EPA is increasing the type and amount of information it collects on commercial chemicals from chemical manufacturers, allowing the Agency to better identify and manage potential risks to Americans’ health and the environment.
“Collecting this critical information on widely used chemicals will enable EPA to more effectively identify and address potential chemical risks,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “The new electronic reporting requirement and limits on confidentiality claims also will bring EPA’s data collection effort into the 21st Century and give the American people greater access to a wider range of information on chemicals to which their children and families are exposed every day.”
The CDR Rule, which falls under the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory Update Rule (), requires more frequent reporting of critical information on chemicals and requires the submission of new and updated information relating to potential chemical exposures, current production volume, manufacturing site-related data, and processing and use-related data for a larger number of chemicals. The improved information will allow EPA to better identify and manage risks associated with chemicals.
On-line reporting will improve both data quality and EPA’s ability to use the data, as well as make it more accessible to the public.
Companies will be required to start following the new reporting requirements in the next data submission period, which will occur February 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012.
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EPA Proposes to Revise EPCRA Tier I and Tier II Forms
Proposed changes to Tier I and II forms include:
- Facility identification: facility phone number, latitude and longitude, and number of full-time employees.
- Emergency coordinator and contact information: add data elements to identify the facility emergency coordinator and new information on the facility’s parent company and the owner or operator of the facility, such as name, address and phone number, as well as the Dun and Bradstreet number of the facility’s parent company. EPA is also proposing that the facility owner or operator provide their e-mail address.
- Preparer identity: new data elements for the name, title, phone number, and e-mail address of the person knowledgeable or responsible for completing the information on the Tier I and Tier II forms.
- Risk management plan: addition of a new data element to both the Tier I and Tier II forms to indicate whether the facility is subject to chemical accident prevention under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act.
- Range codes: a narrowing of the ranges for reporting the maximum amount and average daily amounts of hazardous chemicals present at the site in the preceding calendar year.
EPA Issues Rule on Carbamate Wastes
Carbamate wastes are wastes generated from the production of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Due to their toxicity, carbamate wastes are regulated as hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This action will extend Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BDAT) as an alternative treatment standard for all carbamate wastes. This alternative treatment standard will help industries comply with stringent hazardous waste disposal regulations and allow EPA to enforce these regulations to their fullest extent.
The public comment period on the rule closed on July 13, 2011. The rule became effective on August 12, 2011.
Department of Energy Announces Philips Lighting North America as Winner of L Prize Competition
The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Philips Lighting North America has won the 60-watt replacement bulb category of the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) competition. The Department of Energy’s L Prize challenged the lighting industry to develop high performance, energy-saving replacements for conventional light bulbs that will save American consumers and businesses money.
Submitted in 2009, the Philips LED bulb successfully completed 18 months of intensive field, lab, and product testing to meet the rigorous requirements of the L Prize competition—ensuring that performance, quality, lifetime, cost, and availability meet expectations for widespread adoption and mass manufacturing. If every 60-watt incandescent bulb in the U.S. was replaced with the 10-watt L Prize winner, the nation would save about 35 terawatt-hours of electricity or $3.9 billion in one year and avoid 20 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
“The L Prize challenges the best and brightest minds in the U.S. lighting industry to make the technological leaps forward that can greatly reduce the money we spend to light our homes and businesses each year,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “Not only does the L Prize challenge innovative companies like Philips to make LED technology even more energy efficient, it also spurs the lighting industry to make LEDs affordable for American families.”
“We looked at the L Prize challenge as an opportunity to innovate and develop an energy efficient alternative to a product that has remained largely unchanged for over a century,” said Zia Eftekhar, CEO of Philips Lighting North America. “The fact that we are the first and only company capable of submitting a product and completing 18 months of rigorous testing not only underscores our commitment to innovation and quality, it highlights our ability to bring meaningful leading technologies into the mainstream.”
Launched in 2008, the Energy Department’s L Prize competition targets the 60-watt bulb because it is one of the most widely used types of light bulbs by consumers, representing roughly half of the domestic incandescent light bulb market. Innovations in residential and commercial lighting products such as those encouraged by the L Prize expand the lighting choices available to consumers and support the Department’s efforts to reduce our Nation’s energy use, create manufacturing jobs for U.S. workers, and save money for American families and business owners.
