Treecycle Your Christmas Tree

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After the holidays are over, itÆs time to consider what to do with your Christmas tree. If it is a natural tree, it can only stand around so long before the needles start falling and it becomes a fire hazard. If it is a metallic or plastic tree that appears worn out by one too many Christmas parties, it might be time to ôtreecycle.ö
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The Missouri Department of Natural ResourcesÆ How to Dispose of Christmas Trees brochure has several tips on how to reuse a natural Christmas tree or find a beneficial use for an artificial tree after the holiday ends.
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With a little imagination, retired trees of each type can be used to extend the Christmas spirit. Since January 1992, it has been illegal to dispose of natural Christmas trees in landfills. Lights, glass ornaments, tinsel and other decorations should be completely removed before starting a ôtreecycleö project.
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• áááááááá To help out your neighborhood birds and wildlife, set the old tree up in the backyard as a banquet table. Hanging edible decorations such as suet, peanut butter balls, ears of corn or clusters of birdseed may attract a colorful and entertaining gathering of birds and squirrels to your backyard. The tree will still be waste material in the spring, but you can squeeze a little use from it before it has to go to the chipper.
• áááááááá Weighed down by stone, a collection of trees at the bottom of a pond can be a fish habitat by providing cover for small fish and places for their food species to cling until feeding time.
• áááááááá If you have the room, you may discard natural trees to create brush piles. Stacked trees can provide shelter against winter winds and ice for small animals and birds.
• áááááááá Over time, brush piles break down and decay into compost that can enrich the soil. You can speed up the composting process by running the tree through a chipper and using the mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture and reduce water use in the summer.

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Many communities offer a Christmas tree collection and chipping service after Christmas. Check with your local government or your solid waste management district for the location and schedules of these services. 
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Although artificial trees last much longer, disposal is more difficult. Ultimately a worn out artificial tree must go to a landfill. Or you may want to consider using it as an outdoor Christmas lighting decoration next year.
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Delaware DoesnÆt Want Christmas Trees Dumped on Dunes

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Thinking of using your dead or dying Christmas tree to shore up a beach dune this holiday season?á Please think again. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is asking members of the public not to place Christmas trees on the dunes but to recycle them at state parks.
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Years ago, when coastal management entities could not afford appropriate dune vegetation such as beach grass, managers resorted to placing Christmas trees and other cut vegetation on the beach to help build dunes. The Christmas trees did trap windblown sand, but not very efficiently.
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Beach grass is used to trap windblown sand and allow the dunes to grow in height and width. Placing dead trees on top of the beach grass will smother and kill it. When the grass is gone or has been destroyed, sand deposition cannot occur as quickly and sand can be lost from the area. Dead trees and brush also are fire hazards in summer, which can lead to the destruction of established dunes.
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To help protect the dunes, please take your Christmas trees to a state park or other place to be recycled and do not place them on the dunes or on the beach. The state Division of Parks and Recreation will be collecting Christmas trees to chip into mulch from Monday, Dec. 26 through Monday, Jan. 16.
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For more information on Christmas tree recycling at Delaware State Parks, contact Gary Focht, 302-284-4526. For information on dune protection, contact Jennifer Wheatley, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, 302-739-9921.
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Stronger Standards for Particulate Matter Proposed

á Particulate matter can be directly emitted, as in smoke from a fire, or it can form in the atmosphere from reactions of gases such as sulfur dioxide. EPA is basing its proposal on an extensive review of thousands of scientific studies on the risks associated with exposure to particle pollution.á The agency will also conduct an assessment of significant new studies before this rule is finalized. The proposed revisions will address two categories of particulate matter:á fine particles which are particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller; and "inhalable coarse" particles, which are particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometers (PM10-2.5).á Numerous studies have associated fine particulate matter with a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular problems, ranging from aggravated asthma, to irregular heartbeats, heart attacks, and early death in people with heart or lung disease.á EPA has had national air quality standards for fine particles since 1997 and for coarse particles 10 micrometers and smaller (PM10) since 1987.á Particle pollution can also contribute to visibility impairment. The proposed revisions include the significant strengthening -- by nearly 50% -- of EPA's standards to protect the public from short-term exposure to high levels of fine particles.á For fine particles, EPA is also taking comment on a range of annual and 24-hour standards, including strengthening these standards as well as retaining the standards at their present levels. In addition, EPA is proposing a standard for reducing inhalable coarse particles, or PM10-2.5.á For these particles, EPA is proposing a 24-hour standard of 70 micrograms per cubic meter.á The standard would apply to airborne mixes of coarse particles that come from sources such as high-density traffic on paved roads and industry.á The proposed standard would not apply to mixes of coarse particles that do not pose much risk to public health, such as windblown dust and soils and agricultural and mining sources. In a separate but related action, EPA is proposing amendments to its national air quality monitoring requirements, including those for monitoring particle pollution.á The changes will help EPA, states and local air quality agencies in their efforts to improve public health protection and inform the public about air quality in their communities, and they will allow air quality regulators to take advantage of improvements in monitoring technology. EPA is seeking comments on a number of alternative levels for the PM standards, including retaining the current standards.á The agency will take public comment for 90 days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register and will hold three public hearings. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to periodically review air quality standards to ensure they provide adequate health and environmental protection and to update those standards if necessary.á EPA last updated the particle standards in 1997.á This proposed rule covers only the air quality standards for particle pollution.á It does not address all of the issues involved in implementing a new standard, such as designating what areas are or are not attaining any new standard, and determining the best and most cost-effective implementation strategies.á EPA and the states will address those in later actions.á
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Proposed Wet Weather Policy to Improve Wastewater Treatment

