The California Air Resources Board adopted a measure developed with representatives of the electrical utilities that will limit and monitor the emissions of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) from high-voltage electrical applications.
SF6 is approximately 23,900 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) in trapping heat in the atmosphere: one pound of SF6 emissions is equivalent to 11 tons of carbon dioxide. The regulation is designed to achieve a 70% reduction of SF6 emissions in electrical utility applications with a total reduction of the equivalent of 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2020.
“Although it is only used in small amounts, sulfur hexafluoride is the most potent of all the gases that cause global warming,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “This is a narrowly focused regulation that will dramatically reduce California’s emissions of this industrial chemical, at a very reasonable cost.”
SF6 is a highly inert and non-corrosive gas used to insulate switches for high-voltage current applications, typically found in the transmission grid of electrical utilities. These applications constitute 80% of the state’s total SF6 emissions. Effective January 1, 2011, the rule sets an initial emission rate at 10% of owners’ SF6 capacity. Beginning in 2012 owners of switches using SF6 must reduce emissions by 1% each year, reaching an emission rate of only 1% by 2020.
There are several emission reduction techniques currently available, including:
- Leak detection and repair using handheld “sniffer” devices and cameras;
- SF6 collection and recycling by trained and certified personnel; and,
- Refurbishing or replacing existing equipment
The cost of implementing this measure is estimated to be $4.5 to $7 million over the 10-year period. Consumers can expect to see this reflected with an increase of one cent per residential utility account each month.
The Global Warming Solutions Act, or AB 32, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2006, requires the ARB to draft and implement strategies that will reduce the state’s greenhouse gas contributions.
Brian Karnofsky Jailed for Muscular Dystrophy, Jailers Blocked Bail Website
Brian has been arrested and will be put in jail for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) lock-up. We need to collect $2,000 for the MDA to help bail him out. Your tax deductible donation will help MDA continue research into the causes and cures for 43 neuromuscular diseases.
If you enjoy reading the Environmental Tip of the Week™, now is the time to help us give hope to kids and families that need our help. Brian’s jailers broke his website link, thinking that they could keep him in jail indefinitely. However, the website has been fixed.
Brian is the President of Environmental Resource Center. Many of you helped bail him out in 2007, 2008, and 2009, but he’s on his way back to jail this year. Don’t bother asking what crimes he’s committed—just know that we need your help bailing him out.
$3.1 Million Civil Penalty for Excess Air Emissions
Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA have reached an agreement with INEOS ABS (USA) Corporation and Lanxess Corporation over violations of air pollution control requirements at the Addyston, Ohio, plastics manufacturing facility. This agreement settles a complaint brought by the United States and the Ohio Attorney General on behalf of Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA.
Since Ohio EPA first took action against the company in December 2005, airborne levels of 1,3-butadiene have consistently dropped, and current levels are at or near the established risk level which is protective of public health. During the last four years, as the negotiations concerning the consent decree were progressing, the facility upgraded to a state-of-the-art flare system to both destroy 1,3-butadiene pollution and confirm that it has been destroyed. Acrylonitrile levels, while lower, remain at unacceptably high levels. The corrective actions required by the consent decree also are designed to abate the public health threats caused by the high acrylonitrile levels.
Steps that the company must take to further limit the amount of all types of air pollution it produces include but are not limited to:
- Adhere to specific, strict operating requirements for the flare;
- Operate and maintain instruments to continuously measure and record the flare’s operating parameters;
- Investigate and take appropriate action if air data collected at Meredith Hitchens School show any detectable levels of 1,3-butadiene are present;
- Install a biofilter to control the acrylonitrile emissions from all the significant emission units in the wastewater treatment plant;
- Implement an enhanced leak detection and repair program for valves, flanges, pumps, connectors, etc.; and
- Implement provisions to improve the spill/release reporting policy.
The company recently completed testing of the flare to evaluate the combustion efficiency of the flare versus various operating parameter levels. The results of that testing must be submitted to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA before the beginning of July.
In July 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice and Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray lodged the consent decree in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio. After receiving public comments to the proposed consent decree and receiving a revised document in response to those comments, the federal district court in Cincinnati approved and entered the consent decree on February 4, 2010. The consent decree finalizes the government’s agreement with INEOS ABS (USA) Corporation, and the former owner, Lanxess Corporation, regarding air pollution at the Addyston, Ohio facility.
