EPA to Conduct First Five-Year Review of Hudson River PCB Cleanup

EPA to Conduct First Five-Year Review of Hudson River PCB Cleanup

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(Fort Edward, N.Y. – March 30, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently conducting a five-year review of the cleanup that has been conducted so far on the Hudson River PCBs Superfund site, which extends from Hudson Falls, New York, to New York City. The cleanup work is being performed in the Upper Hudson River north of Troy, New York. The purpose of this five-year review, which is legally required under the Superfund law within five years after the start of on-site construction, is to ensure that the cleanup is working as intended and continues to protect public health and the environment.

In conducting the five-year review, the EPA is reviewing site operation, maintenance and monitoring information. The plan for dredging underwent extensive review by the EPA and the General Electric Company at the end of the 2009 dredging program. The dredging was also reviewed by a panel of independent scientific experts at that time. The results of that evaluation will be summarized in this five-year review and will be supplemented with information gathered during the 2011 dredging season. The five-year review will also include a review of the 1984 cleanup plan for the areas of PCB-contaminated sediment upstream of the areas targeted for dredging. These areas, known as the remnant deposits, became exposed after the river water level dropped following removal of the Fort Edward Dam in 1973.

Between 1947 and 1977, an estimated 1.3 million pounds of PCBs were discharged into the river from two General Electric capacitor manufacturing plants located in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York. The dredging of the Hudson River was designed to occur in two phases. The first phase of the dredging project was conducted in 2009 and the second and final phase began in June 2011. The cleanup is being conducted by General Electric Company under a legal agreement with the EPA.

Under the law, the ongoing five year review of the Hudson River dredging project must be completed by the end of April 2012. The results will be shared with the public and will be available on the EPA’s Hudson River website at www.epa.gov/hudson and in the local repositories established for the site: Edgewater Public Library, 49 Hudson Avenue, Edgewater, NJ 07020; Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; NY State Library, Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230; Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801; Saratoga County EMC, 50 W. High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020; EPA Hudson River Field Office, 421 Lower Main Street, Hudson Falls, NY 12839; and at the EPA Region 2 Superfund Records Center, 290 Broadway – 18^th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

Project information can be found on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/hudson and http://www.hudsondredgingdata.com.

For further information or to submit comments on the five year review of the Hudson River PCBs Superfund site, please contact Gary Klawinski (Remedial Project Manager) at klawinski.gary@epa.gov

or Larisa Romanowski (Community Involvement Coordinator) at romanowski.larisa@epa.gov. They can also be reached at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Hudson River Field Office

421 Lower Main Street

Hudson Falls, NY 12839

(518) 747-4389 or (866) 615-6490 (Toll Free)

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Local Meetings on Free Help for Superfund Communities: Apr 17, 18, 19

Interested in Superfund cleanup in the Coeur d’Alene Basin?
Would you like to better understand the cleanup process and provide input on community needs?

Free help is available. Come learn about independent educational and technical assistance for the community through Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC).

Everyone is invited.
The same material will be presented at each location.

WALLACE
Tuesday, April 17, 6 p.m.
Wallace Inn, Gold Room
100 Front Street

POST FALLS
Wednesday, April 18, 10 a.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
408 N Spokane Street

KELLOGG
Thursday, April 19, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Silver Mountain Resort, Shoshone Room
610 Bunker Avenue

TASC is an EPA program that gives independent educational and technical assistance to communities affected by hazardous waste sites regulated by Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). TASC also helps communities address other environmental problems, like air and water issues. The program can help communities better understand and become involved in the cleanup.  TASC representatives will explain the program, preview cleanup activities, and answer your questions. TASC representatives would like to identify people who wish to share input about what services they think could be useful to the community.

A SIGNUP SHEET WILL BE OFFERED FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PROVIDE INPUT ON ASSISTANCE NEEDS.

For information, contact:
Alison Frost, Technical Assistance Specialist
(719) 256-6708, afrost@skeo.com

This presentation is funded in whole or partly through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Technical Assistance Services for Communities program. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the policies, actions, or positions of the U.S. EPA. 

