The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), announced on October 17 that it has classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans. After thoroughly reviewing the latest available scientific literature, the world’s leading experts convened by the IARC Monographs Program concluded that there is sufficient evidence that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer. They also noted a positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Outdoor air pollution was ranked Group 1, the agency’s most dangerous rating. IARC classifies chemicals using a rating scheme ranging from Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) to Group 4 (not carcinogenic to humans).
Particulate matter, a major component of outdoor air pollution, was evaluated separately and was also classified as carcinogenic to humans. The IARC evaluation showed an increasing risk of lung cancer with increasing levels of exposure to particulate matter and air pollution. Although the composition of air pollution and levels of exposure can vary dramatically between locations, the conclusions of the Working Group apply to all regions of the world.
Air pollution is already known to increase risks for a wide range of diseases, such as respiratory and heart diseases. Studies indicate that in recent years exposure levels have increased significantly in some parts of the world, particularly in rapidly industrializing countries with large populations. The most recent data indicate that in 2010, 223,000 deaths from lung cancer worldwide resulted from air pollution.
“The air we breathe has become polluted with a mixture of cancer-causing substances,” says Dr Kurt Straif, Head of the IARC Monographs Section. “We now know that outdoor air pollution is not only a major risk to health in general, but also a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths.”
The IARC Monographs Program provides an authoritative source of scientific evidence on cancer-causing substances and exposures. In the past, the Program evaluated many individual chemicals and specific mixtures that occur in outdoor air pollution. These included diesel engine exhaust, solvents, metals, and dusts. But this is the first time that experts have classified outdoor air pollution as a cause of cancer.
“Our task was to evaluate the air everyone breathes rather than focus on specific air pollutants,” explains Dr Dana Loomis, Deputy Head of the Monographs Section. “The results from the reviewed studies point in the same direction: the risk of developing lung cancer is significantly increased in people exposed to air pollution.”
Volume 109 of the IARC Monographs is based on the independent review of more than 1000 scientific papers from studies on five continents. The reviewed studies analyze the carcinogenicity of various pollutants present in outdoor air pollution, especially particulate matter and transportation-related pollution. The evaluation is driven by findings from large epidemiologic studies that included millions of people living in Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
The predominant sources of outdoor air pollution are transportation, stationary power generation, industrial and agricultural emissions, and residential heating and cooking. Some air pollutants have natural sources, as well.
“Classifying outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans is an important step,” stresses IARC Director Dr Christopher Wild. “There are effective ways to reduce air pollution and, given the scale of the exposure affecting people worldwide, this report should send a strong signal to the international community to take action without further delay.”
Government Reopens, Science, Inspections Struggles to Recover
The government shutdown may be over, but its impacts on the Earth and space science programs the US relies on to protect public health, provide stability to the economy, and support national security are not.
One of the hardest hit areas was the availability and collection of data, including inspections. During the shutdown, farmers and city planners were unable to access government-collected water quality and soil moisture data that is critical to real-time decision-making. Also, EPA was not able to conduct many of its air, water, and hazardous waste inspections; much of this data cannot be recovered. These inspections are critical to protecting public and environmental health.
In addition, gaps in data collection may cause long-term damage throughout the Earth and space sciences. For example, researchers studying climate history in Antarctica lost a valuable portion of their field season, an activity that is crucial to understanding climate change and volcanoes, among other things.
According to AGU Executive Director/CEO Christine McEntee, “Continuous data collection and monitoring, and our ability to make that information available to the public, is essential to science’s capacity to support public services. Nature happens in real time. We can’t hit rewind to see what we missed.”
The shutdown also came at possibly the worst time of year for grant review and processing. Because the National Science Foundation and other agencies have such rigorous procedures, the postponement and possible cancelation of review panels, and the backlog of processing resulting from the shutdown will delay the launch of some research efforts. This could irrevocably damage the viability of these projects, including their ability to serve the needs of the American people.