INEOS and Lanxess have agreed to pay a $3.1 million civil penalty and adhere to stringent pollution control requirements, including those listed above. In addition to the civil penalty, INEOS must continue to reimburse Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services for the costs associated with analyzing ambient air samples collected at Meredith Hitchens Elementary School.
EPA May Require that Hydrogen Sulfide be Reported under SARA Title III TRI
Hydrogen sulfide was added to the Section 313 list of toxic chemicals in a final rule published in the Federal Register on December 1, 1993. However, on August 22, 1994, EPA issued an Administrative Stay of the reporting requirements for hydrogen sulfide in order to evaluate issues brought to the Agency’s attention after promulgation of the final rule concerning the human health effect basis for the listing and the Agency’s use of exposure analysis in Section 313 listing decisions.
EPA has now completed its further evaluation, including a consideration of additional information that has become available since the stay was put in place regarding the human health and environmental effects of hydrogen sulfide. Based on this evaluation, EPA believes that the Administrative Stay should be lifted. By this current action, EPA is not revisiting the original listing decision, which was accomplished by final rule on December 1, 1993. Rather, EPA is merely presenting its rationale for why the Administrative Stay of the reporting requirements for hydrogen sulfide should be lifted. After consideration of comments received, the Agency will issue another Federal Register document responding to comments and taking appropriate action.
Comments must be received on or before April 27, 2010.
Antarctic Ice Shelves Retreating, According to USGS
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, ice shelves are retreating in the southern section of the Antarctic Peninsula due to climate change. This could result in glacier retreat and sea-level rise if warming continues, threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands worldwide.
The USGS previously documented that the majority of ice fronts on the entire Peninsula have also retreated during the late 20th century and into the early 21st century.
The ice shelves are attached to the continent and already floating, holding in place the Antarctic ice sheet that covers about 98% of the Antarctic continent. As the ice shelves break off, it is easier for outlet glaciers and ice streams from the ice sheet to flow into the sea. The transition of that ice from land to the ocean is what raises sea level.
“This research is part of a larger ongoing USGS project that is for the first time studying the entire Antarctic coastline in detail, and this is important because the Antarctic ice sheet contains 91% of Earth’s glacier ice,” said USGS scientist Jane Ferrigno. “The loss of ice shelves is evidence of the effects of global warming. We need to be alert and continually understand and observe how our climate system is changing.”
The Peninsula is one of Antarctica’s most rapidly changing areas because it is farthest away from the South Pole, and its ice shelf loss may be a forecast of changes in other parts of Antarctica and the world if warming continues.
Retreat along the southern part of the Peninsula is of particular interest because that area has the Peninsula’s coolest temperatures, demonstrating that global warming is affecting the entire length of the Peninsula.
The Antarctic Peninsula’s southern section as described in this study contains five major ice shelves: Wilkins, George VI, Bach, Stange and the southern portion of Larsen Ice Shelf. The ice lost since 1998 from the Wilkins Ice Shelf alone totals more than 4,000 square kilometers, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.
The USGS is working collaboratively on this project with the British Antarctic Survey, with the assistance of the Scott Polar Research Institute and Germany’s Bundesamt fűr Kartographie und Geod?sie. The research is also part of the USGS Glacier Studies Project, which is monitoring and describing glacier extent and change over the whole planet using satellite imagery.
California Begins Proposition 65 Review of Bisphenol A
On July 15, 2009, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) received a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) asking that OEHHA initiate the process for listing bisphenol-A (BPA) as a reproductive toxicant under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.
NRDC asserted that OEHHA should take this action under the authoritative bodies listing mechanism. The petition cited a report on BPA by the National Toxicology Program’s Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (NTP-CERHR), one of several institutions designated as authoritative for the identification of chemicals as causing reproductive toxicity (Section 25306(l)3).
Also on July 15, 2009, the Proposition 65 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DART-IC) voted not to list BPA as a reproductive toxicant. The DART-IC considered the listing of BPA under the State’s Qualified Experts listing mechanism.
The State’s Qualified Experts and authoritative bodies mechanisms are two of the four listing mechanisms established by Health and Safety Code section 25249.8. Each of these four mechanisms is separate and distinct, and none takes precedence over the other. Therefore, regardless of the outcome of the DART-IC review, OEHHA is required to consider the listing of BPA under the authoritative bodies’ mechanism.
