Recently, Earthjustice released an interactive map displaying where states currently stand on renewable energy in light of the Obama Administration’s proposed Clean Power Plan. The map also shows that finalizing the Clean Power Plan will be essential to making any progress in states that have been unwilling to invest in clean energy.
“The Clean Power Plan proposes first-ever limits on carbon pollution from the biggest contributors to climate change: dirty coal plants,” Abigail Dillen, Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation for Climate & Energy, said. “With the comment period for the plan ending the first of December, we need to support these limits, while also demanding a more ambitious final rule that reflects the role that renewable energy can and must play in tackling climate change.”
The proposed plan sets different goals for each state to reduce its carbon emissions by 2030. As one of the “building blocks” to meet these goals, the EPA estimated what each state could do to increase the share of renewable energy in its power mix.
Earthjustice’s map shows how each state stacks up on clean energy by tracking each state’s largest electricity sources, renewable energy usage, policies currently in place to reduce carbon emissions, and current renewable energy goals vs. the renewable energy targets that EPA developed in order to set proposed state-by-state limits on carbon pollution.
Learn DOT’s New Rules for Lithium Battery Shipments
- Enhance packaging and hazard communication requirements for lithium batteries transported by air
- Replace equivalent lithium content with Watt-hours for lithium ion cells and batteries
- Adopt separate shipping descriptions for lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries
- Revise provisions for the transport of small and medium lithium cells and batteries including cells and batteries packed with, or contained in, equipment
- Revise the exceptions for small cells and batteries in air transportation
- Revise the requirements for the transport of lithium batteries for disposal or recycling
- Harmonize the provisions for the transport of low production and prototype lithium cells and batteries with the ICAO Technical Instructions and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
- Adopt new provisions for the transport of damaged, defective, and recalled lithium batteries
If you ship batteries by ground or air, you must comply with the latest DOT and IATA/ICAO regulations that specify how the batteries must be packaged, marked, labeled, and transported. The rules apply not only to batteries, but also to equipment or vehicles that contain batteries as well as batteries packed along with equipment. Virtually all types of batteries are regulated, including lithium, lead-acid, nickel cadmium, and metal hydride alkaline. According to 49 CFR 172.704, all personnel involved in the classification, packaging, marking, labeling, or shipment of batteries must receive initial and recurrent transportation training.
Wilmington RCRA and DOT Training
Raleigh Area 24-Hour HAZWOPER Training
Cleveland RCRA and DOT Training
Extension of the Laboratory and Analytical Use Exemption for Essential Class I Ozone-Depleting Substances
The exemption allows the production and import of controlled substances in the US for laboratory and analytical uses that have not been already identified by EPA as nonessential. Comments must be submitted by 10 December 2014.
(Federal Register; 10 November 2014 [Proposed Rules], pages 66679-66682).
Ohio EPA Proposes Revisions to NSR Permitting Program Rules
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Air Pollution Control has reviewed OAC Chapter 3745-31 NSR Permitting Program Rules entitled "Permits-to-Install New Sources and Permit-to-Install and Operate Program" pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 119.032 which requires all agencies review existing rules every five years to determine if the rules should be eliminated or amended or continued with no changes. Ohio EPA has determined that these rules remain necessary and are in need of changes.
The Division of Air Pollution Control has prepared draft amendments to the rule in response to stakeholder comments, to bring the rules in line with federal requirements, and also to make minor fixes to update LSC formatting and agency consistency issues.
As part of the rule-making process, Ohio EPA is required by Section 121.39 of the Ohio Revised Code to consult with organizations that represent political subdivisions, environmental interests, business interests, and others affected by the rules. The Ohio EPA is offering your organization the opportunity to comment on these rules before the division formally proposes them.
Ohio EPA has also prepared a Business Impact Analysis form to Ohio's Common Sense Initiative (CSI) Office. Ohio EPA is also making this form available at this time for public review and comment.
An Effective, Cost-Saving Way to Detect Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks
Major leaks from oil and gas pipelines have led to home evacuations, explosions, millions of dollars in lawsuit payouts, and valuable natural resources escaping into the air, ground, and water.
