfund Site
The US has entered into two settlements worth more than $50 million to clean up contamination from the B.F. Goodrich Superfund Site in San Bernardino County. There are a dozen settling parties including Emhart Industries (Emhart), and Pyro Spectaculars, Inc. (PSI), as well as the Cities of Rialto and Colton and County of San Bernardino, California.
The Superfund site has been used to store, test, and manufacture fireworks, munitions, rocket motors, and pyrotechnics and was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List in September 2009. The area’s groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchlorate, which have resulted in the closure of public drinking water supply wells in the communities of Rialto and Colton.
“After decades of harmful groundwater contamination and following protracted and costly litigation, the parties responsible for releases of TCE and perchlorate at the BF Goodrich Superfund Site have agreed to a comprehensive long-term plan to cleanup the contaminated groundwater at the Site,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The commitment made under the consent decrees announced recently will provide immeasurable benefits to the environment and the communities who live in Rialto and Colton, California.”
“For decades, the defendants have been polluting this critical source of drinking water with both perchlorate and industrial solvents,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Today's historic settlement ensures that the impacted communities in Southern California will finally have their drinking water sources restored.”
Under one agreement, Emhart will perform the first portion of the cleanup, which is estimated to cost $43 million over the next 30 years to design, build, and operate groundwater wells, treatment systems, and other equipment needed to clean up the contaminated groundwater at the site. A significant portion of these funds will come from other settling parties, including the Department of Defense. The Cities of Rialto and Colton will receive $8 million.
The Emhart settlement includes the following entities: Emhart Industries, Inc., Black & Decker Inc., American Promotional Events, Inc., the Department of Defense, the Ensign-Bickford Company, Raytheon, Whittaker Corporation, Broco, Inc., and J. S. Brower & Associates, Inc. and related companies, as well as the Cities of Rialto and Colton and the County of San Bernardino.
As part of the second agreement, six entities, including PSI and its former subsidiary, will pay a combined $4.3 million to the EPA toward cleanup at the site and $1.3 million to the cities of Rialto and Colton and San Bernardino County. The entities involved in this settlement are Pyro Spectaculars Inc. (PSI); Astro Pyrotechnics (a defunct subsidiary of PSI); Trojan Fireworks; Thomas O. Peters and related trusts; and Stonehurst Site, LLC.
EPA used government funds to pay for investigation and cleanup work at the site while investigating potentially responsible parties for their role in the contamination. The United States, on behalf of EPA, sued Emhart and PSI, as well as the Goodrich Corporation, the estate of Harry Hescox and its representative, Wong Chung Ming, Ken Thompson, Inc., and Rialto Concrete Products, in 2010 and 2011 to require cleanup and recover federal money spent at the site. Prior to EPA’s lawsuit, the cities of Rialto and Colton initiated litigation against many of the settling parties, including the Department of Defense, in 2004.
A company acquired by Emhart manufactured flares and other pyrotechnics at the Site for the military in the 1950s. PSI has operated at the Site since 1979, designing fireworks shows produced throughout the United States.
TCE is an industrial cleaning solvent. Drinking or breathing high levels may cause damage to the nervous system, liver, and lungs. Perchlorate is an ingredient in many flares and fireworks, and in rocket propellant, and may disrupt the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones needed for normal growth and development.
The consent decree for the Emhart settlement ("City of Colton v. American Promotional Events, Inc., et al.") will be lodged with the federal district court by the US Department of Justice and is subject to a comment period and final court approval. The PSI settlement is also subject to court approval.
Work to Begin at Admiral Home Appliances Superfund Alternative Site in Williston
EPA recently announced that work is scheduled to start and finish during December 2012 on a portion of the remedy at the Admiral Home Appliances Superfund Alternative Site in Williston, South Carolina.
The work involves excavation and offsite disposal of contaminated soil from the former equalization lagoon located under a small portion of the parking lot at the main plant building. The soil will be disposed of in a permitted landfill. EPA anticipates that the work will be completed within 2–3 weeks.
The responsible party for this portion of the remedy, Whirlpool Corporation, will perform the work with oversight by EPA and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Other portions of the remedy are currently in the design phase and include: a pilot test to treat low levels of solvents in groundwater under the building and the removal of metals contaminated sediment in the Imhoff wetland area at the Site. Work on the remaining portions of the remedy is expected to begin during 2013.