Electronics Recycler Qualifies for R2 Certification
On February 3, E-Structors, Inc., of Elkridge, Maryland, became the first electronics recycler in EPA Region 3 to qualify for the Responsible Recycling Practices (R2) certification and the third in the nation to achieve this new set of rigorous professional standards to qualify as a model for the electronics recycling industry. The R2-Certified recyclers system avoids unnecessary energy and natural resource consumption, produces less greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous waste in its operations while protecting workers and the environment.
New Sample Bill Will Aid States in Banning Texting While Driving
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled sample legislation to be used as a starting point for states crafting new laws to prohibit texting while behind-the-wheel, the latest step in the campaign against distracted driving. The sample state law, prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a cross-section of safety and industry organizations, would authorize law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle and issue a citation to drivers who are texting while driving.
“Texting while driving, like talking on cell phones while driving, is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening practice,” said Secretary LaHood. “This language, which we created with a variety of safety organizations, is another powerful tool in our arsenal to help the states combat this serious threat.”
There is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because texting combines three types of distraction—visual, taking the eyes off the road; manual, taking the hands off the wheel; and cognitive, taking the mind off the road.
According to NHTSA research, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Research also shows that the most frequent offenders are the youngest and least-experienced drivers, men and women under 20 years of age.
“Our top priority is safety and we are determined to help the states eradicate the dangerous practice of texting while driving,” said David Strickland, Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The sample state law is patterned on the Executive Order issued by President Obama on October 1, 2009, directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on December 30, 2009. In addition, on January 26, Secretary LaHood announced federal guidance to prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.
Secretary LaHood announced the department’s plan to pursue this regulatory action at the Distracted Driving Summit he convened in September 2009. Distraction.gov is a source of comprehensive information on distracted driving. Currently, 19 States and the District of Columbia have texting laws covering all drivers. In 2009, more than 200 distracted driving bills were considered by State legislatures and legislative activity is expected to remain strong in 2010.
Ohio EPA Provides Guidance on Best Available Technology Limits in Response to Sierra Club Lawsuit
This policy was issued in order to comply with the court’s decision and to prevent the disruption of the processing of installation permits by providing permit writers/reviewers and other interested parties with guidance concerning BAT limits for sources subject to the less than 10 ton/yr BAT exemption.
Delaware Environmental Crimes Unit Releases 2009 Enforcement Statistics
DNREC’s Environmental Protection Officers (EPOs) investigated 3,916 complaints in 2009, covering a wide range of violations and emergencies of Delaware’s air, waste, and water that threatened public health, safety, and the environment. EPOs are sworn police officers who enforce environmental laws, investigate violations and prosecute environmental crimes.
Officers on patrol handled 1,045 proactive pollution checks—a 35% increase over 2008. Water pollution discharges from residential, municipal, and industrial sources represented the greatest number of complaints, a total of 545, followed by open burning (523) and illegal dumping (472).
“Over the past year, our department has stepped up efforts, and we are extremely proud of our hard working officers who dedicate themselves to protecting our environment and enforcing our laws,” said Secretary Collin O’Mara.
EPOs also responded to individual complaints that included: 457 for spills; 333 for permit checks; 311 odors; 241 air pollution releases; 174 vapor recovery checks; 99 asbestos related; 38 erosion; 36 idling vehicles; 8 white powder/suspicious envelopes/packages; among other complaints. In addition, 240 complaints were closed with the arrests of the violators, and 20 fugitives were apprehended with active arrest warrants from other police departments or courts.
“We investigated almost 15% more illegal dumping complaints this year,” said Environmental Crimes Unit Chief Chip McDaniel. “New digital surveillance cameras were directly responsible for prosecutions in 12 cases. The majority of these arrests would not have been possible without the new technology.”
EPOs and environmental scientists in DNREC’s Emergency Response Branch responded to 295 calls that included emergencies – oil spills and releases, transportation accidents and other potentially hazardous incidences.
DNREC receives environmental complaints in three ways: from citizens who contact the agency’s Citizen Complaint and Emergency Response Line, through proactive patrols by EPOs, and from referrals from other regulatory programs and organizations.
Citizens are encouraged to call the toll-free, 24-hour Environmental Complaint Line at 800-662-8802 to report an environmental complaint or emergency. Verizon Wireless customers in Delaware can reach the line by calling #367 on their cell phones.
EPOs are trained to take innovative actions to solve problems, by working with other police departments and citizen groups to ensure safe and secure communities. The Unit offers a Community Policing Program which trains municipal and county police to identify environmental violations. A ride-a-long program and liaison with community groups is part of the unit’s education and outreach efforts.