Another troubling result of the shutdown is its potential impact on the STEM pipeline. Already, unstable and insufficient funding has hampered Earth and space science research in recent years, making these fields less attractive to students. The shutdown—and the looming threat of another possible shutdown this winter—sends the wrong message to these students about the attractiveness of a career as a government scientist. McEntee added, “The nation’s place as a world leader in scientific research and innovation will be seriously jeopardized if this kind of ‘brain drain’ is allowed to continue.”
“As Congress continues its budget negotiations,” McEntee noted, “We urge policy makers and government officials to recognize the fundamental knowledge science provides our nation, work to mitigate the damage created by the shutdown, and protect funding for Earth and space science research.”
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How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, material safety data sheet (now called “safety data sheet” or SDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on SDSs.
Supreme Court Reaffirms EPA Authority to Limit Carbon Pollution
The Supreme Court recently rejected challenges to EPA’s authority to limit carbon pollution from vehicles and other sources, but will review a specific question about air permitting requirements.
David Doniger, director of policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council’s climate and clean air program, made the following statement:
“Let’s be clear about what the Supreme Court did today: The court rejected pleas by big polluters and a small group of states to review the EPA’s authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and other sources when they endanger public health or welfare.
“That’s a huge win for anybody who cares about clean air and combatting climate change. It means the EPA’s endangerment finding and vehicle standards are now settled law. It also means the way is clear to issue carbon pollution standards for power plants under the President’s Climate Action Plan.
“What the Supreme Court will review is one specific, narrow question: Whether certain clean air permitting requirements for industrial sources are triggered by EPA’s endangerment determination and clean vehicle standards.
“The bottom line: Today’s decision once again affirms what the Court has already decided in Massachusetts v. EPA in 2007 and American Electric Power v. Connecticut in 2011. When it determines that carbon pollution endangers our health and our climate, the EPA has both the authority and responsibility to set standards to limit that pollution.”
Dyno Nobel Inc. to Pay $257,167 for Clean Air Act and Risk Management Program Violations at Two Facilities in Missouri
Inspections at the two facilities in 2010 revealed the CAA violations and resulted in EPA Region 7 issuing an Administrative Compliance Order in January 2011. Neither of Dyno Nobel's Risk Management Programs (RMPs) fully complied with all regulatory requirements. Federal RMP regulations require facilities to have processes in place to safely store and handle hazardous chemicals.
In addition to the Risk Management Program violations, Dyno Nobel failed to immediately notify the National Response Center, the State Emergency Response Commission, and the Local Emergency Response Committee of an accidental release of sulfuric acid that occurred at the Carthage facility on May 9, 2012, violating CERCLA and EPCRA regulations, respectively.
The Louisiana, Missouri, facility stored approximately 1.6 million lb. of anhydrous ammonia, or 160 times the threshold quantity. The facility also stored approximately 1.5 million lb. of nitric acid, or 100 times the threshold quantity.
The Carthage, Missouri, facility stored approximately 419,000 lb. of nitric acid, or 27 times the threshold quantity; 80,000 lb. of anhydrous ammonia, or eight times the threshold quantity; and 225,000 lb. of oleum, or 22 times the threshold quantity.
Anhydrous ammonia is a toxic chemical and short-term exposure to high concentrations can cause death. Nitric acid is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns; it can be fatal on short exposure. Oleum reacts as a strong acid; as a liquid, it causes severe burns of the skin and eyes.
"This Agency works hard to make sure firms that store and handle these potentially dangerous chemicals follow the laws designed to keep employees and neighboring communities safe. Recent events remind us all how important it is to take the required safety precautions," EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks said. "This second substantial administrative penalty for Dyno Nobel operations in the Great Plains signals the EPA intends to remain vigilant in enforcing laws intended to protect public health and safety."
Dyno Nobel settled a similar Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions case with EPA Region 8 in 2011 for $110,900.
By agreeing to the settlement with EPA, Dyno Nobel, Inc., has certified that it is now in compliance with all requirements of the CAA, EPCRA, and CERCLA regulations.
California Finalizes Major Rule To Advance Clean Energy
Recently the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) finalized a groundbreaking decision to build innovative high-tech energy storage systems that will lead California toward a future of clean, renewable energy and away from dependence on fossil fuels.