.á Across the country, many municipal wastewater treatment systems experience problems during heavy rain downpours (peak wet weather), when flows to the wastewater treatment plants exceed the plant's biological treatment capacity.á During peak wet weather, limited diversions around biological treatment units can help prevent raw sewage from being discharged into our nation's waters, backing up into homes and other buildings, or damaging biological treatment units. EPA's goal in proposing this new policy is to ensure that all feasible solutions are used by local governments when addressing problems related to peak wet weather and to improve treatment of wastewater to protect human health and the environment. á"Our peak flow policy puts a premium on stopping leaks and spills, improving treatment, and increasing public oversight," said Benjamin Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for the Office of Water.á "I commend environmentalists and utilities for working to find common ground on a clean water solution that doesn't rely on dilution." The policy reflects the joint recommendations of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).á The policy encourages public participation via the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process, and provides for public notification in the event that a diversion does take place. The policy states that in limited situations, a NPDES permit can approve anticipated diversions around biological treatment units, provided the facility demonstrates that there are no feasible alternatives and that diverted flows receive a minimum of primary treatment.á The policy also confirms that end-of-pipe discharges must comply with Clean Water Act permits, including effluent limitations based on secondary treatment and any more stringent limitations for receiving waters. With this proposal EPA anticipates that over time the need for wet weather flow diversions can be eliminated from most treatment plants serving sanitary sewer collection systems.á That can happen through various approaches such as enhancing storage and treatment capacity and reducing sources of peak wet weather flow volume.
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EPA Seeks Comment on Proposed NPDES Stormwater Permit for Industrial Activities

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EPA is soliciting public comment on its NPDES Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Activities (MSGP) through Jan. 16, 2005.á The proposed permit will replace the MSGP-2000 that expired on Oct. 30, 2005.á The proposed permit is available for public comment until Jan. 16, 2006.á The MSGP covers 29 categories of industrial activity in the five states, territories, and other areas where EPA remains the permitting authority.á Most states are authorized to implement the NPDES program and issue their own stormwater permits.
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New Videos from Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

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CSB Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt said, "We are embarking on something new, the use of brief videos to communicate our findings about many aspects of chemical process safety. We hope these videos provide a compelling way for people in industry, emergency responders, and the public to learn more about specific hazards and how to prevent chemical accidents in the future."
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"Preventing Harm from Sodium Hydrosulfide" is a seven-minute Video Safety Bulletin describing good management practices to prevent deaths and injuries involving the chemical. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) - a process chemical used in the paper, mining, and leather industries - releases highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas when mixed with acid or heated. The video highlights information found in the CSB's written safety bulletin on NaHS first issued in July 2004. The bulletin found that NaHS accidents have caused at least 32 deaths, 176 injuries, 351 medical evaluations, and 10 evacuations of plants and communities since 1971.
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CSB investigator Randy McClure narrates the video, which outlines the dangers of mishandling NaHS, summarizes the health hazards associated with hydrogen sulfide gas, and recommends safe management and emergency response practices.
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The CSB also released a 20-minute video summary of a June 22, 2005, CSB hearing into the hazards of combustible dust, which caused tragic explosions in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Indiana that were investigated by the agency. A total of 14 workers were killed and 81 injured in those three accidents in 2003. CSB investigator Angela Blair, who is featured in the video, heads the ongoing combustible dust study which has identified 197 dust explosions in the U.S. since 1980 causing 109 fatalities and 592 injuries.
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The video features comments from experts in industry, government, labor, and academia who participated on various witness panels at the day-long hearing.
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The third video is a computer-generated animation depicting the sequence of events that led to the explosions and fire at BP's Texas City, TX, refinery on March 23, 2005. Narrated by CSB investigator Don Holmstrom, the video graphically illustrates how the refinery's raffinate splitter tower was overfilled, how instruments and alarms failed to indicate the dangerous condition, and how a connected blowdown drum and vent stack released flammable liquid and vapor which exploded. Also shown are still photographs and video illustrating the destruction caused by the accident, which killed 15 workers and injured 170. The video is an enhanced version of material first shown at the Board's community meeting in Texas City on October 27.
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Free DVD copies of all videos are available by contacting the CSB Office of Congressional, Public, and Board Affairs. Fully downloadable versions will be available soon.
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The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in safety management systems.
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The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. For more information, or to request copies of videos contact Lindsey Heyl, 202-261-3614 / 202-725-2204 (cell), or Kara Wenzel, 202-261-7642 / 202-577-8448 (cell).
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Legislation to Reduce Global Persistent Organic Pollutants Receives Praise