Growing List of Green Power Partners
Green power electricity is cleaner than conventional power and produces less greenhouse gas emissions. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is ranked among the top 10 for its purchase of 400,000,000 kWh of renewable energy derived from wind and biomass.
MassDEP Assesses $54,937 Penalty to South Carolina Company for Asbestos Violations at Ice Cream Plant
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $54,937 penalty to ALCS, Inc., for multiple violations of state asbestos regulations that occurred during work the company conducted at the former Hendries Ice Cream plant in Southborough. ALCS. is a scrap metal salvage company based in Aiken, South Carolina.
In July 2008, MassDEP received a complaint from the Southborough Fire Department about an improper asbestos removal project being conducted at the former Hendries site. Firefighters had observed the illegal asbestos removal activity while responding to an electrical explosion at the property.
MassDEP conducted an inspection and found that the building was undergoing extensive interior demolition, and that asbestos-containing insulation was being removed dry, without any work area containment or air filtration. Additionally, MassDEP observed dry, friable asbestos waste materials uncontained on floors inside the building, on the facility’s loading dock, and in bags inside an open-top dumpster at the site—all violations of asbestos regulations.
Upon discovery of the violations, MassDEP halted the demolition operation, and required the owners to hire a Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety-licensed asbestos contractor to properly remove, package and dispose of all the asbestos-containing waste at the site, and to decontaminate all affected areas of the facility and the dumpster.
ALCS, Inc., was cited for failing to provide advance notification to MassDEP of the demolition and of a demolition/renovation operation involving asbestos-containing materials. They were also cited for improperly removing and handling asbestos-containing materials, improper handling, packaging, storing and disposing of asbestos-containing waste materials, and allowing asbestos-containing materials to be handled in a manner that caused or contributed to a condition of air pollution at the site, located at One Harvest Lane.
Under the terms of a negotiated settlement, MassDEP suspended $39,937 of the assessed penalty provided that the company has no further violations for one year.
“Contractors doing demolition and renovation work in Massachusetts must be fully aware of their responsibilities under the regulations to thoroughly inspect buildings slated for demolition and renovation for the presence of asbestos-containing materials,” said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP’s Central Regional Office in Worcester. “Failure to identify and remove asbestos materials prior to commencing demolition or renovation is an extremely serious and ultimately a costly oversight that potentially exposes workers, tenants and the general public to a known carcinogen. As this case illustrates, noncompliance of this magnitude inevitably results in significant penalty exposure, as well as escalated cleanup, decontamination, disposal and monitoring costs.”
$20,400 Penalty by MassDEP for Asbestos Violations
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $20,400 penalty to Cliff Fogg of Millbury for violations of state asbestos regulations that occurred during work that he conducted at the AM Castle and Company location on Quinsigamond Avenue in Worcester.
MassDEP determined that Fogg removed asbestos-containing floor tiles from the site and placed the asbestos waste materials in a roll-off container for disposal. MassDEP inspected the work area and observed that asbestos-containing waste materials left at the site had not been properly handled, packaged and labeled as required by the regulations.
The owner of the property, AM Castle and Company, was required to retain the services of a Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety-licensed asbestos contractor to properly handle, package and dispose of all the asbestos waste.
MassDEP penalized Fogg for failing to notify MassDEP of a demolition/renovation operation involving asbestos-containing materials, for improper handling and packaging of asbestos-containing waste materials, and for the improper storage of asbestos-containing waste materials at the site.
Regulations require notification to MassDEP 10 working days in advance of commencing asbestos removal, as well as proper removal, handling, packaging, labeling and storage/disposal of asbestos waste materials. Proper packaging and labeling of asbestos waste are critical measures that prevent the release of and the potential exposure to asbestos fibers.
“Contractors must be fully aware of their responsibilities under the regulations to thoroughly inspect any areas of buildings that they will be renovating for the presence of asbestos-containing materials,” said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP’s Central Regional Office in Worcester. “Failure to identify and remove asbestos materials prior to demolition or renovation is an extremely serious, and ultimately a costly oversight that potentially exposes workers, tenants and the general public to a known carcinogen. Noncompliance with the asbestos regulations will result in significant penalty exposure, as well as escalated cleanup, decontamination, disposal, and monitoring costs.”