The decision will require power companies to expand their capacity to store energy, improving storage and delivery of renewable energy resources, reducing the need for gas-fired power plants, cutting climate change pollution, and making California’s electrical grid more reliable. In the decision, the state’s investor-owned utilities must begin buying a combined 200 megawatts of energy storage technology by 2014 and reaching 1.3 gigawatts (1,325 megawatts) by the end of 2020.
Said Will Rostov, Earthjustice attorney who has represented Sierra Club California in the proceedings for more than two and a half years:
“California is leading the way to a clean energy future with this critical step, which will essentially give the most populous state in the nation the hard-wiring and horsepower to more reliably deliver cleaner, safer, and more affordable, and more innovative energy to all Californians. Improving our energy storage systems is a necessary step in building a modern, sustainable power grid. Today’s forward-thinking and shrewd move by the California Public Utilities Commission will lay the groundwork for California to transform its energy supply and open the marketplace to innovations in clean, renewable energy sources. Clean, renewable energy sources will shape our future, whether the dirty antiquated fossil fuels industry likes it or not, so it’s excellent to see California getting there first. It took years of work by environmental advocates and state regulators to reach this point.”
Said Evan Gillespie, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign, Western Region Deputy Director:
“This decision comes at the perfect moment as the state plans for the replacement of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Fossil fuels like natural gas are a dead end for the people of California, the power companies, and for the entire planet. Today's decision will spark new ideas and storage methods that can move us out of a destructive energy system and into a safe, healthy, and efficient system of renewable energy. The proposed energy storage targets are a great beginning, and we look forward to working with the CPUC to ensure utilities will not simply meet but exceed these targets.”
Said Strela Cervas, Coordinator at the California Environmental Justice Alliance:
“The California Environmental Justice Alliance participated in this proceeding on behalf of low income communities and communities of color overburdened by pollution, in particular from power plants. California does not need any new gas-fired power plants. This decision announces the feasibility of other alternatives; will undoubtedly accelerate the State’s progress towards a just, sustainable energy future; and facilitates other statewide climate change policies that protect low-income communities and communities of color.”
Energy storage systems can use mechanical, chemical, or thermal processes to store energy; these processes range from battery technologies to energy storage within compressed air or molten salt. The PUC proposed ruling anticipates energy storage market transformation reducing the cost and increasing the availability of energy storage systems.
The PUC decision is the culmination of California Assembly Bill 2514 (AB 2514) passed in 2010, the first state law that solely focuses on incorporating energy storage into the electrical grid.
Waltham Company Assessed $11,000 Penalty for Violating Waste Site Cleanup Requirements
Parks Cramer Lofts, LLC, of Waltham, the owner of a vacant, former industrial property at 68 Airport Road in Fitchburg, has been assessed an $11,000 penalty for failing to notify the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) of a release of hazardous materials within the timelines established under the Commonwealth's hazardous waste site cleanup regulations.
Soil samples collected on behalf of Parks Cramer Lofts in June 2011 identified chromium levels high enough to pose a potential risk to human health and that additional information was needed to evaluate the risk. The company failed to notify MassDEP of chromium contamination in the soil in a timely manner. Further soil testing performed for Parks Cramer Lofts revealed that the chromium did not pose a health hazard; however, the company failed to notify the abutting property owner of the results found on his property. Subsequently, in November 2012, the company conducted response actions on the property without submitting a required plan to MassDEP.
"Releases of oil and hazardous materials that could pose an imminent hazard give rise to requirements for notifications that must be made within specific timelines," said Lee Dillard Adams, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester. "Furthermore, plans for response actions must be submitted to MassDEP prior to any work being done—to enable the agency to carry out its oversight role and to provide affected and interested public parties with information about the cleanup."
Parks Cramer Lofts was required to pay the assessed penalty and submit updated reports outlining the cleanup actions performed on the site.
$6,000 Fine Levied for Wetlands Destruction
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a penalty of $6,000 to 63-65 South Street Hopkinton, LLC, of Marlborough to address damage caused by its violations of the Wetlands Protection Act at its property located at 63-65 South Street in Hopkinton.
