The Missouri Department of Natural Resources uses surveillance cameras at dumpsites across Missouri to combat illegal dumping. The goal is to educate people and provide alternative options, such as obtaining commercial trash service or using a permitted landfill, transfer station, or recycling facility for environmentally sound disposal.
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The evidence contained on the tapes resulted in 14 guilty pleas of 23 counts of littering. Some of those caught on tape were frequent visitors to the roadside dumpsite that has plagued Saline County for many years.á
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California to Revise Universal Waste Regulations
á á Regulations for mercury-containing equipment are being revised to incorporate the recent federal adoption of this type of waste as universal waste.
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CRTs Banned from Trash in Minnesota
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Governor Tim Pawlenty has signed legislation that delayed the implementation of the disposal ban for cathode-ray-tube-containing products such as televisions and computer monitors. The revised disposal ban is to go into effect July 1, 2006.
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The ban was delayed in order to consider management strategies for waste electronics and address concerns from local government regarding the costs to establish comprehensive electronics recycling programs.á
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Proposed Emission Standards for Organic Liquids Distribution (Non-Gasoline)
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The proposed amendments are being made to clarify the applicability and control requirements for storage tanks and transfer racks, and amend the recordkeeping and reporting requirements for affected sources for which there are no control requirements. Submit comments on or before December 29, 2005. POC is Ms. Martha Smith, EPA, Waste and Chemical Processes Group (C439-03), Emission Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, 919-541-2421, fax 919-541-3207,
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á (Federal Register: November 14, 2005 [Proposed Rules], Page 69209-69237). The Federal Register notice is available
$56,000 Fine for Disposal of Waste Toluene on Plywood Board
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The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) fined Magnum Trailers $56,000 for allowing solvent to drain into the ground and for other repeated hazardous waste violations at its facility near Ferndale.
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Magnum Trailers Co. personnel poured used solvent from cleaning paint sprayers onto a plywood board to evaporate, and some of the liquid drained to the ground. Washington's hazardous waste law requires hazardous waste generators to place used chemicals in safe containers for disposal with authorized contractors or county waste programs.
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"We visited three times and explained how the business could fix the problems on its own, yet the violations continued," said Darin Rice, Hazardous Waste Program Manager. "Magnum must correct these practices and clean up what has been spilled."
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The toluene entered the ground near a small stream and wetland area. The improper disposal practices date back as far as May 1998. The company placed approximately 10 gallons of spent solvent on the piece of plywood each month.
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Ecology also found the company had not identified or properly handled other dangerous waste materials, including buckets of solvent, solvent-soaked shop towels, and containers of unidentified liquid wastes.
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In a related separate action, Ecology also has ordered the company and its landlord, Perry Pallet Company, to have the site professionally evaluated for soil and groundwater contamination and cleaned up as needed, within 90 days. Perry has hired a consultant to evaluate the site and plan a cleanup. The order also requires proper disposal of hazardous wastes at the business within 30 days.
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"Similar industries follow the hazardous waste laws every day," said Rice. "Magnum would have spent a fraction of what they'll pay for cleanup if they had handled their wastes correctly."
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Bill Introduced to Strengthen TSCA
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A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to reduce the exposure of children, workers, and consumers to toxic chemical substances was introduced by Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA).
New York Proposes to Regulate Dental Amalgam
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The DEC has proposed to regulate dental amalgam to ensure that it is not mixed with medical waste or disposed of in wastewater.á The state will establish storage, recordkeeping, recordkeeping and disposal standards.
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Alabama Asks for Tougher Emission Limits in Georgia
á ADEM contends that sources of air pollutants in Georgia could interfere with AlabamaÆs ability to maintain its ozone attainment status.á Under current EPA rules, Alabama requires large emission sources North of the 32nd parallel to comply with a permanent summertime emissions cap; however Georgia does not have a similar requirement.
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Ohio Issues New Guidance on Hazardous Waste Generator Status
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Ohio EPA's Division of Hazardous Waste Management has issued a new guidance document titled, "Hazardous Waste Generator Categories" which replaces the "Episodic Generation" fact sheet.á
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$8,900 Penalty for Placing 5-gallon Bucket of Corrosive Waste in Trash
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Ohio EPA reached a settlement with Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, Inc. for past hazardous waste violations and issued an administrative consent order on November 1, 2005. Millennium was found to have placed a 5-gallon bucket of a corrosive waste into a municipal rolloff container which was then transported to a municipal solid waste landfill in Geneva, OH.á The settlement includes a $4,400 penalty of which $3,300 will be deposited into the state's hazardous waste cleanup fund.á In lieu of paying the remaining $1,100 of the civil penalty, Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, Inc. will fund a supplemental environmental project by making a contribution in the amount of $1,100 to the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program.á
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Detroit Air Toxics Report
á The report shows that most air toxics in the Detroit area were found at levels that, based on current knowledge, do not pose health risks to the citizens of Detroit.