The winning Philips product excelled through rigorous short-term and long-term performance testing carried out by independent laboratories and field assessments conducted with utilities and other partners. The product also performed well through a series of stress tests, in which the product was subjected to extreme conditions such as high and low temperatures, humidity, vibration, high and low voltage, and various electrical waveform distortions. The Philips L Prize winning product was also required to have a useful lifetime of more than 25,000 hours, compared with 1,000 to 3,000 hours for the products these highly efficient bulbs are intended to replace. The product uses solid-state lighting technology, which utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of electrical filaments, plasma, or gas, and has the potential to use far less energy than other lighting technologies. As the winner, Philips will receive a $10 million cash prize as well as L Prize partner promotions and incentives. To date, 31 utilities and energy efficiency program partners stand ready to promote and develop markets for the winning product. The L Prize-winning 60-watt equivalent LED bulb from Philips could arrive in stores as soon as early 2012.
New Laws Increase Electronics Recycling and Raise Illegal Waste Disposal Penalties in Illinois
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that will take a major step to increase e-recycling in Illinois. The new law overhauls the state’s Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act by requiring more electronic products to be recycled, increasing recycling goals for Illinois’ manufacturers and strengthening penalties for those who do not follow the law.
“This law will keep reusable materials from filling our landfills, and it will help us put people to work giving those materials new uses,” said Governor Quinn. “Today’s action reinforces our commitment to a green Illinois that continues to be a leader in protecting the environment.”
Senate Bill 2106, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) and Rep. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), expands the types of electronic products that will be subject to the state’s landfill ban. Current law requires computer monitors, televisions, and printers to be diverted from landfills. Under the new law, the list of items required to be recycled is expanded to include keyboards, portable music devices, scanners, videocassette recorders, video game consoles, and more.
“Governor Quinn has made the recycling of e-waste a top environmental priority for the state, which is why Illinois is a leader on removing electronics from our waste stream,” said Sen. Garrett.
“This bill not only prevents toxic substances from entering into the ground,” said Rep. Biss. “But it also encourages the continued rapid growth of the e-recycling industry, supporting small businesses around the state that have created thousands of new jobs in recent years.”
The new law also increases recycling goals for Illinois manufacturers. For example, in 2012 manufacturers will be required to recycle 40% of the products they sold in 2010. According to the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the new goals mean that statewide e-recycling will increase from 28 million pounds in 2011 to over 50 million pounds in 2012. The dramatic increase in recycling efforts is expected to create jobs for Illinois residents.
“This legislation will keep toxins out of our air and water while conserving valuable resources and creating jobs,” said Melville Nickerson, Policy Advocate for the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “The Environmental Law & Policy Center looks forward to working together with manufacturers to implement this recycling bill and create a cleaner environment in Illinois.”
The fine for violations of the new law will increase $1,000 to $7,000. It also gives the Illinois EPA greater regulatory authority for violations of the act. Additionally, the bill requires manufacturers to maintain consumer education programs designed to inform customers of proper disposal policies for electronic products. The new law takes effect immediately.
Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 2001, sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream), which strengthens penalties for criminal disposal of waste. The law, which takes effect immediately, reclassifies the initial and all subsequent violations as felonies, lowers the violation threshold, and increases fines to $25,000, up from $5,000.
EPA Seeks Input on the Development of Drinking Water Perchlorate Regulation
EPA is inviting small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to participate as small entity representatives (SERs) for a small business advocacy review (SBAR) Panel. Federal law requires agencies to establish an SBAR Panel for rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical that is used to produce rocket fuel, fireworks, flares, and explosives. Perchlorate can also be present in bleach and in some fertilizers.
EPA has determined that perchlorate meets the Safe Drinking Water Act’s three criteria for regulating a contaminant. First, perchlorate may have adverse health effects. Scientific research indicates that perchlorate can disrupt the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones needed for normal growth and development. Second, there is a substantial likelihood that perchlorate occurs frequently at levels of health concern in public water systems—monitoring data show more than 4% of public water systems have detected perchlorate. Finally, there is a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for the between 5.2 million and 16.6 million people who may be served drinking water containing perchlorate.