Following a request for assistance from the Hopkinton Conservation Commission in November 2012, MassDEP personnel inspected the area and observed that Bordering Vegetated Wetlands on the property had been bulldozed and filled with asphalt. The Conservation Commission had not issued permits for this work; rather, the commission had issued an Enforcement Order requiring the company to cease and desist work in areas under the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act.
MassDEP issued a subsequent order requiring that the owner stop work within the wetland areas, implement erosion control measures, hire a wetlands specialist to delineate the wetland boundaries on the property, evaluate the extent of impact to wetland resource areas, and submit a wetlands restoration plan to MassDEP for review and approval. The owners have complied with the requirements of the MassDEP order and have implemented the approved plans to remediate and restore the site.
"Companies working near wetlands need to follow the requirements and comply with orders issued by local conservation commissions to ensure the protection of wetland resources within the Commonwealth," said Lee Dillard Adams, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester. "MassDEP relies on its local partners to assist with enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act."
MassDEP Completes Environmental Justice Initiative in Ward 1 District of Springfield, $40,000 in Penalties Levied
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently announced that an environmental compliance and enforcement initiative conducted in the Ward 1 area of Springfield has identified a number of environmental noncompliance issues, which resulted in $40,000 in penalties levied against violators, as well as a push to return to compliance.
The initiative was conducted during the last half of 2012 in the neighborhoods of Metro Center, Memorial Square, and Brightwood. During the initiative, MassDEP conducting approximately 100 inspections, collected and analyzed Connecticut River water samples, installed an air quality monitor and set up cameras to watch for illegal dumping. As a result, MassDEP issued $40,000 in penalties, identified potential illegal discharge points into the river, uncovered multiple environmental noncompliance issues at several facilities, and provided technical assistance to small businesses.
MassDEP Deputy Commissioner Gary Moran recently announced the findings of the Urban Enforcement Initiative during a meeting with municipal and community partners hosted by the New North Citizen's Council, Inc., (NNCC) at their facility on Main Street.
"This initiative has helped MassDEP to develop effective strategies to strengthen community partnerships, successfully implement the Commonwealth's Environmental Justice Policy and bring sites back into compliance," said Deputy Commissioner Moran. "We are meeting our goals of focused outreach and enforcement to improve the quality of life in a targeted, community-centered effort."
Deputy Commissioner Moran joined officials from Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno's Office, Springfield city departments, NNCC Director of Community Development Jose Claudio, and citizens in discussing the initiative.
"I am very appreciative of the continued partnership we have developed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection," said Mayor Sarno. "Their continuing efforts to work with all parties, from the grass roots up, is significantly contributing to an enhanced quality of life for the residents and businesses here in Springfield."
"The community enjoyed the partnership with MassDEP; the professionalism of their staff and the way they approached every inspection, was great," said NNCC's Claudio. "The communication was excellent and most of all, their work was needed in Ward 1. We, the residents of the North End, would like to thank MassDEP for caring for the environmental needs and justice of our community."
The purpose of the initiative was to focus the resources of MassDEP and its partners to address quality-of-life issues related to environmental conditions. The Ward 1 census tract is classified as an environmental justice area. The initiative was launched after meeting with the mayor, municipal department heads, state legislators and civic, neighborhood and business leaders in Ward 1. Regular meetings were held with all community partners to discuss plans, findings and follow-up actions.
Beginning in the summer of 2012 and continuing to the end of the year, MassDEP conducted multiple unannounced inspections within the neighborhoods for vehicle idling; conducted inspections of properties where demolition was occurring to ensure proper asbestos abatement was being implemented; conducted inspections of 72 potential Brownfields properties to help identify areas for re-development; conducted unannounced inspections of 32 registered or permitted facilities impacting residential and commercial neighborhoods, including registered auto body and auto repair shops, transit facilities, hospitals and junkyards; conducted inspections of 14 unregistered facilities; installed an air quality monitor atop the Gerena School to monitor the presence of fine particulate matter in the ambient air; and conducted five rounds of bacteria monitoring from seven locations along the Connecticut River. Many of the inspections were conducted jointly with representatives of the City of Springfield.
