The DOE and the EPA have released the 2007 Fuel Economy Guide to help you make well-informed choices when purchasing new vehicles. “Each year millions of Americans buy new cars, and by using fuel economy information, each consumer can make a more educated decision that will help conserve energy and save money,” Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said. “In addition to looking at the miles-per-gallon rating, I would also encourage Americans to buy flex-fuel vehicles, which are also good for our economy because they use homegrown E-85.”
“By fueling consumers with better information, EPA is helping American motorists conserve their money while preserving our environment,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
Hybrid vehicles continue to lead the government's fuel economy ratings. This year’s Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid FWD models top the list. Other models leading the list include the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Ford Escape 4WD Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD.
Fuel economy estimates, which appear on the window stickers of all new cars and light trucks prior to sale, are determined by tests that manufacturers and EPA conduct according to EPA specifications. This year’s label values are based on the same test methods that have been used in recent years. However, to ensure these estimates continue to remain as reliable as possible, in February EPA proposed changing the methods to better reflect what drivers are experiencing on the road. EPA expects to finalize these changes in time to take effect with 2008 models.
The following online sources provide more fuel economy information:
How Clean is Your Drinking Water?
Maximum Contaminant Levels are the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to users of a public water system. Health Advisories (HA's) provide information on contaminants that can cause human health effects and are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water.
Eliot Spitzer to Sue Coal-Fired Power Plant for Excessive Emissions
Attorney General Spitzer sent RG&E a "notice of intent" letter identifying federal Clean Air Act violations at the company's Russell Station power plant in Greece, New York. The law requires that such a letter be sent at least 60 days before the filing of a lawsuit. "The State informed RG&E over six years ago that its plant was violating the law, but the company refused to cut its air pollution," Spitzer said. "A lawsuit will ask the court to compel the company to take appropriate steps to curtail its harmful emissions."
"Projects undertaken illegally by RG&E at the Russell Station facility are resulting in the excessive emissions of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide and New York State is committed to holding violators accountable. Through the implementation of appropriate pollution control technology at power plants statewide, we will continue to reduce harmful power plant emissions and furthering Governor Pataki's record of significant air quality improvements," said DEC Commissioner Denise Sheehan.
The Russell Station, built in 1948, is one of the state's oldest and dirtiest power plants. Last year, it emitted more than 1,800 tons of nitrogen oxides and 15,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, compounds linked to serious environmental damage and public health problems. The state's lawsuit will allege that RG&E made major upgrades to the plant, but failed to install the necessary pollution controls as required by law. RG&E claims that those modifications were merely routine maintenance and therefore exempt from so-called New Source Review pollution control requirements.
"The emissions from power plants can make people sick and can cut lives short. It is always our hope that plant owners would appreciate the benefit that reduced emissions would have on the public's health. In this case the owners did not, but we are fortunate that the state of New York is willing to utilize all legal tools that they have to get these dirty and dangerous plants cleaned up," said Margaret J. Collins, Senior Director for Policy with the American Lung Association of New York State's Rochester office.
The lawsuit will build on a national clean air initiative begun in 1999. The Attorney General has filed lawsuits against companies that own polluting coal-fired plants in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Those suits have led to major reductions in harmful emissions that drift on prevailing winds and contribute to acid rain and smog in the Northeast.
In February 2005, Governor Pataki and Attorney General Spitzer announced agreements with NRG Energy, Inc. AES, and New York State Electric and Gas Corporation power companies that dramatically reduce emissions from six separate upstate coal-fired power plants. These agreements represent the largest reduction in air pollution levels ever attained through settlement in New York State. In addition, New York State has enacted regulations that are resulting in significant reductions of acid rain, ozone formation, and other negative effects of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions.
Pennsylvania General Assembly Approves Tougher Penalties
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett praised members of the state Senate for their unanimous approval of a bill that enhances Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law, increasing penalties for polluters who compromise the quality of the commonwealth's waterways.
Corbett said the legislation was passed unanimously by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in May and now moves to the governor's desk for his approval.
"This enhancement to our Clean Streams Law sends a clear message to polluters that Pennsylvania is not a dumping ground for their waste," Corbett said.
Corbett said the legislation increases penalties for polluters and strengthens the ability of the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section to investigate and prosecute cases.
Corbett explained that current law treats most water pollution cases as third-degree misdemeanors – the lowest level of misdemeanor offense under Pennsylvania law. The enhancements to the Clean Streams Law make intentional violations a felony and substantially increase the penalties, to a maximum of seven years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.