City of Long Beach Fined for Extensive Violations of Environmental Protection Standards
This enforcement action is the first of its kind against a public agency by the State Water Board. “The State Water Board will not tolerate violations of these important environmental protection laws and will take swift enforcement action against all violators, whether public or private,” said Reed Sato, Director of the State Water Board’s Office of Enforcement.
Since approximately 2003, the City of Long Beach has failed to perform required testing and monitoring, and failed to install leak prevention equipment at 40 of its underground storage tank facilities, many of which are located at city fire and police stations. These leak prevention requirements are designed to ensure that the hazardous substances stored in the tanks are not leaking and polluting valuable groundwater resources. At one facility located near the ocean, the State Water Board found that the city failed to stop to a release of petroleum constituents that had been ongoing for several years. Current information indicates that the contamination was limited to the soil and was cleaned up without any impact to water quality. This action does not resolve any liability or responsibility that the city has to clean up leaks of petroleum or waste oil from its tank systems.
Under the terms of the settlement, the city will pay $1.5 million in cash within 30 days, in addition to $200,000 in reimbursement for the State Water Board’s costs of enforcement. The city is also required to provide $2.5 million in financial assurance which will become due and payable to the State Water Board if the city violates the underground storage tank laws again during the next five years. The city did not deny responsibility for the violations.
The city will be credited $2 million against additional penalties for actions it took after the initiation of enforcement to enhance compliance at its tank facilities above existing requirements, including the development of a comprehensive Compliance Management Program designed to prevent future noncompliance through careful oversight and tracking of environmental obligations.
Urgent Need to Prepare Developing Countries for Surge in E-Wastes
Sales of electronic products in countries like China and India and across continents such as Africa and Latin America are set to rise sharply in the next 10 years. Unless action is stepped up to properly collect and recycle materials, many developing countries face the specter of hazardous e-waste mountains with serious consequences for the environment and public health, according to UN experts in a landmark report released on February 22 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Issued at a meeting of Basel Convention and other world chemical authorities prior to UNEP’s Governing Council meeting in Bali, Indonesia, the report, “Recycling—from E-Waste to Resources,” used data from 11 representative developing countries to estimate current and future e-waste generation—which includes old and dilapidated desk and laptop computers, printers, mobile phones, pagers, digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys, and televisions.
In South Africa and China for example, the report predicts that by 2020 e-waste from old computers will have jumped by 200 to 400% from 2007 levels and by 500% in India.
By that same year in China, e-waste from discarded mobile phones will be about 7 times higher than 2007 levels and, in India, 18 times higher.
By 2020, e-waste from televisions will be 1.5 to 2 times higher in China and India while in India e-waste from discarded refrigerators will double or triple.
China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States with about 3 million tons. Additionally, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries.
Moreover, most e-waste in China is improperly handled, much of it incinerated by backyard recyclers to recover valuable metals like gold—practices that release steady plumes of far-reaching toxic pollution and yield very low metal recovery rates compared to state-of-the-art industrial facilities.
“This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China,” says UN Under-Secretary-General Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP. “China is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector.
“In addition to curbing health problems, boosting developing country e-waste recycling rates can have the potential to generate decent employment, cut greenhouse gas emissions and recover a wide range of valuable metals including silver, gold, palladium, copper and indium—by acting now and planning forward many countries can turn an e-challenge into an e-opportunity,” he added.
The report was issued at the Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions on enhancing their cooperation and coordination (ExCOP).
It was co-authored by the Swiss EMPA, Umicore and United Nations University (UNU), part of the global think tank StEP (Solving the E-waste Problem), which includes UNEP and Basel Convention Secretariat among its 50+ members. Hosted by UNU in Bonn, Germany, the think tank convenes experts from industry, government, international organizations, NGOs and science. A grant from the European Commission, Directorate-General for the Environment, funded the report’s preparation.
The report cites a variety of sources to illustrate growth of the e-waste problem. According to the report:
- Global e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tons a year.
- Manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers consumes 3% of the gold and silver mined worldwide each year; 13% of the palladium, and 15% of cobalt.
- Modern electronics contain up to 60 different elements—many valuable, some hazardous, and some both CO2 emissions from the mining and production of copper and precious and rare metals used in electrical and electronic equipment are estimated at over 23 million tons—0.1% of global emissions (not including emissions linked to steel, nickel or aluminum, nor those linked to manufacturing the devices).
- In the US, more than 150 million mobiles and pagers were sold in 2008, up from 90 million five years before.