The following are the major findings from the initiative:
- On January 15, 2013, MassDEP issued a $33,718 penalty to Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse Inc. in Chicopee for failure to notify MassDEP of a release of anhydrous ammonia at the facility that occurred on August 5, 2008 and for failure to respond to a Request for Information to obtain details of that release.
- On January 2, 2013, MassDEP issued a $9,188 penalty to Hampden Framing Contractors, a construction firm based in Hampden, for the company's failure to notify MassDEP of a spill of diesel fuel that impacted several roadways in Springfield on June 15, 2012 and failure to take measures to clean up the spill.
- On September 27, 2012, MassDEP issued an order to Trident Alloys, Inc. of Springfield to address a pile of 55-gallon drums, ash and foundry sand exposed to the elements on their property and causing runoff into a city catch basin
- MassDEP negotiated the terms of a settlement agreement with Associated Building Wreckers to conduct the demolition of a building on city-owned property. In lieu of collection of the penalty, the violator expended funds to take down the building, which was posing a hazard to the neighborhood.
- MassDEP identified three locations along the Connecticut River exhibiting high bacteria counts. MassDEP is requiring further investigation.
- Inspections have resulted in correction of multiple noncompliance issues related to hazardous waste and waste oil registration, management and documentation at regulated facilities. MassDEP provided technical assistance to owners of the facilities and distributed compliance materials in English and in Spanish.
- Of the 72 Brownfields properties inspected, 18 have been flagged for follow-up inspection and assessment. MassDEP is working closely with city officials to identify funding sources for assessment and cleanup of these parcels to help spur economic development.
- Collection and evaluation of air quality monitoring data at the Gerena School indicates that levels in the ambient air around the school compare closely to the levels of particulate matter reported at the other monitors in Springfield and has met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Motor Vehicle Salvage Yard Closed and Owner Fined $84,000 for Violating Environmental Regulations
Attorney General Joseph A. Foster and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas S. Burack announced recently that the Sullivan County Superior Court found James Bonia in violation of a prior consent decree related to his operation of Tri-State Car Crushing, a motor vehicle salvage yard in Lempster. After a hearing, the court prohibited Mr. Bonia from ever again owning or operating a motor vehicle salvage yard in the State without prior approval, and imposed $84,000 in civil penalties that had previously been suspended.
At the hearing, the State offered testimony showing that Mr. Bonia had not only failed to operate Tri-State Car Crushing in compliance with the prior consent decree, but also had committed new violations of environmental regulations. The State introduced evidence that buried solid waste was discovered on Mr. Bonia’s property and that he brought solid waste onto the property when he lacked the necessary permit to do so.
$40,000 Fine for Dangerous Waste Violations
N.A. Degerstrom, Inc., (NAD) will pay the state of Washington $40,000 to settle recent violations for mishandling dangerous waste at its Spokane Valley property.
In response to a complaint in May, Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) inspectors found two illegal disposal pools of chemicals on the company’s property. The pools were filled with a variety of chemicals, some which require special disposal under state law.
NAD hired contractor Able Cleanup Technologies to remove the waste from the pools, excavate the contaminated soil, and properly dispose the materials.
People and the environment are put at risk when dangerous chemicals are mishandled. Health problems can develop if people are exposed to these substances.
Ensuring proper safety and environmental practices at facilities that generate hazardous waste supports Ecology’s priority of preventing and reducing toxic threats to human health and the environment.
"We are pleased that NAD responded to our concerns recognizing the problem and acted quickly to come into compliance with the state’s regulations," said Lisa Brown, a manager in Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program in Spokane. "Doing so means their staff, the public and the environment are protected from exposure to these toxic chemicals."
NAD Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety Mike Coleman said: "Our company has worked cooperatively with Ecology to ensure our waste handling practices are safe and protective. We have addressed this issue with appropriate staff to ensure the problem does not occur again in the future, and look forward to continuing to work cooperatively with Ecology regarding the operation of our business at the highest possible level of compliance."