The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and EPA. The panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to inform the panel members about the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small organizations that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs.
New Air Quality General Permits Available for Wastewater Treatment Plants in Arizona
The general permit, which is valid for five years, can be obtained in only a small fraction of the time required to receive an individual permit and the cost will be significantly less than what individual permits cost. Coverage under the general permit will be available in Arizona’s 12 counties outside of Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima. Wastewater treatment plant operators in the state’s three most urban counties can contact the appropriate county agency to determine if an air quality permit is necessary.
“We are continuously looking for ways to reduce unnecessary and time-consuming red tape, while maintaining the same or higher level of environmental protection,” said ADEQ Director Henry Darwin. “It generally takes a wastewater treatment plant from six to nine months to receive an individual permit. This new general permit will only take a few days and will offer better air quality protection due to the conservative assumptions made in developing this permit.”
Darwin also said that the cost of processing an application for a general permit will be $500 in contrast with the thousands of dollars for a site-specific permit. Annual administrative costs for the general permits will be about $5,000 a year as opposed to the about $8,500 a year for individual permits. The permits will cover wastewater treatment activities including odor controls, fuel burning boilers, and fuel burning generators.
Wastewater treatment plants already operating under other air quality general permits for generators and boilers are also eligible for the new general permit, which will cover all emissions from equipment like boilers and generators. The fees will be the same as for the general permits currently held.
New Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy Duty Trucks, Buses
New fuel economy standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles were announced by the White House last week. The standards are projected to save American businesses that operate and own these commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program.
“While we were working to improve the efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks, something interesting happened,” said President Obama. “We started getting letters asking that we do the same for medium and heavy-duty trucks. They were from the people who build, buy, and drive these trucks. And today, I’m proud to have the support of these companies as we announce the first-ever national policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium-and heavy-duty trucks.”
Under the comprehensive new national program, trucks and buses built in 2014 through 2018 will reduce oil consumption by a projected 530 million barrels and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by approximately 270 million metric tons. Like the Administration’s historic car standards, this program—which relies heavily on off-the-shelf technologies—was developed in coordination with truck and engine manufacturers, fleet owners, the State of California, environmental groups, and other stakeholders.
The joint DOT/EPA program will include a range of targets which are specific to the diverse vehicle types and purposes. Vehicles are divided into three major categories: combination tractors (semi-trucks), heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and vocational vehicles (like transit buses and refuse trucks). Within each of those categories, even more specific targets are laid out based on the design and purpose of the vehicle. This flexible structure allows serious but achievable fuel efficiency improvement goals charted for each year and for each vehicle category and type.
The standards are expected to yield an estimated $50 billion in net benefits over the life of model year 2014 to 2018 vehicles, and to result in significant long-terms savings for vehicle owners and operators. A semi-truck operator could pay for the technology upgrades in under a year and realize net savings of $73,000 through reduced fuel costs over the truck’s useful life. These cost saving standards will also reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants like particulate matter, which can lead to asthma, heart attacks, and premature death.
By the 2018 model year, the program is expected to achieve significant savings relative to current levels, across vehicle types. Certain combination tractors—commonly known as big-rigs or semi-trucks—will be required to achieve up to approximately 20% reduction in fuel consumption and GHG emissions by model year 2018, saving up to 4 gallons of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.
For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, separate standards are required for gasoline-powered and diesel trucks. These vehicles will be required to achieve up to approximately 15% reduction in fuel consumption and GHG emissions by model year 2018. Under the finalized standards a typical gasoline or diesel powered heavy-duty pickup truck or van could save one gallon of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.
Vocational vehicles—including delivery trucks, buses, and garbage trucks—will be required to reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions by approximately 10% by model year 2018. These trucks could save an average of one gallon of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.
Beyond the direct benefits to businesses that own and operate these vehicles, the program will also benefit consumers and businesses by reducing costs for transporting goods, and spur growth in the clean energy sector by fostering innovative technologies and providing regulatory certainty for manufacturers.
