The economic recovery plan signed by President Obama will create 3 to 4 million quality, sustainable jobs with many protecting our country’s public health and our environment.
“Through the President’s stimulus package, green initiatives will play a significant role in powering economic recovery,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “EPA’s portion of the plan will create good, sustainable jobs that help produce cleaner drinking water, purer air, environmentally friendly urban and rural re-development, and reduced greenhouse gases. This is a perfect example of economic growth and environmental protection working hand in hand to the benefit of all Americans.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 specifically includes $7.22 billion for projects and programs administered by EPA. These programs will protect and promote both green jobs and a healthier environment. These environmental areas include:
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $4 billion for assistance to help communities with water quality and wastewater infrastructure needs and $2 billion for drinking water infrastructure needs. A portion of the funding will be targeted toward green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency, and environmentally innovative projects
- Brownfields: $100 million for competitive grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial sites
- Diesel Emissions Reduction: $300 million for grants and loans to help regional, state and local governments, tribal agencies, and non-profit organizations with projects that reduce diesel emissions
- Superfund Hazardous Waste Cleanup: $600 million for the cleanup of hazardous sites
- Leaking Underground Storage Tanks: $200 million for cleanup of petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks
The new law is geared for performance and unprecedented transparency: preference will be given to projects that can be started and completed expeditiously, and EPA intends to move designated funds to states as quickly as possible. All funding will be monitored by EPA’s Inspector General, which will receive $20 million for oversight and review.
How will the Stimulus Plan Impact Department of Energy Projects?
The following Department of Energy programs are slated to receive funding under President Obama’s Economic Stimulus Act:
- —The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will receive a nearly ten-fold increase in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed on February 17. Most of the added funds will support state and local clean energy projects.
- —The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides enough funding to guarantee $60 billion in loans for renewable energy and electric transmission projects, and it also provides funding for smart grid initiatives and loans for federal transmission system expansions in the West.
- —The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will receive $4.5 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to convert existing federal buildings into high-performance green buildings. The GSA will also garner $300 million to purchase greener vehicles for federal fleets.
- —The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides $8 billion to support high-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service. The act also provides nearly $10 billion for transit systems in general.
- —The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides a three-year extension of the production tax credit for most renewable energy facilities, while allowing alternate methods to take advantage of that incentive. The act also expands business tax credits for renewable energy.
- —Homeowners can now earn greater tax credits for installing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, and both individuals and businesses can earn credits by buying electric vehicles or installing refueling or recharging stations. A new tax credit is also available for the manufacturers of these items.
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 doubles the amount of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds and triples the amount of qualified energy conservation bonds that can be allocated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The bonds can provide financing for a variety of clean energy projects.
EPA Administrator Jackson Reconsiders Applicability of C02 to Prevention of Significant Deterioration Regulations
The interpretive memo, put forward by then-EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson in December 2008, addresses when the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program applies to carbon dioxide, a chief greenhouse gas.
Concerns were soon raised about the memo’s potential impact on American communities and neighborhoods. In early January, the Sierra Club and other parties petitioned EPA to reconsider the Johnson memorandum.
“I am granting this petition because we must learn more about how this memo affects all relevant stakeholders impacted by its provisions,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “This will be a fair, impartial and open process that will allow the American public and key stakeholders to review this memorandum and to comment on its potential effects on communities across the country. EPA’s fundamental mission is to protect human health and the environment and we intend to do just that.”
EPA will vigorously review the Johnson memo to ensure that it is consistent with the Obama Administration’s climate change strategy and interpretation of the CAA. While conducting this review, EPA will abide by the three core principles outlined by Administrator Jackson: overwhelming transparency, adherence to the rule of law, and science-based policies and regulations.
To facilitate a transparent, impartial, and fair review, EPA will seek comment from the general public on this memo and its potential impact on American communities. This public comment period is consistent with the recommendations of the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) and allows for a measured, inclusive approach to reviewing this memo. In 2008, the EAB’s position was that EPA had not adequately articulated why its interpretation of the PSD program did not apply to carbon dioxide.
This most recent action is the latest in a series of steps intended to ensure EPA policies and procedures are consistent with EPA’s overall mission to protect human health and the environment.
