If you go to the link, click on “Resources” at the top and then click “Tools and Calculators.” The National Association of College and University Business Officers developed the Campus Environmental Resource Center with support and funding from EPA.
The website makes it easier for school officials to learn about applicable environmental regulations to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for their students, faculty, and staff. The online center provides information on waste management, air pollution control, water resources, and drinking water safety, as well as public safety. Users can determine what campus activities are regulated by EPA, see how best to comply with environmental regulations, query federal enforcement and compliance data, and e-mail comments to EPA on regulations under development.
EPA Extends Public Comment Period on the Proposed Lead Air Quality Standards
EPA will now issue final standards by Oct. 15, 2008. This new date will allow the agency time to carefully review and consider public comments.
On May 1, 2008, EPA proposed to strengthen the standards to reflect the latest scientific information about lead and human health.
DOT to Hold Hearing on Future of Hazardous Materials Transport
The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) is hosting a public workshop to identify and discuss strategies for meeting emerging hazardous materials transportation safety challenges. The workshop will focus primarily in the development of innovative safety solutions that provide the DOT, other federal agencies, state agencies, the regulated community, and emergency response organizations with flexible tools to manage and reduce safety risks. The workshop will provide an opportunity for PHMSA and its stakeholders to discuss the future direction of the hazardous materials transportation safety program and will focus on three broad themes: 1) Safety, Risk Reduction, and Integrity Management; 2) 21st Century Solutions: Using New Technology for Improved Safety Controls/Improving Safety Controls for New Technology; and 3) Achieving Balance and Effectiveness--Consistency and Uniformity.
The workshop is scheduled for July 31, 2008, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Conference Facility, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410.
Idaho Developers Fined for Storm Water Violations
Three cases of construction sites being fined for storm water violations arose from inspections conducted by EPA Region 10 at the start of the construction season this spring. EPA inspectors checked construction sites for compliance with the nationwide Construction General Permit, which is part of the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Inspectors observed violations at all of the sites that were visited. The violations included failure to apply for coverage under the storm water permit, failure to conduct required self-inspections, and failure to install and maintain erosion and sediment controls.
This is the fifth year in a multi-year enforcement initiative to improve compliance with the storm water permit. The permit requires construction site operators to proactively design, install, and maintain storm water controls in order to prevent runoff from harming water quality. Common construction site pollutants include sediment, oil and grease, and high pH from concrete washout.
According to Kim Ogle, Manager of EPA’s NPDES Compliance Unit, conducting storm water inspections helps ensure a level playing field when it comes to protecting Idaho’s waters.
“While some Idaho builders and developers are doing a good job, there are others who are ignoring the storm water permit requirements,” said Ogle. “Builders and developers that fail to follow these permit conditions will face fines.”
The violations were settled using the EPA’s Construction Storm Water Expedited Settlement Offer (ESO) Policy, a streamlined enforcement process with lower fines for operators who are first-time violators and where no significant environmental harm was yet observed.
The inspections resulted in ESOs at three sites, with penalties ranging from $2,450 to $14,950.
Advance Brings Low-Cost, Bright LED Lighting Closer to Reality
Researchers at Purdue University have overcome a major obstacle in reducing the cost of "solid state lighting," a technology that could cut electricity consumption by 10 percent if widely adopted.
The technology, called light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, is about four times more efficient than conventional incandescent lights and more environmentally friendly than compact fluorescent bulbs. The LEDs also are expected to be far longer lasting than conventional lighting, lasting perhaps as long as 15 years before burning out.
"The LED technology has the potential of replacing all incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs, which would have dramatic energy and environmental ramifications," said Timothy D. Sands, a Professor of Materials Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue.
The LED lights are about as efficient as compact fluorescent lights, which contain harmful mercury.
But LED lights now on the market are prohibitively expensive, in part because they are created on a substrate, or first layer, of sapphire. The Purdue researchers have solved this problem by developing a technique to create LEDs on low-cost, metal-coated silicon wafers, said Mark H. Oliver, a graduate student in materials engineering who is working with Sands.