Manufacturing operations at the Site began in 1966 with the production of freezers and refrigerators. Later operations switched to the production of vending machines, which continues today.
The site is not listed on the National Priorities List (NPL), but is considered to be an NPL-caliber site and is being addressed through the Superfund Alternative Approach. This approach uses the same investigation and cleanup process and standards that are used for sites listed on the NPL.
EPA Proposes New NPDES Permits for Agana and Northern District Sewage Treatment Plants
EPA issued a notice of proposed action under the Clean Water Act to reissue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits to the Guam Waterworks Authority for the Northern District and Agana Sewage Treatment Plants.
The proposed permits will require the plants to upgrade to full secondary treatment and establish wastewater quality levels consistent with secondary treatment requirements. GWA will need to comply with effluent limitations for bacteria based on protecting Guam's beaches, and establish additional controls to reduce sewage spills from the improper management of fats, oils, and grease.
"GWA is currently under a schedule to make significant improvements to their drinking and wastewater infrastructure," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "These new permits underscore EPA’s commitment to improve water quality for the protection of Guam’s ocean waters."
The Clean Water Act generally requires municipal wastewater treatment plants to use both primary and secondary treatment. The act does allow for variances from secondary treatment for marine discharges, provided the plant meets primary treatment requirements, water quality standards, and other specific criteria. On September 20, 2009, EPA issued final decisions to deny GWA’s application for variances. The EPA concluded discharges from the two plants no longer qualify because the treated wastewater exceeds Guam's ocean water quality standards for bacteria, designed to protect recreational activities such as swimming and fishing. Additionally, neither plant has met the minimum standards for primary treatment, which require 30% removal of total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand.
Primary treatment generally involves screening out large objects such as rags and sticks, removing grit, such as cinders, sand, and small stones, and allowing wastewater to settle, followed by the removal of collected solids. When secondary treatment is used, primary-treated wastewater flows into another facility where a large portion of the organic matter in the wastewater is removed by treating the sewage with bacteria. There are a variety of different biological treatment techniques that allow the bacteria to consume most of the waste’s organic matter.
The proposed permits, fact sheets, and background information are available on EPA's website for review and comment. EPA will consider all comments received on the proposed permit.
EPA Will Remove 1,100 Tons of Perchlorate-Contaminated Soil in Barstow
EPA this week will begin excavating areas of perchlorate-contaminated soil on and around a residential property on Poplar Street in Barstow, California. The residence had been occupied by the former owner of Mojave Pyrotechnics, Inc., a defunct pyrotechnics manufacturing company that operated in the 1980’s.
EPA will remove approximately 1100 tons of contaminated soil, down three feet into the ground—the equivalent of 50 truckloads. The soil will be disposed of at the US Ecology landfill. The excavated areas will be capped with a layer of plastic and then backfilled with clean soil. Removal action may take up to three weeks to complete.
EPA has collected a total of 340 soil samples from 70 locations to determine the areas of contamination. Data from these samples shows two areas, the garden and trash pile areas, within the northwestern parcel of the site with perchlorate levels in the soil that exceed the EPA’s Regional Screening Levels of 55 mg/kg. Because these areas with elevated levels are readily accessible to on-site residents, future workers, and the casual trespasser and are a potential source of further groundwater contamination, the agency determined that the contaminated soil needed to be removed to ensure the protection of public health.
The EPA is working closely with the Regional Water Quality Control Board on its work in Barstow. The Water Board is the lead agency on the ongoing groundwater investigation associated with this site that began in 2010.
Glass Container Manufacturer Agrees to Install Pollution Controls and Pay Fine to Settle Clean Air Act Violations
EPA and the Department of Justice recently announced that Ohio-based Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc., the nation’s largest glass container manufacturer, has agreed to install pollution control equipment to reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM) by nearly 2,500 tons per year and pay a $1.45 million penalty to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations at five of the company’s manufacturing plants.
"The pollution controls required by today’s settlement will significantly reduce emissions that can impact residents’ health and local environment in communities located near glass manufacturing plants,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “These new pollution controls will improve air quality and protect communities from Georgia to Texas from emissions that can lead to respiratory illnesses, smog, and acid rain.”