Atlanta to Launch the Southeast’s First Zero Waste Zone
Of the materials disposed of in landfills, 82% are recoverable products, such as paper, organics, and plastics. In an effort to combat these statistics, Atlanta Recycles has partnered with the Green Foodservice Alliance, and is working in conjunction with EPA Region 4 and the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Department of Natural Resources to launch the southeast’s first, and one of the nation’s first, Zero Waste Zones.
Zero Waste Zones are designed to reduce the environmental impact of waste in homes, workplaces, and in the community. Phase One of the Zero Waste Zone will focus on downtown Atlanta’s convention district and participating foodservice operations. More than 10 participants, including the Georgia World Congress Center, the Hyatt Regency, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse have already pledged to recycle, reuse spent grease for the local production of biofuel, and compost or donate food residuals to drastically decrease the amount of waste going to landfills.
In addition, Levy Restaurants, the official foodservice operator of the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome, signed a contract on February 3 with Washington, D.C.-based EnviRelations, LLC—a partner of Closed Loop Organics—to begin composting food items from the two facilities for the next year. Each month, approximately 34 tons of organic materials will be diverted from landfills and more than 20 tons of compost will be created.
This new composting program was launched at the Meeting Planners International (MPI) conference in the Georgia World Congress Center. All food at the luncheon, for the more than 1,000 meeting and event planners attending, was either consumed, donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, or composted. No food residuals went to a landfill.
Holly Elmore, founder and executive director of the Green Foodservice Alliance, worked hand-in-hand with Atlanta Recycles to lead the initiative to develop the southeast’s first Zero Waste Zone, and will continue to oversee its expansion to additional foodservice operations and local businesses.
In Phase Two, Atlanta Recycles and the Green Foodservice Alliance will develop a model and collateral material to help expand the program to other locations in the convention district. Decals with the Zero Waste Zone brand will be developed and distributed to participants for education of the staff and public.
Phase Three will include expansion of the Zero Waste Zones outside of the downtown convention district to locations including Buckhead, Midtown, and other surrounding communities. Phase Four will expand to other areas of Georgia, the southeast, and nationally.
The Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA) is a division of the Georgia Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the American Culinary Federation—Greater Atlanta Chapter, Georgia Organics, and the Georgia Grown Program at the Department of Agriculture. GFA’s mission is to increase the supply of local and sustainable products available to the Georgia foodservice industry through efficient and fluid distribution channels.
For more information, contact Holly Elmore, executive director of Green Foodservice Alliance, at 404-261-4690.
BP Products to Pay Nearly $180 Million to Settle Clean Air Violations at Texas City Refinery
BP Products North America Inc. has agreed to spend more than $161 million on pollution controls, enhanced maintenance and monitoring, and improved internal management practices to resolve Clean Air Act (CAA) violations at its Texas City, Texas refinery. The company will also pay a $12 million civil penalty and spend $6 million on a supplemental project to reduce air pollution in Texas City.
This settlement addresses BP’s noncompliance with a 2001 consent decree and CAA regulations requiring strict controls on benzene and benzene-containing wastes generated during petroleum refining operations. The company is required to upgrade control equipment and processes used to handle these materials, conduct in-depth audits to ensure compliance, and minimize the amount of benzene-containing wastes generated at the refinery. It is estimated that these actions will reduce emissions of benzene and other volatile organic compounds by approximately 6,000 pounds annually.
EPA identified the violations addressed in the settlement during a series of inspections of the Texas City refinery initiated after a catastrophic explosion and fire in March 2005 that killed 15 people and injured more than 170 others. In October 2007, the company pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the CAA and agreed to pay a $50 million fine for violations related to the explosion, the largest criminal fine ever assessed against a corporation for CAA violations. The plea is still under review by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and this settlement does not address any claims arising from the March 2005 explosion.
The settlement requires that BP address violations of CAA requirements limiting emissions of stratospheric ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from leaking cooling appliances. BP will eliminate approximately 51,000 pounds of HCFCs by retrofitting industrial and commercial cooling appliances at Texas City to use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants. The company has also agreed to improve its oversight and management of asbestos-containing wastes generated during routine renovation and demolition activities at the Texas City Refinery.
As part of the settlement, the company will spend an additional $6 million to reduce air pollution from diesel vehicle emissions in Texas City and the surrounding area. BP will convert approximately 100 diesel municipal vehicles, including several dozen school buses, to operate on compressed or liquefied natural gas and will construct four refueling stations for the converted vehicles. As a result, emissions of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons from these vehicles will be substantially reduced.