Texas Petroleum Investment Company Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act
EPA fined the Texas Petroleum Company of Houston, Texas, $163,487 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure () regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
A federal inspection of oil production facilities in Terrebonne, Plaquemines, Lafourche, St. Charles, and Iberia parishes in Louisiana revealed the company had failed to prepare and implement SPCC plans as required by federal regulations. This action also settles CWA violations for discharges of oil into wetland areas and unnamed canals in Terrebonne, Plaquemines, and Iberia parishes.
SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness, and responses to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality. A spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.
$500,000 Penalty for Discharging Raw Sewage
A Dorchester County, Maryland, Circuit Court has imposed a $500,000 penalty against the owner/operators of Clearview at Horn’s Point, a Cambridge, Maryland, country club, for discharging raw sewage into wetlands along the Choptank River. The Court ruled that BSJ Partners, LLC, current owners of what was formerly known as the Cambridge Country Club, willfully and intentionally diverted raw sewage from a failed septic system into wetlands on a daily basis for more than two years.
“The extraordinary penalty we secured in this case is a severe warning to anyone who would pollute our wetlands, our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler. “This office will aggressively pursue and punish those who violate the law and harm the health and well-being of Maryland’s precious natural resources.”
Based on evidence presented at trial, the Court ruled that for more than two years, the owners of Clearview at Horn’s Point saved $424,000 in out-of-pocket expenses by constructing an underground conduit and discharging raw sewage from the facility’s failed septic system directly into wetlands rather than safely pumping and hauling out the sewage as directed by the Dorchester County Health Department, or connecting to a nearby municipal sewer line.
According to testimony by experts with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), water quality tests by the Department’s inspectors showed high levels of fecal coliform in Jenkins Creek, which feeds into the Choptank River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. The MDE experts also testified that shellfish harvesting was substantially reduced. Fecal coliform bacteria are associated with raw human or animal waste and indicate the presence of sewage contamination in waterways.
“The Department of the Environment’s inspector corps and environmental specialists from our Wastewater Permits Program did great work in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Office to bring this important enforcement action to a successful conclusion,” said MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers, Ph.D. “Many people across Maryland are working hard to restore water quality and the Chesapeake Bay, and a strong enforcement program protects the investment of all law-abiding citizens.”
In issuing his order, Judge Newton Jackson imposed a $485,000 civil penalty for environmental violations, a $15,000 penalty for failure to submit discharge monitoring reports over a three-year period, and a $500 sanction for discovery violations. Judge Jackson is a Wicomico County Circuit Court judge sitting by designation in Dorchester County.
Sewer District in Missouri to Pay $4.7 Billion to Cut Sewer Overflows
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) has agreed to make extensive improvements to its sewer systems and treatment plants, at an estimated cost of $4.7 billion over 23 years, to eliminate illegal overflows of untreated raw sewage, including basement backups, and to reduce pollution levels in urban rivers and streams, the Department of Justice and the EPA announced. This injunctive relief is historic in its scope and importance to the people of St. Louis.
The settlement reached between the US, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation, and MSD, requires MSD to install a variety of pollution controls, including the construction of three large storage tunnels ranging from approximately two miles to nine miles in length, and to expand capacity at two treatment plants. These controls and similar controls that MSD has already implemented will result in the reduction of almost 13 billion gallons per year of overflows into nearby streams and rivers.
MSD will also be required to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to eliminate more than 200 illegal discharge points within its sanitary sewer system. Finally, MSD will engage in comprehensive and proactive cleaning, maintenance, and emergency response programs to improve sewer system performance and to eliminate overflows from its sewer systems, including basement backups, releases into buildings, and onto property.
“We are fully committed to vigorous enforcement of the Clean Water Act, and will continue to work in partnership with EPA to advance the goal of clean water for all communities in our nation’s cities,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The people of St. Louis, including those who live in minority and low-income communities, will receive tangible, lasting benefits from this significant settlement.”
“St. Louis, America’s Gateway City, grew up alongside the Mississippi. Unfortunately, for too long it treated the river’s tributaries as a dumping ground for sewage,” EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said. “By moving forward with this Clean Water Act settlement, the community is facing its responsibilities. This agreement will bring jobs and long-term economic investments while significantly improving the environment for future generations.”