Findings are detailed in a research paper appearing this month in the journal Applied Physics Letters, published by the American Institute of Physics.
LEDs designed to emit white light are central to solid-state lighting, semiconducting devices made of layers of materials that emit light when electricity is applied. Conventional lighting generates light with hot metal filaments or glowing gasses inside glass tubes.
The LEDs have historically been limited primarily to applications such as indicator lamps in electronics and toys, but recent advances have made them as bright as incandescent bulbs.
The light-emitting ingredient in LEDs is a material called gallium nitride, which is used in the sapphire-based blue and green LEDs, including those in traffic signals. The material also is used in lasers in high-definition DVD players.
The sapphire-based technology, however, is currently too expensive for widespread domestic-lighting use, costing at least 20 times more than conventional incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
One reason for the high cost is that the sapphire-based LEDs require a separate mirror-like collector to reflect light that ordinarily would be lost.
In the new silicon-based LED research, the Purdue engineers "metallized" the silicon substrate with a built-in reflective layer of zirconium nitride.
"When the LED emits light, some of it goes down and some goes up, and we want the light that goes down to bounce back up so we don't lose it," said Sands.
Ordinarily, zirconium nitride is unstable in the presence of silicon, meaning it undergoes a chemical reaction that changes its properties. The Purdue researchers solved this problem by placing an insulating layer of aluminum nitride between the silicon substrate and the zirconium nitride.
Until the advance, engineers had been unable to produce an efficient LED created directly on a silicon substrate with a metallic reflective layer.
The widespread adoption of solid-state lighting could have a dramatic impact on energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with electricity generation since about one-third of all electrical power consumed in the U.S. is from lighting.
"If you replaced existing lighting with solid-state lighting, following some reasonable estimates for the penetration of that technology based on economics and other factors, it could reduce the amount of energy we consume for lighting by about one-third," Sands said. "That represents a 10 percent reduction of electricity consumption and a comparable reduction of related carbon emissions."
Incandescent bulbs are about 10 percent efficient, meaning they convert 10 percent of electricity into light and 90 percent into heat. "It’s actually a better heater than a light emitter," Sands said.
By comparison, efficiencies ranging from 47 percent to 64 percent have been seen in some white LEDs, but the LED lights now on the market cost about $100.
"When the cost of a white LED lamp comes down to about $5, LEDs will be in widespread use for general illumination," Sands said. "LEDs are still improving in efficiency, so they will surpass fluorescents. Everything looks favorable for LEDs, except for that initial cost, a problem that is likely to be solved soon."
He expects affordable LED lights to be on the market within two years. Two remaining hurdles are to learn how to reduce defects in the devices and prevent the gallium nitride layer from cracking as the silicon wafer cools down after manufacturing.
The Applied Physics Letters paper was written by researchers in the School of Materials Engineering and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Oliver; fellow graduate students Jeremy L. Schroeder, David A. Ewoldt, Isaac H. Wildeson, Robert Colby, Patrick R. Cantwell and Vijay Rawat; Eric A. Stach, an associate professor of materials engineering; and Sands.
Baja Motorsports Fined $14,000 for Missing Emission Labels
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has penalized Baja Motorsports, an importer of off-road recreational vehicles from China, based in Tempe, Ariz., $14,000 for improperly labeling their Blitz mini-bikes without California emission certification labels.
ARB enforcement officers discovered the mini-bikes were missing California engine emission certification labels on bikes sold at Kragen Auto Parts stores statewide.
Although the bikes are within California emission standards, they were improperly labeled as being only federally certified. In California, it is necessary for vehicles to display additional certification compliance statements to ensure that the state's clean emission standards are also met.
"It's very important that manufacturers affix California's air 'seal of approval' so that consumers can know which machines pass our strict emission standards and which don't," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Baja Motorsports had done the hard part by meeting our standards but failed to let the buyers know, which is just as important."
All new vehicles sold in the state must possess a California emissions label, in addition to a federal emissions label. The fine for not displaying the certification is $50 per vehicle, but for large retailers the penalty can add up quickly due to their large inventories. All vehicles must display this certification, including off-road recreational vehicles like the 2.8 horsepower Blitz mini-bike.