to address persistent organic pollutants (POPs), some of the most toxic and highly persistent substances found in various parts of the world. The EPA commended Rep. Paul Gillmor, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, for submitting legislation that would allow the United States to join the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and the POPs Protocol to the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollutants.á This legislation, coupled with recently introduced Agriculture Committee bills, fills the gaps necessary in domestic law for the United States to fulfill the terms of these international agreements. "As our science expands, so does our understanding that certain pollutants know no political boundaries," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.á "Implementing these important global environmental agreements is a priority for President Bush and EPA, and I appreciate Chairman Gillmor's leadership in moving them forward. The United States has already taken extensive steps to address these environmental threats, and through these agreements, we can further protect the health, not only of our fellow Americans, but of all those who share our planet." Due to their unique characteristics, POPs, which include substances such as DDT, PCBs and dioxins, are chemicals of both local and global concern.á POPs are toxic, persist in the environment for long periods of time, and accumulate as they move up the food chain. The United States has worked closely with other partner countries to reach a broad consensus on these ambitious pollution-reducing plans.á The agreements will have wide-standing environmental and health benefits, illustrating America's leading role to reduce or eliminate certain POPs and their releases on a global basis. The Stockholm Convention is intended to eliminate or restrict the production, use and/or release of 12 chemicals that, due to their persistence in the environment, can affect human health throughout the globe, regardless of the location of their use. The convention obligates all participating countries to take measures to eliminate or restrict the production, use and trade of intentionally produced POPs; to develop action plans to address the release of byproduct POPs, such as using best available techniques to reduce missions of POPs from new sources; and to address the safe handling and disposal of POPs stockpiles and wastes. The Stockholm Convention also includes a science-based procedure for the international community to add new chemicals in the future. The LRTAP POPs Protocol is a regional agreement that contains obligations similar to the POPs Convention related to eliminating or restricting the production, use, and/or release of the same 12 chemicals covered by the POPs Convention and four additional chemicals. The Rotterdam PIC Convention was developed to promote informed risk-based decision making in the trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.á It requires participating countries to exchange health and safety information and communicate important regulatory decisions.á This information will enable importing countries to make informed choices about importation of hazardous chemicals into their country and helps each country ensure that exports comply with their import decisions.á The Rotterdam Convention also establishes an international information system that empowers governments and citizens to reach their own risk-based decisions relating to public health and the environment.
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New Assistant Administrator Confirmed for Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

Susan P. Bodine will be the new assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response for the EPA. Bodine was nominated by President Bush on June 28, 2005 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 17, 2005. In this position, Bodine will be responsible for EPA's programs on hazardous and solid waste management, hazardous waste cleanup including RCRA corrective action, Superfund and federal facilities cleanup and redevelopment, brownfields, oil spill prevention and response, chemical accident prevention and preparedness, underground storage tanks, and emergency response. Thomas P. Dunne, the Deputy AA for OSWER, had been serving as the Acting AA since Bodine's nomination on June 28, 2005. Bodine comes from the U.S. House of Representatives on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure where she served as the staff director and senior counsel. Prior to that, she served for six years as a counsel to the subcommittee. Susan also worked for the law office of Covington and Burling, where she specialized in environmental law. Bodine earned an A.B. degree from Princeton University and her J.D. degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Law. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson praised Bodine's background: "Susan's years of experience on environmental issues will be an excellent asset as the agency works to accelerate the pace of environmental progress."á Bodine is expected to begin her new post in early January 2006.
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EPA Announces Intent to Issue Navy Approval to Dispose of PCBs

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EPA proposes to issue the U.S. Navy an Approval to Dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyls  contained in electrical cable and other non-liquid materials and equipment onboard the decommissioned USS Oriskany, a Korean War era aircraft carrier.
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The Navy has prepared the vessel for reefing off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., by removing or minimizing materials that may adversely impact the marine environment. An estimated 700 pounds of PCBs contained in felt and foam gaskets, electrical cable, insulation, and heat-resistant paint remain aboard the vessel. In accordance with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and its implementing Federal PCB regulations, the Navy applied for a risk-based PCB disposal approval to sink the vessel with the non-liquid PCBs onboard. EPA may approve such an application if it finds that the disposal action will not pose an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.
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$200,000 Penalty for Chicken Fat Spill