Corbett said the legislation also increases the statute of limitations for violations of the Clean Streams Law from two years to five years, giving authorities additional time to investigate pollution, identify violators and prosecute cases.
Corbett added that the existing Clean Streams Law is inadequate to effectively deter pollution, and may actually make Pennsylvania an attractive dumping ground for polluters who face much tougher penalties in neighboring states such as New Jersey, New York and Maryland.
"Now, we have additional tools to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes and to ensure that the punishment for polluters fits their crime," Corbett said. "I urge the Governor to quickly sign this measure into law."
Louisiana Adopts New Emergency Reporting Requirement
The requirement applies to SARA Title III extremely hazardous substances (40 CFR 355, Appendix A). However, chemicals and quantities already reported on Tier II forms need not be included in this new report. The rule only applies to a Category 3 or stronger hurricanes and does not include material contained in trucks or pipelines.
The report must include:
- The exact nature of, and the type, location, and relative fullness of the container (i.e., full, half-full, or empty) of all hazardous materials that are located within a parish subject to the evacuation order
- The primary and secondary contact person’s phone, email, and fax number
- Whether the facility will be sufficiently manned such that post-event assessments will be performed by company personnel (as soon as safely practicable) and that any releases and/or hazardous situations will be reported in accordance with existing Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and state police reporting requirements
Panel to Recommend Changes to Rules for Hazardous Waste TSDs
North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has appointed a hazardous materials task force to examine the current regulations for hazardous waste storage facilities and recommend changes to tighten the rules governing these facilities, including legislation if necessary, to fully protect the state’s citizens and the environment. The governor also charged the group with reviewing the emergency response to the Oct. 5 fire at the EQ warehouse in Apex and making recommendations to guarantee the safety of the public and of first responders. Officials from the town of Apex will be asked to report to the task force.
“Hazardous waste storage and disposal facilities must be operated safely for the good of the public and the environment,” said Easley. “We cannot allow firefighters to risk their lives by rushing into a facility when they do not know what is stored there. This task force will make sure our emergency responders and the public know where these facilities are located and what is in them.”
Doug Hoell, director of the Division of Emergency Management, and Dempsey Benton, chief deputy secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will chair the task force. Other members include Leah Devlin, state health director; Win Mabry, Mecklenburg County health director; Drexdal Pratt, director of the N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services; Bradley Harvey, head of the Raleigh Regional Response Team; Johnny Teeters, chief of the Greensboro Fire Department; Marty Zaluski, director of Emergency Programs for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Viney Aneja, N.C. State University Professor of Environmental Technology; David Thompson, executive director of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, and S. Ellis Hankins, executive director of the N.C. League of Municipalities.
The EQ warehouse in Apex, a temporary storage facility for hazardous materials, caught fire shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Oct. 5. Firefighters arriving on the scene saw and smelled what appeared to be a smoke cloud of potentially dangerous gases and ordered an evacuation of the area around the plant. State air and water quality teams were immediately dispatched to the site and conducted numerous tests during and after the fire to assure that conditions were safe. Residents were allowed to go home on the morning of Oct. 7. It was a week after the fire before plant officials could provide a list of what was stored in the warehouse.
Easley has asked the task force to have a report prepared for him by Dec. 15.
EPA Invites Public Participation in Development of Nanotechnology Stewardship Program
Nanotechnology is the science of creating or modifying materials at the atomic and molecular level to develop new or enhanced materials and products. The stewardship program will complement the agency's new and existing chemical programs under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and will provide a firm scientific foundation for regulatory decisions by encouraging the development of key scientific information and any appropriate risk management practices.
"By bringing people together to address this emerging technology, we can be well positioned to ensure the responsible development of nanotechnology, while at the same time, realizing its promise for a better tomorrow," said Jim Gulliford, assistant administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances at EPA. "Through open dialogue, public engagement and sound science, we can establish the appropriate oversight for nanoscale materials and ensure public confidence in its safety."
EPA is inviting the public, industry, environmental groups, other federal agencies and other stakeholders to participate in the design, development and implementation of this program. These include: 1) public scientific peer consultations to discuss risk management practices and characterization for nanoscale materials; 2) an overall framework document describing the TSCA program for nanoscale materials; 3) a document on distinguishing the TSCA Inventory status of "new" versus "existing" chemical nanoscale materials; 4) a concept paper describing EPA's thinking for the Stewardship Program, as well as an Information Collection Request to collect data under the Stewardship Program; 5) workshops examining the pollution prevention opportunities for nanoscale materials; and 6) a public meeting to discuss these documents and program elements.
