These tools are part of EPA’s common sense approach to GHG permitting of the largest emissions sources outlined this spring in the GHG tailoring rule. GHG pollution threatens the health and welfare of all Americans, and contributes to climate change.
“EPA is working closely with its partners at the state and local levels to ensure permitting for greenhouse gases runs smoothly,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office Air and Radiation. “To identify GHG reduction options, EPA and the states are now ready to apply the same time-tested process they have used for other pollutants. This shows that the Clean Air Act can be used to reduce these gases in a cost effective way.”
EPA recommends that permitting authorities use the best available control technology (BACT) process to look at all available emission reduction options for GHGs. After taking into account technical feasibility, cost and other economic, environmental, and energy considerations, permitting authorities should narrow the options and select the best one. EPA anticipates that, in most cases, this process will show that the most cost effective way for industry to reduce GHG emissions will be through energy efficiency.
The guidance does not define or require a specific control option for a particular type of source because BACT is determined on a case-by-case basis. Instead, the guidance and resources provide the basic information that permit writers and applicants need to address GHGs. The guidance also provides examples of how permitting requirements could apply.
In January 2011, industries that are large emitters of GHGs, and are planning to build new facilities or make major modifications to existing ones, will work with permitting authorities to identify and implement BACT to minimize their GHGs. This includes the nation’s largest GHG emitters, such as power plants, refineries, and cement production facilities. Emissions from small sources such as farms and restaurants are not covered by these GHG permitting requirements.
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry A. Waxman said, “Administrator Jackson has shown once again that the Clean Air Act works to protect public health without harming industry. This common-sense approach encourages large new plants to be more energy efficient. That’s a win-win strategy to reduce pollution and save companies money in a tough economy.”
EPA has requested feedback from the public on the guidance over the next few weeks on any aspect that contains technical or calculation errors or where the guidance would benefit from additional clarity.
IATA Update – What’s New for 2011
Each year, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) updates and revises the regulations for the transportation of dangerous goods (hazardous materials) by air. If you offer dangerous goods for transportation by air, you must follow the new regulations by January 1. A large number of significant changes are being implemented in the 2011 IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
At this live webcast, you will learn:
- Changes in the regulations for consumer commodities– new marking and shipping paper entries
- New test authorized to determine classification and packing group of corrosives
- Changes in the classification criteria for magnetized materials
- Revisions to the classification of environmentally hazardous substances, marine pollutants, and aquatic pollutants
- Phase in of new packing instructions for Class 3 flammable liquids, Class 4 flammable solids, Class 5 oxidizers/organic peroxides, Class 8 corrosives, Class 9 miscellaneous, and Division 6
- New entries on the IATA List of Dangerous Goods and new special provisions
- New marking requirements for net quantities, limited quantities, environmentally hazardous substances, and orientation arrows
Advertising Opportunities Available
Environmental Resource Center is making a limited number of advertising positions available in the Environmental Tip of the Week™, the Safety Tip of the Week™, and the Reg of the Day™.
EPA Finalizes GHG Reporting Requirements for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry
The petroleum and natural gas industries emit methane, carbon dioxide, and other GHGs, and are one of the largest human related sources of methane in the United States. Annual methane emissions from intentional venting and equipment leaks from these industries are comparable to annual emissions from more than 40 million passenger cars.
The data collected through the reporting program will provide important information about GHG emissions from petroleum and natural gas facilities. While methane is a potent GHG, trapping more than 20 times as much heat as carbon dioxide, it is also the primary component of natural gas, a valuable fuel. The data collected by the companies will help identify cost effective ways to minimize the loss of methane.
Beginning in 2011, petroleum and natural gas facilities that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year are required to monitor and report all GHG emissions to EPA. Data collection for petroleum and natural gas sources will begin January 1, 2011, with first annual reports due to EPA March 31, 2012.
In addition to the oil and gas rules, EPA has finalized rules for high-potency GHGs that would require reporting from producers of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and other fluorinated GHG products, electronics manufacturing, manufacturers of electrical equipment, and importers of pre-charged equipment and certain foams.
The data will help guide the development of programs to reduce GHG emissions.
EPA Proposes to Disapprove and Ask for Revisions to California’s Air Quality Plans for South Coast and San Joaquin Valley
States are required to submit plans to EPA that identify how health-based air quality standards will be attained in areas not meeting federal air quality standards. The plans submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) aim to bring these areas into attainment with the national health based standards for PM2.5. However, EPA cannot approve the plans since they rely heavily on emissions reduction from rules that are being revised and have not been submitted to EPA for review. The state must submit the rules and also show how these rules will achieve the plans’ air quality goals.