- Globally, more than 1 billion mobile phones were sold in 2007, up from 896 million in 2006.
- Countries like Senegal and Uganda can expect e-waste flows from PCs alone to increase 4 to 8-fold by 2020.
Given the infrastructure expense and technology skills required to create proper facilities for efficient and environmentally sound metal recovery, the report suggests facilitating exports of critical e-scrap fractions like circuit boards or batteries from smaller countries to OECD-level, certified end-processors.
Konrad Osterwalder, UN Under-Secretary General and Rector of UNU, has said, “One person’s waste can be another’s raw material. The challenge of dealing with e-waste represents an important step in the transition to a green economy. This report outlines smart new technologies and mechanisms which, combined with national and international policies, can transform waste into assets, creating new businesses with decent green jobs. In the process, countries can help cut pollution linked with mining and manufacturing, and with the disposal of old devices.”
The report assesses current policies, skills, waste collection networks and informal recycling in 11 representative developing economies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The data includes equipment generated nationally but does not include waste imports, both legal and illegal, which are substantial in India, China, and other emerging economies.
The report also includes data on per capita sales of electrical and electronic goods. For example South Africa and Mexico lead in personal computer sales with the equivalent of 24 sold per 1,000 people. Brazil, Mexico, and Senegal generate more e-waste per capita from personal computers than the other countries surveyed.
Developing vibrant national recycling schemes is complex and simply financing and transferring high tech equipment from developed countries is unlikely to work, according to the report. It says China’s lack of a comprehensive e-waste collection network, combined with competition from the lower-cost informal sector, has held back state-of-the art e-waste recycling plants. It also notes a successful pilot in Bangalore, India, to transform the operations of informal e-waste collection and management.
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Morocco, and South Africa are cited as places with great potential to introduce state of the art e-waste recycling technologies because the informal e-waste sector is relatively small.
Kenya, Peru, Senegal, and Uganda have relatively low e-waste volumes today but likely to grow. All four would benefit from capacity building in so-called pre-processing technologies such as manual dismantling of e-waste.
The report recommends countries establish e-waste management centers of excellence, building on existing organizations working in the area of recycling and waste management.
Architectural Coatings 2009 Annual Reporting in California
Although the Air Resources Board (ARB) is requesting that completed surveys be returned by April 1, 2010, you can contact ARB if additional time is needed. The 2009 cover letter at the above link contains more information.
$31,500 Penalty for Diesel Emissions Violations
The California ARB fined Bragg Investment Companies $31,500 this month for emissions violations during 2008. An ARB investigation showed Bragg Investment Companies, based in Long Beach, California, failed to properly inspect their diesel-powered vehicles for excess emissions.
“Routine diesel inspections are a top priority in protecting California’s air,” said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. “Companies failing to conduct these inspections can lead to an increase of toxic diesel particulate matter in the air.
The law requires owners of California-registered truck fleets to regularly inspect their vehicles to ensure that their engine emissions meet state air quality regulations. Bragg Investment Companies is required to:
- Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the inspections attend a training class on diesel emissions compliance testing and provide certificates of completion within one year;
- Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are being carried out for the next four years;
- Ensure all heavy-duty diesel vehicles have their software updated with the latest low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen emissions) programming;
- Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state’s idling regulations; and,
- Ensure all diesel truck engines are up to federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an emission control certification label.
California Completes its Commitment to a National Greenhouse Gas Standard for Cars
California fulfilled its commitment to establish the nation’s first ever greenhouse gas standard for passenger vehicles by allowing federal greenhouse gas standards to fully comply with California’s standards for model years 2012 to 2016.
The Board’s action is the third and final step California committed to as part of an agreement with automobile manufacturers and two federal agencies announced last May by President Obama in the Rose Garden to establish the pioneering national greenhouse gas standard.
“The Board’s action affirms the important role that California—and the states that adopted our standard—played in driving the development of a national greenhouse gas standard for cars,” said Mary D. Nichols, chairman of the ARB. “Starting in 2012, consumers in all 50 states will see cleaner and more efficient vehicles in dealers’ showrooms, and the nation will benefit from significantly greater reductions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants over the next decade.”
The two other steps relate to compliance with the California standards in model years 2009 through 2011, prior to the initiation of the federal measure in 2012. The first allows California and the thirteen other states that had adopted California’s greenhouse gas standard to pool car sales from all 14 states instead of using a state-by-state basis for compliance; the second is a cost-reducing measure that permits existing federal data to be used to comply with California’s greenhouse gas standards for those years.