Baja Motorsports has since corrected the problem and ordered and applied labels to the mini-bikes in question.
Per the terms of the settlement, the company will pay $14,000 in penalties; all of it will go to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality.
Study Shows "Just Enough" Manure on Crops Protects the Environment
During a Nutrient Management Field Day on July 15, state, county, and industry researchers in the state of Washington shared the preliminary results of a four-year study of nitrate uptake on Larry DeHaan’s Lynden-area grass field. They also demonstrated how study results can be applied to farm operations.
“Since the beginning of the study, Larry has been applying a modest amount of manure and he’s getting good yields,” said Barbara Carey, a hydrogeologist with the Washington Department of Ecology. “By matching manure application with crop needs, farmers can protect groundwater from nitrate contamination, and rivers, lakes and marine waters from other contaminants, including fecal coliform bacteria.”
Although the nitrogen from manure and fertilizer are an important nutrient for crops, excess nitrogen can seep as nitrates into groundwater that feeds wells. Nitrates in drinking water are known to cause methemoglobinemia, a condition that interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, especially for infants.
Excess manure also can contaminate surface water. Rain washes manure from fields into rivers, lakes and marine waters, harming fish habitat and shellfish beds.
The four-year study was a cooperative effort of Washington State University, the Washington Department of Ecology, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Whatcom Conservation District and DeHaan Dairy.
Louisiana DEQ Seeks Information on Illegal Dumping of Drums in Baton Rouge
Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is looking for information regarding the illegal dumping of ten drums near Spanish Town Road in Baton Rouge. Eight 55-gallon drums and two 35-gallon drums were dumped around the week of July 13 near the curve connecting North 10th Street and North 11th Street near Spanish Town Road. Working in conjunction with the Baton Rouge Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Unit, DEQ inspectors conducted field tests on the re-used drums and determined that they contained waste oil; with one drum containing acid.
Five of the drums are plastic; the others are steel or metal. It is unknown who the responsible party is at this time. Anyone with information regarding this illegal dumping incident is asked to call DEQ toll free at 1-888-763-5424 or the DEQ Criminal Investigation Division at 225-219-3944.
Delaware Proposes Regulations to Reduce Volatile Organic Compounds from Some Commercial and Consumer Products
Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Air Quality Management Section will hold a public workshop at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 30 in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson and Robbins Building, 89 Kings Hwy., Dover, on draft regulations that will reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from some commercial and consumer products sold, distributed, manufactured or used in Delaware.
VOCs and other compounds can react in the lower atmosphere during hot, still, sunny days to form ground-level ozone. High levels of ground-level ozone can damage lung tissue, aggravate respiratory conditions, including asthma, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infections. Children are especially vulnerable to ozone’s harmful effects.
Currently Delaware does not meet federal ground-level ozone air quality standards. Delaware is one of twelve northeast states and the District of Columbia that are part of the Ozone Transport Commission created under the Clean Air Act that works to develop and implement solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The draft regulations will reduce VOC emissions and are part of DNRECs plan to attain the federal ozone standard in 2009.
Amendment of Regulation 1141, “Limiting Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercial and Consumer Products,” adds the sale, distribution and manufacture of 23 consumer products and product types to the 89 products in the original rule (Section 2.0) which was effective in 2005. These include products for personal hygiene and grooming, home cleaning and cleaning of electrical and electronic equipment. The amendment would reduce VOC emissions in Delaware by up to 220 tons per year.
In addition, a new Section 4.0 to Regulation 1141 was drafted to include the sales, distribution, manufacture or use of industrial and commercial adhesive and sealant products. The new section includes the regulation of VOC content in certain industrial or commercial adhesives and sealant compounds, such as those used in home construction, carpet and roof installation, auto repair and tire retreading operations. If adopted, this section to the regulation is projected to reduce VOC emissions by about 365 tons per year.
EPA Releases Report on Climate Change and Health
EPA has released a report that discusses the potential impacts of climate change on human health, human welfare, and communities in the U.S.
