EPA is planning to establish a program of fees that will be imposed on users of the e-manifest system and will announce the user fee schedule for manifest related activities, including activities associated with collection and processing of paper manifests submitted to EPA.
By October of this year, EPA will announce the date upon which the Agency will be ready to transmit and receive manifests through the national e-Manifest system and will announce the date upon which the user community must comply with the new e-Manifest regulation.
Dayton RCRA and DOT Training
Macon RCRA and DOT Training
Cleveland RCRA and DOT Training
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, material safety data sheet (now called “safety data sheet” or SDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on SDSs.
Study Provides a Plausible Explanation for the Link Between Cardiovascular Mortality and Fine Particle Air Pollution Exposure
The study by scientists at the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is among the first to link long-term exposure to fine particle air pollution, also known as PM2.5, to elevated levels of CRP. High levels of CRP are key indicators of inflammation, which is the body’s response to inhaling irritating fine particles and is strongly associated with heart disease and stroke.
The study’s link between PM2.5 and CRP provides a plausible explanation for the previously documented connection between PM2.5 and cardiovascular mortality.
“The study also gives valuable information about how certain personal characteristics make individuals more susceptible to the effects of air pollution,” said lead author Dr. Bart Ostro, chief of OEHHA’s Air Pollution Epidemiology Section. “This may help individuals and their health care providers take steps to reduce the impacts of air pollution.”
The study, titled “Chronic PM2.5 exposure and inflammation: Determining sensitive subgroups in mid-life women,” found that:
- Diabetics and smokers experience particularly large effects of PM2.5 on CRP
- People with low incomes, high blood pressure, or who are using hormone therapy may also be more vulnerable to PM2.5
- Statin medications and moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the impact ofPM2.5 on CRP
“These are significant findings that might help us develop better approaches to reducing risks associated with PM2.5 exposure,” said Dr. John Balmes, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and member of the California Air Resources Board.
OEHHA scientists Brian Malig, Rachel Broadwin, Rupa Basu, and Rochelle Green are coauthors of the paper, along with researchers from several other institutions.
The study analyzed data from 3,000 women observed over a five-year period from the SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation) cohort. Women recruited from six different metropolitan areas throughout the United States provided blood samples every year of the study. The researchers were able to isolate the effect of air pollution after taking into account other factors that might affect CRP.
C. Arden Pope III, professor of economics at Brigham Young University and an expert on environmental epidemiology and public health, said the research is significant because the five-year period of the data shows the effects of long-term exposure to PM2.5. He added, “The fact that this research sees effects of PM 2.5 on CRP is very useful, largely because it demonstrates that the link between air pollution and inflammation is likely true.”
Ban on Pavement Sealant Lowered Levels of Potentially Harmful Compounds in Lake
In 2006, Austin, Texas, became the first city in the country to ban a commonly used pavement sealant over concerns that it was a major source of cancer-causing compounds in the environment. Eight years later, the city’s action seems to have made a big dent in the targeted compounds’ levels—researchers now report that the concentrations have dropped significantly.
Peter C. Van Metre and Barbara J. Mahler point out that in 2005, researchers figured out that pavement sealants made from coal tar were contributing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons () to the environment. This is a serious public concern because studies have shown that PAHs cause cancer in animals, and they likely impact human health as well. In the meantime, US developers and residents are still coating driveways and parking lots with millions of gallons of coal-tar sealants every year. Some local and state governments have banned coal-tar sealants, but no one knew what kind of effect the interdictions were having. To find out, Mahler and Van Metre’s team decided to investigate whether Austin’s ban was in fact lowering local PAH levels.
“Identifying contaminant trends in water and sediment is key to evaluating the effect of environmental regulations, and provides vital information for resource managers and the public,” said lead USGS scientist Dr. Peter Van Metre.
They sampled the mud at the bottom of Lady Bird Lake, which receives much of the water running off Austin’s streets and parking lots. Using historic data and their new analyses, the scientists found that after a 40-year rise in PAHs in the lake’s sediments, the ban knocked levels down by about half. Concentrations are still continuing to decline, they say.
