The EPA has removed the site many credit as the impetus for the passage in 1980 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (Superfund) has from the National Priorities List (NPL).
The Love Canal Superfund site, covering 70 acres in Niagara County, NY, contains a hazardous waste landfill where chemical waste products were disposed of from 1942 until 1952. The original 16-acre hazardous waste landfill was covered in 1953, and more than 200 homes and a school were built nearby.
As early as the 1960s, residents reported odors and residues; studies in the 1970s indicated that numerous toxic chemicals were seeping from the covered landfill, contaminating nearby waterways.
Two separate environmental emergencies were declared by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and 1980. As a result, approximately 950 families were evacuated from a 10-block area surrounding the canal. The emergency declaration area included neighborhoods adjacent to the site covering 350 acres.
Today, Love Canal is once again a flourishing community, with forty acres covered by a synthetic liner and clay cap and surrounded by a barrier drainage system. A leachate collection and treatment facility provides additional contamination control for the site. Neighborhoods to the west and north of the canal have been revitalized, with more than 200 formerly boarded-up homes renovated and sold to new owners, and 10 newly-constructed apartment buildings. The area east of the canal has also been sold for light industrial and commercial redevelopment.
The Love Canal site will continue to be monitored and remain eligible for cleanup work in the unlikely event that a change in site conditions should warrant such an action.
EPA Lists 2005 Cars With Best and Worst Fuel Economy
Top 10
1. Honda Insight (hybrid-electric, manual) 61/66 (city/highway)
2. Toyota Prius (hybrid-electric) 60/51
3. Honda Insight (hybrid-electric, automatic) 57/56
4. Honda Civic Hybrid (automatic, lean burn) 48/47
5. Honda Civic Hybrid (automatic) 47/48
6. Honda Civic Hybrid (manual, lean burn) 46/51
7. Honda Civic Hybrid (manual) 45/51
8. Volkswagen New Beetle/Golf/Jetta (diesel, manual) 38/46
9. Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (diesel, manual) 36/47
10. Honda Civic (manual) 36/44
Bottom 10
1. Dodge Ram Pickup 2WD (automatic) 9/12
2. Lamborghini L-147/148 Murcielago (manual) 9/13
3. Dodge Ram Pickup 2WD (manual) 9/15
Lamborghini L-140/141 Gallardo (automatic)
4. Bentley Arnage, Arnage LWB 10/14
5. Lamborghini L-147/148 Murcielago (automatic) 10/15
6. Ferrari 360 Modena/Spider/Challenge (automatic) 10/16
Ferrari 575 M Maranello (manual)
7. Ferrari 575 M Maranello (automatic-3mode) 10/17
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (automatic)
Lamborghini L-140/141 Gallardo
8. Ferrari 360 Modena/Spider/Challenge (manual) 11/16
9. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (manual) 11/17
10. Bentley Continental GT (automatic) 11/18
Aston Martin DB9 Volante (automatic)
EPA Issues æStop-SaleÆ Date For Pesticide Diazinon
The EPA has issued a notice to pesticide retailers to remind them of the upcoming stop-sale date for all outdoor diazinon home, lawn and garden products. After the December 31, 2004, deadline the sale of diazinon outdoor, non-agricultural use products will be unlawful.
The stop-sale deadline is part of an agreement between EPA and diazinon registrants to phase out and eliminate all residential uses of the insecticide. Discontinuing use of diazinon in home, lawn and garden care is part of EPA's ongoing effort, under the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act, to reduce the risk of pesticides. This risk is considered to be especially high to children.
Broadcast application of diazinon to turf poses one of the greatest pesticide risks to birds. Diazinon use on golf courses and sod farms was canceled over 10 years ago due to repeated bird kills on large expanses of turf. Diazinon had the highest number of reported bird-kill incidents of any registered pesticide from 1994 to 1998. Birds of many species have been killed, including ducks, geese, hawks, songbirds, and woodpeckers. Because residential use of diazinon accounted for over half of these incidents, canceling the pesticide is expected to reduce risks to birds and other wildlife. However, the ants and other insects will celebrate.