$8.89 Million Penalty for Sodium Hydroxide Spill
The Pennsylvania DEP is seeking at least $8.89 million in penalties from Norfolk Southern for the damage caused by a 31-car train derailment June 30 in McKean County that spilled 42,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide.
The spill wiped out fish and aquatic life in Big Fill Run at the accident site and along a 7.5-mile segment of Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek. It also affected the aquatic environment in the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek.
“The waterways, wetlands and soil all paid a price when that speeding train derailed and the tank cars split open,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. In the first of two actions, DEP filed a complaint with the Environmental Hearing Board citing the company for violations of the state’s Clean Streams Law and requesting $5.41 million for discharges into Big Fill Run, Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek, Sinnemahoning Creek and associated wetlands. That penalty covers discharges that occurred between the date of the accident and the EHB filing. The department is seeking an ongoing civil penalty of $46,420 a day for discharges that continue past Oct. 19.
In the second action, DEP also assessed a $3.48 million civil penalty for violations of the state’s Solid Waste Management Act and Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act for the unpermitted disposal of wastes and the release of hazardous substances related to the accident. “The discharges that devastated and continue to affect this environmentally-pristine area violate a number of state laws and regulations,” McGinty said. “These enforcement actions and fines against Norfolk Southern seek to remedy the breach of laws that has created environmental and economic havoc in McKean and Cameron counties.”
The accident occurred near the McKean County village of Gardeau, spilling sodium hydroxide into Big Fill Run and the Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, damaging those waterways and severely affecting the Driftwood Branch. The effects of the spill were observed as much as 30 miles downstream from the derailment site. An unknown amount of the 42,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide also soaked into the ground in and around the derailment site. This residual material must be addressed and cleaned up to ensure a complete recovery of Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, which is designated as an exceptional value and wild trout stream.
On Sept. 22, DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty visited Emporium, Cameron County, and issued an order to Norfolk Southern, setting legally binding milestones and objectives to ensure the company cleans up the ground contamination and fully restores the area to pre-spill conditions. The area is the center of Pennsylvania Wilds, encompassing the north central portion of the state renowned for its spectacular scenery and wildlife.
Montana Adopts Rule to Cut Mercury Emissions
The Montana Board of Environmental Review (the Board) adopted its final rules on mercury emissions from coal-fired electrical generating units (EGUs). The new rules set strict mercury emission limits by 2010, and put in place a recurring 10-year review process to ensure facilities are keeping pace with advancing technology in mercury emission control. The rules also provide for temporary alternate emission limits provided certain provisions are met, and they allocate mercury emission credits in a manner that rewards the cleanest facilities.
The Board’s mercury rules require implementation of a mercury control strategy by January 1, 2010, or at commencement of commercial operation, whichever is later. The emission limit requirements adopted by the Board are expressed in pounds of mercury per trillion Btu of a facility’s maximum design heat input (lbs/TBtu). The Board adopted an emission rate of 0.9 lbs/TBtu for EGUs not firing lignite coal, and 1.5 lbs/TBtu for EGUs firing lignite, both calculated as a rolling 12-month average. The rule establishes different mercury emission limits for plants that burn lignite because with current technology it is harder to remove mercury from lignite than from sub-bituminous coal. The Board asked the Department of Environmental Quality to return to the Board at a later date with information on progress in mercury emissions control technology for lignite coal.
If a company installs appropriate controls and operates properly but still can't meet its applicable emission limit, it can apply for an alternate emission limit (AEL). The Board established ceilings on the AELs of up 1.5 lbs/TBtu for new non-lignite facilities, 2.4 lb/Btu for existing non-lignite facilities, 3.6 lb/TBtu for new lignite facilities and 4.8 lb/TBtu for existing lignite facilities. In 2018 these ceilings drop to 1.2 lbs/TBtu for all non-lignite facilities and 2.8 lb/TBtu for all lignite facilities. Any facility that exceeds its temporary standard is subject to fines of up to $10,000/day.
Companies operating under AELs also will have to buy mercury credits to offset the emissions above the applicable limit. For example, assume the emission limit standard allows a hypothetical plant to emit 30 lbs of mercury, but even after incorporating the appropriate technology, it still can't meet its standard and instead emits 35 lb, which would be under the maximum allowable AEL. That company would have to apply for an AEL that would allow it to emit 35 lbs. The company also would have to buy 5 lb of mercury credits from another, cleaner facility that has credits to sell. The EPA estimates that mercury credits might cost around $30,000/lb, so each year that facility would have to buy $150,000 worth of mercury credits until it can meet the applicable mercury limits.