Results of the USGS study support the conclusions of previous studies that coal-tar sealants are a major source of PAHs to Lady Bird Lake and to other lakes in commercial and residential settings. Chemical fingerprinting of sediment collected for the new study indicates that coal-tar-based sealant continues to be the largest source of PAHs to Lady Bird Lake sediment, implying that PAH concentrations should continue to decrease as existing coal-tar-sealant stocks are depleted.
Amendment to Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries
This 2005 standard practice recently was replaced with updated standard E1527-13 by ASTM International, a widely recognized standards development organization. Specifically, EPA is proposing to amend the “All Appropriate Inquiries Rule” to remove the reference to ASTM International’s E1527-05 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.”
Nanoparticles From Dietary Supplement Drinks Are Likely to Reach Environment
Nanoparticles are becoming ubiquitous in food packaging, personal care products, and are even being added to food directly. But the health and environmental effects of these tiny additives have remained largely unknown. A new study now suggests that nanomaterials in food and drinks could interfere with digestive cells and lead to the release of the potentially harmful substances to the environment
Robert Reed and colleagues note that food and drink manufacturers use nanoparticles in and on their products for many reasons. In packaging, they can provide strength, control how much air gets in and out, and keep unwanted microbes at bay. As additives to food and drinks, they can prevent caking, deliver nutrients and prevent bacterial growth. But as nanoparticles increase in use, so do concerns over their health and environmental effects. Consumers might absorb some of these materials through their skin, and inhale and ingest them. What doesn’t get digested is passed in urine and feces to the sewage system. A handful of initial studies on nanomaterials suggest that they could be harmful, but Reed’s team wanted to take a closer look.
They tested the effects of eight commercial drinks containing nano-size metal or metal-like particles on human intestinal cells in the lab. The drinks changed the normal organization and decreased the number of microvilli, finger-like projections on the cells that help digest food. In humans, if such an effect occurs as the drinks pass through the gastrointestinal tract, these materials could lead to poor digestion or diarrhea, they say. The researchers’ analysis of sewage waste containing these particles suggests that much of the nanomaterials from these products are likely making their way back into surface water, where they could potentially cause health problems for aquatic life.
Human Activities Increase Salt Content in Many of the Nation’s Streams
Excessive dissolved-solids concentrations in water can have adverse effects on the environment and on agricultural, domestic, municipal, and industrial water users.
Results from this study provide a nation-wide picture of where dissolved-solids concentrations are likely to be of concern, as well as the sources leading to such conditions.
This study provides the most comprehensive national-scale assessment to date of dissolved solids in our streams,” said William Werkheiser, USGS Associate Director for Water. “For years we have known that activities, such as road de-icing, irrigation, and other activities in urban and agricultural lands increase the dissolved solids concentrations above natural levels caused by rock weathering, and now we have improved science-based information on the primary sources of dissolved-solids in the nation’s streams.”
The highest concentrations are found in streams in an area that extends from west Texas to North Dakota. Widespread occurrences of moderate concentrations are found in streams extending in an arc from eastern Texas to northern Minnesota to eastern Ohio. Low concentrations are found in many states along the Atlantic coast and in the Pacific Northwest.
The total amount of dissolved solids delivered to all of the Nation’s streams is about 270 million metric tons annually, of which about 71% comes from weathering of rocks and soil, 14% comes from application of road deicers, 10% comes from activities on agricultural lands, and 5% comes from activities on urban lands.
All water naturally contains dissolved solids as a result of weathering processes in rocks and soils. Some amount of dissolved solids is necessary for agricultural, domestic, and industrial water uses and for plant and animal growth, and many of the major ions are essential to life and provide vital nutritional functions. Elevated concentrations, however, can cause environmental and economic damages. For instance, estimated damages related to excess salinity in the Colorado River Basin exceed $330 million annually.
“This study applied statistical modeling to understand the sources and transport processes leading to dissolved-solids concentrations observed in field measurements at over 2,500 water-quality monitoring sites across the Nation,” said David Anning, USGS lead scientist for the study. “This new information was then used to estimate contributions from different dissolved-solids sources and the resulting concentrations in unmonitored streams, thereby providing a complete assessment of the Nation’s streams.” The study determined that in about 13% of the Nation’s streams, concentrations of dissolved solids likely exceed 500 mg/L, which is the EPA’s secondary, non-enforceable drinking water standard. Many of these streams are found in a north-south oriented band stretching from west Texas to North Dakota. While this standard provides a benchmark for evaluating predicted concentrations in the context of drinking-water supplies, it should be noted that it only applies to drinking water actually served to customers by water utilities.