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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recently joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. AttorneyÆs Office to negotiate a settlement with Royal Canin USA, Inc. located at 1700 Bridge School Road in Rolla. The facility violated the Missouri Clean Water Law when an estimated 3,000 gallons of liquid chicken fat ran off the facility into the Little Beaver Creek watershed. Royal Canin is a Missouri corporation that manufactures dog and cat food.
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Royal Canin entered a guilty plea Dec. 13 in federal court agreeing to pay $35,000 in Natural Resources Damages to the state and a $35,000 civil penalty. The department will use the Natural Resources Damages payment to purchase water test kits for stream teams to monitor water quality in streams around the state.
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Royal Canin agreed to reimburse the Department of Natural Resources $6,727 in restitution for the costs it incurred during the investigation. The facility voluntarily reimbursed the Rolla Fire Department $17,125. Royal Canin agreed to pay a $125,000 federal fine under the Clean Water Act and $41,383 fine for failure to abide by its spill control plan.
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In response to a complaint, the departmentÆs Environmental Emergency Response team investigated a release of liquid chicken fat from the Royal Canin facility on April 4, 2005. Staff observed chicken fat at the storm water outfall below the facility on rural pasture property and in an unnamed tributary of Little Beaver Creek for at least 1,800 feet.
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The Rolla Fire Department contained the release by installing an interceptor trench, two earthen dams and two absorbent booms. The fire departmentÆs actions helped the liquid solidify when held in contact with the cool water of the creek.
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The Department of Natural Resources provided oversight during the incident and instructed Royal Canin to remove the fat. Royal Canin cooperated with the department during the cleanup. The site cleanup was substantially complete by April 8. The department performed a biological stream investigation of the macroinvertebrate community in the creek to assess the impact of the chicken fat and found no major evidence of impact to the aquatic community.
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PA DEP Finds Eight Trash Trucks in Violation during Inspections

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Operational and safety violations were found on eight trash trucks during inspections last week in the westbound lane of Interstate 84 in Palmyra Township, Pike County.
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ôThese inspections keep our environment clean and our highways safe,ö Environmental Protection Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin said.
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DEP inspected 72 trash trucks between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Eight trucks had a total of 10 violations.
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Five of the infractions were violations of the stateÆs Waste Transportation Safety Act, which authorizes trucks and trucking companies to haul trash in Pennsylvania, and included improper paperwork and lack of, or improper location of, authorization stickers. Inspectors also found discharged fire extinguishers, inadequate municipal waste documentation and one violation for an inadequate tarp.
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DEP inspectors issued three notices of violation, or NOVs, and eight summary citations.
The inspection program is done as part of statewide ôtrashnetö operation in conjunction with PennDOT and Pennsylvania State Police.
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DEPÆs six regional offices have inspected 4,993 trucks hauling trash in Pennsylvania in 2005 and found 661 violations. These inspections are a priority to get unsafe trash trucks off the highways and improve compliance with DEPÆs environmental regulations and the commonwealthÆs traffic safety laws.
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Hawaii DLNR Strategic Plan Now Posted Online

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"As part of the Lingle Administration's emphasis on open government and rational change, DLNR is taking steps to use the internet to share our plans and activities with the public. We believe this will improve public understanding of, and interaction with, our department in many ways," said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.
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"Last month, we began posting our Land Board and Water Commission submittals on our web site, as well as the agenda. Now we have posted two new documents that reflect where we are going and what we have done to get there," he said.
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Environmental Management System Implementation Assistance Available to Maryland Businesses

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The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and Maryland Technology Extension Service (MTES) are offering the Environmental Management System (EMS) Implementation Assistance Program again this winter for Maryland companies. The course is scheduled to begin February 1, 2006. Only five businesses may enroll in the program and there is no cost for participation. The MDE/MTES program assists manufacturing organizations in implementing environmental management systems based on the international ISO 14001 standard. Four one-day workshop sessions, spaced six weeks apart, are followed by specific work assignments and individual meetings with the program facilitator. Program participants are also offered technical assistance in implementing cost-saving pollution prevention practices and technologies. The implementation phases are designed so that the organization puts the environmental management system in place at a pace that is manageable and that delivers measurable results from the outset. Environmental management systems help organizations systematically identify, measure and manage their environmental impacts. Among some of the benefits of implementing these systems are improved communications; improved efficiency; reduced costs; and increased consistency of results. The system also helps to overcome barriers to organizational change; increases top management participation and involvement in day-to-day activities; and helps to resolve and prioritize organizational issues. Organizations that have implemented EMSs have noted improvements in their environmental regulatory compliance; environmental awareness, involvement, and competency throughout their organization; and in their relationships with environmental regulators. Twenty-eight Maryland manufacturers have participated in the MDE/MTES EMS program. To date, eight of the companies have chosen to go forward with the ISO 14001 registration process and all have been successful. There is no charge for participating in this program. Grant funding from the EPA provides for all costs of instruction, materials and technical assistance for implementation. Participating organizations are encouraged to send three or more persons to the training workshops and are asked to make a commitment to completing the workshop program. MTES is the University of Maryland Technology Enterprise InstituteÆs principal program for extending University expertise directly to industry. It is an affiliate of the National Institutes of Standards and Technology - Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and is the main contact point for providing University of Maryland faculty expertise to Maryland companies. MTESÆs EMS workshop facilitator and implementation assistance provider has participated in the development of the ISO documents and has provided ISO 14001-based training since 1994. MTESÆs technical assistance provider has 30 years of experience in engineering and project management in complex manufacturing and industrial environments. 
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Ohio EPA Proposes Changes to Requirements for Drinking Water and Wastewater Operators