Another important component of the rule is that it requires a mercury-specific best available control technology (BACT) review every 10 years for each permitted plant. This review takes into account advancing technology, industry standards and technical and economic feasibility. The rules give DEQ the flexibility to adjust the emissions limits based on these reviews.
Pennsylvania Plans to Cut Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced the state’s Environmental Quality Board (EQB), an independent regulatory review panel, has approved a plan that will cut toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania by 90% by 2015. The state-specific plan would supersede a weaker rule put in place by the federal government.
Nearly all of the commentators supported Governor Rendell’s approach over the ineffective federal rule; fewer than three dozen opposed the state plan. Other approvals, including that by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, still are needed before the EQB action is final.
“I know that IRRC members already have invested a great deal of time with the Department of Environmental Protection and others in review of this state-specific plan,” Governor Rendell said. “It is my hope that like the Environmental Quality Board, IRRC similarly will support this rule that means so much for our commonwealth and its residents.” Pennsylvania must submit its plan to the EPA by Nov. 17, describing how the state will implement and enforce its own more protective standards for coal-fired power plants.
Pennsylvania has 36 plants with 78 electric generating units that represent 20,000 megawatts of capacity. The commonwealth is second, behind only Texas, both in terms of total mercury emissions from all sources and the total amount of mercury pollution coming from power plants. Nearly 80% of the 5 tons of mercury emitted in Pennsylvania comes from power plants.
The two-step state-specific plan requires an 80% reduction in mercury emissions by 2010, and a 90% reduction by 2015. Trading of mercury allowances is prohibited. “This is a substantive rule that has undergone exhaustive review,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “What is clear is that the public health and environmental benefits that Pennsylvania will achieve by taking effective action to reduce mercury emissions are significant.”
EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds found that a 30% to 100% reduction of mercury emissions nationally would translate into a $600 million to $2 billion cost savings. The cost savings were attributed largely to reduced health risks, including cardiovascular disease.
A study prepared by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis revealed that EPA miscalculated the “nature of the risk involved” when it devised its rule. This study found the public benefit of reducing power plant mercury emissions to 15 tons per year ranges from $119 million annually (if only persistent IQ deficits from fetal exposures to methylmercury are counted) to as much as $5.2 billion annually (if IQ deficits, cardiovascular effects and premature mortality are counted).
Pennsylvania’s state-specific plan was crafted after an enhanced stakeholder process that featured a diverse group of public and private individuals who met four times to examine technology, emission control levels, testing, monitoring, record keeping and reporting, compliance schedules, health effects, power generation capacity, infrastructure and economic competitiveness.
NASA and NOAA Announce Antarctic Ozone Hole is a Record Breaker
The ozone layer acts to protect life on Earth by blocking harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. The "ozone hole" is a severe depletion of the ozone layer high above Antarctica. It is primarily caused by human-produced compounds that release chlorine and bromine gases in the stratosphere.
"From September 21 to 30, the average area of the ozone hole was the largest ever observed, at 10.6 million square miles," said Paul Newman, atmospheric scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. If the stratospheric weather conditions had been normal, the ozone hole would be expected to reach a size of about 8.9 to 9.3 million square miles, about the surface area of North America.
The Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA's Aura satellite measures the total amount of ozone from the ground to the upper atmosphere over the entire Antarctic continent. This instrument observed a low value of 85 Dobson Units (DU) on Oct. 8, in a region over the East Antarctic ice sheet. Dobson Units are a measure of ozone amounts above a fixed point in the atmosphere. The Ozone Monitoring Instrument was developed by the Netherlands' Agency for Aerospace Programs, Delft, The Netherlands, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Scientists from the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., use balloon-borne instruments to measure ozone directly over the South Pole. By Oct. 9, the total column ozone had plunged to 93 DU from approximately 300 DU in mid-July. More importantly, nearly all of the ozone in the layer between eight and 13 miles above the Earth's surface had been destroyed. In this critical layer, the instrument measured a record low of only 1.2 DU., having rapidly plunged from an average non-hole reading of 125 DU in July and August.
"These numbers mean the ozone is virtually gone in this layer of the atmosphere," said David Hofmann, director of the Global Monitoring Division at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory. "The depleted layer has an unusual vertical extent this year, so it appears that the 2006 ozone hole will go down as a record-setter."