. The decision support system can used to evaluate combinations of reduction scenarios that target one or multiple sources and see the change in the amount of dissolved solids transported downstream waters.
Pennsylvania DEP Fines Carrizo (Marcellus) LLC $192,044 for 2013 Well Control Incident and a Spill
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced that it has fined Carrizo (Marcellus) LLC of Houston, Texas, $192,044 for a well control incident and a production water spill at gas well pads in Washington Township, Wyoming County, in March and April 2013.
“These were serious incidents that resulted in environmental degradation and the evacuation of citizens from their homes,” DEP Director of District Oil and Gas Operations John Ryder said. “The department has been working closely with Carrizo during the past year to ensure the company implements changes that will greatly minimize a recurrence of these incidents.”
The well control incident in Washington Township began in the early evening of March 13, 2013, during the hydraulic fracturing of the Yarasavage 1H well. Carrizo reported that production fluid was escaping uncontrolled from the gas well at a rate of 800 to 1,100 barrels per hour and was escaping containment.
Carrizo initially responded to the incident by implementing temporary containment, removing escaped fluid with vacuum trucks, and contacting a well control specialist company for assistance.
In anticipation that natural gas would be released from the well, an evacuation notice was delivered later that evening to four residences, and three families were evacuated.
The well was successfully shut in by noon on March 14 with about 5,400 barrels of production fluid recovered and secured in tanks.
DEP’s Oil and Gas program issued Carrizo a notice of violation letter on March 18 for violations of the Clean Streams Law, Solid Waste Management Act and Chapter 78 oil and gas regulations. The letter also requested a comprehensive list of detailed technical information be submitted, including proposed corrective actions and changes to the company’s completion and well control procedures.
In its response, Carrizo stated that the root cause of the release was a leak in the frack tree flange, potentially caused by a torque relaxation of the flange bolts. An analysis was also conducted to determine any defects in the material.
In response to the Yarasavage well control incident, Carrizo committed to evaluating several issues and implementing improvements where appropriate. Improvements were made to site security and safety programs, including employee training and contractor verification. Carrizo also implemented several technical changes to its hydraulic fracturing operations. Some of those key improvements are:
- Changes to the frack tree configuration, including removal of the spacer spool from the frack tree rig-up
- Assignment of a line boss to monitor for leaks during hydraulic fracturing
- Implementing staggered use of solid bridge plugs in fracking interval isolation, which allows the operator to torque check critical connections with the frack tree in a relaxed condition
- Performance of tree re-torqueing and maintenance during hydraulic fracturing operations at the determined optimum timing interval
The department plans to share Carrizo’s improvements with other operators so these operators may evaluate their operations and consider implementing similar changes where applicable.
In a second incident, Carrizo reported a spill of about 9,240 gallons at its Mazzara well pad in Washington Township to DEP on April 30, 2013. The fluid was production water from a Carrizo well pad in Susquehanna County as well as a bentonite clay and freshwater mix from a pipeline boring operation.
The spill occurred when a hose transferring the fluid from a truck to a tank slipped out of the tank’s ventilation port and fell out of containment, releasing fluid off the well pad.
The fluid migrated through the field stone foundation of a nearby private residence and discharged from a seep in the basement garage. It also traveled across the road to a pasture where livestock were raised requiring their temporary re-location.
DEP’s Oil and Gas Program staff requested Carrizo to sample potentially impacted residential and agricultural water supplies, and provide potable drinking water to them, which Carrizo did. The company also implemented a number of remediation measures in a timely manner.
The department issued a notice of violation letter to Carrizo on May 7, 2013, for violations of the Clean Streams Law, Solid Waste Management Act, and Chapter 78 oil and gas regulations. The letter also required that a sampling plan, engineering study, and fluid handling analysis be submitted.
Carrizo’s response indicated that personnel conducting the fluid transfer operation failed to follow proper procedure.