The regulation allows cars that comply with the federal greenhouse gas standards for model years 2012 to 2016 to also comply with California’s standards for each of those years. The two standards differ slightly, but reach the same levels by 2016.
ARB studies indicate that, as a result of the national scope of the standard, a total of 941 million tons of carbon dioxide will be prevented from entering the atmosphere by cleaner cars in all fifty states by 2020, compared to 793 million tons had the standard been limited to California and the thirteen states that had adopted California’s standard. The additional 148 million tons in reductions is the equivalent of removing about 30 million cars from the nation’s roads for a full year. A significant number of smog-forming pollutants from vehicles will also be reduced under the national standard.
$78,700 Penalty for VOC Emission Control Violations
Ohio EPA and EI Ceramics LLC (EI) have reached an agreement to settle air pollution violations at the company’s facility in Cincinnati. EI has corrected the problems and is in compliance with air pollution control laws.
EI manufactures ceramic parts that are used in the steel industry. Different processes in the facility produce particulate and organic compound air pollution. A series of air pollution control equipment is designed to eliminate tons of pollution produced before it is emitted into the air.
On March 11, 2008, Hamilton County Department Environmental Services (HCDOES) conducted an inspection at the facility. In the Cincinnati area, HCDOES serves as Ohio EPA’s contractor and helps administer air pollution control regulations. The inspector found that EI:
- Exceeded the annual and monthly organic compound emissions rates for two emissions units in 2006 and 2007;
- Failed to submit annual emissions reports and the quarterly deviation reports; and
- Failed to operate and maintain a continuous temperature monitor and recorder for one thermal oxidizer between Nov. 19, 2002, and March 24, 2008.
On a number of days between 2002 and 2008, at least one of five different thermal oxidizers did not operate at temperatures necessary to properly destroy tons of organic compounds produced annually. On May 30, 2008, EI installed an interlocking system on all emissions units to prevent operation of the thermal oxidizers if temperatures fall below permitted limits. EI provided HCDOES with the annual emissions reports and quarterly deviation reports during the March, 2008, inspection. During a follow-up inspection on August 19, 2008, HCDOES verified the facility is in compliance.
EPA Takes Action against Meat Processing Facility Following Ammonia Releases
EPA ordered Columbus Manufacturing of South San Francisco, California, to address safety concerns in the facility’s ammonia refrigeration systems following a recent release of an extremely hazardous chemical into the environment. Columbus, a meat processing company, has agreed to comply with the order.
During an August 2009 incident, the plant accidentally released approximately 200 pounds of anhydrous ammonia into the air. The release resulted in the evacuation of all facility employees and several neighboring businesses. Nearly 30 people from the nearby Genentech campus sought medical attention and 17 individuals were hospitalized. One person remained hospitalized for four days. In addition, off-ramps from Highway 101 and several local streets were shut down as a result of the release.
“This release of an extremely hazardous chemical is unacceptable. It’s critical that Columbus Manufacturing take specific actions to safeguard its employees and neighbors,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “EPA will vigorously enforce federal rules to protect public health. As a result of these dangerous accidental releases, the company may also face substantial federal fines.”
Anhydrous ammonia is considered a poisonous gas. Exposure to its vapors can cause temporary blindness and eye damage, and irritation of the skin, mouth, throat, respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Prolonged exposure to anhydrous ammonia vapor at high concentrations can lead to serious lung damage and even death.
The facility’s accidental release in August was allegedly caused by a buildup of hydrostatic pressure in a section of piping which caused the subsequent rupture of a nearby component. Following the incident, EPA and San Mateo County’s Division of Environmental Health Services inspected the facility and evaluated Columbus Manufacturing’s ammonia refrigeration systems and safety management systems. The inspections revealed a number of safety concerns regarding the design and maintenance of the facility’s anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system.
EPA’s order requires Columbus Manufacturing to complete a series of tasks within the next three months. The tasks include the replacement of certain safety relief valves, the replacement of all components with any signs of corrosion or made from incompatible materials such as brass, and the proper tagging and labeling of all of its ammonia refrigeration system piping and valves. Within 105 days of this order, the facility will need to submit verification to the EPA indicating compliance with all required actions.