“This agreement will significantly reduce the amount of air pollution, known to cause a variety of environmental and health problems, from the nation’s largest manufacturer of glass containers,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. “The settlement, the latest in a series of agreements with the glass manufacturing sector, addresses major sources of pollution at facilities located in four states and will mean cleaner air for the people living in those communities.”
The pollution controls required as part of the settlement to reduce NOx, SO2, and PM will cost an estimated cost of $37.5 million. Owens-Brockway will also spend an additional $200,000 to mitigate excess emissions at its plant in Atlanta by working with the Georgia Retrofit Program to retrofit diesel school buses and fleet vehicles with controls to reduce emissions, or it will assist with the purchase of new natural gas, propane, or hybrid vehicles.
Reducing air pollution from the largest sources of emissions, including glass manufacturing plants, is one of the EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives for 2011–2013. This is the fourth settlement in EPA’s National Glass Manufacturing Plant Initiative.
NOx, SO2, and PM, three key pollutants emitted from glass plants, have numerous adverse effects on human health and the environment. NOx and SO2 contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog, acid rain, and the destruction of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. NOx and SO2 can also irritate the lungs and aggravate of pre-existing heart or lung conditions. PM contains microscopic particles that can travel deep into the lungs and cause difficulty breathing, coughing, decreased lung function, and even death.
The facilities covered by the settlement are located in Atlanta, Georgia; Clarion, Pennsylvania; Crenshaw, Pennsylvania; Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Waco, Texas.
Printing Company and EPA Reach Settlement for Alleged Clean Air Violations
Suddekor, Inc., which is owned by a German company, is an international manufacturer of d?cor printed papers in Agawam, Massachusetts. At its Agawam facility, paper is printed with inks containing hazardous air pollutants. The printed paper is used in the manufacture of counter tops and furniture.
EPA determined that the facility had the potential to emit sufficient pollutants to be subject to the Clean Air Act National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Printing and Publishing Facilities and to require a Title V operating permit under the Clean Air Act.
Hazardous air pollutants can pose serious risks to the public, and it is critical that manufacturers comply with environmental laws and regulations to minimize pollution and potential risks to people from exposure to chemicals.
Suddekor has now submitted the notifications and reports required by federal regulations for printing and publishing facilities. The company has also outlined how it will comply in the future and has applied for the required Title V operating permit. The facility has also been able to reduce its hazardous air pollutant emissions over time through use of more environmentally friendly inks.
The EPA action grew out of a joint EPA and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection inspection of the facility in April 2011.
Glass Recycling Company Pays Fine for Clean Water Act Violations
Strategic Materials, Inc., has agreed to pay a penalty of $159,750 to settle EPA’s claims that it violated the federal Clean Water Act by allowing polluted storm water from its Franklin, Massachusetts, facility to flow into nearby waters. Strategic Materials, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, operates the glass recycling facility, which is located at the edge of wetlands abutting Mine Brook, a tributary of the Charles River.
EPA alleged that Strategic Materials initially failed to obtain permit coverage for its storm water discharges and failed to prepare a storm water pollution prevention plan. EPA also alleged that once Strategic Materials obtained permit coverage, it discharged stormwater from the facility in violation of various terms and conditions of EPA’s “Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity.”
Since the inspection, Strategic Materials has come into compliance with the federal law. The company revised its storm water pollution prevention plan, improved the design and implementation of control measures that minimize pollutant discharges, and began regularly performing the required facility inspections and outfall assessments.
The Clean Water Act requires industrial facilities, such as recycling facilities, to have controls in place to minimize pollutants from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. Each site must have a stormwater pollution prevention plan that sets guidelines and best management practices that the company will follow to prevent runoff from being contaminated by pollutants.
Without on-site controls, runoff from recycling facilities can flow directly to the nearest waterway and can cause water quality impairments such as siltation of wetlands and rivers, beach closings, fishing restrictions, and habitat degradation. As stormwater flows over these sites, it can pick up pollutants, including sediment and other debris, which can inhibit the receiving streams use.
Deadline Looms for California Trucks and Buses
The Air Resources Board is reminding truck and bus owners to check now to see if their vehicle fleets are among those that will have new rules to follow as of January 1, 2013.