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Ohio EPA is taking public comments on draft rule changes that would clarify responsibilities governing the certification of drinking water and wastewater facility operators. The rules would affect all classifications of operator certification.
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In 2003, Ohio EPA began work on updating some limiting and outdated rules. The first proposed revisions in 2004 generated so much interest that Ohio EPA created a stakeholder group to review the issues. The group developed stricter requirements for operators including the following recommendations:
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• áááááááá replacing a requirement for full time operators with specific staffing requirements
• áááááááá requiring new operators of small wastewater treatment facilities to now be certified while allowing current operators of those facilities to be "grandfathered" as a limited Class A operator
• áááááááá providing alternative exam methods to allow certification for those with disabilities
• áááááááá prohibiting applicants from examination who have been convicted or have plead guilty to criminal charges involving falsification, fraud or terrorism, or those with suspended or revoked certificates, and requiring that revocation be made permanent
• áááááááá adding a provision that prohibits falsifying or submitting incorrect information on an application or examination

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Ohio EPA will accept comments on the proposed rules through close of business January 11, 2006. Ohio EPA will consider all comments before it formally proposes the rule changes. When the rules are formally proposed, Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing and offer another public comment period before any rule changes are adopted.
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Copies of the proposed rules are available from Ohio EPA by calling Donna Roberts at (614) 644-2752. Please request the "proposed certified operator rules." Written comments may be mailed to Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Attn: Kelly Peavler, Ohio EPA, Lazarus Government Center, P.O.Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049.
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U.S. Navy Pays EPA $40,000 for Violating Jackson Park Interagency Cleanup Agreement

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The U.S. Navy has agreed to pay a $40,000 penalty to resolve a Notice of Non-compliance (NON) from the EPA. The NON stems from the NavyÆs failure to submit an investigation workplan for cleanup at the Jackson Park Housing Complex near Bremerton, Washington. The area in question involves Operable Unit 3T (OU3T) of the site, which contains abandoned military ordnance from the former Naval Ammunition Depot Puget Sound that operated there for more than 50 years, spanning World Wars I and II. Following WWII, the area was partly converted to residential housing and renamed the Jackson Park Housing Complex. The work plan, once approved, will require the Navy to investigate the nature and extent of discarded military munitions currently abandoned within the residential housing and other areas of the site, posing potential explosives safety hazards or other risks to human health and the environment. The Jackson Park Housing Complex/Naval Hospital Bremerton was listed on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994. EPA Region 10 has long enjoyed a productive working relationship with the Navy, addressing several contaminated naval facilities in the region. However, at sites like Jackson Park, cleanups involving military munitions have proven to be more difficult and complex. "Resolving this dispute puts us æback on the roadÆ at Jackson Park,ö said David Croxton, EPA's Site Cleanup Unit Manager, "IÆm hopeful that we can rely on our past record of working collaboratively with the Navy to satisfy our mutual interest in protecting human health and the environment." The work plan was due to EPA by July 27, 2005. On October 27, 2005, the Navy submitted to EPA a request for extension of the schedule for the submittal of the Work Plan. The new due date for the Navy's submittal of the draft final Phase II RI Work Plan for OU-3T-JPHC is January 27, 2006.
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Central Calif. Water District Ordered to Remove Chemical from Drinking Water

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The EPA has ordered the Groveland Community Services District in Tuolomne County, Calif. to reduce levels of disinfection byproducts from the drinking water it provides to customers. In this case, the byproduct chemicals are detectable in very trace amounts. The EPA does not suggest that customers need alternative or bottled water. ôChemical byproducts in treated drinking water need to be monitored, reported and reduced to meet the federal health standard,ö said Marvin Young of the EPAÆs Drinking Water Office in the Pacific Southwest region. ôIn this case, the district notified the public and has begun changing their operations to prevent the byproduct from forming.ö The byproduct chemicals detected in the districtÆs water system are total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, which after many years of consumption may cause some people to experience liver, kidney or central nervous system problems and may increase the risk of cancer. While the system exceeds the standard, no effects on human health are anticipated from this short-term exposure. Although detected in trace amounts over the federal drinking water standard, the district is required to notify the public when detection goes above health-based standards. The drinking water standard for total trihalomethanes is 80 parts-per-billion; the Groveland system had a range from 126 to 142 ppb. The drinking water standard for haloacetic acids is 60 ppb; the Groveland system had a range from 75 to 110 ppb. The district was required to monitor its water system for these chemicals on a quarterly basis beginning January 2004. The district violated the standard from Jan. 1, 2004 to Sept. 30, 2005, and the violations are expected to continue until new treatment processes are built. The order requires the district to submit a compliance plan û including a treatment construction schedule û within 21 days of receiving the order and to reduce disinfection byproducts to below federal standards no later than Sept. 30, 2008. The EPA has worked closely with the California Department of Health Services which administers most of the Safe Drinking Water program in the state. However, the state has not yet obtained primary enforcement responsibility for the new byproduct regulations. The EPA approved new disinfection byproduct regulations in December 1998 to protect public health from potentially harmful byproduct chemicals formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic compounds during the treatment process. The Disinfection and Disinfection Byproduct rule began regulating surface water systems serving ten thousand or more customers in January 2002. Phased implementation of smaller surface systems as well as groundwater systems began in 2004. This is the third action taken by the EPA against a small water system in California under the agencyÆs disinfection byproduct regulation. The Groveland Community Services District serves as many as 9,000 customers in Groveland, Big Oak Flat and Pine Mountain Lake.
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Wabash Alloys NESHAP Violation Leads to $11,160 Penalty