Observations by Aura's Microwave Limb Sounder show extremely high levels of ozone destroying chlorine chemicals in the lower stratosphere (approximately 12.4 miles high). These high chlorine values covered the entire Antarctic region in mid to late September. The high chlorine levels were accompanied by extremely low values of ozone.
The temperature of the Antarctic stratosphere causes the severity of the ozone hole to vary from year to year. Colder than average temperatures result in larger and deeper ozone holes, while warmer temperatures lead to smaller ones. The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction provided analyses of satellite and balloon stratospheric temperature observations. The temperature readings from NOAA satellites and balloons during late-September 2006 showed the lower stratosphere at the rim of Antarctica was approximately nine degrees Fahrenheit colder than average, increasing the size of this year's ozone hole by 1.2 to 1.5 million square miles.
The Antarctic stratosphere warms by the return of sunlight at the end of the polar winter and by large-scale weather systems (planetary-scale waves) that form in the troposphere and move upward into the stratosphere. During the 2006 Antarctic winter and spring, these planetary-scale wave systems were relatively weak, causing the stratosphere to be colder than average.
As a result of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments, the concentrations of ozone-depleting substances in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) peaked around 1995 and are decreasing in both the troposphere and stratosphere. It is estimated these gases reached peak levels in the Antarctica stratosphere in 2001. However, these ozone-depleting substances typically have very long lifetimes in the atmosphere (more than 40 years).
As a result of this slow decline, the ozone hole is estimated to annually very slowly decrease in area by about 0.1 to 0.2 percent for the next five to 10 years. This slow decrease is masked by large year-to-year variations caused by Antarctic stratosphere weather fluctuations.
The recently completed 2006 World Meteorological Organization/United Nations Environment Programme Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion concluded the ozone hole recovery would be masked by annual variability for the near future and the ozone hole would fully recover in approximately 2065.
"We now have the largest ozone hole on record for this time of year," says Craig Long of the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction. As the sun rises higher in the sky during October and November, this unusually large and persistent area may allow much more ultraviolet light than usual to reach Earth's surface in the southern latitudes.
Starting with the establishment of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. The agency is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
EPA Requires Cyprus Tohono Corp. to Clean Up Mine Site
The EPA recently reached an agreement with Cyprus Tohono Corporation requiring the company to clean up a portion of its 10,505-acre mine site responsible for contaminating groundwater on the Tohono O’odham Nation, 32 miles southwest of Casa Grande, Ariz.
Under the settlement, the company will clean up a 450-acre area that includes three evaporation ponds, mill tailings impoundment and a vat leach tailings embankment. Contaminated soil will be excavated, placed on a liner, and covered with a soil cap.
Two of the evaporation ponds and the mill tailings impoundment are considered to have contributed to groundwater contamination of an aquifer that was previously the sole source of drinking water for the North Komelik community. Area residents have also reported that in certain wind conditions dust from the mine blows up into North Komelik, creating potential inhalation of particulate contamination.
“Although the village is being provided clean drinking water in the short term, today's action is necessary to protect public health in the long term,” said Keith Takata, the EPA’s Superfund division director for the U.S. EPA's Pacific Southwest region. “The work under the EPA order will minimize further contamination to the aquifer, as well as address exposure from contaminated soil.”
“This agreement has been a long time in coming and will help to protect the health and well being of Tohono O’odham Nation members” said Vivian Juan-Saunders, Chairwoman of the Tohono O’odham Nation. “We appreciate the efforts of all involved in resolving this important issue.”
Sulfate, a primary contaminant, has been found at 19,400 parts per million in these areas, while background concentrations are less than 100 ppm. Uranium, another primary contaminant, has been measured at 7.98 ppm in the evaporation ponds, which are above .08 ppm background levels.
EPA Settles with Shell Oil and GSA over $1.2 Million in Cleanup Costs at the Del Amo Superfund Site
The past costs to be paid by the settling parties are: Shell Oil Company, $398,821.91; General Services Administration $809,729.34.
The General Services Administration is the federal department that inherited the liabilities of government-owned wartime industries. The former Del Amo facility was one such facility, having been built and owned by the U.S. government for the production of synthetic rubber during World War II. After the war, the government sold the facility to Shell, who continued to operate the plant until 1972.
“This settlement, and the innovative application of an environmentally friendly technology, have enabled the EPA to effectively address the threat to groundwater from the Del Amo Superfund site waste pits," said Keith Takata, director of the U.S. EPA Region 9's Superfund Division. "We intend that in time, the waste pits area can be put to productive re-use."