As the new year begins, heavy duty trucks and buses (more than 26,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating) with 2000–2004 model year engines will likely need diesel soot filters as required by the state’s Truck and Bus Regulation. The rule is part of California’s Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, which includes a suite of regulations designed to reduce harmful diesel emissions from a wide variety of sources. In 2011, similar requirements took effect for 1996–1999 model year engines.
There are exceptions (low-mileage or emergency vehicles, etc.), however, the majority of registered trucks and buses in this vehicle category will need to take steps to comply with the regulation.
“Our efforts to reach out to the trucking industry have yielded positive results,” said ARB’s Enforcement Division Chief James Ryden. “We have enforcement and compliance assistance teams all over the state who regularly inspect vehicles and educate owners, and recently, we’ve been pleased to note a compliance rate of more than 80%.” Ryden specifically cited “Gear Up for Clean Truck Month” in August 2012, where teams of ARB and California Highway Patrol officers stepped up enforcement efforts and inspected more than 4,000 trucks at 40 different locations, including CHP weigh stations, random roadside areas, distribution centers, fleet facilities, truck stops, and other sites where trucks and buses are present.
Business owners should note that non-compliant vehicles (including out-of-state vehicles) may not be legally operated in California. Penalties start at a minimum of $1,000 per violation per month and will increase significantly over time. In addition, non-compliance can result in a Department of Motor Vehicle registration block on your truck or bus, and/or having your vehicle impounded by CHP until it is in compliance. For more information on possible penalties, see the “Enforcement” link at Truck Stop/Enforcement.
Other new diesel-related rules besides the Truck and Bus Regulation will be enforced starting January 1, 2013.
Board of Public Works Approves Grants for Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay
The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $8 million in grants recently to reduce pollution and improve water quality by upgrading wastewater treatment plants. The Board is composed of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown represented Governor O’Malley at the recent meeting.
“Projects such as these are an important part of our effort to improve Maryland waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay,” said Lieutenant Governor Brown. “These projects reduce pollution and protect the environment and public health while creating jobs for more Marylanders.”
The following projects were approved:
Emmitsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade—Frederick County
A $5,096,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $341,456 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant to the Town of Emmitsburg, in addition to a previous $485,000 Bay Restoration fund grant, will help fund the planning, design and construction of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) refinements and an Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrade at the existing 0.75 million gallons per day Emmitsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 63% and its phosphorus discharge by 85%, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged into the Upper Monocacy River, the Potomac River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Gas House Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade—Frederick County
A $700,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $500,000 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant to the City of Frederick, in addition to a previous $758,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant, will help fund the design and construction of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) refinements and an Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrade at the existing 8 million gallons per day Gas House Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 67% and its phosphorus discharge by 85%, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged into the Monocacy River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade—Washington, D.C.
A $1 million Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, in addition to a previous $106 million Bay Restoration Fund grant, will help fund the planning, design and construction of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrades at the existing 370 million gallons per day Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Blue Plains is the largest advanced wastewater treatment plant in the world. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 83%, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged into the Potomac River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Winebrenner Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade—Washington County
A $250,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $100,000 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant to Washington County, in addition to a previous $100,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant, will help fund the planning, design and construction of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrades at the existing 0.60 million gallons per day Winebrenner Wastewater Treatment Plant. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 83% and its phosphorus discharge by 90%, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged into the Antietam River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Smith Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade—Somerset County
A $30,000 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant to Somerset County will help fund planning to upgrade the Tylerton and Ewell-Rhodes Point Wastewater Treatment Plants at Smith Island. The planning phase includes engineering evaluations of various alternatives to determine the most appropriate and cost effective upgrades.
Talbot County Building Supplies Company and Owner Plead Guilty to Multiple Environmental Violations
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced recently that Purnell A. Shortall and his Talbot County business, Shortall Building Supplies and Hardware, Inc., pleaded guilty to multiple criminal counts of improper solid waste disposal. Mr. Shortall pleaded guilty to conducting open fire burning and maintaining an illegal open dump. The corporation pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal open dumping on the business property at 11523 Cordova Road in Cordova. Dorchester County Circuit Court Judge Brett W. Wilson fined the defendant corporation $10,000 with $5,000 suspended and five years probation. Mr. Shortall was given a six-month suspended sentence, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, a $15,000 fine with all but $4,000 suspended and five years probation.