DEP’s Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields program is overseeing the remediation at both well pads. Contaminated soil has been excavated and properly disposed, while periodic groundwater sampling by Carrizo continues.
Tractor Supply Company Fails to Properly Report Propane Storage on Tier II
According to the settlement, the company failed to properly report propane storage at five facilities in Washington and has agreed to pay a $134,400 penalty to resolve those violations.
Tractor Supply Company, which operates 18 Del’s Feed and Farm Supply Stores in Washington, failed to report stored propane over established thresholds at stores in Monroe, Shelton, Olympia, Chehalis, and Yelm. According to EPA officials, once the company was made aware of the violations, steps were quickly taken to comply with requirements.
“Protecting communities from fire and explosion risks means companies must provide timely and accurate storage records,” said Kelly McFadden, manager of EPA’s Pesticides & Toxics unit in Seattle. “EPA is committed to reducing the likelihood of accidental chemical releases and creating a level playing field for industry by enforcing the law.”
Propane is a hydrocarbon and is sometimes referred to as liquefied petroleum gas, LP-gas, or LPG. It is produced from both natural gas processing and crude-oil refining. Propane is highly flammable, but otherwise nontoxic, colorless, and virtually odorless. As with natural gas, an identifying odor is added so the gas can be readily detected.
In this case, Tractor Supply Company failed to report that it was storing more than 10,000 lb of propane at each facility. Emergency responders rely on this information for their safety and to help protect nearby residents during an emergency, such as a fire or an earthquake. Citizens can also access the information to find out what chemicals are being stored and used in their neighborhoods.
Lawsuit Launched to Clean Up Lead Air Pollution Across United States
In 2008 the EPA revised 30-year-old air standards for lead, lowering allowable airborne lead levels by 9% to protect health and environmental quality. The states are California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
“The EPA is failing to protect millions of Americans from the terrible health effects of lead,” said Jonathan Evans, toxics and endangered species campaign director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The dangers of lead, particularly for children, are well known—that’s why the standards were raised. The EPA can’t sit by any longer while polluting facilities continue to poison the air we all have to breathe.”
Since the phaseout of leaded gasoline, most airborne lead emissions come from lead smelters, waste incinerators, utilities and lead-acid battery makers.
“Children and families living near polluting facilities must be protected from airborne lead poisoning threats,” said Caroline Cox, research director for the Center for Environmental Health. “Clearly we can’t rely on industry to clean up its act without oversight. EPA must act now to enforce the law and end this serious health threat to children.”
It disrupts their development, causing slow growth, development defects, and damage to the brain and nervous system; it does not break down in the environment. Ecosystems near lead sources experience decreases in biodiversity, ecosystem production, and increases in invasive species. Many scientific studies have also expressed concern about sublethal effects of atmospheric lead on wildlife.
The air standards for lead were revised in November 2008, yet many states have failed to meet the new standard. Nine states, along with Puerto Rico, have failed to submit a plan or revision that fully addresses the new lead air-quality standards: California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
North Attleborough Commerce Center Penalized $17,215 for Violating Waste Site Cleanup Requirements
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized North Attleborough Commerce Center (NACC) $17,215 for failure to submit status reports regarding the environmental cleanup of the former L.G. Balfour manufacturing site, located at 21 East Street.
This 5.5-acre site is a former industrial property that was first listed as contaminated with solvents on July 15, 1993, primarily due to elevated levels of tetrachloroethane (PCE) and vinyl chloride. Significant cleanup work was undertaken by the NACC, which reduced the area of contamination so that a temporary solution was achieved on February 12, 2007. However, after February 2009, the NACC ceased submitting any of the required six-month status reports concerning ongoing cleanup work.
When MassDEP failed to receive further status reports on the cleanup, NACC was notified that its authority to continue the cleanup operation was terminated, and a notice of noncompliance was issued on June 29, 2012.
“A corporate owner that purchases a piece of property is keenly aware of their legal responsibility under Massachusetts General Laws covering the cleanup of that property,” said Phil Weinberg, director of MassDEP’s Southeastern Regional Office in Lakeville. “Having failed to complete the cleanup and by continuing to ignore MassDEP’s notice of noncompliance, the owner has placed an unacceptable risk on the environment and public health.”