Exposure to benzene, a hazardous air pollutant, is known to cause a number of acute and chronic health effects, including cancer, nerve and immunity impairment, and adverse reproductive and developmental effects, among others. HCFCs and other ozone-depleting substances, when released into the environment, destroy the earth’s protective stratospheric ozone layer. Exposure to asbestos, a known human carcinogen, can cause asbestosis and two types of cancer: lung cancer and mesothelioma.
BP Products North America, headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois, operates petroleum refineries in California., Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. The Texas City refinery, the third largest in the nation, has a production capacity of more than 460,000 barrels per day.
The proposed settlement, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
$1.6 Million Settlement Announced for Troy, Ohio, Superfund Site
EPA Region 5 and the U.S. Department of Justice have announced a $1,609,732 settlement with Livingston and Co., Inc.—a business responsible for contributing hazardous waste to the United Scrap Lead Superfund site near Troy, Ohio. As part of the settlement, Livingston will pay $290,268 to a larger “respondent group” of other responsible parties that performed cleanup work at the site. The consent decree has been entered with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Dayton. Government agencies and the respondent group have spent nearly $19 million to address cleanup of the site.
United Scrap Lead operated from 1948 to 1980 at a 25-acre site about one mile south of Troy. The business reclaimed materials from automotive batteries but left lead and battery acid in an 8-acre disposal area on the property. Livingston and Co., a scrap metal business, sent scrap batteries to United Scrap Lead.
The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1984. EPA and Ohio EPA supervised a series of cleanup activities at the site from 1985 to 1999, with the most extensive work beginning in 1997. In total, about 62,000 cubic yards of battery casing debris was excavated, treated, and shipped off-site for proper disposal. About 11,500 cubic yards of soil were excavated, treated, and left at the site. About 3,000 cubic yards of the excavated soils did not require chemical or stabilization treatment and were used as clean backfill on the site.
EPA has conducted two required five-year reviews of site conditions since 1999. These reviews confirmed that the cleanup currently protects residents near the site. EPA is in the process of establishing institutional controls to limit future uses of the property in the event it is sold or redeveloped. The agency plans to work with a receiver newly appointed by the court to finalize these controls and market the property to a new owner.
Stowe Construction Fined $36,000 for Stormwater Violations in Washington State
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Stowe Construction for failure to prevent, control, and treat stormwater runoff from construction projects in Sumner, Washington. Ecology provided company owner Bryan Stowe with technical assistance several times to help him bring the Rainier Park property and another site in Sumner into compliance with stormwater regulations.
The Rainier Park site includes 51.4 acres of disturbed soil on a steep slope in the city of Sumner. A drainage channel across the street from the front of the project runs to a salmon-bearing channel known as the Milwaukee ditch. Water in the channel eventually empties to the White River.
Ecology inspectors have visited the site numerous times since late 2007 to help the project’s managers understand and correct their stormwater permit violations. However, Ecology’s most recent inspection indicates there are still multiple violations of the project’s permit.
“Ecology’s considerable interactions with Mr. Stowe’s projects suggest he is well aware of the requirements of his construction stormwater permit,” said Kelly Susewind, Ecology’s water quality program manager. “Penalties are a last resort for us, but we feel this one is necessary to bring about positive change at the site.”
Ecology’s $36,000 penalty against Stowe Construction cites the company for failing to:
- Prevent, control and treat stormwater run-off from the site
- Keep a stormwater pollution plan and inspection reports on site
- Prevent the discharge of muddy water from the site
- Maintain silt fencing, plastic sheeting, check dams, and drain inlets, all of which are used to control and reduce stormwater run-off from a construction site
Stowe has 30 days to respond to the fine. The company can pay the penalty, appeal it to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board, or file a request for reconsideration with Ecology.
Mack Industries to Pay $24,500 Penalty for Dust Emissions
Mack Industries, Inc., has agreed to pay Ohio EPA a $24,500 penalty for violations of Ohio’s air pollution control laws. Between 2005 and 2008, Mack Industries was repeatedly cited for failing to adequately control dust emissions at its concrete production facility in Medina County. The facility also exceeded visible particulate emissions limits established in its permit. The violations were documented by the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District, Ohio EPA’s contractual representative for administering the air pollution control program in Medina County.