"This is a case of blatant disregard for the law and the health of neighboring families," said Attorney General Gansler. "This office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who put the health and property values of Marylanders at risk."
During the probationary period both defendants are required to cooperate with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) regarding assessment of the substances on the property and clean up according to the Department's instructions. All fines will be paid to the Maryland Clean Air Fund and the Sediment Control Fund.
On-going inspections of the business site of Shortall Building Supplies and Hardware, Inc., had been regularly conducted by MDE. Despite repeated instructions to clean up the site and discontinue open dumping on the property, Shortall continued to accumulate materials on the property. In May 2009, an inspector found continued extensive dumping along the tree line and behind buildings on the property.
Located in the large piles of debris were items such as construction and demolition building materials of all types, including wood, carpet, and roofing materials. Also located on site were metals of various types, such as box spring mattress remnants, barrels, tanks, and burned tires. On a subsequent visit in December 2010, inspectors found that the solid waste still remained and active burning was taking place at the site. Dark smoke and odors were released from the pile, which included vinyl chairs, metal bands, and construction materials. Because of the repeated failure to comply with Maryland regulations of which Shortall was aware, MDE referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Unit.
Concerns about unauthorized open burning of this nature are significant because toxic and dangerous chemicals(hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, dioxin, heavy metals) are released into the environment and can cause sometimes very significant health problems (damage to lungs, nervous system, kidneys and liver) and aggravate existing diseases and conditions(cancer, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema). Illegal open dumps can be a source of rodent and insect infestation that can cause severe illnesses in people. There is significant concern, especially in rural areas, that runoff from illegal dumps can contaminate wells and ground water in the area. Illegal dumps are also a danger because they are susceptible to creating flooding issues as well as fires.
In making the announcement, Attorney General Gansler thanked Michelle Barnes, Chief of the OAG Environmental Crimes Unit and Bill Schmidt, an Investigator with the Office of the Attorney General, for their work on the case. This case was handled in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment.
DEP, Waste Management Come to Terms on Butler County Landfill Issues
The Department of Environmental Protection recently signed a consent order and agreement with Waste Management Disposal Services of Pennsylvania, Inc., that requires the company to pay a $290,000 civil penalty and correct numerous violations at its Northwest Sanitary Landfill in Clay Township, Butler County.
“Our inspectors found multiple recurring violations at the landfill,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “The owners repeatedly failed to address and correct problems and deficiencies that staff discovered. As a result, we have entered into a Consent Order and Agreement that imposes fines for the violations and sets forth plans and monitoring requirements to ensure future compliance.”
DEP inspections identified repeated violations of Northwest Landfill’s operating permit and odor control plan, as well as issues with daily and intermediate cover on disturbed areas, landfill gases, equipment maintenance, and personnel training.
On several occasions, staff observed significant violations involving handling and storage of liquid wastewater, or leachate. The company failed to adequately collect and contain leachate in approved disposal areas, as is required by the Solid Waste Management Act and other regulations.
DEP worked with Waste Management to develop a consent order and agreement that requires the company to take major corrective actions, including air monitoring for hydrogen sulfide gas; implementing a revised Landfill Odor Control Plan; and covering exposed areas of the landfill that inspectors have identified as needing cover. Additionally, the company must submit to DEP monthly progress reports that list corrective actions completed in the preceding month; conduct training for all landfill employees in waste handling activities; and repair or replace leachate tanks.
Shreveport Wastewater General Manager and Former Owner Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Discharging Pollutants into the Red River
John Tuma, 55, of Centerville, Texas, was sentenced following his March 21, 2012, trial conviction by a federal jury for discharging untreated wastewater directly into the Red River without a permit, discharging untreated wastewater into the city of Shreveport sewer system in violation of its permit and obstructing an EPA inspection, announced Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and US Attorney Stephanie A. Finley of the Western District of Louisiana. US District Judge Tom Stagg sentenced John Tuma to a 60-month prison sentence, three years of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.