In addition to payment of a $17,215 penalty, the NACC has agreed to submit the scope of work for a comprehensive site assessment by July 29, 2014. By April 30, 2015, the owner must submit an analysis of the environmental risk at the site and the plan for cleaning it up. A permanent or a temporary solution for the site must be achieved by April 30, 2016.
Worcester Area Plumber Found Guilty of Illegal Asbestos Removal and Child Endangerment
A Worcester area plumbing and heating contractor has been found guilty of illegal asbestos removal and disposal charges, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced recently. In the first use of the child endangerment statute in an asbestos case, the defendant was also found guilty of endangering the safety of a teenager contracted to help with the asbestos removal and disposal.
After a five-day trial, a Worcester Superior Court jury found Daniel Watterson, age 43, guilty on Monday on three charges of violating the Massachusetts Clean Air Act for Failure to File Notices of Asbestos Removal with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Improper Removal of Asbestos-Containing Material, and Improper Disposal of Asbestos-Containing Materials. Watterson was also found guilty of one count of Child Endangerment.
On August 21, 2013, after a seven-day bench trial in Worcester Superior Court, Watterson was found guilty by Judge Richard T. Tucker of the charges of Larceny over $250 of a Victim over Sixty Years of Age and Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses.
Judge Tucker and Judge David Ricciardone will sentence Watterson on all charges on July 3 in Worcester Superior Court.
Watterson, a plumbing and heating contractor, who operates in the Worcester County area under the business names “The Clog Specialist,” “Dan the Heating Man,” and “DW Plumbing & Heating,” illegally removed and disposed of asbestos from a Worcester residence in April 2008. Watterson was contracted to remove two old boilers from the residence and to install two new boilers.
Watterson directed a teenager to remove the asbestos insulation from the old boilers, to demolish the old boilers, and to dispose of the waste from the job. Under regulations of the MassDEP and the Division of Labor Standards, the removal of asbestos must be done by a licensed contractor utilizing personal protective equipment and air filtration machines, containing the area where the asbestos is removed, wetting the asbestos before removal, and giving advance notification to MassDEP regulations as to when the removal will occur.
Watterson gave the teenager no protective clothing, no respirator, and no protective equipment of any kind before directing him to carry out the asbestos removal. The teenager failed to wet the asbestos prior to its removal and crudely removed it from the boilers and pipes by ripping the insulation and chipping it with putty knives. He also demolished the asbestos coated boilers with a sledgehammer and a saw and then, at Watterson’s direction, disposed of the asbestos waste in a regular trash dumpster rented by Watterson.
This verdict stems from an investigation by the Massachusetts Environmental Strike Force, an interagency unit which is overseen by AG Coakley, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan, and MassDEP Commissioner Cash. The Strike Force comprises prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office, Environmental Police Officers assigned to the AG’s Office, and investigators and engineers from the MassDEP who investigate and prosecute crimes that harm or threaten the state’s water, air, or land and that pose a significant threat to human health.
EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Permit for Voestalpine Iron Production Plant
The EPA has issued a final greenhouse gas (GHG) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permit to Voestalpine for an iron production plant in San Patricio County, Texas. The facility’s process for producing iron will use minimal natural gas and will be 40% more efficient than traditional methods. The permit is another in the series of permits drafted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and issued by EPA under a program to facilitate timely permitting for applicants in the State of Texas.
“Voestalpine shows energy efficiency is a common-sense strategy for success, not just in business but for the environment as well,” said Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “The joint EPA and TCEQ permitting program is helping Texas business grow while building greener plants.”
The plant will reduce iron ore pellets, which will be used as raw material input at steel mills. The direct reduced iron process will use only clean-burning natural gas instead of solid fossil fuels. The estimated project cost is $740 million and will bring 1,400 construction jobs to the area. Once complete, the facility will create around 150 permanent jobs.
In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on January 2, 2011, projects that increase GHG emissions substantially will require an air permit.
EPA believes states are best equipped to run GHG air permitting programs. Texas is working to replace a federal implementation plan with its own state program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from EPA. This action will increase efficiency and allow for industry to continue to grow in Texas.
Court Expands Public’s Right to Know of Power Plant Water Pollution
Power plants are the biggest sources of water pollution in the country. Power plant water discharges are filled with toxic pollution such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and selenium.