The settlement will also significantly advance the use of large scale green infrastructure projects to control wet weather sewer overflows by requiring MSD to invest at least $100 million in an innovative green infrastructure program, focused in environmental justice communities in St. Louis. Environmental justice communities include low income or minority communities who have suffered a disproportionate burden from air, water, or land pollution. Green infrastructure involves the use of properties to store, infiltrate and evaporate stormwater to prevent it from getting into the combined sewer system. Examples of potential green infrastructure projects include green roofs, bioretention, green streets, rain barrels, rain gardens, and permeable pavement.
MSD, in conjunction with the city of St. Louis economic redevelopment authorities, will transform numerous vacant or abandoned properties to productive use—helping to revitalize disadvantaged communities and resulting in cleaner air and green space. MSD will conduct public education and outreach, and collaborate with local residents and neighborhood groups, including those representing minority and/or low-income neighborhoods, in selecting the locations of green infrastructure projects.
MSD has also committed to spending $230 million in a mitigation program to alleviate flooding and another $30 million in enhanced pipe lining program, both of which are focused exclusively in environmental justice areas. These programs and the pioneering green infrastructure program of the settlement will further the Department of Justice and EPA’s work to advance environmental justice.
In addition to improving its sewer system and treatment plants, MSD will spend $1.6 million on a supplemental environmental project to implement a voluntary sewer connection and septic tank closure program for low-income eligible residential property owners who elect to close their septic tanks and connect to the public sewer. MSD will also pay a civil penalty of $1.2 million to the United States.
MSD’s sewer system collects and treats domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater from a population of approximately 1.4 million in the city of St. Louis and nearly all of St. Louis County. The system covers more than 525 square miles, and includes seven wastewater treatment plants, 294 pumping stations, and more than 9,630 miles of sewer lines, making it the fourth largest sewer system in the US.
The settlement resolves the claims brought by the United States in a lawsuit filed in June 2007 which the Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation later intervened under the citizen suit provisions of the federal CWA. In that lawsuit, among other things, the United States alleged that on at least 7,000 occasions between 2001 and 2005, failures in MSD’s sewer system resulted in overflows of raw sewage into residential homes, yards, public parks, streets, and playground areas.
Overflows pose a significant threat to public health and water quality because raw sewage can have high concentrations of bacteria from fecal contamination, as well as disease-causing pathogens and viruses. These overflows can occur in basements, backyards, city streets, and directly into stream and rivers. This settlement goes a long way in preventing these overflows.
The settlement is the latest in a series of CWA settlements that will reduce the discharge of raw sewage and contaminated stormwater into United States’ rivers, streams, and lakes. Keeping raw sewage and contaminated stormwater out of the waters of the United States is one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives for 2011 to 2013. The initiative focuses on reducing discharges from sewer overflows by obtaining cities’ commitments to implement timely, affordable solutions to these problems, including the increased use of green infrastructure and other innovative approaches.
$29,960 for Hazardous Waste TSD Violations
Hukill Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay a $29,960 penalty to settle hazardous waste violations at its facility located at 7013 Krick Road in Bedford, Ohio. The company has addressed the violations and now operates in compliance with Ohio’s hazardous waste regulations.
Following an October 27, 2010, complaint investigation and facility inspection, Ohio EPA cited Hukill Chemical for unlawfully storing hazardous waste in excess of the quantity authorized in its permit. The company is authorized to store a maximum 68,695 gallons per day of hazardous waste in containers. Ohio EPA determined the company exceeded the container storage capacity on at least 35 days. The company also failed to keep a current written operating record at the facility.
Hukill is a permitted hazardous waste treatment and storage facility and a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. The company specializes in solvent recovery, hazardous, and non-hazardous waste disposal, and hydrofluoric acid re-concentrating.
$9,500 Penalty for Leaking PCB Transformers
Chilkoot Lumber Company, located in Haines, Alaska, and its owner, Edward Lapeyri, will pay $9,500 for improperly storing and failing to repair leaking transformers that contained toxic PCBs, according to a settlement with the EPA.