Gary Valtinson and Miguel Bagajewicz note that using pipelines to move oil, gas, and even water from one place to another is highly effective, for the most part. But serious, costly problems arise when pipes break. Existing methods for detecting leaks are limited. Hardware-based approaches using special instrumentation are expensive and complicated, and software-based systems don't model pressure drops in pipelines correctly. This leads to a lot of errors, particularly for gas pipelines. Valitonson and Bagajewicz set out to fix this flaw.
The researchers developed a method that compares pressure and flow rate measurements from a pipeline with mathematical models that can accurately predict what the pressure and flow rate should be. Their technique successfully detected small leaks and reduced errors from 21% to 3% when compared to existing software. The researchers estimated that their method would have saved millions of dollars more than other leak-detection methods.
Learn About Required Waste Minimization in Nevada
Attend this free webcast on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 to learn about the legal requirement that all hazardous waste generators in Nevada have a waste minimization program.
What kind of program or plan do you have? Can you speak to how it is being implemented at your facility? Do you need to brush off your plan and update it? Come to this free seminar to learn more about waste minimization program requirements and strategies for minimizing your wastes.
- Pollution Prevention (P2) Goals
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Goals
- What is waste reduction?
- What is waste minimization?
- What is the benefit of P2?
- What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?
New York Establishes Toll Free Hotline to Report Poachers and Polluters
Members of the public will be able to instantly report poachers and polluters using a new toll-free hotline that will help to ensure strict enforcement of environmental laws that protect the State's natural resources, according to State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martensy.
The toll-free hotline number is 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267). It will be staffed around the clock and connect callers to a DEC police dispatcher.
"The addition of the new hotline will help DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers respond quickly to wildlife and environmental crimes, which will enhance our ability to protect New York's valuable natural resources," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "The vast majority of sportsmen and sportswomen, and all people who utilize state lands and waters, are great stewards of our environment, but there are a few bad actors out there and we want to know about them."
DEC's ECOs are uniformed police officers whose primary responsibility is to enforce state environmental laws. ECOs have protected New York State's fish, wildlife, and natural resources since 1880. There currently are 278 ECOs deployed across New York's 62 counties, who patrol by vehicle, boat, or foot.
ECOs routinely apprehend poachers and polluters—those who steal valuable fish and wildlife resources or threaten our clean air, land, and water. Examples of arrests made by ECOs include poachers who shoot wildlife from a highway, illegal burning of wastes, exceeding the legal limit for taking wildlife, illegal dumping, overharvest of fish, disposal of waste oil down storm drains, possessing endangered species, illegal use of pesticides, and excessive smoke from diesel vehicles.
DEC Law Enforcement Director Timothy Duffy said, "We appreciate the efforts of people who are vigilant in protecting out wildlife populations and natural resources across the state. The law-abiding hunters, trappers, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts are important allies of Environmental Conservation Officers, and help us track and stop those who violate our environmental laws. This new hotline will be an important tool for them and DEC as we work together to prevent poachers and polluters from damaging wildlife and our environment."
Accidental Discoveries that Changed the World
Throughout the history of science, many major discoveries came accidentally. Sometimes they came from recognizing potential in an unexpected product or even a failed recipe’s waste. Other times, discovery came out of pure desperation from a seemingly dead-end experiment. This week, Reactions celebrates those happy accidents that ended up changing the world in the first episode of a new sub-series, “Legends of Chemistry.”
Mack Trucks Inc. Fined $54,800 for Failure to Properly Manage Hazardous Waste
RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
After a facility inspection, EPA cited the company for several RCRA violations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including solvents and paint wastes.
The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the resolution of this matter.
Dura Bond Pipe Violates Hazardous Waste Regulations, Fined $45,040
The alleged violations included: failure to make hazardous waste determinations; failure to conduct weekly inspections of hazardous waste storage areas; failure to label and keep closed containers of universal waste; failure to document how long the universal waste has been accumulated.
The settlement penalty reflects the company’s cooperation with EPA in the resolution of this matter. As part of the settlement, the company has not admitted liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.