Environmental groups are filing a complaint against the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to compel the agency to release additional information about the roles OMB played in weakening the EPA proposed rules to satisfy the concerns of power companies. The complaint is being filed in the wake of a recent order by a federal judge expanding a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the US Small Business Administration (SBA) involving OMB and SBA efforts to weaken proposed environmental regulations of power plant water pollution.
“The Obama administration worked behind the scenes to weaken the EPA’s proposal, and now they are trying to cover their tracks,” said Earthjustice attorney Thomas Cmar. “The public has a right to know about the political pressure that forced the EPA to rewrite its proposal to allow for much dirtier waterways and put our health at risk.”
The complaint and order paves the way for environmental groups to challenge OMB’s failure to provide a complete response to their FOIA request for documents showing OMB’s role in weakening EPA’s proposed rule. OMB has released over 800 pages of correspondence concerning EPA’s proposed rule but blacked out the vast majority of that material on the ground that it was exempt from public disclosure.
“EPA sent over a strong rule to the White House that would get arsenic and other toxics out of our water using affordable treatment technologies. But the White House over-ruled EPA scientists and re-wrote the rule to include options that would give coal plants a free pass to continue using our waterways as their own private waste dumps. Now the White House is refusing to comply with FOIA and release information related to their review of EPA’s rule or justify why it should be withheld from the public,” said Jennifer Duggan, Managing Attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project. “After more than thirty years of delay in setting limits to curb pollution from power plants, the public has a right to know why this Administration is standing in the way of commonsense safeguards that protect downstream communities and our watersheds from dangerous heavy metals.”
In 2010, environmental groups filed a lawsuit against EPA to compel it to update the standards based on affordable, state-of-the-art technologies that have the potential to virtually eliminate toxic pollution of our waterways from coal-fired power plants. The EPA proposed the new rules in April 2013, but only after the White House review of the proposed rules forced the agency to significantly weaken their requirements.
“Coal ash is the number one source of toxic water pollution in the United States, yet there are no uniform limits on how much power companies can dump into our rivers and lakes,” said Waterkeeper Alliance attorney Peter Harrison. “EPA finally proposed limits for this industry last year, only to have the rule crippled by White House bureaucrats with no scientific expertise. The White House has rigged the game, and then tried to bury the records that would show us how they did it. The public has a right to know the whole story.”
Earthjustice, Environmental Integrity Project, and the Sierra Club first filed a lawsuit in December 2013 based on SBA’s failure to provide a complete response to FOIA requests about the behind-the-scenes role it played in influencing the EPA’s proposed power plant water pollution rule. In January, the groups sought to expand their lawsuit to include challenges to related FOIA responses from the White House and EPA; the agencies opposed the request. In Monday’s order, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the groups could proceed against SBA and OMB in one lawsuit but would have to file a separate lawsuit to seek additional information from EPA.
“American’s have waited far too long for the Obama administration to protect our communities from toxic coal ash pollution,” said Jennifer Peters, National Water Campaigns Coordinator for Clean Water Action. “Dirty coal plants are dumping billions of pounds of toxic chemicals into our water every year and the health of our drinking water is at risk. It’s time for the Obama administration to stop dragging its feet, stop compromising for industry, and finalize a strong rule to protect our water and communities.”
Despite Clean Water Act requirements, the EPA has not revised its rules limiting power plant water pollution since 1982. Coal-fired power plants are the largest discharger of toxic pollution in the US, dumping over 5 billion lb of mercury, arsenic, lead and selenium into our waters each year.
EPA and Partners Celebrate Nation’s Largest Federally Owned Wind Farm
Recently, the EPA and partner organizations celebrated the dedication of the Pantex Renewable Energy Project (PREP) near Amarillo, Texas. The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) led the development of the project, which includes the nation’s largest federally owned wind farm.
“The National Nuclear Security Administration and Pantex have shown outstanding leadership not only cleaning up this site, but also turning it into a source of clean, renewable energy,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “Their innovation will serve as an example of the natural connection between environmental sustainability and economic benefit.”
The wind farm will generate nearly 47 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This will provide about 60% of the energy for the nearby Pantex Plant, the nation’s primary facility for the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of nuclear weapons.