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EPA Region 5 has reached an agreement with Wabash Alloys LLC on alleged clean-air violations at the company's aluminum recovery plant at 4365 Bradley Road, Cleveland, Ohio. EPA assessed an $11,160 penalty. The agreement resolves EPA allegations that Wabash Alloys violated national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants by failing to comply with EPA requirements for operating its scrap dryer afterburner. Wabash has certified that it is now complying fully with national emission standards for secondary aluminum production facilities.
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EPA Cites Keystone Steel & Wire for Clean-Air Violations

EPA Region 5 has cited Keystone Steel & Wire Co. for alleged clean-air violations at the company's steel production plant in Peoria, Ill. EPA alleges that Keystone added new equipment at its plant but failed to apply the best available technology to control increased air pollutant emissions. In addition, EPA said the company failed to measure emissions of these pollutants in a timely manner. "EPA's mission is to protect public health and the environment," said Regional Administrator Thomas V. Skinner. "We will take whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act." These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue compliance orders, assess administrative penalties or bring suit against the company. Keystone has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
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$94 Million Clean Air Act Settlement with Chrysler for Emission Control Defects on 1.5 Million Jeep and Dodge Vehicles

á  The agreement also settles allegations that the company violated the Clean Air Act (CAA) by failing to properly disclose defective catalytic converters installed on the affected vehicles. In settlement, Chrysler has agreed to:
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• áááááááá Extend the warranty on the catalytic converters installed on approximately 700,000 of the vehicles involved, and for another 300,000 vehicle owners, send notification of the catalytic converter problem which will be covered under the original emissions system warranty under the CAA
• áááááááá Recall approximately 500,000 of the vehicles to fix a separate defect in the on-board diagnostic (OBD) system installed on the vehicles and to check the catalytic converters on the recalled vehicles
• áááááááá Implement enhanced emission-related defect reporting procedures.

The total estimated cost to Chrysler to implement the settlement is $90 million. In addition, Chrysler will pay penalties of $1 million and will spend at least $3 million to implement a supplemental environmental project to reduce emissions from diesel engines currently in use, making this the largest settlement yet for an emission-related defect reporting case. Chrysler will pay another $1 million to California as part of a parallel administrative settlement agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and will provide similar remedies for California-certified vehicles with the catalyst or OBD defects. "Auto makers' prompt and full disclosure of emission-system defects to EPA is critical to ensuring that vehicles on the road comply with the Clean Air Act, and to protecting the enormous progress we have made toward reducing vehicle emissions," said Sue Ellen Wooldridge, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The settlement announced underscores the Justice Department's commitment to enforcing the Act's disclosure requirements." This lawsuit is the result of a joint EPA-CARB investigation of Chrysler's 1996 through 2001 Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Wranglers, Dakota trucks, and Ram vans, wagons, and pickup trucks. The investigation disclosed that a significant percentage of the vehicles experience excessive deterioration or failure of the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is a device installed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine to control emissions and reduce pollutants, including hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen. The deterioration of the catalytic converters in the named models results from a design defect in the original converter installed on each of the vehicles. As a result of this design defect -- in some of the identified Chrysler vehicles -- the internal components of the converter move around excessively, causing the device's ceramic core to break up. The result is that the catalytic converter loses its ability to treat harmful pollutants. Most owners experience a rattling noise from the underside of their vehicle as the catalytic converter deteriorates. The EPA-CARB investigation also disclosed that the OBD system installed on certain of the 1996, 1997, and 1998 model year vehicles -- which should have detected the catalytic converter problem and illuminated the dashboard "check engine" light -- may not function properly, leaving some owners unaware of the problem. "Cleaner cars require emissions control systems that work, and prompt measures to fix emission-related defects when they occur," said Phyllis Harris, EPA's principal deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This case demonstrates EPA's commitment to ensuring that automobile manufacturers comply with their emission-defect reporting and emission system obligations under the Clean Air Act." Under the settlement, Chrysler will notify approximately 700,000 owners of certain 1996-1999 model year Jeeps, Dodge Ram, and Dodge Dakota vehicles, that the catalytic converter warranty on their vehicles is being extended to 10 years or 120,000 miles. All of these vehicles will also be covered for at least one year without mileage limitation, and for 2 years if the vehicle fails a state emissions inspection due to a defective original equipment catalytic converter. An extended catalytic converter warranty will also be provided to 6,100 non-California model year 2000 heavy-duty Dodge Ram trucks to cover them for at least 12 months without mileage limitation. Chrysler will also send notices to approximately 300,000 owners of the affected vehicles informing them of the potential catalytic converter failure and reminding them that their original catalytic converters are still covered by the original 8-year/80,000-mile warranty. Owners of the remaining 500,000 vehicles will receive a recall notice for repair of the defective OBD system on their vehicles. For those recalled vehicles, the catalytic converter will be inspected and repaired if found to be defective. Chrysler will also establish procedures to reimburse owners of vehicles covered by the settlement's extended warranty or recall provisions who, before receiving Chrysler's notice of the remedial measures announced, paid out of their own pockets for the repair or replacement of a defective original equipment catalytic converter. 
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EPA Proposes to Find Missouri Plan Inadequate to Attain Air Standard for Lead