SeraCare Fined for Hazardous Waste Violations
During a May 2014 inspection, MassDEP personnel determined that the company stored hazardous waste for longer than allowed under its registered status, failed to properly label hazardous waste containers, delineate their hazardous waste accumulation area, and keep a record of inspections conducted on its hazardous waste accumulation area.
In a consent order, the company agreed to maintain compliance with applicable regulations and pay $2,167 of the penalty. The remaining $4,454 of the penalty will be put toward a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP), consisting of the purchase of gas detection meters for use by the City of Milford Fire Department.
"Once notified of the violations, the company quickly complied with applicable regulations," said Lee Dillard Adams, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester. "The equipment purchased through the SEP will benefit the Fire Department and the community."
Anver Corporation Fined $2,432 for Violating Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Requirements
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $2,432 penalty to Anver Corporation, a builder of custom-materials handling equipment at its 36 Parmenter Road, Hudson facility, for violating Hazardous Waste regulations.
During an inspection conducted earlier this year, MassDEP found that the company generated hazardous waste in excess of its registered status and failed to clearly delineate its hazardous waste accumulation area. In a consent order, the company agreed to comply with applicable regulations and pay the penalty.
"As a response to MassDEP's inspection, the company has invested in equipment that will reduce the amount of hazardous waste it generates," said Lee Dillard Adams, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester.
J.P. Noonan Transportation Penalized for 9,600-Gallon Oil Spill into the Mystic River in Arlington and Medford in 2013.
Cannon Place LLC to Pay $110,253 Fine for Stormwater Violations
As part of this settlement, Cannon Place agreed to pay a civil penalty of $110,253.
Without these controls, pollutants typically associated with construction sites, such as sediment, oil and grease, and concrete washout can enter nearby waterways.
The inspectors noted additional deficiencies in Cannon Place’s required sampling and recordkeeping following storm events.
On October 22, 2013, Cannon Place entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA and agreed to implement best management practices for stormwater runoff management to come into compliance with the CWA and the requirements of its Permit. The EPA has determined that Cannon Place has satisfied all the requirements of the AOC. Under a subsequent Consent Agreement and Final Order, Cannon Place paid a civil penalty of $110,253 to resolve its liability for the alleged CWA violations.
Congress enacted the CWA in 1972 to protect the nation’s rivers, lakes and stream, as well as some of the more fragile and vital wetland habitats. Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of impairment to the nearly 40% of surveyed US water bodies which do not meet water quality standards. Over land or via storm sewer systems, polluted runoff is discharged, often untreated, directly into local water bodies. When left uncontrolled, water pollution can deplete needed oxygen and/or otherwise result in the destruction of aquatic habitats, as well as the fish and wildlife that depend on them. Water pollution can also contaminate food, drinking water supplies, and recreational waterways, and thereby pose a threat to public health.
Minneapolis Home Builder Penalized for Stormwater Violations
During several inspections in 2013, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff discovered multiple violations of construction stormwater rules at the site. Violations included failure to stabilize exposed soils, slopes, and dirt stockpiles; and improperly draining water from the site. These violations resulted in sediment and sediment-laden stormwater to flow into nearby Lower Prior Lake. Large amounts of sediment entering a lake can damage water quality and harm aquatic life.
The MPCA informed Mr. Miller of the violations following each inspection, and provided technical assistance on how to fix the problems prior to initiating this enforcement action.
Mr. Miller has paid a $30,000 civil penalty and completed a series of corrective actions to bring the site into compliance with stormwater rules and regulations.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it is a first time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. It also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.
Blue Mountain Air Fined $51,000 for Failing to Protect Children from Lead Hazards
Specifically, the company failed to obtain an EPA certification, use certified renovators, and comply with other work practice requirements for handling lead-based paint safely.
“EPA will take enforcement action against companies that operate without the training and certification needed to protect children, families and workers.”