“California has a history of adopting aggressive rules to tackle some of the worst air quality in the nation, but we need to redouble our efforts,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “EPA will continue to work with California to strengthen measures to improve air quality for the millions of residents in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley.”
EPA is proposing to approve portions of the plans, such as the emission reductions from state and local rules that have been submitted to EPA and approved. Some of the locally adopted and EPA-approved rules include residential wood-burning programs for both South Coast and San Joaquin Valley, and South Coast’s rules controlling emissions from various industrial processes.
California is a national leader in air pollution controls. The majority of the emission reductions needed to demonstrate attainment of the PM2.5 standards have already been adopted by CARB and the San Joaquin Valley and South Coast and Air Districts. Given the state’s commitment to public health, EPA expects the state and local agencies will adopt creditable emissions reductions to meet the CAA requirements for attainment of the PM2.5 standards.
Reducing the exposure of particulate matter will ultimately decrease emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and premature death. In September 2010, the state reported that more than 9,000 people die prematurely in CA each year due to PM2.5 pollution.
EPA intends to make a final decision on the plans in 2011, after reviewing public comments. In the event the agency finalizes these proposed disapprovals and the state fails to correct the deficiencies in a timely manner, certain sanctions would apply. More stringent facility permitting requirements may be imposed after 18 months and highway funding restrictions may be imposed after 24 months from the date of final disapproval.
Transportation projects scheduled for the first four years of the areas’ transportation plans would not be affected, and should be able to continue as planned. Should our proposal be finalized, planning restrictions will be imposed; however, no transportation dollars will be withheld or lost. New funds must be spent on a more limited set of projects that improve air quality, such as mass transit, until the issues are resolved.
Stay on the Numeric Limitation for the Construction and Development Point Source Category
EPA is staying the numeric effluent limitation of 280 NTU and associated monitoring requirements for the Construction and Development Point Source Category. This action has become necessary so that EPA can reconsider the record basis for calculating the numeric effluent limitation. This rule is effective on January 4, 2011 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by December 6, 2010 for 40 CFR 450.22(a) and (b), which are stayed indefinitely. If EPA receives adverse comment, a timely withdrawal will be published in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect.
EPA Releases the National Priority Chemicals Trends Report
EPA’s most recent National Priority Chemicals Trends Report is now available.
PCs are chemicals that are persistent, highly toxic, and can accumulate in living organisms.
Data on hazardous waste generation and management activities are obtained from the Hazardous Waste Biennial Reports that must be submitted by large quantity generators (LQGs) and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) every two years. Data for the seven PCs that are not reported to TRI are included in the Biennial Reports.
The Trends Report is used for:
Davis Wire Corporation Pleads Guilty to Criminal Wastewater Discharge
EPA has announced that the Davis Wire Corporation of Irwindale, California, pleaded guilty to one count of negligent discharge of acidic pollutants into a publically owned treatment works, following an October 26 court decision in which Davis Wire was sentenced to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) for damage done to its sewer system, and pay a $25,000 criminal fine.
Investigators determined that Davis Wire, a manufacturer of galvanized wire, illegally discharged wastewater with acidic levels from its plant in Irwindale on a routine basis. A team of inspectors found that the Davis Wire discharges had, over time, impaired sewer lines to such an extent that the entire trunk line must be re-lined at a cost of more than $1 million.
“Davis Wire has an extensive history of noncompliance since at least 2004, including repeated discharges of highly acidic wastewater,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Their illegal discharges put the surrounding community at risk by damaging the sewer pipes, potentially impacting public health and the environment.”
The plea and sentence caps a joint investigation and prosecution effort by EPA’s Office of Criminal Enforcement, FBI, LACSD, Los Angeles County Public Works, Los Angeles County Fire Department, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
“All companies must ensure their compliance with federal environmental regulations or face the consequences, as demonstrated by the sentencing of Davis Wire for a combined $1,525,000 million fine and restitution,” said Nick Torres, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Criminal Enforcement for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region.
The case opened in February 2008, when a LACSD employee detected acid wastewater (with a pH level of approximately 3.0) while working in the southern portion of the Irwindale Trunk Line. The LACSD traced the source of the discharge to the Davis Wire plant at 5555 Irwindale Avenue. Davis Wire’s industrial wastewater discharge permit with the Los Angeles County Sanitation District does not allow a discharge with a pH level below 6.0.