To correct the violations, Mack Industries has installed a vehicle wheel wash system designed to remove dust, mud, and other debris from vehicles exiting the facility. The company also has agreed to use its street sweeper and other dust control measures to prevent dust from going airborne and onto neighboring properties.
Leo & Sons Auto Repair & Towing Fined $12,000 for Performing Fraudulent Auto Emissions Tests
Leo & Sons Auto Repair & Towing, a motor vehicle inspection station in Lawrence, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $12,000 in fines and serve a 30-day suspension of its license for conducting a dozen fraudulent emissions tests during 2008, giving motorists passing inspection stickers when their vehicles should have failed.
Leo & Sons Auto Repair & Towing and its owner, Leo LaMontagne, agreed to the sanctions after inspectors and staff from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and MassDEP’s Environmental Strike Force uncovered vehicle data from computerized emissions tests. The tests, which did not match vehicle registration information in a state database, were performed by three of the company’s inspectors.
On 12 occasions during 2008, inspectors at Leo & Sons connected their emissions testing equipment to the on-board computer of a vehicle other than the one brought in for inspection. The swap ensured that the owner of the vehicle that was supposed to be tested would receive a passing sticker.
Under the consent order it entered into with MassDEP, Leo & Sons will pay $12,000 of the $24,000 penalty originally assessed, with the remainder suspended upon full compliance with the law and no further violations.
Under the enforcement settlement, Leo & Sons signed a “Last Chance Agreement” with RMV that stipulates a license suspension of 30 days. That suspension, which bars the station from engaging in any emissions tests, will be extended for two years if new violations are discovered.
Leo & Sons was one of seven inspection stations targeted in October for enforcement action for illegally performing what is known as “clean scanning.” The other cases involve inspection stations in Dorchester, Somerville, Lawrence, Framingham, and Everett. Those additional cases are still being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office or are currently under settlement negotiations with MassDEP.
On October 1, 2008, MassDEP and RMV implemented the “next generation” Vehicle Emission Test and Safety Inspection Program. The new program enables MassDEP and RMV to better detect any fraudulent emissions inspections and to quickly take the appropriate enforcement action.
University of Minnesota to Pay $10,000 in Civil Penalties and Fund $50,000 Environmental Project for Asbestos Violations
The University of Minnesota has paid two $5,000 civil penalties and will complete a $50,000 supplemental environmental project as a result of asbestos violations at its Centennial Showboat and its Rosemount facility known as UMore Park. A stipulation agreement was executed between the University and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on January 22, 2009.
The University’s fire-damaged Showboat had been dry-docked for renovation since about 1995. A third party salvaged the ship’s hull during the University’s ownership. On May 7, 2007 the MPCA inspected the Showboat in response to a complaint and documented approximately 45 cubic yards of dry, asbestos-containing material on the ground. The material was generated when the boat’s boiler system was dismantled. The University failed to ensure that the material was kept adequately wet and therefore less likely to become airborne and inhaled. To comply with environmental regulations, the University should also have notified the MPCA prior to removing the asbestos-containing material and disposed of it as soon as was practical.
The 8,000-acre UMore Park site in Rosemount is a former U.S. government facility that once had more than 900 buildings on it. The buildings were demolished before the property was sold to the University. Some building debris was left behind including a building paneling material that contained asbestos. This asbestos-containing material can release asbestos fibers that become airborne if it is crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to a powder. In September 2007, following a complaint, the MPCA inspected a few of the 170 acres of the site where heavy equipment had been removing trees and brush and discovered broken pieces of the asbestos-containing material in the soil and on concrete foundations. The University failed to have either a licensed asbestos-abatement contractor conduct the tree removal project, or have the asbestos-containing material removed before beginning the project.
As part of the MPCA agreement for a supplemental environmental project, the University will provide $50,000 to support a study regarding Minnesota mining workers’ health issues, which includes mesothelioma.
Supercon, Inc. Fined $6,500 for Violating Air Emissions and Hazardous Waste Regulations
MassDEP has fined Supercon, Inc., a manufacturer of composite metal wires and rods at its plant located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a $6,500 penalty for violating Air Pollution Control and Hazardous Waste Management regulations.
MassDEP personnel conducted an inspection at the facility in January of 2007, and determined that the company had failed to comply with its current permit, resulting in excess air emissions. In addition, the company failed to properly complete its hazardous waste manifests, failed to ensure emergency information was properly maintained and posted, and failed to plan for and train its personnel involved in hazardous waste management.