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ôThe Detroit Air Toxics Initiative is providing us with valuable information to help understand the air quality of this region,ö said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. ôWe will be using this information to prioritize our efforts to reduce exposure to air toxics and further improve the quality of life in Detroit.ö
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Although the DEQ routinely monitors the levels of certain air toxics at several locations in Michigan, the DATI is the first project to include an intensive monitoring effort with analysis of the data to characterize potential health risks and prioritize risk reduction efforts. A Stakeholder Group consisting of representatives from government, industry, universities, environmental, and community groups have played a role in developing this project.
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The DATI is being conducted in two phases: a risk assessment phase and a risk reduction phase. The risk assessment phase involved analysis of monitoring data collected for over 200 air toxics between April 2001 and April 2002 at seven Detroit-area sites, a remote rural site (near Houghton Lake) and a smaller urban site (Ypsilanti) for comparison purposes.
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While the report shows the majority of toxics were found at safe levels, it does show several that were notably high in the Detroit area, though many of those were found at levels similar to that of other large, industrialized urban areas of the United States. The DEQ will use the risk assessment findings to help develop options to reduce risks from air toxics in Detroit.á This project will be completed by October 2006.
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Contaminated Sites General Permit
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A Notice of Availability of the final NPDES Remediation General Permit (RGP) in Massachusetts (MAG910000) and New Hampshire (NHG910000) was recently published in the Federal Register
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The RGP was developed to cover a number of discharges, including from:
- áááááááá site cleanups activities related primarily to petroleum leaks or spills, (including site cleanups of groundwater contaminated from oil and gasoline)
- áááááááá site cleanups where the spill or leak is not petroleum-specific (such as sites contaminated with volatile organic compounds and/or metals)
- áááááááá construction de-watering of contaminated sites (such as at EPA or state-listed contamination sites)
- áááááááá de-watering of miscellaneous contaminated sites (such as long-term cleanup of contaminated sumps, and short-term contaminated dredge drain back waters if not covered by Section 401/404 permit, aquifer pump testing to evaluate formerly contaminated sites, well-development or rehabilitation at contaminated or formerly contaminated sites, and hydrostatic testing of pipelines and tanks)
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The final general permit is for discharges at sites/facilities located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and Indian Country lands in Massachusetts. The permit establishes notice of intent requirements, effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions, and best management practices.
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EPA Cites Anchor for Air Permit Violations
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EPA Region 5 cited Anchor Hocking CG Operating Co. LLC/Global Home Products LLC (Anchor) for alleged clean-air violations at the company's glass manufacturing plant in Lancaster, Ohio.
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EPA alleges that Anchor modified the plant causing a significant increase in particulate (smoke, dust, ash) emissions without getting a state permit that would require adequate emission controls.
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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. Anchor has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
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Delaware Charges CitiSteel for Dust Emissions
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The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control charged CitiSteel, Inc. with two air pollution violations resulting from operations at their carbon steel plate mill at 4001 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Del. on October 1 and November 4, 2005.
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DNREC enforcement officers have investigated numerous citizen complaints about dust from the plant settling on their residences and cars.á The two charges filed today allege that CitiSteel caused or contributed to the release of the dust. The charges, violations of Delaware law governing air pollution were filed in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and carry fines ranging from $50 to $500 for each day of violation. An arraignment on the charges has been scheduled for 11 a.m., November 30, 2005, in Justice of the Peace Court 11.
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DNRECÆs Division of Air and Waste Management will be closely monitoring the CitiSteel plant for dust emissions and will assess charges if there are future violations.
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Delaware Issues Small Business Environmental Guide
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DNRECÆs Pollution Prevention Program recently issued the Delaware Small Business Guide to Environmental Programs. This first edition of the Delaware Small Business Guide to Environmental Programs provides small business owners with introductory information about state laws and regulatory programs that may affect their operations.
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There is also information on assistance and voluntary programs.á The purpose of the guide is to help familiarize Delaware small businesses with the various environmental programs in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and inform them of where to direct questions they may have about these programs.
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The guide can be obtained at DNRECÆs Pollution Prevention Office located at the DNREC Richardson and Robbins Building on Kings Hwy in Dover or by contacting Crystal Nagyiski at 302-739-9909
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Delaware to Control Power Plant Emissions
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Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary John A. Hughes announced the agency is initiating a rulemaking to reduce emissions from DelawareÆs older, high emitting coal and residual oil fired power plants.á The announcement also acknowledges that Delaware, through DNREC and the Public Service Commission, is participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This could result in greenhouse gas controls or offsets being required to reduce or offset carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in Delaware.