Davis Wire uses sulfuric acid in the manufacturing process, and is required to neutralize the acid with a wastewater treatment system before sending it to the public sewer. However, throughout the months of February, March, April and May 2008, inspectors recorded acidic discharges between pH levels of 4.0 and 1.0. A total of 14 illegal discharges were recorded during this period. The investigation revealed that Davis Wire’s wastewater treatment system was in need of upgrades for years.
Ohio Bans Mercury Button Cell Batteries
On January 1, 2011, mercury-added novelties that contain mercury button cell batteries will be banned from sale or distribution in Ohio.
Unless the mercury was in a button cell battery, mercury-added novelty items have been banned for sale or distribution in Ohio since October 6, 2007. Novelty items covered by the rule include, but are not limited to: products intended for use as practical jokes, figurines, adornments, toys, games, cards, ornaments, yard statues and figures, candles, jewelry, holiday decorations, footwear, other items of apparel; or similar products. Mercury-added novelties with a fluorescent light bulb, such as hand-held video game consoles or cell phones, are not included in the rule.
EPA Announces Workshop to Review Draft Materials for the Lead (Pb) Integrated Science Assessment
As part of the review of the air quality criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Lead (Pb), EPA is conducting a workshop to evaluate initial draft materials for the Pb Integrated Science Assessment (ISA). The workshop will be on December 2 and 3, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, with space for attendees available on a first-come first-serve basis.
DOE Home Energy Scoring Program
Vice President Biden launched DOE’s new Home Energy Score pilot program, designed to offer homeowners reliable information about their homes’ energy efficiency. Under the voluntary program, a report provides consumers with a home energy score between 1 and 10, and shows them how their homes compare to others in their region. The report includes customized, cost-effective recommendations that will help to reduce homeowners’ energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes.
The Home Energy Score program will empower trained and certified contractors to use a standardized assessment tool developed by DOE and DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. With the tool, contractors can quickly evaluate a home and generate useful, actionable information for homeowners and prospective homebuyers. With only about 40 required inputs, the tool lets a contractor analyze a home’s energy assets, such as its heating and cooling systems, insulation levels, and more, usually in less than an hour. A score of “10” represents a home with excellent energy performance, while a “1” represents a home that will benefit from major energy upgrades. Along with the score, the homeowner will receive a list of recommended home energy upgrades and specific improvements, as well as the estimated utility bill savings, payback period, and GHG emission reductions.
The Home Energy Score tool initially will be tested with local government, utility, and non-profit partners in ten pilot communities and states across the United States in diverse climates including: Charlottesville, Virginia; Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; Minnesota; Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; Indiana; Portland, Oregon; South Carolina; Texas; and Eagle County, Colorado. The pilot tests end in late spring 2011; DOE said that later in 2011 it expects to launch the Home Energy Score nationally, based on the findings from the initial programs.
At the same time, DOE released Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades for workers in the residential energy efficiency industry. The guidelines will help develop and expand the skills of the workforce, ensuring the quality of the work performed, while laying the foundation for a more robust worker certification and training program nationwide. The announcements highlighted the progress that has been made on implementing the recommendations of last year’s Recovery through Retrofit report.
Ohio Screw Products Fined Over $12,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations
The company has addressed the violations and now operates in compliance with Ohio’s hazardous waste regulations.
Following a 2009 facility inspection and document review, Ohio EPA cited Ohio Screw Products with numerous violations related to the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The violations included accumulating and storing hazardous waste (i.e., trichloroethylene and spent mop water containing lead) for more than 90 days without a permit, causing hazardous waste to be transported to an unpermitted facility, and failing to evaluate wastes to determine if they were hazardous.
Ohio Screw Products was classified as a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. However, the company installed a filtration system to remove lead and other hazardous metals from spent mop water so that filtered water can be reused. It also started using only lead-free parts in its aqueous parts washer. These modifications will significantly reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated and allow the facility to be reclassified as a small quantity generator.
Today is America Recycles Day
It’s a great day to recommit to recycling, and to consider adding some additional recycling activities to our daily routines.
The trash, or solid waste, that we Americans discard goes mostly to landfills, where it is compacted and buried. Approximately 33% of solid waste, or 83 million tons, is recovered and recycled or composted; and 54%, or 135 million tons, is disposed of in landfills.