In a consent order finalized with MassDEP, the company agreed to comply with all applicable regulations, perform a study to determine the appropriate replacement for its air pollution control equipment, and pay the penalty.
A&L Salvage Landfill in Ohio to Immediately Cease Operations
A&L Salvage Landfill has been ordered to cease all operations and close the business, effective February 20. The construction and demolition debris landfill in Lisbon, Ohio will stop accepting waste and will work with Ohio EPA and Ohio Attorney General on a closure plan that will protect the environment and eliminate nuisance odors impacting the surrounding community.
The landfill’s closing is part of an agreement in principle between the state and owners of A&L Salvage. In addition to immediately ceasing waste disposal operations at the landfill, the owners have agreed to enter into an environmental covenant that will prohibit any new landfills from operating on A&L Salvage’s property.
For several years, Ohio EPA inspectors have documented numerous violations in the landfill’s 42-acre disposal area including: excessive hydrogen sulfide and dust emissions; acceptance and disposal of pulverized and solid wastes; improper handling and disposal of asbestos waste; and failure to properly cover waste and manage surface water.
Over the last year, A&L Salvage scaled back its waste disposal business, but failed to adequately address the issues that contribute to nuisance odors and other environmental concerns. In recent weeks, Ohio EPA inspectors documented and residents confirmed that landfill odors were getting markedly worse. Since January 1, Ohio EPA has received more than 60 odor complaints about the landfill. That compares to approximately 67 complaints in 2008 and 171 complaints in 2007.
Odor abatement will be addressed through a closure plan that will require A&L Salvage to install a permanent landfill cap and gas management system. The state and landfill’s owners are working to finalize the closure plan. The final requirements will be detailed in a consent order filed with the Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas.
Lawsuit Claims Louisiana Generating Failed to Comply with New Source Review
The United States has filed a complaint against Louisiana Generating alleging that the company violated the CAA by operating the Big Cajun 2 Power Plant, a coal-fired power plant in New Roads, Louisiana, without also installing and operating modern pollution control equipment after the generating units had undergone major modifications.
The complaint alleges that for more than a decade, the Big Cajun 2 Power Plant has operated without the best available emissions-control technology required by the New Source Review provisions of the CAA to control emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, contributing to formation of fine particulate matter, smog, and acid rain.
The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department on behalf of the EPA, asks the court to order Louisiana Generating to install and operate appropriate air pollution control technology in order to substantially reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from the Big Cajun 2 Power Plant. The United States also seeks civil penalties up to the maximum amount authorized by law, as well as actions by the energy provider to mitigate the adverse effects alleged to have been caused by the violations.
Coal-fired power plants collectively produce more pollution than any other industry in the United States. They account for nearly 70% of sulfur dioxide emissions each year and 20% of nitrogen oxides emissions. Emissions from coal-fired power plants have detrimental health effects on asthma sufferers, the elderly, and children. Additionally, these emissions have been linked to forest degradation, waterway damage, reservoir contamination, and deterioration of stone and copper in buildings.
To combat these adverse effects, the EPA and the Justice Department are pursuing a national initiative, targeting electric utilities whose coal-fired power plants violate the law. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
EPA Orders the City of Pacifica to Comply with Sewage Sludge Requirements
EPA has ordered the city of Pacifica, California, to comply with federal sewage sludge requirements after discovering the city failed to meet federal pathogen requirements before sewage sludge was applied to land.
EPA found that, between January and June 2007, sewage sludge from Pacifica’s wastewater treatment plant exceeded limits for fecal coliform. The sewage sludge was land-applied to fields in Sacramento County, Solano County, and Merced County for growing grasses, such as ryegrass.
When properly treated and processed, sewage sludge can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.
“Biosolids can be an excellent fertilizer when the specific requirements to ensure its safe use are consistently met,” said Alexis Strauss, the EPA’s Water Division director for the Pacific Southwest region. “We monitor biosolids compliance throughout the Southwest to ensure public health and the environment are protected.”
The order directs Pacifica to ensure that sewage sludge is not applied to land when federal pathogen and/or vector attraction reduction requirements are not met. The order also requires the city to report its self-monitoring results to the EPA on a monthly basis for one year.