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ôOne of my goals has been to reduce mercury and other pollutants from our power plants,ö said Governor Ruth Ann Minner.á ôThese plants are among the largest sources of toxic emissions in our state and this initiative is important to improving our air quality and protecting public health,ö said Governor Minner.á ôI encourage our power generating companies to work with DNREC on solutions that are environmentally protective, make economic sense and assure reliability of our power supply.ö
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ôThe new regulation will target power plants that are between 25 and 51 years old, said DNREC Secretary, John A. Hughes.á ôIn addition to developing a regulation to reduce emissions, I have asked my staff to work with the utilities on ways to encourage the repowering of these units. Repowering would not only clean up air emissions, but it would increase energy efficiency, and provide Delaware citizens with more reliable power.ö
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Pollutants to be reduced by the regulation include nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and mercury.á NOX is one of the key air pollutants that cause DelawareÆs ground level ozone problem, and an associated larger regional ozone problem that covers much of the eastern United States. Both NOX and SOX are significant contributors to DelawareÆs fine particulate matter problem, the associated larger regional fine particulate matter problem and the regional haze problem.
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According to EPA projections, the current federal rules, including the Clean Air Interstate Rule and the Clean Air Mercury Rule, will not lead to ozone and fine particulate matter attainment in Delaware, and will not reduce emissions from DelawareÆs power plants.á In fact, EPA modeling projects that under these federal rules power plant emissions in Delaware will increase.
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ôSince the federal governmentÆs Clean Air Interstate Rule will likely not result in any substantive emission controls on Delaware utilities, the need for statewide enforceable regulatory controls has never been more apparent,ö continued Secretary Hughes.
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PPL Sued for 100 Million Gallon Spill
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Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) filed suit against PPL following a 100 million gallons of contaminated water and coal ash into the Delaware River.á DEP filed asked the Commonwealth Court to enter judgment against PPL for damages to PennsylvaniaÆs natural resources. The suit cites violations of the Solid Waste Management, Air Pollution Control, Dam Safety and Encroachments, and Hazardous Sites Cleanup acts, as well as the Clean Streams Law and violations of residual waste, dam safety and waterway management regulations.
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According to the Star-Ledger, the suit is intended as a hammer over the head of power company PPL, ensuring that the utility proceed with its cleanup work while DEP determines how much it will fine the company.á
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The spill left plumes of dishwater gray in the Delaware River from shoreline to shoreline. A byproduct of coal-burning, the ash was in a large earthen basin.
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The complaint asks the court to enter a judgment against PPL for damages to natural resources. It cited violations of the Solid Waste Management, Air Pollution Control, Dam Safety and Encroachments and Hazardous Sites Cleanup acts, DEP representatives said.á
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Pennsylvania Inspectors to Document all Hazardous Waste Inspection Violations
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Enforcement personnel sometimes used their discretion when determining whether or not to document regulatory violations, either because they were minor or because they were immediately corrected.á The policy indicates that all violations should be cited to ensure that, during future inspections, special attention will be given to the conditions that caused these violations to occur. And, if future inspections detect the same types of violations, the DEP may decide that a more formal enforcement action is required.
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What to Consider before Buying a Home Water Treatment Unit
á The guidance will help you select the best unit based on your water conditions.á
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Early Release of Reporting Year 2004 TRI Data
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To better inform communities, EPA released the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facility-level data for Reporting Year 2004.á á Many stakeholders have requested that EPA share TRI data sooner and in the format received, without waiting for further analysis, and this is the second year that EPA is doing an e-FDR.á The "raw" data released is not grouped and as easily searchable as the traditional Public Data Release (PDR), which also includes more quality checks, national trends and analysis.á The e-FDR is intended to get data to communities faster - not to replace the PDR. EPA will still publish the complete PDR in spring 2006.
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Increased electronic reporting allows EPA to publish the earlier e-FDR, and is part of EPA's initiative to modernize and streamline the TRI program.á Electronic reporting also supports data accuracy with built-in quality checks, and makes reporting easier for facilities.
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TRI provides the American public with vital information on chemical releases including disposal for their communities, TRI tracks releases of chemicals and industrial sectors specified by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986.á The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also mandates that facilities report data on other waste management activities such as treatment, recycling, and energy recovery.