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EPA Region 7 is inviting the public to comment on a proposal to find that the Missouri State Implementation Plan is substantially inadequate to attain or maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead in Herculaneum, Mo.
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Herculaneum was designated nonattainment for lead in 1991 under authorities provided by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Doe Run-Herculaneum has violated the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead in three consecutive calendar quarters of 2005.
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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be required to revise its State Implementation Plan to correct these deficiencies if EPA finalizes the proposal to find MissouriÆs lead plan inadequate.
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A Federal Register notice is being published and begins a 30-day public comment period ending Jan. 18, 2006. EPA will make a decision on its proposed finding after considering all public comments. 
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EPA Orders Union Pacific to Complete Omaha Lead Site Soil Cleanup Work

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EPA has issued a unilateral administrative order requiring the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to complete ongoing soil cleanup work at the Omaha Lead Site in Omaha, NE effective immediately.á EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford said the regional office in Kansas City, Kan., is issuing the order to protect the health of children in the Omaha area. EPA is committed to making sure that 9,000 young children are protected from lead exposure in eastern Omaha yards.
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Gulliford said, ôAs kids play in their yards and neighborhoods, EPA wants to make sure parents have the peace of mind that comes with a clean environment. This is why we worked hard to ensure a timely cleanup in the Omaha area.ö
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EPA has cleaned up more than 1,000 residential properties this year. EPA cleanup costs in Omaha will total more than $50 million by the end of the 2005 construction season. Cleaning up local neighborhoods is an EPA priority as high levels of lead can cause serious health problems.
EPA issued the administrative order to Union Pacific March 31, but the order has been amended eight times in an effort to pursue a negotiated settlement. The order becomes effective immediately without a settlement.
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Lead contamination of the surrounding areas occurred when Asarco operated a lead refinery in Omaha for about 127 years. Union Pacific owned the facility during part of that time, and ownership made them a potentially responsible party under the Superfund law. Asarco recently filed for bankruptcy. EPA is continuing to gather information to see if additional potentially responsible parties can be identified.
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ADEQ Director Owens Announces $94,000 Penalty against Nordic Boats, Inc. for Air Quality Violations

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Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens announced a $94,000 penalty against Nordic Boats for air quality violations at the company's Lake Havasu City manufacturing facility.
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Owens said that Nordic Boats is considered a major source of styrene, a hazardous air pollutant, but was operating without a permit and had failed to meet federal monitoring, reporting and emission standards. The violations were discovered during an inspection conducted by ADEQ in October 2004.
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"The substantial penalty reflects the serious nature of the violations," Owens said. áOwens added that ADEQ conducted an investigation during the summer of 2004 to identify boat builders that emit styrene in quantities that require an Arizona Air Quality Control Permit and bring them into compliance. Many of the boat builders cooperated fully with ADEQ's initiative and voluntarily identified the amounts of solvents, resins and coatings used in their operations.á "Unfortunately, Nordic Boats did not do so," Owens said. In addition to paying the penalty, Nordic is in process of obtaining an air quality permit from ADEQ.
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Pennsylvania Awards $275,000 to Help Small Businesses Cut Costs, Save Energy, Reduce Pollution