Consent Decree Filed Against Hermes Consolidated, Inc., Under the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, and SARA Title III
On February 10, 2009, a proposed Consent Decree in United States, et al. v. Hermes Consolidated, Inc., dba Wyoming Refining Company, was lodged with the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.
The Consent Decree in this enforcement action against Hermes Consolidated, Inc. (“Hermes”), resolves allegations by the EPA, asserted in a complaint filed together with the Consent Decree, under the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, and SARA Title III for alleged environmental violations at Hermes’s petroleum refinery in Newcastle, Wyoming. The proposed Consent Decree also resolves separate but related state law claims by the State of Wyoming.
This is one of numerous national settlements reached as part of the EPA’s National Petroleum Refinery Initiative. Consistent with the objectives of EPA’s initiative, in addition to the payment of civil penalties, the settlement will require Hermes to perform injunctive relief to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide at the refinery. Also, the refinery will upgrade its leak detection and repair program to reduce emissions from pumps and valves.
The Department of Justice will receive comments for a period of 30 days following the date of publication in the Federal Register.
Pennsylvania Announces More than $21.5 Million Investment in 144 Growing Greener Projects Geared Toward Improving Water Quality
The funds are being distributed to non-profit organizations, watershed groups, and county and municipal governments to address local and regional water quality issues.
“The vast majority of the work to improve water quality and treat Pennsylvania’s mine drainage and pollution problems is done by community volunteers and local governments, and the role of the Growing Greener program is to provide support to these organizations so that this work can continue,” Governor Rendell said. “Many of these projects are modest in size but they make significant contributions to the health of our waterways, which improves our quality of life and creates opportunities for economic development in communities affected by historic pollution or flooding problems.”
Growing Greener grants are used to create or restore wetlands, restore stream buffer zones, eliminate causes of nonpoint source pollution, plug oil and gas wells, reclaim abandoned mine lands, and restore aquatic life to streams that were lifeless due to acid mine drainage. Funded projects include educational programs, scientific studies, and youth volunteer opportunities such as an ongoing program that enlists local high school students to perform riparian buffer planting on local farms and streams. Dam removal projects that will improve streamflow and aquatic habitat will be funded in several counties, and funding is provided for repairs, upgrades, and improvements to urban stormwater control infrastructure.
EPA Sponsors Southeast Lifecycle Construction Conference to Focus on Sustainable Design and Construction for this Generation and the Next
Are you a contractor, developer, architect, planner, or government official interested in saving green by building green?
“Now more than ever we need to focus on sustainable design processes and construction to protect both our environment and our wallets,” said Stan Meiburg, Acting EPA Regional Administrator. “This conference will encourage building professionals throughout the Southeast to think of sustainability first when planning construction projects.”
Lifecycle construction examines the environmental and economic impacts and the overall sustainability of the construction process from planning to final use of the building. This will be the first conference of its kind in the Southeast with a specific focus on green construction practices and design.
Some of the issues that will be addressed at the conference include drought, congestion, diminished air quality, stormwater, energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and construction waste and recycling. There will be discussions about the industry’s carbon footprint and the green market and the creation of “green jobs.” Regional and national experts will be in attendance to discuss the full construction lifecycle, and there will be many opportunities to network with federal, state, and local government officials and regulators.
The conference will also consider the complete construction lifecycle including site preparation, building materials selection, debris management, air pollution control, stormwater and sediment control, demolition, converting buildings for reuse, design for disassembly, and creating buildings that facilitate and anticipate future changes.
DOT Launches IntelliDriveSM Website
The IntelliDriveSM Program combines advanced wireless communications, on-board computer processing, advanced vehicle sensors, GPS navigation, smart infrastructure, and technologies to provide the capability for vehicles to identify threats and hazards on the roadway and to be able to communicate this information over wireless networks to give drivers alerts and warnings.
The need to develop and implement new, more aggressive safety solutions can be seen through the following U.S. transportation accident statistics:
- 6 million crashes per year
- 41,000 fatalities in 2007
- Direct economic costs of $230.6 billion in year 2000 dollars
In addition to fatalities and injuries, traffic accidents account for 25% of all congestion and close to $20 billion per year in congestion-related costs. Although the environmental costs of motor vehicle accidents and congestion have not been calculated, idling vehicles during incident detection, response, and recovery result in unproductive fuel consumption and unnecessary carbon emissions.