John Tuma, who was both general manager and the former owner of Arkla Disposal Services Inc., was charged in a five-count indictment with violations of the Clean Water Act, conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to illegal discharges coming from the Arkla Disposal Services Inc., a facility in Shreveport. The Arkla facility, located at 10845 Highway 1 South in Shreveport, was a centralized wastewater treatment facility that received wastewater from industrial processes and oilfield exploration and production facilities. Arkla contracted to treat the wastewater through a multi-step treatment process and then discharge the treated wastewater to either the City of Shreveport publicly owned treatment works or the Red River.
St. Landry Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crimes, Gets Jail Time
Monday, Joseph L. Jones, 58, of St. Landry Parish, in Louisiana pled guilty to 11 felony charges involving criminal violations of Plaisance Development Corporation’s water discharge permits in St. Landry Parish. Jones was the president of Plaisance Development Corporation, which operated six wastewater treatment plants in St. Landry Parish as well as six wastewater treatment plants in Evangeline Parish. Jones was charged with knowingly violating the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit by exceeding discharge limitations and not providing monitoring results for the facilities operated in St. Landry Parish.
Jones was sentenced to 18 months in jail to run concurrently with a previous sentence he received on multiple violations in Evangeline Parish, restitution of $5115.00 to be paid to DEQ and five years supervised probation upon his release from jail. Jones is prohibited from working with wastewater treatment operations again. Jones was arrested on July 22, 2010, on these charges.
Plaisance Development Corporation pled guilty to 18 felony charges and was fined $90,000.
”The integrity of the waters of the state and the health of our citizens and environment are part of DEQ’s mission and responsibility,” said DEQ Secretary Peggy Hatch. “Every Louisiana citizen should take personal pride in maintaining and preserving our unique natural environment for today as well as for future generations.”
DEQ Nonpoint Source Management Plan Receives EPA Approval
The Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 has approved DEQ’s Five year Nonpoint Source Management Plan. The plan identifies water goals and annual milestones to fully or partially restore 40 nonpoint source impaired water bodies by October 2016. The impaired water bodies would be restored for their designated uses for contact recreation and fish and wildlife propagation. The balanced approach to cleaning up the more than 25% of the state’s impaired water bodies includes targeted monitoring, watershed planning, and statewide initiatives.
Governor Jindal submitted the NPS Source Management Plan for approval in early October as required by the Clean Water Act and EPA responded that they appreciated the combined efforts of DEQ and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in preparing the plan that is consistent with the requirements.
Ron Curry, EPA Region 6 Administrator, wrote “The commitments and goals outlined in this plan will not easily be implemented, but I am confident the path to restoring water quality will be successful with the dedication and partnership of federal, state and local governments.”
“DEQ’s commitment to cleaning up the state waters is reflected in the hard work that went into this plan,” said DEQ Secretary Peggy Hatch. “The partnership between our staff and those of the LDAF, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Unit, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and many other federal and state agencies and conversationalists, will provide an immense benefit to the quality of life for the citizens of Louisiana.”
Sacramento County Sanitation District Directed to Upgrade Sewage Treatment
Recently, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) directed the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (District) to comply with requirements to treat wastewater discharged into the Sacramento River for pathogens detrimental to human health and pollutants that harm aquatic life as far as 30 miles downstream.
The State Water Board order for Water Quality Petitions A-2144(a) and A-2144(b) (Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant) essentially upholds a Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board) Permit issued two years ago for the 30-year-old wastewater treatment plant.
That permit, issued by the Central Valley Water Board in December 2010, required the District to upgrade its sewage treatment plant to provide not only tertiary treatment for advanced removal of pollutants, but also to treat for ammonia and nitrates, which are nutrients that in large quantities are harmful to aquatic life. That permit was appealed by the District and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA). This State Water Board action dismisses most of the contentions raised by the District and CSPA. In its order, the State Water Board adjusted calculations (due to a calculation error), amending the final effluent limitations for ammonia.
Tertiary treatment is an advanced level of wastewater treatment. In this case, it would enhance coagulation and filter the wastewater to remove total organic carbon, suspended solids, oxygen-demanding compounds, metals, and pathogens.
At this time, the plant provides a secondary level treatment. The Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is the only remaining large wastewater treatment plant within the Central Valley Water Board’s jurisdiction discharging to the Delta, which does not provide tertiary treatment and significant nutrient reduction.