Located at the corner of Vermont Ave. and Del Amo Blvd., in Los Angeles, the Del Amo Superfund site waste pits area was used as an industrial dump site between 1943 and 1972. Wastes – including benzene, naphthalene, ethylbenzene – contaminated the surrounding soil and groundwater. In September, 2002, the Del Amo facility was placed on the EPA’s National Priorities List of the most contaminated sites in the US.
In 1999, Shell began cleaning up the Del Amo Superfund site, under EPA oversight, starting with a multi-layer impermeable cap over the waste pits and installation of the soil-vapor extraction wells. In 2006, the SVE system began operating; clean-up is expected to take place for 10-15 years.
EPA Cites Scott Brass $42,470 for Air Permit Violations
EPA alleges that Scott Brass violated testing and notification requirements when it installed and began operating four furnaces at the plant in 1997. In addition, EPA said the company failed to apply for a state operating permit before it installed the furnaces. Scott Brass emits particulate matter (smoke, ash, dust) when it melts scrap to produce brass metal.
EPA Cites MAPEI for Air Permit Violations
EPA Region 5 has cited MAPEI for alleged clean-air violations at the company's adhesive, cleaner and grout manufacturing plant in West Chicago, Ill.
EPA alleges that MAPEI violated the Clean Air Act and state regulations by building new process units without getting state construction permits. The permits are needed to ensure that proper air pollution emission controls are in place and that regulations are followed. EPA said the alleged violations occurred over a 10-year period and continue to this day.
"EPA's mission is to protect public health and the environment," said Deputy Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur. "We will take whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act."
These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue a compliance order, assess an administrative penalty or bring suit against the company.
Kimble Glass Fined $16,000 for Clean-Air Violations
EPA Region 5 has reached an agreement with Kimble Glass Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's container glass manufacturing plant at 1131 Arnold St., Chicago Heights, Ill.
The agreement, which includes a $16,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Kimble failed to comply with limits in its state operating permit on visible particulate emissions from a glass melting furnace. EPA and Illinois EPA discovered the alleged violations during a January inspection.
In a related action, Kimble agreed to install a continuous monitoring system to monitor visible emissions from its glass melting furnace. The company will also install an alarm system to alert plant personnel when emissions are approaching the limit.
In addition, Kimble will keep continuous monitoring records and conduct quarterly performance tests of the system. It will report the results to EPA and Illinois EPA.
Godfrey Marine Syracuse Fined for Air Emissions
EPA Region 5 has reached an agreement with Godfrey Marine Syracuse on alleged clean-air violations at the company's aluminum boat manufacturing plant at 300 E. Chicago St., Syracuse, Ind.
The agreement, which includes a $45,853 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Godfrey emitted excessive amounts of hazardous air pollutants from its coating operation. In addition, EPA said the company failed to comply with reporting requirements.
Beginning in February, Godfrey took steps to reduce its air emissions, including using paints and solvents with low hazardous air pollutant content. As a result, the company achieved compliance with air pollution emission limits by the end of August.
EPA Cites Countrymark Cooperative for Clean Air Act Violations
EPA Region 5 has cited Countrymark Cooperative LLP for alleged clean-air violations at the cooperative's petroleum refinery at 1200 Refinery Road, Mount Vernon, Ind.
EPA alleges that Countrymark violated the Clean Air Act by burning fuel gas that contained excessive amounts of hydrogen sulfide. In addition, the cooperative failed to comply with testing, leak repair and other requirements designed to control leaks of hazardous air pollutants.
These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue a compliance order, assess an administrative penalty or bring suit against the cooperative. Countrymark has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
EPA Fines Allcast for Dioxin and Furan Emissions
EPA Region 5 has reached an agreement with Allcast Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's secondary aluminum production facility at 217 Weis St., Allenton, Wis.
The agreement, which includes a $37,500 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Allcast melted coated aluminum returned by its customers in at least one of its furnaces without complying with regulations designed to control hazardous dioxin and furan emissions.
EPA said Allcast failed to comply with notification, planning, testing, recordkeeping and operating requirements in the Clean Air Act. The alleged violations occurred between March 2003 and September 2004.
Bushika Sand and Gravel Fined $35,000 for Wastewater and Waste Oil Violations
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized the Bushika Sand and Gravel of Cheshire $35,000 for violations of several environmental regulations.
Inspections of the Bushika facility by MassDEP, on September 8 and October 14, 2005, found discharges of silt-laden process water to the adjoining wetland areas and to Penniman Brook. The process wastewater was generated from its gravel-washing and truck-washing operations.