EPA Reports on Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States for 2007
EPA has collected and reported data on the generation and disposal of waste in the United States for more than 30 years. The information is used to measure the success of waste reduction and recycling programs across the country.EPA plans to update the report on a bi-annual basis.
EPA is Seeking Applications for Smart Growth Implementation Assistance
Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. Applications may be submitted through April 23, 2009.
Some key areas in which communities are likely to benefit from the free technical assistance offered through this program include:
- Climate change (both mitigation of and adaptation to)
- Green job development
- Corridor redevelopment
- Green building development
- Suburban retrofitting
- Disaster resiliency
Proposals are not limited to requests for technical assistance in only these areas; other topics for assistance are welcome and encouraged, provided they demonstrate cutting-edge challenges and the possibility of replicable solutions.
EPA is soliciting applications for assistance with either policy analysis or public participatory processes. The type of work may incorporate policy analysis and review, planning and visioning processes, scorecard/ranking criteria development and assessment, and/or other elements pertinent to the role of the applicant.
Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a team of experts organized by EPA and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA plans to assist three to five communities over a period of twelve months. The Agency anticipates announcing the selected communities in fall of 2009.
Tips for Saving Winter Energy Costs
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center and the Missouri Public Service Commission jointly launched the BEE Website last fall to help Missourians impacted by home heating costs. In addition to tips, the site also includes video clips touring a typical home to locate energy saving opportunities, and links to many other online sources of energy saving information.
A sampling of energy-saving winter heating tips on the site includes:
- When not in use, make sure the fireplace damper is tightly closed.
- Make sure vents are not blocked by furniture or drapes.
- Clean warm air-registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed.
- Set back your thermostat. Each degree you lower your thermostat can cut your heating costs between one and three percent. The lower you set it, the more you’ll save. A common strategy is to lower thermostat settings to 68 degrees. Seniors and people with special medical needs should check with their doctors before changing normal home temperatures or considering turning off heating units.
- Turn your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees during sleeping hours or while you’re away can save even more money on your heating bill.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat, which can be set to lower temperatures automatically at night or when no one is home.
- Clean or replace furnace air filters once a month, or more often when dirty.
- Weatherize. Seal air leaks around doors, windows and other openings, such as plumbing and electrical penetrations and holes through the foundation, walls and ceiling.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater. For most uses, 115 degrees is comfortable.
- If you’re planning to replace a furnace, or other heating system, install equipment that is highly efficient. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label to find the most energy-efficient equipment available.
- While you’re at it, seek out the ENERGY STAR? label when you’re thinking about replacing other appliances or home electronics.
The department’s Energy Center is a non-regulatory state office that works to protect the environment and stimulate the economy through energy efficiency and renewable energy resources and technologies.
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) is Seeking Candidates for the 2010-2013 Term
EPA is inviting nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council () for the 2010-2013 membership term, or to one of the work groups convened to assist the Council in its deliberations.
The NEJAC is chartered under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Its purpose is to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Administrator of the EPA about matters relating to environmental justice.
In accordance with the guidelines of the FACA, appointments to the NEJAC must adhere to a balanced representation of viewpoints. All members of the NEJAC serve as representatives of non-Federal interests. In accordance with the NEJAC charter (approved by Congress on September 19, 2008), the following key environmental constituencies were selected to ensure a balanced representation of viewpoints:
- Academia
- Community-based Groups
- Industry/Business
- Non-governmental Organizations and Environmental Groups
- State and Local Governments
- Tribal and Indigenous Governments and Organizations
If a member of the NEJAC Executive Council resigns, a replacement will be appointed to complete the term.
Steps in the nomination process include:
1. You may nominate yourself or a colleague. All that is required is a resume, a cover letter expressing your interest in serving, and at lease one letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the experience that you can bring to the Council.
2. Nominations are accepted throughout the year. Send nomination packages to:
Victoria J. Robinson
NEJAC Designated Federal Officer
Office of Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (MC-2201A)
Washington, D.C. 20460
Telephone: 202-564-6349 [toll-free: 800-962-6215]
Fax: 202 564-1624
Environmental News Links
Trivia Question of the Week
Erosion from a one-acre construction site could discharge how much sediment in a year?
a. 20 to 100 pounds
b. 2,000 to 10,000 pounds
c. 2 to 15 tons
d. 20 to 150 tons