EPA Orders Louisiana Land Trust and Camp Dresser McKee, Inc. to Stop Discharging Sediment to Stormwater
EPA issued cease and desist administrative orders to the Louisiana Land Trust and Camp Dresser McKee, Inc. for widespread non-compliance with storm water provisions outlined in the federal Clean Water Act.
A February 8, 2010, EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) inspection of construction activities in St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes found runoff from construction sites previously identified and documented by LDEQ. The inspection also revealed the Louisiana Land Trust and Camp Dresser McKee failed to submit a Notice of Intent for permit coverage under the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) General Permit for storm water discharges from construction activities and failed to develop and implement best management practices to control the discharge of sediment and debris from construction sites.
Based on these findings, the Louisiana Land Trust and Camp Dresser McKee have been ordered to cease all discharges of sediment and debris from construction activities in St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes, remove sediment and debris previously discharged and within 15 days submit a Notice of Intent to LDEQ for permit coverage under the LPDES General Permit program.
The Louisiana Land Trust and Camp Dresser McKee have also been given 15 days to develop, implement and submit a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) tailored for construction sites in St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes and submit a detailed description of activities completed to comply with the cease and desist orders.
South Carolina to Sue Regarding Termination of Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Disposal Plans
Last week, South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster issued the following statement:
South Carolina has a vested interest in insuring that the Yucca Mountain licensing proceedings continue, so that the spent fuel and other nuclear material now being temporarily stored in our state will be safely placed in the Yucca Mountain repository, as mandated by the United States Congress.
Following a review of South Carolina’s legal options, the SC Attorney general’s office will file a Petition to Intervene with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission this week, and will take additional legal action in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
After President Obama’s announcement to terminate plans for nuclear waste storage at the Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada, Attorney General McMaster’s office immediately began researching what legal avenues and remedies are available to South Carolina. This included consultation and collaborative discussions with attorneys general in similarly situated states, utility executives, nuclear industry legal experts, former DOE officials, and state and local officials from the Aiken–Savannah River Plant community.
EPA Recognizes Cary, North Carolina for Improving the Environment
EPA has recognized Cary, North Carolina as one of four communities in the U.S. for helping to reduce air pollution and improve the quality of life of older adults through smart growth efforts. Smart growth refers to neighborhoods that are creatively designed to reduce driving and environmental harm.
“We’re proud to recognize Cary for making its neighborhoods healthier and creating a more environmentally sustainable community,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta. “Walkways, open space and bike paths, as part of well-designed developments, can improve our environment and offer healthy options for Americans of all ages.”
The town of Cary has demonstrated excellence in smart growth and promoting active aging in the preservation of 2,300 acres of open space, 22 parks, 174 miles of walking and biking trails, and hundreds of fitness and wellness programs designed by and for older adults. Cary has also developed activity centers that are physically and aesthetically unified, concentrating mixed-use development in a compact pedestrian friendly fashion. The centers are popular locations for Cary’s growing population of more than 22,000 elders due to their proximity to shopping, exercising, and socializing. These actions not only protect the environment by reducing air pollution, but also foster economic vitality and enhance everyone’s quality of life.
Environmental Resource Center’s headquarters offices are located in the town of Cary. The town also received the Achievement Award, the top honor under the Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging awards, which recognizes communities for overall excellence in building healthy communities for active aging. The Town of Cary, North Carolina is also one of this year’s two recipients. Cary has successfully promoted physical activity by placing importance on it and intentionally providing peer recognition and social support.
Penalty Assessed for Lack of SPCC Plan
EPA fined Coles Evergreen Marina of Stigler, Oklahoma, $1,450 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act.
A federal inspection of the Marina’s bulk storage facility located at 113 E BK 800 Road in Haskell County, Oklahoma, revealed the facility did not have an SPCC plan and inspections and tests required by federal regulations were not in accordance with written procedures developed for the facility. Personnel working at the site had no training on the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges, discharge procedure protocols, and applicable pollution control laws, rules and regulations. The inspection also found spill prevention briefings were not scheduled and conducted periodically, the facility was not fully fenced and entrance gates were not locked and/or guarded when site is unattended, and facility lighting was not adequate to facilitate the discovery of spills during hours of darkness and to deter vandalism. As part of an Expedited Settlement Agreement with EPA, the facility has provided certification that all identified deficiencies have been corrected.
SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and responses to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality. A spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.
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Trivia Question of the Week
The car with the best 2010 EPA fuel mileage is in what vehicle category?
a. Subcompact
b. Compact
c. Midsize
d. Mini