In addition, MassDEP found discharges of petroleum hydrocarbons into the ground, via a floor grate, located in the vehicle maintenance garage. Other violations discovered by MassDEP include the failure to register with MassDEP as a generator of waste oil, the failure to maintain manifests for the transport of waste oil, as well as other waste oil management-related violations.
As part of a consent agreement with MassDEP, the company is required to cease its illegal discharges, address impacts to the wetlands, conduct an assessment of the discharge from the garage, install a water flow meter on its pump that withdraws water from the brook and correct the waste oil management violations. The company will pay a $20,000 penalty, with an additional $15,000 suspended pending compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement.
"Many of these violations could have been easily avoided with more attention to sound environmental practices," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield.
BNSF to Pay $70,675 Civil Penalty for Stormwater Violations
The BNSF Railway Company has agreed to pay a $70,675 civil penalty and take actions to prevent future permit violations at its rail yard in Dilworth as part of an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
The agreement stems from an alleged discharge of diesel-contaminated stormwater from the BNSF facility's stormwater collection pond to a ditch just south of the rail yard in 2004. The stormwater pond collects runoff from areas that included fueling operations and above ground fuel storage tanks.
The agreement also alleges that BNSF was late in submitting monthly wastewater discharge reports and failed to adequately inspect and maintain above ground storage tanks. In addition to the civil penalty, the railroad has decided to stop all fueling operations at the site, remove all fueling equipment and redirect stormwater pond discharges to the Dilworth sanitary sewer system, which connects to the Moorhead wastewater treatment system. All corrective actions must be completed by Dec. 1, 2006. "Our main concern is preventing further fuel-contaminated runoff from getting into nearby waters," says Denise Oakes, MPCA wastewater permit writer for the facility.
Clow Water Systems Fined for Hazardous Waste Violations
The settlement includes an $82,800 civil penalty.
Clow operates a ductile pipe manufacturing facility. It generates hazardous waste from painting and foundry operations. Through information provided by a sister facility and prior to an inspection by Ohio EPA in May 2004, Clow determined that some oven sand waste from the foundry contained enough barium to classify it as hazardous waste.
Clow's violations include:
- Operating a hazardous waste storage area and disposal facility without a permit by storing and disposing of hazardous waste oven sand on a concrete storage pad and on the ground beneath a pipe rack storage system;
- Failing to submit a closure plan to Ohio EPA for the hazardous waste storage and disposal areas at the facility; and
- Failing to maintain and operate the site in a manner that minimized the possibility of fire, explosion and release of hazardous wastes.
Clow has since switched from solvent-based paint to water-based paint and has eliminated metal-bearing raw materials which made the oven sand a hazardous waste. Since May 2005, Clow has reduced its generation rate of hazardous waste from an average of one ton a day to less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste a year. On September 15, Ohio EPA approved a plan submitted by Clow for closing the hazardous waste storage and disposal area.
Acid Rain Program Shows Continued Success and High Compliance
The EPA released its Acid Rain Program 2005 Progress Report, marking the 11th year of one of the most successful environmental programs. Since 1995, the program has significantly reduced acid deposition in the United States by decreasing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. Due to rigorous emissions monitoring and allowance tracking, overall compliance with the Acid Rain Program has been consistently high – nearly 100%. There were no units out of compliance in 2005.
In 2005, SO2 emissions from electric power generation were more than 5.5 million tons below 1990 levels. NOx emissions were down by about 3 million tons below 1990 levels. The program's emission cuts have reduced acid deposition and improved water quality in U.S. lakes and streams.
The emission reductions to date also have resulted in reduced formation of fine particles, improved air quality, and human health related benefits. A 2005 analysis in the Journal of Environmental Management estimated the value of the program's human health and environmental benefits in the year 2010 to be $122 billion annually (2000$). Most of these benefits result from the prevention of air quality-related health impacts, such as premature deaths and workdays missed due to illness, but they also include improved visibility in parks and other recreational and ecosystem improvements.
Issued in March 2005, the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) will build upon the Acid Rain Program to further reduce SO2 and NOx emissions. CAIR achieves large reductions of SO2 and NOx emissions across 28 eastern states and the District of Columbia. When fully implemented, CAIR will reduce SO2 emissions in these states by more than 70% and NOx emissions by more than 60% from 2003 levels.
The report also includes sections on compliance strategies, surface water quality monitoring, environmental justice, and EPA's framework for accountability.