Blue Mountain Air, along with Blue Mountain Realty, is a subsidiary of Blue Mountain, Inc., owned and operated by Greg S. Owen. In 2011 and 2012, Blue Mountain Air renovated four foreclosed homes in Napa, El Sobrante, and Santa Rosa, California. EPA found that the company violated the rule when it:
- Did not obtain the required EPA firm certification prior to the renovations
- Failed to ensure a certified renovator was assigned to the renovations and that all workers were certified renovators or trained by a certified renovator
- Failed to maintain required records to ensure that warning signs were posted, work areas were contained, and a certified renovator performed post-renovation cleaning verifications
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips. When companies fail to follow the lead-safe practices during home renovations, the resulting lead dust and chips can contaminate home surfaces and accumulate to unsafe levels. Activities like eating and playing can move the lead dust from surfaces like floors and window sills into the body, exposing children, families and workers to lead poisoning.
EPA enforces the federal Toxic Substances Control Act and its Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule to protect children from exposure to lead-based paint hazards from renovation and repair activities that can create hazardous lead dust when surfaces with lead-based paint are disturbed. Contractors who disturb painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities must be trained and certified, provide educational materials to residents, and follow safe work practices. The US banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978 but EPA estimates that more than 37 million older homes in the US still have lead-based paint.
Lead exposure is more dangerous to children than adults because children’s growing bodies absorb more lead, and their brain and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead, which include: behavior and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, and damage to the brain and nervous system. Children under six years old are at most risk. No level of lead in blood has been identified as safe for children.
Nationwide, more than 100,000 contractors have completed the process to become certified. A single day of training is required to learn about the lead-safe work practices, but many companies continue to operate without training or certification and without regard for the potential harm to children. EPA continues to pursue enforcement against companies that are not certified and uses information from the public to help identify violators.
Student Works Painting, Inc., Fails to Comply with Lead-Based Paint Regulations
The settlement—which includes a $39,532 penalty—covers actions that occurred at a property in Boise, Idaho, in October, 2011.
According to EPA case documents, Student Works Painting failed to follow lead-safe work practices and establish and maintain adequate records for renovation activities on a Boise residential property built before 1978. The violations were documented during an inspection at the home, following a local tip.
“If repairs or remodeling are done carelessly in older homes, it could result in lead contamination, which in turn could pose a serious health hazard to young children,” said Kate Kelly, Director of EPA’s office of Air, Waste & Toxics in Seattle. “Research has shown that as many as one million children in America are needlessly exposed to lead, resulting in elevated blood lead levels, which have been shown to harm both physical and mental development. Our lead-based paint regulations help safeguard children from this unnecessary exposure risk.”
This is not the first time College Works Painting, the parent company, has failed to comply. In 2011, the company also paid a $32,508 penalty for other lead-based paint rule violations.
EPA's Lead-based Paint regulations require that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978:
- Have their firm certified by EPA (or an EPA authorized state)
- Use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers
- Follow lead-safe work practices
Lead-based paint can be found on walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, or even floors. When lead-based paint on these surfaces is chipped, sanded, or scraped, it breaks into tiny, barely visible pieces that children can swallow or inhale. Even small repair and renovation jobs, including repainting projects, can create enough lead dust and chips to harm children.
Seaboard Asphalt Products to Pay $60,000 for Clean Water Act Violations
As part of a settlement with the EPA, Seaboard Asphalt Products Company, located on Asiatic Ave. in Baltimore, has come into compliance with oil spill prevention and response requirements. Their compliance will help protect Baltimore residents and the environment.
The company has also agreed to pay a $60,000 penalty for these alleged violations.
The Seaboard Asphalt Products Co. facility has aboveground oil storage tanks with a total capacity of 224,500 gallons. It is less than a half mile from two bodies of water—Curtis Bay and the Patapsco River—which flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
An EPA inspection revealed several deficiencies at the facility, including inadequate secondary containment in some areas (including cracks and holes in the concrete walls of one of the main secondary containment areas); storage of mineral oil in rusted, corroded tanks; unstable bracing of a pipeline; and a visible discharge of oil that was not promptly corrected. The company has corrected these violations and is now in compliance with the regulations.
Dry Cleaner Fined $18,000 for Violation of Clean Water Act
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board assistant executive officer has issued an Administrative Civil Liability order of $18,000 against Lamoure’s, Inc., a Fresno dry cleaning establishment.