The report discusses the challenges and potential effects of climate change, including unusual or unexpected weather, and how some individuals and communities may be disproportionately affected by climate change, including the elderly, the poor, children, and people with chronic medical conditions. However, the U.S. has well-developed public health infrastructures and environmental programs that protect our air and water, which can help minimize the impacts.
The Global Change Research Program in EPA's Office of Research and Development led the development of this report. It is one of 21 synthesis and assessment products commissioned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP).
The peer-reviewed report is the most up-to-date synthesis and assessment of scientific literature on the impact of global change on human health, welfare and settlements in the U.S. It was developed following the guidelines developed by the CCSP.
The CCSP was established in 2002 to provide the Nation with science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of change in the climate and related environmental systems. The program is responsible for coordinating and integrating the research of 13 federal agencies on climate and global change.
United Health Group Pays $13,200 Penalty for Air Quality Violations
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has penalized United Health Group $13,200 for alleged air quality and air permit violations at its Plymouth and Elk River facilities.
United Health Group (UHG), a health care corporation based in Minnetonka, has office buildings in Plymouth and Elk River. The facility in Elk River, called the United Health Next Technology Center, is located at 14100 Business Center Drive. Construction began on the Elk River building in March 2007, but UHG did not apply for an air emission permit for the facility's two hot-water boilers, several above and below ground tanks, and 10 diesel-powered emergency generators until May 2008.
In addition, the United Health Technology Center at 6150 Trenton Lane N. in Plymouth, was late in submitting the 2007 annual emission inventory. Because a file review uncovered a history of late submissions since 2003, enforcement action was taken.
UHG disclosed the air emission permit violations at its Elk River building and has since completed corrective actions and paid the penalty as required.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it was 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 company with environmental laws.
Pennsylvania DEP Fines PPL $77,000 for Two Fish Kills
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has fined PPL Brunner Island LLC $77,500 for two fish kills in the Susquehanna River in October and March that were caused, respectively, by a cold water discharge and fish entering the discharge channel during a flood.
DEP has also ordered the electricity generator to take actions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
“Fish generally avoid the discharge channel during warm weather months, but are attracted to the warm temperatures when the weather is cold,” said Rachel Diamond, DEP Southcentral Regional Director. “Sudden swings in water temperature can lead to thermal shock, which can be fatal to fish.” Diamond said temperature variations should not exceed 10 degrees per hour.
The East Manchester Township, York County, facility draws nearly 800 million gallons of cooling water daily from the Susquehanna River. The water is discharged back into the river at a downstream location through a discharge channel.
On Oct. 16, 2007, approximately 2,600 fish were killed by sudden changes in the temperature from cooling water that was discharged into the river. The temperature in the outlet channel first dropped eight degrees in a 20-minute period, followed by a 13 degree increase in the next 39 minutes.
The temperature swings were caused by operational changes at the plant due to excessive debris clogging intake screens that filter river water going into the plant.
On March 18, 2008, a minimum of 204 fish entered a section of the discharge channel above a fish control weir during flooding conditions. The fish became trapped above the weir when the water in the river returned to its normal level.
Additional fish kills took place at Brunner Island in December 2002, November 2005, and November 2006.
PPL must make structural improvements to the debris management system near the river intakes; submit plans to prevent fish access to the discharge channel; make improvements to a digital control system to allow for more timely notifications of temperature swings; and submit operating procedures to be followed to prevent and eliminate future heat shock fish kills.
PPL must submit plans and schedules for these actions to DEP for review and approval by Dec. 31, 2009.
In addition to paying the civil penalty which was deposited into the Clean Water Fund, PPL has agreed to pay stipulated penalties up to $50,000 for any future fish kills.
EPA Releases Science Assessment on Health Effects of Nitrogen Oxides
This is EPA’s latest evaluation of the scientific literature on the potential adverse human health effects resulting from exposures to oxides of nitrogen, particularly nitrogen dioxide or NO2. There are significant new health data, particularly epidemiological studies, since the last scientific review document released in 1993.