The State Water Board order concludes that a significant portion of pathogens present in the Sacramento River immediately downstream from the District’s point of discharge are of human origin and originate from the District’s discharge due to its current treatment methods.
The Central Valley Water Board found that the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant contributes approximately 99% of the ammonia entering the Delta. Excessive ammonia deteriorates the environment and is toxic to some forms of aquatic life. In some cases, the effect on aquatic life is measurable up to 30 miles downstream from the existing facility.
The State Water Board has reassessed some assumptions made by the Central Valley Water Board related to nitrates. Rather than remand the permit back to the Central Valley Water Board, the order upholds the permit’s effluent limitation for environmental protection and gives the District a clear idea of what standard to meet to assist in the protection of the San Francisco Bay-Delta ecosystem.
The permit grants the District up to ten years before some of the final effluent limitations take effect.
To see a copy of the proposed order the State Water Board acted on, please visit:
Air Board Honorees Set the Bar for Healthier Air
The California Air Resources Board announced the 2012 winners of the Haagen-Smit Air Awards, the premier state-government award recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving air quality.
“This year’s recipients reflect the ideals and dedication that have helped make California a pioneer in cleaning up air pollution,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “They’ve driven public policy with their innovative ideas, and educated our communities on the importance of air quality. All three have achieved sustained results through excellence in engaging with the general public, stakeholders and experts to make significant contributions to cleaner air and a healthier California.”
The 2012 recipients are:
Mr. Tom Cackette – for his work in the area of environmental policy. Mr. Cackette has been with the ARB since 1982, and serves as its Chief Deputy Executive Officer, managing several of ARB’s key programs. Prior to coming to ARB, Mr. Cackette served as a legislative lobbyist for ARB and worked eight years for the US EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emissions Laboratory in a variety of technical, management, and policy positions. He holds a Master’s of Science degree in Engineering. Mr. Cackette is most notably recognized for his guidance and perseverance in mobile source control regulations for the ARB, many of which have influenced national and international policies. These include Low-Emission Vehicle and Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations, as well as establishing heavy-duty vehicle standards with diesel manufacturers that dramatically reduced pollutants. Mr. Cackette was instrumental in establishing groundbreaking funding incentives to assist in the development and success of these regulations and standards geared to clean air vehicle technologies that continue California’s tradition of trailblazing clean transportation policies. His accomplishments have transcended geographical boundaries and his leadership and vision are embedded in the countries and continents where clean transportation policies carry California’s imprint. Though he is retiring from ARB this year, his work and passion to clean up air pollution from vehicles and improve California’s air quality will be a long-standing legacy.
Ms. Andrea M. Hricko – for her work in the area of public education. Ms. Hricko is a Professor of Clinical Prevention Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, as well as the Director of the Community Outreach and Education Program of the Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (a partnership between USC and UCLA.) Ms. Hricko also directs the Community outreach and Translation Core of the USC/UCLA Children’s Environmental Health Center. She has a Masters of Public Health from the University of North Carolina and has spent more than 40 years in the public health field. Her professional experience includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. She is a contributing author for the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and an Emmy Award winning writer/producer of consumer and environmental stories for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. Her current work involves environmental justice topics surrounding public health impacts from goods movement in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Ms. Hricko serves on the US EPA National Environmental Justice Committee’s Working Group on Ports and Goods Movement, the Governor of California’s Cabinet-Level Goods Movement Action Plan Integrating Work Group and the Southern California Association of Governments’ Goods Movement Task Force. She is also the founder of “The Impact Project” a nationwide community academic partnership focused on reducing the health impacts of international trade. Ms. Hricko is an inspiration for empowering community-based organizations to educate their communities and local policymakers about health effects of air pollution and how to advocate for cleaner air and better land use decision making.