The order was issued for a violation of a Water Board Cleanup and Abatement Order, which required Lamoure’s to submit a work plan for assessment of soil and groundwater at the company’s facility at 1304 G St., in Fresno.
In a settlement agreement, in addition to the penalty Lamoure’s also agreed to provide the required work plan within 60 days from the issue date of the ACL.
Settlement of this enforcement action does not relieve Lamoure’s Inc. from any obligation, liability, or debt to the Water Board’s Cost Recovery Program.
$62,287 Fine for Oil Tanker Truck Spill
The spill occurred on Route 60 in Arlington when an oil tanker truck crashed while going around a rotary on the Mystic Valley Parkway. As a result of the crash, the 10,000-gallon compartment of the tanker was breached, dumping nearly all of its contents onto the roadway, which then flowed into storm drains and subsequently into the nearby Mystic River. Emergency response crews from Arlington, Medford, other nearby towns, MassDEP and a private contractor hired by J.P. Noonan were able to contain and clean up virtually all of the oil that spilled during the ensuing days and weeks.
"The recovery of the Mystic River and its continued protection will not be set back by this unfortunate incident," said MassDEP Commissioner David Cash. "The NRD Trust will use the settlement to directly assist in repairing the damage done to natural resources there, and the funds will help MassDEP continue our important work protecting the environment from a host of hazardous materials."
"We are very happy that MassDEP has successfully pursued Natural Resource Damages in response to this spill," said Mystic River Watershed Association Executive Director EkOngKar Singh Khalsa. "Support for the restoration of the Mystic River provided through this settlement is an important component of strong state and local response to the accident. MassDEP emergency response and local fire and DPW personnel also deserve much credit for fast action that prevented more catastrophic impacts from this oil release."
In April 2014, J.P. Noonan submitted documentation stating that all necessary remediation responses had been completed and a permanent clean up had been achieved along the river in the Arlington and Medford areas. The cost of that clean up was borne by J.P. Noonan as the responsible party, and its insurance company.
The $55,100 settlement for NRD damages will be deposited in to the NRD Trust, which is administered by MassDEP, and will eventually fund projects that will restore natural resources that were damaged by the oil spilled into the Mystic River. The restoration projects are expected to improve water quality within the river in the area of the spill. The $7,187 penalty is to resolve the Clean Water Act violations that occurred as a result of the spill.
Oil Leak Found in Skagit County, Washington, Pipeline
The Washington State Department of Ecology and personnel from the Olympic Pipeline Co., are responding to an oil spill at a pipeline pump station near Mount Vernon.
Olympic Pipeline Company first reported the oil to Ecology October 29 after discovering a sheen on water in an excavation pit. The pipeline was closed October 29 to investigate the sheen. State and pipeline personnel responders have been monitoring the site to determine the source, type, and location of the oil and to plan cleanup strategies.
Last night when Olympic Pipeline crews performed a test under flowing conditions on the 20-inch pipeline, they found a leak in a ½-inch connection of piping associated with a mainline pump discharge valve. Since this investigation began crews recovered 60 gallons of transmix (a mixture of diesel, jet fuel and gasoline).
Earlier investigators believed the oil was not from a pipeline or valve leak, but was part of historical contamination from spills dating back to 1988.
Currently the leak is secure and the 20-inch pipeline is shut down. Olympic’s 16-inch pipeline is in service. Crews plan to make repairs on the valve and get the pipeline back in operation. Meanwhile, response crews will continue to work with state officials to remediate any remaining traces of hydrocarbons in the soil at the site.
Spills to soil create the potential for the chemicals that do not evaporate or get absorbed into the ground to be washed into waterways and groundwater.
ENERGY STAR Certification Granted to Apartment and Condo Buildings
EPA recognized 17 apartment and condo buildings across the country for leading the industry in reducing energy use, increasing affordability, protecting public health, and combating climate change.
“Communities, renters and businesses all benefit when multifamily properties operate more efficiently,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “When these buildings use less energy, they also prevent greenhouse gas emissions, increase comfort, and lower costs for renters, making it a win-win for the environment, public health and the economy.”