Oxides of nitrogen is one of the six criteria pollutants for which EPA is required to issue air quality criteria under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA set a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an indicator for gaseous nitrogen oxides, at an annual average of 0.053 parts per million (ppm).
The CAA also requires EPA to periodically update the scientific basis for these standards by preparing an Integrated Science Assessment. The assessment released today will be critical in the review of the NAAQS for NO2. The document went through independent, external peer review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and opportunities were also provided for public review and comment.
Hydrogen-Fueled Vehicles Make Impressive Gains
While the development of fuel cell and hydrogen production technology over the past several years has been impressive, challenges remain. Vehicle costs are high, and the U.S. currently lacks the infrastructure to produce and widely distribute hydrogen to consumers. These obstacles could be overcome, however, with continued support for research and development and firm commitments from the automotive industry and the federal government, concluded the committee that wrote the report.
Light-duty vehicles, such as cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks, are responsible for 44 percent of the oil used in the U.S. and over 20 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted. Concerns over climate change, oil imports, and recent spikes in gasoline prices have spurred interest in the development of alternative fuels. In 2003, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion initiative to encourage development of hydrogen production technology and fuel cell vehicles, which are powered through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and emit only water and heat as exhaust.
The committee estimated the maximum number of hydrogen vehicles that could be on the road in the coming decades, assuming that practical technical goals are met, that consumers want hydrogen cars, and that government policies are in place to help drive the transition from oil to hydrogen fuel. The findings therefore represent potential best-case scenarios rather than predictions.
According to the committee, it will take many years before hydrogen vehicles will significantly penetrate the light-duty fleet, even though technological developments have been progressing rapidly. Production of hydrogen vehicles could increase significantly by 2015. At this stage, their cost—although dropping rapidly—would still need to be heavily subsidized for consumers. The maximum practicable number of hydrogen vehicles that could be on the road by 2020 is 2 million, says the report. By 2023, the total cost of fuel cell vehicles, including the cost of hydrogen fuel over a vehicle's lifetime, could become competitive with conventional vehicles. At that point, the number of hydrogen vehicles on the road could grow rapidly, to nearly 60 million in 2035 and 200 million by 2050.
The committee also calculated the investments, both public and private, that would be needed to make a complete transition from oil to hydrogen fuel. These costs include research and development, vehicle deployment, and establishing infrastructure. According to the committee, government support via strong policy initiatives as well as funding would be needed until at least 2023. The cost to the government would be about $55 billion between 2008 and 2023; private industry would be expected to invest $145 billion over that same time period. To put these numbers into perspective, the government subsidy for ethanol fuel could grow to $15 billion per year by 2020.
The shift toward hydrogen fuel would not have a large impact on oil usage or greenhouse gas emissions until hydrogen vehicles make up a significant portion of the market. If hydrogen vehicles eventually took over the market, there would be great decreases in both, although the overall effect on greenhouse gas emissions would depend upon how the hydrogen fuel was produced. The committee compared these reductions with those that might be achieved by either improving the fuel efficiency of conventional vehicles or by converting to biofuels. Because they can be implemented more rapidly, both of these options could produce reductions in oil use and emissions faster than hydrogen, but after about 2040, hydrogen would become more effective.
The greatest possible reductions would occur if biofuels, fuel-efficient conventional vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles are all pursued simultaneously, rather than seen as competitors. This "portfolio approach," if accompanied by government policies driving a transition toward reduced oil use and low-carbon fuels, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks to less than 20 percent of current levels and could nearly eliminate oil demand for these vehicles by 2050, the committee said.
Groups Challenge “Air Pollution Loophole”
The environmental law firm, Earthjustice, is bringing the court challenge on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club. The groups contend that the rules will let major new coal-fired power plants spew out dangerous levels of soot into communities and parklands across the nation.
The "new source review" rules, adopted in May, allow construction of many new power plants and factories without pollution controls adequate to meet health standards for fine particles. The exemption applies to some plants indefinitely and to others for three years. According to the Sierra Club, dozens of new major coal-fired power plants are in the works throughout the nation.