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New Federal Rule Solves Longstanding Florida Wastewater Problem
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Following extensive study, analysis and development, the EPA has finalized an approach to disposal of wastewater that offers greater protection for underground sources of drinking water and potential savings for wastewater treatment facilities in Florida.á The Underground Injection Control (UIC) rule sharply reduces the possibility of contamination from wastewater injected into deep wells.
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Facilities may opt for one of several approaches as long as their action brings them into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.á Those that use the UIC method must have industrial pretreatment so that various sources of effluent remove major contaminants before the water enters the wastewater treatment plant.á Treatment facilities, in turn, add a secondary level of treatment and then high-level disinfection to inactivate pathogenic organisms.á This results in water that meets the same standard as is required by the State of Florida for reuse water applied on lawns, golf courses and similar applications.
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"This rule helps Florida continue to protect underground sources of drinking water as well as aquatic ecosystems by strengthening pollution prevention and disinfection requirements," said Assistant Administrator of Water Benjamin H. Grumbles.
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The rule is based, in part, on the findings of a comprehensive study called "Relative Risk Assessment of Management Options for Treated Wastewater in S. Florida."á It demonstrated the feasibility and cost effectiveness of the approach.á Some treatment facilities have been facing prohibitively expensive alternative disposal methods or perhaps even closing their operations.
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For more than 20 years, some Florida municipalities have been using underground injection as an alternative to surface disposal of treated domestic wastewater.á These high-technology (Class I) wells have been drilled 1,000-3,000 feet deep.á However, evidence has accumulated that some of the wastewater has been migrating into underground sources of drinking water.
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The UIC rule provides wastewater treatment facilities with a solution that brings them into compliance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.á As a salutary side effect, treatment facilities may find there is a market for the treated water, which could reduce the need for injection.
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EPA has also found that pretreatment programs and prohibitions on wastewater from significant industrial users have prevented contaminants from getting into wastewater in the first place, and that secondary treatment is a critical step in wastewater treatment prior to high-level disinfection
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers the UIC Program in the state.á DEP will propose regulations that are at least as stringent as this new federal rule.á Facilities in St. Petersburg already meet this standard and improvements to meet the standard at Miami-Dade are underway.
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EPA Cites Allcast for Clean-Air Violations
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EPA Region 5 has cited Allcast Inc. for alleged violations of federal hazardous air pollutant emission standards at the company's secondary aluminum production facility in Allenton, Wis.á EPA alleges that Allcast failed to do performance testing on one of its furnaces used for melting coated aluminum returned by its customers and that it failed to comply with notification and recordkeeping requirements. The alleged violations occurred between January 2002 and September 2004.
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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. Allcast has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
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California and Arizona Companies Save over $700,000 by Reporting Their Violations to EPA
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Thirteen California companies recently saved a collective $586,054 in potential penalties for voluntarily disclosing and quickly correcting their federal Emergency Planning and Community-Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) violations with the EPA.
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In return for the prompt disclosure and correction, the EPA's Pacific Southwest Office dropped penalties ranging from $5,000 to $98,000 to businesses in the Bay Area and southern and central California.
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"This is a win for communities, for business, and for the EPA," said Enrique Manzanilla, the EPA's Communities and Ecosystems Division director for the Pacific Southwest region.á "The public now has accurate information about chemicals released in their communities, and because these companies quickly reported and corrected their reporting violations, they avoided penalties and are now in compliance with the EPA's community right-to-know laws."
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Two Arizona companies saved a collective $109,500 in potential penalties for voluntarily disclosing and quickly correcting their EPCRA violations with the EPA.
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In return for the prompt disclosure and correction, the EPA's Pacific Southwest office dropped penalties ranging from $5,000 to $104,500 to businesses in Phoenix and Buckeye, Ariz.
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Bulk Transportation, based in Buckeye, failed to report nitric acid from 2000 to 2002 and certain glycol ethers, methanol, toluene and xylene for 2002.á The company, which distributes and transfers various chemicals, discovered the reporting error during an environmental audit. The potential fine for these violations was $104,500.
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Phoenix-based Columbus Chemical Industries, Inc., which produces semi-grade nitric acid and blend,á failed to report nitric acid for 2001, and would have faced a $5,000 fine had the company not promptly disclosed and corrected the error with the EPA.
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Federal Law requires certain facilities using chemicals over specified amounts to file annual reports to the EPA and the state that estimate the amounts released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site or transferred off-site for waste management.á
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EPA Issues First Draft Staff Paper on Ground-Level Ozone
á á The draft staff paper, "Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone," includes scientific and technical information about ozone related health and welfare effects, initial results from a human exposure analysis and health risk assessment, and discussion of a planned vegetation-related environmental assessment.