Landfill Gas Fuels New Brick Plant
For the first time, a major U.S. manufacturing facility has been sited and built next to a landfill specifically to use the landfill gas as fuel. The new Jenkins Brick Company's $56 million manufacturing plant in Moody, Ala., will use landfill gas to fuel its kilns, satisfying 40% of the plant's energy needs initially, with 100% projected in 10 years as the landfill grows. The project will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 62,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the equivalent of planting nearly 14,700 acres of forest.
Methane is the primary component of landfill gas, which results from the natural break-down of buried waste in a landfill. Reducing methane emissions provides immediate environmental benefits because methane, a greenhouse gas, is over 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide at capturing heat in the atmosphere. Capturing and using methane as a clean fuel also provides economic and energy-security benefits.
The company's new plant is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The facility was located and designed to reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions by using clean energy from a nearby landfill. J The facility is expected to benefit the local economy by creating approximately 55 new jobs.
"Our years-long cooperation with EPA's LMOP program has provided us with valuable technical expertise as we identify ways to save money – and the environment," said Mike Jenkins IV, CEO of Jenkins Brick Company. "In building this innovative facility, our American-owned company shows that it is much more than a brick manufacturer and distributor."
Jenkins Brick Company, headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., has been using clean-burning landfill gas to fuel its Montgomery brick plant since 1998. The success of this project convinced Jenkins management to build its next manufacturing facility to take advantage of local landfill gas.
EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program is a voluntary assistance and partnership program that promotes the use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source. By preventing emissions of methane through the development of landfill gas energy projects, the program helps businesses, states, energy providers, and communities protect the environment and build a sustainable future. Over the past decade, EPA has assisted with more than 300 projects and reduced methane emissions from landfills by about 27 million metric tons of carbon equivalent.
EPA Revamps Climate Change Web Site
The website still contains all information that was on EPA's global warming Web site but organizes it for easier access and adds new information.
The climate change site was developed by EPA in collaboration with other federal agencies. The scientific information it contains reflects consensus findings from U.S. and international organizations. The website has five primary sections: Science, U.S. Climate Policy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Environmental Effects, and What You Can Do.
Visitors to the site will find educational tools and information to help the public understand their personal impact on climate change, including a list of 30 practical steps people can take to reduce their emissions. Visitors will also find a calculator to help them estimate their "carbon footprint" – the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the course of everyday activities.
According to EPA, the United States is working aggressively to address climate change through voluntary programs. You can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions through simple measures, such as:
United Nations Environment Programme Partners with Google Earth
'Flying' around a virtual planet earth, zooming in on environmental hotspots and comparing today's crisis zones with yesterday's areas of natural beauty: All this has become a reality thanks to a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Google Earth.
Images of retreating glaciers and melting ice in polar and mountain areas, explosive growth of cities such as Las Vegas, forest loss in the Amazon, rapid oil and gas development in Wyoming and Canada, forest fires across sub-Saharan Africa and the decline of the Aral Sea in Central Asia and Lake Chad in Africa: this and much more is being presented in a series of 'before and after' satellite images of our changing environment to over 100 million Google Earth users worldwide.
Google Earth – Google’s 3D virtual world browser – now features satellite images of 100 environmental hotspots from around the world. The project builds on the success of UNEP’s hardcover release One Planet, Many People: Atlas of our Changing Environment.
UNEP's Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “These satellite pictures are a wake-up call to all of us to look at the sometimes devastating changes we are wreaking on our planet. Through spectacular imagery, Google Earth and UNEP offer a new way of visualizing the dangers facing our planet today. By tapping into the global Google community, we are able to reach out to millions of people who can mobilize and make a difference."
UNEP: Atlas of our Changing Environment uses images from the 2005 publication together with satellite depictions of changes to African Lakes (based on the 2006 hardcover Africa’s Lakes: Atlas of our Changing Environment), along with several new images and updates, and brings them into the virtual world of Google Earth. Each location features multiple satellite images which are overlaid directly on Google Earth.
'Flying' 2,500 km north across Southeast Asia, China’s economic powerhouse, Shenzhen, can be seen growing from a small city in the coastal forest in October 1979 to a sprawling industrial city with a population approaching 5 million in the greater metropolitan area by September 2004. Spinning the globe around to North America, enormous open pit mines in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada, can be seen where vast low-quality reserves of oil are being extracted from 'oil sands.'
Trivia Question of the Week
About how many hazardous material transportation incidents are officially reported to the DOT per day?
a. 19
b. 43
c. 76
d. 130