EPA Superfund Division Director Carl Edlund presented Pantex and NNSA with an award recognizing their innovative reuse of the site. Cleanup of groundwater contamination will continue at the site.
General Frank Klotz, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and National Nuclear Security Administrator, dedicated the facility during a ceremony on Tuesday morning. Elected officials and leaders from Amarillo’s business community were also on hand for the dedication.
South Carolina DHEC Announces Smart Business Recycling Program and Green Hospitality Program Award Winners
Two manufacturers, a military base, a county recreation commission, and a hotel have won Smart Business Recycling Program or Green Hospitality Program awards for their recycling efforts, the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control announced recently.
“These 2013 winners exemplify how businesses and organizations can protect the environment and conserve resources while improving their bottom line,” said DHEC Director Catherine Templeton. “The impact of these efforts helps strengthen South Carolina’s economy by creating recycling businesses and jobs.”
Timken Company in Honea Path recycled 92% of its waste in 2013 saving more than $12,000 in disposal costs and earning more than $7,000 from the sale of recyclables. By reusing packaging, the facility also saved more than $140,000. The company trains employees on recycling throughout the year and participates in green projects in the community and local schools.
CCL Label in Clinton implemented a packaging reuse program for cardboard cores and shipping containers saving 25,000 cartons per year. In addition to reuse efforts, the company saved more than $43,852 in disposal costs and earned about $20,000 from the sale of recyclables.
Joint Base Charleston was honored for its comprehensive recycling program that earned more than $268,000 from the sale of material and reduced disposal costs by almost $7,000. In addition, the base’s green procurement policy requires products and services to meet high environmental standards regardless of procurement method or purchase value. The base also reaches out to the community by hosting an annual Earth Day event for local fifth-grade classes.
The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission actively promotes recycling and waste reduction to its staff and park patrons. In addition to traditional recyclables, the commission collects recyclables such as chip bags and candy wrappers through TerraCycle at its headquarters and water parks. The county also composted more than 16,000 lb of waste from its water parks in 2013.
The Hampton Inn and Suites in Greenville was recognized for saving over $1,800 by recycling cardboard, paper, newspaper, ink cartridges, and plastic as well as using recycled-content dinnerware and paper products. In 2013, the hotel reduced its water and energy use by implementing a linen reuse program and installing green thermostats in guestrooms and public areas. The Hampton Inn also participates in “LightStay,” a Hilton Brand program that allows the facility to track and measure its sustainability performance.
The South Carolina Smart Business Recycling Program and Green Hospitality Program offer free, confidential, non-regulatory services to businesses including site visits, technical assistance, market research and workshops.
EPA Selects Six Universities to Help Find New Uses for Toxics Data
“For more than 25 years, EPA has gathered critical environmental data to provide communities with information that empowers them to protect their air, water, and land,” said Renee P. Wynn, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Environmental Information. “Through the 2014 TRI University Challenge, we hope to raise student awareness of environmental data and programs while improving research on our environmental challenges to further our work to protect human health and the environment.”
TRI provides communities with information about toxic chemical releases to the air, water, and land, as well as what industries are doing to reduce and prevent these releases.
The TRI University Challenge is open to anyone affiliated with an accredited college or university. The selected projects for 2014 were proposed by faculty and students from Drew University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Tennessee State University, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of South Carolina.
Through these partnerships, EPA will work with six diverse academic institutions to develop practical and replicable projects focused on data visualization and analytics for improving the presentation and understanding of TRI data.
The 2014 TRI University Challenge follows the successful 2013-2014 Challenge, in which eight academic partners collaborated with EPA on projects related to environmental education, pollution prevention, stakeholder engagement, and data mash-ups.
While there is no financial award for this Challenge, academic partners will receive support from TRI Program staff and national recognition by being featured on the TRI University Challenge website. In addition, partners will be encouraged to pursue opportunities to speak at relevant conferences and events.
The selected projects will begin in the fall of 2014 and are expected to conclude at the end of the academic year in the summer of 2015.
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Trivia Question of the Week
Which state gets nearly 20% of its electricity supply from wind power, a higher percentage than any other state?
a) California
b) Texas
c) Nebraska
d) Iowa