Within everyone’s trash are many valuable resources which can be recycled and reused, such as glass bottles and jars, plastic detergent jugs, aluminum cans, paper containers and packaging, yard clippings, and even food scraps. As the population grows and the amount of trash continues to grow, so will pressure on our landfills, our resources, and our environment.
There is nothing new under the sun, according to the National Recycling Coalition. “Before the 1920s, 70% of U.S. cities ran programs to recycle certain materials. During World War II, industry recycled and reused about 25% of the waste stream.”
America Recycles Day helps to raise awareness of the importance of recycling. The nation’s composting and recycling rate rose from 7.7% of the waste stream in 1960 to 17% in 1990 and is currently hovering around 33%.
Your contribution matters. In 2008—the latest recycling statistics available—recycling and composting 83 million tons of waste saved the equivalent of more than 10.2 billion gallons of gasoline.
To bring the idea of what can be saved closer to home, think about this—by tossing one aluminum soda can into the recycling bin, you’ve just saved enough energy to run your TV for two hours.
Public Hearing in Chicago on E15 Pump Label Regulation
EPA is holding the hearing to gain public input on the pump label regulation.
EPA has proposed regulations to help consumers easily identify E15 when filling up at the pump. E15 fuel can be used for model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks.
The regulation includes E15 pump labeling requirements and requires the fuel industry to specify the ethanol content of gasoline sold to retailers. EPA also proposed a quarterly survey of retail stations to help ensure that gas pumps are properly labeled.
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or until everyone has had a chance to speak
Place: Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago, 163 East Walton Place
To listen to the hearing while it is occurring, you may call the following toll-free number: 1-866-299-3188. At the prompt, enter conference code 7342144423 followed by the # sign.
23 Companies to Pay Total of $542,000 to Resolve Hazardous Waste Dump Claims in Tucson’s Pantano Wash From 1945 until Early 1970s
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Arizona Attorney General’s Office have announced they have reached settlements with 23 companies to pay a total of $542,000 to resolve hazardous waste dumping claims in the area of Tucson’s Broadway Pantano Landfill from 1945 through the early 1970s.
The money will be used to fund further cleanup work at the state Superfund site, known as the Broadway Pantano Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF) site. ADEQ is currently continuing its investigation to determine the best way to clean up the site and identify additional responsible parties.
The companies named in the settlements include: General Dynamics Corp., $150,750; Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co./Lockheed Martin Corp., $90,750; Tucson Dodge Inc., $66,000; Textron Inc./ABB, Inc./Combustion Engineering, Inc., and R.E. Darling Co. Inc., $30,000 each; Holmes Tuttle Ford, Inc., and Pima County Community College $24,000 each; and Texas Instruments Inc., $16,500.
The following 12 companies will pay settlements of $10,000 each: Ashton Co. Inc., Baldor Electric Co., Don Mackey Oldsmobile-Cadillac Inc., Dunn Edwards Corp., Durodyne Inc., Fersha Corp., Fluor Enterprises Inc., Industrial Pipe Fittings LLC/Tucson Foundry & Manufacturing Inc.—the two will pay a combined total of $10,000, Rowe Enterprises Inc., Rollings Corp., and Warner Propeller & Governor Corp., LLC.
Tucson resident Ernest Joseph “Joe” Blankenship, 80, a retired salvager, testified to state and federal investigators in 2009 that he disposed of spent solvents from dozens of companies for decades in landfills along Pantano Wash, located six miles east of downtown Tucson, from shortly after the end of World War II until the early 1970s.
The contaminants of concern are trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and methylene chloride. All are solvents also used as ingredients in various industrial processes. Those who drink water with elevated levels of TCE and PCE over many years may have an increased risk of cancer and experience liver problems. Continued exposure to methylene chloride may cause eye and respiratory tract irritation and skin exposure may cause irritation or chemical burns.
The complaints were filed under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and WQARF law in federal district court in Tucson, Arizona. Following public posting of the settlements and a 30-day public comment period, the parties will request the court to approve the settlements.
DOE and EPA Release the 2011 Annual Fuel Economy Guide
This includes electric and plug-in hybrid cars, clean diesel and gasoline models and for the first time, medium-duty passenger vehicles such as large SUVs and passenger vans.
Environmental News Links
Trivia Question of the Week
How much trash does the average American discard every day?
a. 1.5 lb
b. 4.5 lb
c. 8 lb
d. 15 lb