Chilkoot Lumber Company had several old electrical transformers and capacitors containing polychlorinated biphenyls—commonly known as PCBs—on its property. The company ceased lumber operations in 1991, but improperly stored the unused transformers and capacitors until 2009, when a hired contractor properly disposed of them. Due to years of improper storage, many of the transformers containing PCBs developed leaks.
“The danger in leaving dormant industrial equipment lying around is that it can leak toxic chemicals like PCBs and contaminate soil and groundwater,” said Edward Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle. “Proper storage and disposal of old transformers and capacitors containing PCBs reduces the likelihood that they will pose a public health or environmental risk.”
EPA inspectors identified five transformers with PCB concentrations between 50 and 500 parts per million, three transformers with concentrations over 500 parts per million, and three capacitors each containing four gallons of 100% PCBs. The devices—some of which leaked small amounts of PCBs—were stored in locations that did not comply with EPA regulations, including storage inside an old shed and outside with no covering.
Congress banned PCBs in 1979, but they may be present in products and materials produced before the ban including electrical transformers, capacitors, oil used in motors, oil-based paint, plastics, and insulation.
In addition to improper storage violations, the company also failed to register its PCB transformers, maintain inspection records, and mark PCB-containing items as required under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.
EPA previously brought a CWA enforcement action against a fish processing company owned by Lapeyri that operated on the same property.
EPA Issues Stop Sale Order to DuPont on Sale and Distribution of Imprelis Herbicide
The order, issued under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), requires DuPont to stop the sale and distribution of Imprelis in the US and outlines specific conditions to ensure that the removal of Imprelis from the market meets legal requirements.
This action follows EPA’s investigation into why a large number of evergreens and other trees have been harmed following the use of the herbicide. In its evaluation, EPA is investigating whether these incidents are the result of product misuse, inadequate warnings and use directions on the product’s label, persistence in soil and plant material, uptake of the product through the root systems and absorbed into the plant tissue, environmental factors, potential runoff issues, or other possible causes.
On June 17, 2011, DuPont issued a letter to professional applicators cautioning against the use of Imprelis where Norway spruce or white pine trees are present on, or in close proximity to, the property being treated. On July 27, 2011, DuPont acknowledged to the EPA that there has been damage to trees associated with Imprelis use and the company had developed an internet web page to provide information and updates concerning Imprelis use.
On August 4, 2011, DuPont voluntarily suspended sales of Imprelis and announced that it will soon conduct a product return and refund program.
FIFRA is a federal law that requires the registration of pesticide products and pesticide-production facilities, and the proper labeling of pesticides. This requirement protects public health and the environment by ensuring safe production, handling, and application of pesticides and by preventing false or misleading product claims.
EPA Releases Draft Policy for Ensuring Scientific Integrity
The draft policy reflects the Obama Administration’s commitment to the ethical standards and transparency necessary for ensuring the highest quality science.
The draft Scientific Integrity Policy was developed in response to a December 2010 memorandum from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The memorandum charged federal agencies to develop policies in four areas: foundations of scientific integrity in government, public communications, use of federal advisory committees, and professional development of government scientists and engineers.
EPA’s draft Scientific Integrity Policy was developed by an ad hoc workgroup consisting of senior staff and scientists from the agency’s programs and regions. The draft policy addresses the promotion of scientific ethical standards, including quality standards; communications with the public; the use of advisory committees and peer review; and professional development, as well as the roles and responsibilities of a new Scientific Integrity Committee.
EPA to Exclude Carbon Dioxide Waste Streams Being Sequestered from Hazardous Waste
EPA concluded that the management of CO2 streams under the proposed conditions does not present a substantial risk to human health or the environment, and will encourage the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in a safe and environmentally protective manner while also ensuring protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water ().
This proposed rule is complementary to a recently finalized Safe Drinking Water Act rule that sets requirements for GS, including the development of a new class of injection well called Class VI, established under EPA’s Underground Injection Control () Program. The UIC Class VI requirements are designed to ensure that wells used for geologic sequestration of CO2 streams are appropriately sited, constructed, tested, monitored, and closed in a manner that ensures USDW protection.
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Trivia Question of the Week
Which has been the most successful in removing lead and copper from contaminated water?
a. Coconut fibers
b. Peanut shells
c. Minced banana peels
d. Grass clippings