EPA adopted health standards for fine particle pollution in 1997 after studies showed that pre-existing standards for larger "coarse" particles did not adequately protect against premature deaths, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and hospitalizations. The EPA rules challenged today allow new plants to be built if they will meet the old "coarse" particle standards—even if their emissions of fine particle are unsafe.
"There is absolutely no excuse for letting these plants spew out dangerous soot levels more than a decade after standards were set," said Cort.
The suit is being brought in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Washington. The groups are also filing a separate petition with EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson asking him to withdraw the exemptions.
Fine particle pollution consists of tiny particles of smoke, soot, metals and other chemical compounds emitted from sources like power plants and factories. Scientists say particle pollution, which can travel deep into our lungs, is one of the most toxic forms of air pollution. They estimate that particle pollution is responsible for tens of thousands of premature deaths nationwide every year. It is linked to aggravation of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive lung disease, and pneumonia, and to premature deaths from other causes, such as lung cancer and heart disease.
EPA Lays Groundwork for Promising Technologies to Help Mitigate Climate Change
Secure, long-term underground storage of the greenhouse gas is one way scientific innovation could lessen the effects of climate change.
"Today's proposal paves the way for technologies that would protect public health and help reduce the effects of climate change," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "With proper site selection and management, geologic sequestration could play a major role in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere."
EPA's proposed regulation creates a consistent, national framework for the injection of carbon dioxide underground and protection of underground drinking water resources. The rule would create a new class of injection wells under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control (UIC) program.
It would apply to owners and operators of wells that will be used to inject carbon dioxide into the subsurface for the purpose of long-term storage.
Carbon capture and storage is part of a portfolio of technologies available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EPA is requesting public comments on the proposed rule for 120 days.
Municipal Waste Combustor Fined for Air Violations
EPA Region 5 has reached an agreement with Perham Resource Recovery Facility, a small municipal waste combustor in Perham, Minn., on alleged clean-air violations.
The agreement, which includes a $15,950 penalty and a $110,760 environmental project, resolves EPA allegations that the facility exceeded emission standards for hydrogen chloride and mercury. The alleged violations were discovered through performance test reports submitted by the facility.
The facility's environmental project consists of two improvements to its air pollution control system that will reduce emissions of hydrogen chloride and mercury.
Hydrogen chloride, or hydrochloric acid, is corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Chronic exposure can cause chronic bronchitis and skin problems.
Exposure to mercury can permanently damage the brain and kidneys. Adults exposed to metallic mercury vapor may develop tremors, memory loss and kidney disease.
Hercules Fined for HAP Releases
EPA Region 5 has reached an agreement with Hercules Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's chemical plant at 5228 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, Wis.
The agreement, which includes a $22,500 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Hercules failed to comply with regulations requiring the facility to control leaks of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from its equipment.
EPA said Hercules had an uncapped open-ended line, had delayed repair of another line and had not tagged relevant equipment. The company has since demonstrated compliance with these requirements and improved its leak-management system.
HAPs may cause serious health effects including birth defects and cancer. They may also cause harmful environmental and ecological effects.
New GE Jet Engine Core Increases Fuel Efficiency Up to 16 Percent
GE Aviation has launched a new engine core program, called “eCore,” as the technology cornerstone for a new generation of jet engines for narrow-body, regional, and business jets.
The program is designed to outpace competitive engine designs by offering aircraft operators up to 16 percent better fuel efficiency over GE’s best engines in operation today.
The “eCore,” designed for all future aircraft with 200 passengers and fewer, is GE’s foundation for new regional and business jet engines now being designed by thousands of GE engineers,” said David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “Using eCore as the basis, GE is developing and maturing technologies for new regional and business jets for a time frame of 2015 and beyond.”
The engine “core”—comprised of the compressor, combustor, high-pressure turbine—is the heart of any jet engine. It’s where air is compressed and mixed with fuel to drive turbines, and create thrust. The fan system is then attached to the core to complete a jet engine.
Environmental News Links
Trivia Question of the Week
Which of the following is the United States’ top export shipped in container loads?
a. Waste paper
b. Solar panels
c. Catalytic converters
d. Scrap electronics