Current estimates show multifamily properties can become 30% more efficient by 2020, unlocking $9 billion in energy savings and preventing annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions roughly equal to those from four million homes.
Energy costs for renters have risen by 20% on average over the past decade, so energy efficiency represents a significant opportunity to reduce utility costs and the GHG emissions associated with the production of energy, which contribute to climate change. Since multifamily buildings can now earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR, renters may choose to live in a building that saves them money and protects the environment.
The 17 properties on the list demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits achieved by owners and managers when they apply a comprehensive approach to managing energy use in their buildings. These pioneering apartment and condo buildings perform among the top 25% of similar properties nationwide. They took a variety of approaches to save energy, from investing in technological upgrades, such as high-efficiency lighting, to low-cost operations and maintenance changes, such as adjusting the schedules for outdoor lighting and ensuring equipment was only running when needed.
The new ENERGY STAR multifamily score gives building owners and tenants a way to understand their property’s energy performance using a simple, accurate, nationally-recognized metric. The new 1-100 ENERGY STAR score and certification for existing multifamily properties is based on nationally representative survey data provided by Fannie Mae and will be integrated into other green building certification programs, including the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. It is the first time existing multifamily properties have been able to be certified as ENERGY STAR. Previously, only new construction multifamily properties have been able to earn certification by meeting prescriptive design requirements for high performance. In addition to Fannie Mae and USGBC, EPA is collaborating with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Freddie Mac to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s multifamily housing.
ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing GHG emissions by two billion metric tons since 1992.
The 17 ENERGY STAR certified multifamily buildings are:
- 30-50 21st, in New York, New York
- 680 North Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago, Illinois
- The Ashley at RiverHouse, in Arlington, Va.
- Aspira Apartments, in Seattle, Washington
- AvalonBay Communities – The Albemarle, in Washington, D.C.
- AvalonBay Communities – The Statesman, in Washington, D.C.
- Castle Square, in Boston, Massachusetts
- Circa Green Lake Apartments, in Seattle, Washington
- ECO Modern Flats, in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Harvard School of Public Health - Shattuck International House, in Boston, Massachusetts
- Jeffery Parkway at 6731 South Jeffery Boulevard, in Chicago, Illinois
- Peter Cooper Village, in New York, New York
- Prescott Wallingford, in Seattle, Washington
- River City- 800 South Wells, in Chicago, Illinois
- Stuyvesant Town, in New York, New York
- Terrific Tenements 423 W 48th Street, in New York, New York
- Terrific Tenements 527 W 47th Street, in New York, New York
2014 “WuHoo” Pollution Prevention Award Given Out in California
The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board recently presented Phil Bobel, Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Palo Alto, with the Dr. Teng-chung Wu Pollution Prevention Award, affectionately known as the WuHoo Award.
The WuHoo Award recognizes Bobel’s lifetime achievements in pollution prevention. After working at US EPA on early water, air, and hazardous waste programs, he has led the City of Palo Alto’s award-winning pollution prevention program, demonstrating leadership in public education and documented reductions in water pollutants.
“I’m humbled and honored,’’ said Bobel. “What a wonderful surprise!”
During his career, Bobel has contributed to the Clean Bay Business Program, which recognizes local auto repair shops for complying with waste minimization practices; the Our Water Our World Program, which promotes less-toxic pest control in hardware stores and garden centers; and the Brake Pad Partnership, which initiated the phase-out of copper from vehicle brake pads in California. This year marks Bobel’s 43rd year protecting the environment and 26th year with the City of Palo Alto. Palo Alto’s high stormwater and wastewater quality reflects his efforts as a pollution prevention pioneer.
The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board annually presents the WuHoo Award in memory of former Board employee Dr. Teng-chung Wu, an early advocate for pollution prevention. Dr. Wu believed the best way to keep San Francisco Bay clean was to keep pollutants from getting into wastewater, instead of constructing expensive treatment works to remove them. The award was presented during the Board’s November 12 meeting.
Environmental News Links
Trivia Question of the Week
In the recent climate deal with China, the US agreed to lower GHG emissions to levels below those in which year?
a) 2010
b) 2005
c) 2000
d) 1995