Dr. Ronald O. Loveridge – for his work in the area of environmental policy. Dr. Loveridge has served on the Air Resources Board for eight years. He has been the Mayor of Riverside since 1994 and has served on the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board since 1995. Before becoming Mayor, Dr. Loveridge was a member of the Riverside City Council from 1979 to 1994. He is also an Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of California Riverside, where he has taught since 1965. Dr. Loveridge has a Master’s and Doctorate in political science from Stanford University. Dr. Loveridge was President of the League of California Cities, and a member of the Regional Council of the Southern California Association of Governments. He has been honored by the American Lung Association for his leadership in protecting public health from air pollution. In 2005 he received the National Association of Regional Councils Tom Bradley Award for his outstanding leadership and commitment to improving transportation and maintaining the region’s preferred quality of life. As Mayor he implemented a Strategic Action Plan to make Riverside a Model Clean Air City in 2002. In 2005 Riverside was recognized with an annual award by the South Coast AQMD as a Model Clean Air Community. In 2005 he appointed a Clean Air Task Force for the city that in 2007 put forth a “Sustainable Riverside Policy Statement” detailing eight main directives including urban forestry, solar initiatives, alternative transportation modes, green building efforts, and water and air quality improvements. In 2009 Riverside was officially designated the first “Emerald City” by California Department of Conservation Director Bridgett Luther. Dr. Loveridge has been a long standing champion of plug-in electric vehicles and community readiness. As a member of both the Air
Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board, he played a key role as liaison between environmental groups, local governments, community residents and the railroads, helping to identify mitigation measures and resolve critical issues at high-risk rail yards. Dr. Loveridge is on the Advisory Board of the non-profit organization Riverside County, Clean Air Now, which since 1969 is the oldest most effective volunteer advocacy group for clean air in Southern California.
The Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award was named after Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, ARB’s first chairman known to many as the “father” of air pollution control. His research concluded that most of California’s smog resulted from photochemistry- the reaction of sunlight with industrial and motor vehicle exhaust to create ozone. This breakthrough became the foundation upon which air pollution standards are based. The Haagen-Smit award winners continue this legacy of advancing air pollution science and forging the way for effective control programs.
For a list of all past award winner’s visit:
EPA to Fund Pollution Prevention Projects in New Jersey and New York
From reducing hazardous chemicals in high school and college laboratories, to helping supermarkets conserve resources, the EPA is making its pollution prevention grants count across New Jersey and New York. The Agency has awarded more than $380,000 in grants to fund projects that help prevent pollution in these two states.
"The EPA's pollution prevention grants fund programs that reduce or eliminate waste at the source," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "These grants help businesses, colleges, and governments use strategies to reduce the use of toxic materials, save energy, protect human health, and save money."
The EPA is providing the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation $180,000 to promote green chemistry in high schools in central and western New York State. The NYSDEC will inform high school teachers on the principles of green chemistry as an alternative to traditional chemistry practices in science laboratories. The NYSDEC will also help school laboratories inventory chemicals and develop plans to reduce the amount of hazardous and toxic chemicals that are purchased, used, stored, and disposed of in school chemistry departments.
The EPA also awarded the NYSDEC $55,000 to work with supermarkets in New York State and help them lower energy consumption, conserve water, and reduce the use of hazardous cleaning chemicals.
With the help of a $48,727 EPA grant, education nonprofit Beyond Benign will provide a three-day workshop to train faculty from college and university chemistry departments in New Jersey and New York to adopt green chemistry practices. The workshop will feature sessions on implementing practices that have proven successful in a school setting, adopting greener laboratory exercises, and using greener or less toxic chemicals.
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission will use a $99,200 EPA grant to educate restaurants in the New Jersey Meadowlands area about preventing pollution. The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission will train restaurants to reduce their use of hazardous cleaning chemicals, energy and water consumption, and save money on operational expenses.
These grants are part of the approximately $4 million in grants the EPA awards each year that are aimed at preventing pollution across the nation.
DEC Recognizes Seven Innovative Programs Working to Sustain New York's Natural Resources and Strengthen the Economy
Seven organizations received New York State Environmental Excellence Awards for innovative programs and outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility and economic viability, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced recently.
"As the Cuomo Administration strives to build a new New York, these awardees today are doing just that by making a positive impact on our economy and improving and protecting our state's environment," DEC Commissioner Martens said. "Environmental stewardship requires all stakeholders to work in concert: businesses, not-for-profits, schools, municipalities, government, and residents. That's why the Environmental Excellence Awards are so important. Through them, DEC is able to showcase those who are leading by example."
The winners range from a comprehensive corporate model of sustainability to smaller businesses using green and clean technologies. Winners include entrepreneurs competing in global markets, schools empowering future environmental leaders and municipalities investing in green infrastructure, and building a unique and high-performance buildin