á .á Development of the staff paper is the second step in this extensive scientific and technical assessment process.á The first step in that process is the preparation of an Air Quality Criteria Document.á The Criteria Document is a comprehensive assessment of scientific data about the health and environmental effects associated with the pollutant under review -- in this case, ozone. EPA's Office of Research and Development released the Second External Review Draft of the Ozone Criteria Document in August, 2005.
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The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and five other major pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment.á The law also requires EPA to periodically review the standards to ensure that they provide adequate health and environmental protection, and to update those standards as necessary.á EPA last updated the ozone standards in 1997.
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The Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC), a Congressionally-mandated group of independent scientific and technical experts, will review the second external review draft Criteria Document and will provide a consultation on this initial draft of the Staff Paper at a meeting in Durham, North Carolina on Dec. 6-8, 2005.á This meeting is open to the public.á EPA will carefully review and consider comments received during both the public comment period and the December CASAC meeting and anticipates release of a final Criteria Document in February 2006.á EPA will revise the draft Staff Paper, taking into account CASAC and public comments, and anticipates release of the next draft in spring 2006.
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EPA's Underground Storage Tank Inspections Show Improvement
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For the past two years, the EPA has routinely inspected gas stations and convenience stores statewide as part of an ongoing initiative to protect Idaho's groundwater. The primary function of the inspections are to ensure that the proper leak prevention equipment is installed, maintained, and correctly operated. The results of the most recent round of inspections were announced in Boise by Erik Sirs, EPA's UST Inspection Coordinator in Idaho. The inspections looked at facilities from Idaho Falls to Pocatello and surrounding areas. According to Sirs, in each case, facilities were notified by mail in advance of the inspection. Of the 80 facilities that were inspected, 53% of the facilities were in compliance with key program requirements designed to prevent ground water contamination. The inspection effort found 72 violations and a total of $10,000 in penalties were assessed. Since 2003, compliance has slightly increased yet remains well below the national average. "We appreciate the hard work and investment many owners have made to comply with the law," said Sirs. "We hope others understand the need for careful operation and maintenance of the equipment used to monitor the tanks and detect potential leaks." "Much more work needs to be done," said Sirs. Congress recognized the need to help the underground storage tank program accomplish its goals and on August 8th, 2005, the President signed into law the Energy Act which included substantial changes for the underground storage tank program. One of the key factors will be to increase inspections nationwide so that each facility will be inspected once every three years. Idaho remains the only state without an UST program. The responsibility to inspect 1,350 facilities statewide falls to the EPA.
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Pennsylvania Governor Claims Clean Energy Policies Make Pennsylvania National Leader
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Governor Edward G. Rendell is building a clean energy future in Pennsylvania to decrease the nationÆs dependence on foreign oil, ramping up efforts to build a diversified energy base that ensures greater security at home and investing in new technologies the create jobs and improve the environment.
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ôPennsylvania continues to be an innovator in helping to build and deploy a diverse array of clean and renewable energy projects,ö Governor Rendell said. ôWeÆre not sitting back waiting for the federal government to establish a policy that supports our energy needs and gives us back our independence. Instead, Pennsylvania is leading the charge û changing the way America produces fuel and thinks about energy.öá
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Pennsylvanians now spend some $30 billion per year on imported energy fuels. However, using and developing homegrown energy sources and supplies has a multiplier effect in local and regional economies that can yield significant economic benefits. Governor Rendell is working aggressively to invest in indigenous energy development to enhance energy security, grow the economy, create jobs and improve the environment.
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Last month, Governor Rendell launched the East CoastÆs first commercially viable biofuels storage and blending system in Middletown, Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel and will keep about $6 million worth of energy dollars in the commonwealth by reducing the stateÆs need to purchase imported fuels. Governor Rendell also made Pennsylvania a frontrunner in addressing the countryÆs dependence on foreign oil by supporting the nationÆs first-ever waste-coal-to-diesel plant and creating a fuel consortium that will purchase nearly all of the cheaper, cleaner, diesel fuel that will be produced at the Schuylkill County facility.
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Pennsylvania is home to one of the nationÆs most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that 18% of all energy generated comes from clean, efficient sources by the year 2020. The commonwealth is one of two states with a portfolio standard that includes energy efficiency, and the commonwealthÆs portfolio standard far surpasses any other state requirement for solar energy, guaranteeing a market share for solar that is some 300% greater than anywhere else in the country.
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The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal-bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $10 million and leveraged another $26.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.