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Governor Edward G. Rendell awarded 45 grants totaling $275,000 to help small businesses cut costs, save energy and reduce pollution.
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ôAs energy prices continue to reach new highs, it is smart for businesses to conserve energy to reduce their utility bills,ö Governor Rendell said. ôPennsylvania businesses are leading the way to helping us create a strong economy and a better environment with their energy conservation measures.ö
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ôWe are using our resources to help small businesses cut their costs and become more competitive,ö the Governor said. ôThis is another innovative way we are helping our companies remain successful.ö
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State Small Business Advantage grants provide a 50 percent match of up to $7,500 for equipment or processes that reduce energy consumption and promote pollution prevention while increasing profitability. The program, which Governor Rendell launched in July 2004, has been extremely popular, awarding more than $1 million to more than 400 recipients across the state.
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The program has been so successful that the Department of Environmental Protection has had to stop accepting applications. The next grant cycle for Small Business Advantage will open July 1.á ôIt is clear that small business owners understand the importance of energy conservation and are putting in place new technology and processes that are more energy-efficient that will help them reduce their operational costs,ö DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. ôThe GovernorÆs leadership and the willingness of our business community to embrace and advance these innovative initiatives are keeping Pennsylvania a frontrunner in energy development and deployment.ö
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The Small Business Advantage Grant Program is part of Governor RendellÆs larger effort to put in place policies and financial tools designed to promote advanced energy projects in the state.
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Governor Rendell also made Pennsylvania a frontrunner in addressing the countryÆs dependence on foreign oil by supporting a number of innovative initiatives and solutions, including the nationÆs first waste coal-to-diesel plant, which was highlighted on ABC World News Tonight on Saturday.
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Pennsylvania is home to one of the nationÆs most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that 18% of all energy generated comes from clean, efficient sources by the year 2020. Benefits include $10 billion in increased output for Pennsylvania, $3 billion in additional earnings and between 3,500 and 4,000 news jobs for residents over the next 20 years.
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The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal-bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.
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Handy and Harman to Pay $183,504 for Air Permit Violations

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Handy and Harman Tube Co. will pay more than $183,000 in civil penalties for air quality permit violations at its East Norriton, PA facility.
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The company failed to meet several permit requirements, including a strict limit governing the use of the solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE,ö Department of Environmental Protection Southeast Regional Director Joseph A. Feola said. ôThe penalties reflect several instances where the company failed to monitor and control their emissions and adhere to manufacturing temperature conditions.ö
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DEP inspections at the specialty alloy-tube maker in June 2001 and May 2003 revealed numerous record keeping violations and temperature exceedances involving degreasers. Although notices were issued to the company, temperature exceedances were also noted during April 2004 and April 2005. DEP had fined Handy and Harman $3,477 for degreaser permit violations in 1999.
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A review of the company's 2004 emission inventory report found that Handy and Harman also exceeded its 12-month TCE emission limit of 8.2 tons.
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Pennsylvania Fines Landfill $23,000

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The PA Department of Environmental Protection has fined Mostoller Landfill $23,000 for failing to timely report that it accepted more waste than allowed and that it accepted waste from two unauthorized vehicles.
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ôThe maximum daily volumes are set to regulate truck traffic on the roads leading to the landfill and to provide for proper management of the waste on the site,ö DEP Southwest Regional Director Ken Bowman said. ôIt is essential that the landfill records and waste receipts are accurately reported and daily volume limits are met to ensure proper planning, recycling and the payment of host municipal fees.ö
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In late June 2005, Mostoller notified DEP that the landfill had exceeded its maximum daily volume by 11.73 tons on June 2, 2004. Under state regulations, landfill operators must report volume exceedances within 24 hours. The company cited confusion by a scale house employee that caused a combination vehicle to be weighed out using the information of another vehicle that already had left the scales.
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Following the incident, DEP audited record keeping procedures at the landfill to determine if other incidents had occurred without notification. While DEP did not find any similar violations, it ordered improved procedures to prevent record tampering. Mostoller voluntarily implemented DEPÆs suggestions to make its transaction system is more secure.
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Mostoller also was penalized for accepting two unauthorized waste vehicles into the landfill. The Waste Transportation Safety Act mandates a $2,000 civil penalty for landfill operators who accept vehicles without Act 90 stickers.
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WestFarm Foods Fined for Water-Quality Permit Violations

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WestFarm Foods faces a $60,000 fine from the state for violating water-quality permit standards and failing to meet monitoring and reporting requirements.
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The Department of Ecology (Ecology) took the action against the company which operates a powdered milk production plant in Lynden, WA. WFF discharges into the City of Lynden's wastewater treatment plant.
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Between December 2003 and May 2005, WFF violated its permit guidelines for discharge of suspended solids, pH, and oxygen-demanding material. These limits are placed on WFF's discharges to ensure that the Lynden sewage treatment plant is able to effectively treat domestic wastewater from the City of Lynden and industrial wastewaters from sources such as WestFarm Foods. Improper maintenance and operations were the most likely cause of the violations.
In addition, WFF violated certain monitoring and reporting requirements set forth in its water quality permit.
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WFF violated its permit 25 times for pollutant discharge standards, 24 times for monitoring, and 22 times for reporting. Ecology has issued numerous enforcement actions against WFF during the past five year