Diazinon is one of the most commonly found pesticides in air, rain, and fog. Monitoring data indicate that, while it is widespread in surface water nationally, diazinon is most commonly found in surface water in urban areas, as a result of runoff from residential use. Several water-treatment plants around the United States have commonly found diazinon in wastewater entering the plants.
A "buy back" program is being offered by diazinon registrants to assist with the removal of these products from the market and prevent further sale. Registrants will repurchase any unused, unopened outdoor residential products from formulators or retailers. It is hoped that retailers will make every effort to sell their diazinon products back to the manufacturers by the March 31, 2005 deadline.
Consumers may continue to use residential diazinon products according to label directions and precautions.
More information on diazinon is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon.htm. To identify your state pesticide disposal program coordinator, see EPAÆs list of pesticide disposal contacts.
Federal Energy Savings Program Expires
The federal government's Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) program expired on September 30, 2003. The program, which allowed energy services companies, or ESCOs, to privately finance the installation of energy-efficient equipment into federal facilities, has saved taxpayers over $1.2 billion to date.
At a time when energy conservation is critical, the Alliance to Save Energy is asking everyone who is concerned to ask their legislators to reauthorize this non-controversial yet financially and environmentally beneficial program.
For more information about the benefits and legislative history of this important program, visit: http://energyaction.ase.org/ctt.asp?u=79982&l=60890.
EPA Announces Citgo Clean Air Agreement
The EPA, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, recently announced a comprehensive Clean Air Act settlement with CITGO Petroleum Corporation. The settlement is expected to reduce harmful air emissions by more than 30,000 tons per year. The emissions are generated by six petroleum refineries in five states, representing nearly five percent of total refining capacity in the United States.
A consent decree, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, will require CITGO to spend an estimated $320 million to install and implement state-of-the-art control technologies to reduce emissions at its refineries. CITGO's actions under this agreement are expected to reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by more than 7,184 tons, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by more than 23,250 tons.
The agreement will also require reductions of volatile organic compounds and other hazardous air pollutants at all CITGO refineries. The air pollutants addressed by the agreement can cause serious respiratory problems and exacerbate cases of childhood asthma. The states of Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey and Georgia are joining the settlement, which is part of EPA's national effort to reduce air emissions from refineries.
The consent decree also requires CITGO to pay a $3.6 million civil penalty and spend more than $5 million on a supplemental environmental project to further reduce NOx and carbon monoxide emissions at its Corpus Christi, TX, refinery. The states joining the settlement will share in the penalties.
To meet obligations under EPA's New Source Review program, CITGO will cut emissions significantly from its largest emitting units through the use of state-of-the-art technologies. In addition, at each of its refineries, CITGO will implement programs to reduce excess emissions associated with flaring of hazardous gases. The company will also reduce emissions from its sulfur recovery plants through the installation of controls to ensure the proper treatment of hazardous benzene wastes and upgrade its leak detection and repair practices. CITGO refineries which will be affected are located in Lemont, IL, Lake Charles, LA., Corpus Christi, TX, Paulsboro, NJ, and Savannah, GA.
Since 2001, the United States has reached similar agreements with Chevron, Motiva Enterprises, Equilon (Shell) and Shell Deer Park Refining, Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Koch Petroleum Group, BP Exploration & Oil, Conoco, Costal Eagle Point Oil Company, CHS Inc. (Cenex), Lion Oil, Ergon Refining and Navajo Refining Co.
The proposed consent decree is subject to a public comment period and final court approval. For more information, please see: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/programs/caa/oil/index.html.
B&B Metals Receives EPA Citation
EPA has cited B&B Metals for alleged clean-air violations at the company's Newton, WI, aluminum recovery plant.
The agency alleges that the company failed to comply with federal testing, notification, monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements for its furnace. EPA said the company should have tested the furnace for dioxin and furan emissions.
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. The company has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