The recommended penalty was originally $60,000 but NAD entered into an expedited settlement agreement with Ecology to reduce the recommended penalty by one third to $40,000. The settlement lowers the recommended penalty and requires NAD to waive its right to appeal. The expedited settlement process is an effort to save the state, taxpayers, and NAD the expense of costly litigation.
New Report Helps California Prepare for Extreme Heat
With climate models projecting a significant increase in the frequency and duration of extreme heat, a workgroup lead by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) developed recommendations to help the state become better prepared and more resilient to increasing temperature and extreme heat events.
“With temperatures on the rise, we as a state should do all that we can to protect Californians from heat-related illnesses,” said California Secretary for Environmental Protection Matthew Rodriquez. “This report offers a variety of ways that State and local agencies, working together, can help save lives.”
During a 10-day heat wave in 2006, more than 650 Californians died due to heat-related conditions. “Extreme heat is one of the deadliest natural hazards and we must take action to reduce the negative health impacts on Californians,” said California Department of Public Health and State health officer Dr. Ron Chapman.
Extreme heat poses a substantial health risk, especially in vulnerable populations including young children, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, people with a disability and people who are socially isolated. Heat-related illnesses include cramps, heat exhaustion and, most seriously, heat stroke and death.
As the climate changes in California, extreme heat is projected to be a growing problem. According to the report, urban and rural population centers throughout the state may experience an average of 40 to 53 extreme heat days annually by 2050, compared with a historical average of four extreme heat days per year.
Populations in cooler areas of the state may be at greater risk of heat-related illnesses, as these individuals are not used to heat. These populations may be less aware of how to reduce exposure, and homes and offices in these areas may be less equipped with air conditioning. Moreover, poorer urban communities face additional heat risks due to less access to air conditioning and fewer trees and cooling green spaces.
While the report’s recommendations are intended to inform State agencies, the guidance is also relevant to local planners; local governments; emergency response; and public health and health care professionals and institutions. The recommendations include:
- Examine and expand the use of cooler pavements and roofs to lower nighttime surface temperatures.
- Promote and expand urban greening (e.g., planting of trees, using vegetation, restoring urban streams) to cool public and private spaces.
- Improve heat-health alert warnings used to trigger and guide response activities by local communities and health departments when heat waves are anticipated or underway.
- Improve community resilience to increasing heat events, particularly for vulnerable populations, by evaluating current preparedness and response strategies to determine their effectiveness in extreme weather.
- Expand energy assurance so that clean, cost effective and reliable energy is available to maintain essential services during extreme events. This would allow local planners to identify key facilities and services and ways to protect their operations during any power outage.
- Increase the health care system’s extreme heat preparedness and resiliency by incorporating climate change projections into disaster preparedness plans.
- Identify the characteristics of vulnerable populations and communities that are highly resilient to heat in order to improve response and best practices to extreme heat.
The report was developed by the Heat Adaptation Workgroup of the State Climate Action Team (CAT), which is made up of State agency secretaries and heads of boards and departments. The CAT works to coordinate statewide efforts to implement global warming emission reduction programs and prepare the state for climate change risks. The Heat Adaptation Workgroup was co-chaired by the California Department of Public Health and the California Environmental Protection Agency. Staff from multiple State agencies worked collaboratively to develop this guidance document.
Los Angeles Water Board Refers Sanitary Sewer Permit Violations In Three Cities to State Attorney General’s Office
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Los Angeles Water Board) adopted three resolutions at its October 3 meeting referring the cities of Alhambra, Compton, and San Gabriel to the California Attorney General’s Office for failure to comply with the Statewide Sanitary Sewer Permit.
The referrals allow the Attorney General’s Office to seek court orders compelling the cities to correct sewer deficiencies and eliminate illegal discharges of raw sewage into the region’s waterways.
The Statewide Sanitary Sewer System Permit was adopted in 2006 and updated this year to provide a consistent, statewide approach to address the illegal discharges of raw sewage. The permit requires public agencies that own or operate sewer systems to develop and implement sewer system management plans and report all sewage spills to an on-line database.
Raw sewage spills can contain pathogenic organisms and toxic pollutants, which can pose threats to human health, recreational uses of water and natural resources. Sewage spills can also damage public and private property.