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The GovernorÆs newly created Renewable Agricultural Energy Council focuses on developing and expanding agricultural energy industries in Pennsylvania. Renewable agricultural energy has the potential to support and grow the agriculture industry by providing as many as 64,000 additional jobs. Renewable agricultural energy can help diversify agricultural activities and stimulate the growth of crops that strengthen the agriculture industry. Agricultural energy sources can save the average household $1,200 annually on energy bills.
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Governor Rendell also signed an executive order, ôEnergy Management and Conservation in the Commonwealth,ö ensuring maximum efficiency in energy management and conservation in state facilities through the implementation of a centralized energy strategy. This measure will decrease energy consumption and energy costs and promote a cleaner environment. The Governor also has proposed a twice-a-year green sales tax holiday on the purchase of energy-efficient appliances to help move Pennsylvania to the forefront of energy innovation. Using energy efficient appliances could save families about 30% of the average $1,400 annual utility bill --- or approximately $400 each year.
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The Governor enacted an expansion of the stateÆs Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, which invests in enhancing the infrastructure necessary to expand the stateÆs capacity to produce alternative fuels. AFIG also helps residents purchase alternative-fuel vehicles and finances related fuel projects to create new markets that can have measurable impacts on pollution reduction, environmental protection and economic growth.
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Save Energy with Help from EPA
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With businesses expected to experience higher than ever energy prices this winter, EPA issued advice you can take to save 10% or more on your energy bills.á The advice shares lessons learned by EPA's Energy Star partners who saved money and subsequently adopted longer-term energy management strategies that produced even greater savings.á If every business in the US saved 10% on its energy bills, we would save about $10 billion annually.
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"By taking a few common-sense steps to conserve this winter, American businesses can help our environment, save billions, and protect our nation's energy supply," said Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
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EPA encourages you to look at five commonly overlooked areas to save energy:
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1.á Measure the energy use of your building and set a savings goal. It is hard to manage what you don't measure.á With EPA's energy use tracking tools, you can establish the current energy use of your building(s) and set a reasonable energy savings goal.
- áá Set appropriate goals for your business.á
2.á Inspect heating equipment now and perform monthly maintenance. For commercial buildings nationwide, almost 35% of energy is used for space heating.á It is important to verify that your building's heating equipment is functioning properly. You can lower your heating costs by at least 5%; savings will be much greater if major problems are found.
- áá Tune up heating equipment and inspect all ducts, filters and dampers.
- áá Calibrate thermostats and controls used by the heating equipment.
- áá Create a monthly maintenance plan to check equipment operation throughout the year.
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3.á Turn back or turn off heating and cooling equipment when not needed. Many sites operate heating and cooling systems 24 hours a day. While this is necessary in some cases, understanding the reasons and re-evaluating the rationale can make it possible to operate such equipment less often.á If you can cut back just one hour of operation out of every 12, the energy savings will be roughly 8%.
- áá Evaluate the heating system schedule and determine if this capacity is necessary to meet the business requirements.
- áá Take advantage of nighttime setback features on thermostats and install Energy Star-qualified thermostats to save even more energy.
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4.á Get the occupants involved. Employee and tenant behavior can have substantial impacts on a building's energy use as they influence the power required for lighting, computer operation, and heating.
- áá Conduct staff meetings to review the basics of energy efficiency.
- áá Educate employees not to use personal electric space-heaters and provide them with an alternative to address employee comfort and work environment complaints.á Often, discomfort is an indication of broader heating or cooling system failure.á Addressing these larger problems is more efficient than having individual space heaters.
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5.á Improve lighting systems. Lighting uses roughly 13% of the energy in commercial buildings, the second largest use after heating and cooling equipment.á Consider upgrading equipment, perform regular maintenance, and make sure lights are turned off when not in use.
Replacing older lighting systems can save you 30% or more on lighting expenses and up to a total of 5% or more of your overall energy expenses.
- áá Make sure that lighting systems provide the right level of intensity for building functions.á There may be exterior lights on during daylight hours or high lighting intensity at night for security reasons.á Review when and why lights are currently used to see if there are opportunities to turn them off.
- áá Motivate employees and tenants to turn off lights at the end of the day by showing the value of saving energy and how those savings can be reinvested in your organization.
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Additives may Save Energy for Cooling Big Buildings
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National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researcher has come up with a method designed to improve the energy efficiency of water chillers that cool the nationÆs large commercial buildings. The NIST method, if confirmed through experiments with full-scale chiller systems, could save as much as 1 percent of the 320 billion kWh of electricity used annually by chillers or an equivalent 920,000 barrels of oil a day, according to Mark Kedzierski, the NIST mechanical engineer who developed the technique.
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The advance builds on past NIST research designed to optimize mixtures of chiller refrigerants with lubricants. The researchers discovered that some lubricants, when injected in small amounts, can significantly enhance evaporator heat transfer, increasing the efficiency of chillers. When they studied the process more closely they found the most efficient heat transfer occurred when the added oilÆs surface tension, viscosity, composition and chemical characteristics complemented those of the chillerÆs base lubricant.
á The improved conversion of the refrigerant molecules into vapor molecules increases the chillerÆs cooling capacity similar to a heat pump.
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Kedzierski developed rules for the selection of the different types of oil additives according to the type of chiller lubricant, making successful energy enhancement less of a hit-or-miss proposition. Laboratory work is under way testing the energy enhancing potential of several oil and lubricant combinations that have been identified by the rules.
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ôThe leap from a successful laboratory experiment to an everyday large-scale cooling application is a big one. NIST wants to see this theory translated into products germane to manufacturers as soon as possible,ö Kedzierski said. ôWe welcome private-sector interest in the theory and its application.ö
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EPA Enforcement Requires $10 Billion to Be Spent on Clean-Up
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2005 resulted in legal commitments by companies, governments and other regulated entities to reduce a projected 1.1 billion pounds of pollution and require that they spend a record $10 billion to come into compliance with environmental laws.á This is an increase of $5 billion over last year.á EPA's criminal enforcement program helped prosecute some of the largest environmental crimes in history in FY 2005, with judges imposing significant sentences and large criminal fines.á
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Among the environmental benefits resulting from agency actions during FY 2005, EPA estimates that 28.2 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and 1.6 billion cubic yards of contaminated water will be cleaned up; 1,900 acres of wetlands will be protected; and the drinking water of more than 8 million Americans will be safer.á Criminal defendants will pay $100 million in criminal fines and restitution and serve more than 186 years in jail.á EPAÆs 10 biggest air pollution cases will reduce more than 620 million pounds of pollutants annually and that will produce annual human health benefits valued at more than $4.6 billion.á Benefits include reductions in premature mortality, bronchitis, hospitalizations and work days lost.
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Tackling the problems of older municipal water systems that cause overflows of raw sewage into streets, yards, basements, and bodies of water was an EPA enforcement priority again this year.á Together with states, EPA has concluded major sewer cases in FY 2005 to reduce more than 19 billion gallons of raw sewage overflows annually.
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Supplemental Environmental Projects, which are environmentally beneficial projects that a violator voluntarily agrees to perform as part of an enforcement settlement, increased by 19% to be worth $57 million in FY 2005.
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A record number of entities (627) voluntarily disclosed violations to EPA -- a 28% increase over FY 2004.á The agency achieved a reduction of 1.9 million pounds of pollutants as a result of audits.
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EPA's Enforcement Program Nets Major Cleanups, Pollution Reductions in Arizona in 2005
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The EPA issued enforcement actions totaling over $1.25 million to companies operating on tribal lands and also succeeded in getting companies to provide environmental projects to benefit affected tribal communities.á EPA took 96 actions against polluters, collecting a total of $340,000 in civil penalties for numerous air, water, hazardous waste, community right-to-know and pesticide violations. The following are a number of agency enforcement highlights for Arizona and tribal lands for 2005:
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Mobil Exploration agreed to pay $1 million for Clean Act violations at Mobil's oil production facility on the Navajo Nation in the Four corners area near Aneth, Utah.á As part of the settlement, the company will pay a $350,000 penalty and spend about $500,000 on operation improvements to control air pollution at its oil field.á Mobil will also spend $99,349 on a public health project that will provide x-ray equipment, an x-ray processor and a pulmonary function testing machine to the Montezuma Creek Community Health Center in Montezuma Creek, Utah.
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Romic Environmental Technologies agreed to pay a $67,888 penalty for multiple hazardous waste violations and to correct the violations at its facility on the Gila River Indian Reservation in the Lone Butte Industrial Park in Chandler, Ariz.á The company will also spend $100,800 on life-saving equipment for the Gila River Indian community fire department and air monitoring and meteorological equipment for the Gila River Indian community Department of Environmental Quality.
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EPA filed a complaint against Asarco for Clean Air Act violations at its copper smelter in Hayden, Ariz.á Asarco's emission reports for a period in 2002 show that the facility emitted more than the allowable 20% of opacity emissions and also failed to operate control equipment that would minimize emissions.
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EPA reached agreements with eight potentially responsible parties suspected of causing soil or groundwater contamination that may have contributed to the contamination at the Motorola 52nd St. Superfund Site in Phoenix, Ariz.áá The EPA signed agreements with the companies to investigate and identify potential sources of chlorinated solvents, such as trichloroethene (TCE), tetachloroethene (PCE), and trichloroethane (TCA) at their respective facilities.á The companies agreed to pay the EPA costs for oversight of the investigation and past costs incurred for studying their facilities.