"The Los Angeles Water Board believes that with enforcement actions such as this through the Attorney General’s Office, we can convince these cities to address their aging sewer systems.” said Maria Mehranian, Chair of the Los Angeles Water Board. “The ultimate goal is the elimination of sewage spills that can threaten public health and impact the beneficial uses of our waters.”
Regional Board staff told the board the resolutions were necessary to bring the cities into compliance with their permits. A court order would require the cities to develop, implement, and in some cases, enhance a number of plans and programs in order to address their sewage collection system shortfalls. These include developing, implementing and/or enhancing their sanitary sewer overflow reduction plans, their system-wide cleaning programs, their fats, oils and grease control programs, and their capital improvement plans.
The Los Angeles Water Board protects and restores water quality in coastal watersheds in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and in portions of Kern and Santa Barbara counties.
Pennsylvania DEP-Nominated Project Wins National Coal Mine Reclamation Award
The Department of Environmental Protection recently announced that P&N Coal Company, Inc., of Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, recently received the nation’s best coal mine reclamation project award from the National Association of State Land Reclamationists, following a nomination submitted by the department.
“The department was pleased to learn that a Pennsylvania company nominated by DEP had won such a prestigious national award,” DEP Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations John Stefanko said. “This important project, done through a no-cost Government Financed Construction Contract (GFCC), has made 32 acres of highly used State Game Lands 77 in Sandy Township much safer for area hunters.”
The project reclaimed nearly three miles of dangerous abandoned highwall and 32 acres of abandoned surface mine. It also restored 900 feet of Slab Run, a tributary to Sandy Lick Creek. P&N was also able to abate acid mine drainage flowing into Slab Run by adding large quantities of lime to the backfill material.
A no-cost GFCC allows DEP to issue reclamation contracts without cost to the commonwealth to reclaim abandoned mine lands, while the operator is allowed to remove coal that is incidental and necessary to the completion of the reclamation. For this project, DEP provided partial funding of the alkaline addition through a $300,000 grant from the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship fund, which is funded in part by impact fees paid by natural gas drillers.
Reclamation performed by P&N Coal on the two adjacent contracts had an estimated value of $1.7 million, which was done at no expense to the commonwealth.
The award was presented to P&N Coal President John Prushnok by National Association of State Land Reclamationists President Thomas Gragg during a recent meeting in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The association annually presents awards for best coal mine and non-coal mine reclamation projects.
180 Colorado Companies to be Recognized as Environmental Leaders
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will recognize more than 180 companies October 17 for their outstanding environmental achievements that help keep Colorado a desirable place for people to work and live. The department, in cooperation with the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board and the Colorado Environmental Partnership, will present the 14th annual Environmental Leadership Awards at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
The awards recognize Colorado organizations with gold, silver, and bronze designations for voluntarily going beyond compliance with state and federal regulations and for their commitment to continual environmental improvement.
This year’s program will recognize 10 new Gold Leaders, including Blue Star Recyclers, Amgen and Manitou Springs School District, which join 73 other companies and organizations already designated as Gold Leaders. There currently are 38 companies designated as Silver Partners and 22 companies designated as Bronze Achievers.
One Gold Leader company will receive the “24-Karat Gold Award.” This award is determined each year by the other Gold Leaders. Each Gold Leader company is asked to nominate an individual or team from their company who has gone above and beyond required job duties in the creation and implementation of a program or initiative that has made a measurable contribution to the environment, the economy and society. The 24-Karat Gold Award winner will be announced at the event.
The event begins with a breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Denver Center for Performing Art’s Seawell Ballroom, followed by the awards presentation. More than 300 government, business and community leaders are expected to attend the program this year.
The Colorado Environmental Leadership Program is open to all Colorado businesses, industries, offices, educational institutions, municipalities, government agencies, communities, nonprofits, and other organizations.
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Trivia Question of the Week
What solution is said to have the potential for 57% of needed carbon cuts by 2030?
a) Carbon capture and storage
b) Energy efficiency
c) Geothermal
d) Water efficiency