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EPA ordered the Alma Ranchettes Cooperative, a Chandler, Ariz., subdivision, Speedy's Truck Stop in Lupton, Ariz., andá public water system American Realty & Mortgage Co.in Whitmann, Ariz.,á to monitor their drinking water for lead, copper and other contaminants, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act.á The orders require them to report sampling data to residents and to the state or EPA.
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EPA ordered three Arizona construction companies to halt unauthorized activities on naturalá waterways within the San Pedro River watershed near Benson, southeast of Tucson.á The three home-building companies were violating state regulations and federal Clean Water Act requirements for construction sites.á The companies involved are the Whetstone Development Corp., The Whetstone Corporate Center, and K.E. & G Development.
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EPA fined Asarco $80,000 for failing to report the correct amount of toxic chemicals released at its Hayden, Ariz, facility. Under the Toxics Release Inventory program, the EPA requires companies to inform the public about releases of toxic chemicals in their neighborhoods
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EPA Announces Hawaii Environmental Enforcement Accomplishments for 2005
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EPA enforcement actions in Hawaii in 2005 brought environmental and public benefits for the state's residents as polluters committed to more than $28 million to correct environmental violations and prevent future pollution.á Environmental managers from other states are encouraged to visit the state this winter to view these accomplishments personally.
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The 2005 data marks a huge increase in terms of polluters making on-the-ground improvements, up from $80,000 spent in 2004. Cesspool upgrades and a large settlement on the Del Monte Superfund Site account for this increase.
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EPA multimedia settlements will improve the state's air, water and land, benefiting human health and the environment for residents of Hawaii for years to come.
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"Hawaii residents will enjoy cleaner air, water and land for years to come as a result of the EPA working to enforce environmental laws," said Wayne Nastri, administrator of the EPA's Pacific Southwest Office.
"Complying with environmental regulations is a requirement for improved public health."
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EPA Enforcement Cases Secures $2.5 Million for Nevada Environmental Cleanups in 2005
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EPA enforcement actions in Nevada in 2005 brought environmental and public benefits for the state's residents as polluters committed to more than $2.5 million to correct environmental violations and prevent future pollution.
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Below are a number of agency enforcement highlights for Nevada for 2005:
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The EPA settled with Kerr-McGee Chemical in Henderson, requiring the company to pay a $55,392 penalty to resolve alleged air permitting violations at its facility that began in 1993.á EPA cited the company for failing to install carbon monoxide emissions controls required under the Clean Air Act when it installed a new open hearth furnace in 1993.á During EPA's investigation, the company spent $4.8 million to install proper pollution controls at the facility reducing total carbon monoxide emissions 115 tons per year -- an 80% reduction from previous levels -- and providing significant air quality benefits for the community.
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Developers and construction companies were fined and ordered to correct damage for illegal discharging polluted storm water.á KB Home Nevada, Inc., the Las Vegas-based developer, will pay EPA an $80,000 penalty for Clean Water Act violations at its 160-acre development in southwestern Las Vegas.á KB Home which was ordered to halt work in September 2004 also agreed to spend $193,000 on three wetlands restoration projects in compensation for the violations.á The wetlands restoration will be at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
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The EPA ordered a Minden developer to pay $76,800 for violating the Clean Water Act during construction of a housing development on tribal lands in Douglas County.á EPA discovered PTP at its 240 Pine View housing development, had been discharging polluted stormwater into the nearby East Fork Carson River without a permit since 1999.
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The EPA ordered Nevada-based eyeglass company, Oakley Inc., to limit its wastewater discharge and establish a self-monitoring plan to correct violations of the Clean Water Act.á EPA and state and county officials inspected the facility located near Carson City and discovered manufacturing processes that discharged solvents and white slurries to the sewers.á Lyon County first discovered the solvent fumes venting from the county sewers and cloudy white wastewaters in local sewage treatment ponds and asked the EPA for help.
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Kinder Morgan Energy partners agreed to a settlement with the EPA for a $26,300 penalty regarding spill response training for its facility in Sparks, Nev.á As part of the settlement, Kinder Morgan provided oil response equipment worth $42,000 to the city of Truckee Fire District.
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The EPA fined the United Carpenters and Joiners of America $4,200 for falsely claiming that its Las Vegas training center had been certified by the EPA to teach carpenters how to safely remove lead-based paint, for violations of federal law.á EPA requires facilities to obtain accreditation from the EPA before train