Congresswoman McCarthy and EPA to Tour Superfund Sites in New York

MEDIA ADVISORY

Congresswoman McCarthy and EPA to Tour Superfund Sites in New York

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov, 212-637-3664 (office) or 732-672-5520 (cell).

(New York, NY – March 30, 2012) On Monday, April 2, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy will tour two federal Superfund sites to mark the progress of cleanup work at the Old Roosevelt Field Contaminated Ground Water Area Site in Garden City and the Pasley Solvents and Chemicals Inc Site in Hempstead. Both Superfund Sites are on Long Island, N.Y. Superfund is the name given to the federal environmental program established to address the country’s most hazardous waste sites. Superfund was enacted in the wake of the discovery of toxic waste dumps such as Love Canal in the 1970s. It allows the EPA to clean up such sites and to compel responsible parties to perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-lead cleanups.

What:        Site tour with VIPs and subject matter experts. Photo ops and interviews 

Who:         Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy

Donald T.Brudie, Mayor of the Village of Garden City

Wayne J. Hall, Sr., Mayor of the Village of Hempstead

When/Where:

                 11:00 a.m, Monday, April 2, 2012.

Tour begins at the Old Roosevelt Field Water Treatment Plant, Village of Garden City – located in the back of the Roosevelt Field Mall along the Clinton Rd. side of the property. The driveway for the Old Roosevelt Field Superfund Site is directly across the street from (near) 250 Clinton Road. See link: http://g.co/maps/6abe4.

From NYC * Take Long Island Expressway to Exit 39 for the Northern State Parkway. * Take Northern State Parkway approximately 2 miles south to Exit 31 that merges onto Glen Cove Road. * Take Glen Cove Road/Clinton Ave. approximately 1.5 miles south (note: Glen Cove Road changes to Clinton Ave. as you go through intersection with Old Country Road). * After intersection proceed about ½ mile and enter a driveway on the left just before Vanderbilt Court. * Proceed down driveway passing through chain link fence gate to the water treatment plant where the tour will start.

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City of Wapato’s sewage treatment plant cited for exceeding ammonia levels and operating without a water discharge permit

City of Wapato’s sewage treatment plant cited for exceeding ammonia levels and operating without a water discharge permit

Contact: Derek Schruhl, EPA NPDES Compliance Unit, 206-553-1146, schruhl.derek@epa.gov; Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-1203, brown.anthony@epa.gov

(Seattle—March 29, 2012) The City of Wapato, Washington will pay a fine for excess pollution discharges from its municipal sewage treatment facility in violation of its Clean Water Act permit, according to an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The City’s wastewater treatment facility provides secondary treatment of wastewater prior to discharge to the Yakima River. The violations took place on Yakama tribal land, but the facility is not tribally-owned.

The treatment facility exceeded levels of ammonia in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit more than 431 times between 2006-2010. Ammonia constituted the majority of the violations. The Facility also discharged without permit between June 2010 and September 2011. The City will pay a fine of $57,000.

“Pollutant discharge limits safeguard our waterways against environmental harm,” said Kimberly Ogle, NPDES Unit Manager at EPA’s Seattle office. “Facilities have a responsibility to stick to approved levels. The City of Wapato is working with EPA to come into compliance.”

Ammonia occurs naturally and is also produced by human activity. Exposure to high levels of ammonia can cause irritation and serious burns on the skin and in the mouth, throat, lungs, and eyes. Ammonia and heavy metals like zinc and copper, even in small amounts, can be highly toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish.

For more information about NPDES, visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/

HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS AMERICA, LTD. SIGNS ENHANCED ALL-DRY SCRUBBER TECHNOLOGY LICENSE AGREEMENT

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, March 28, 2012 – Hitachi Power Systems America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., today announced that it has signed a license agreement with Solios Environnement Inc. to design and supply Enhanced All-Dry (EAD) Scrubber technology, jointly developed with Solios Environnement Inc, for the global electric utility market. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The EAD Scrubber technology is the original circulating semi-dry scrubber technology developed by Solios in the 1980s that has been widely applied in industrial sectors. It effectively removes SO2 as well as SO3, HCl, mercury and particulate matter from flue gas. Reactions occur in an entrained-flow, open vertical absorber which is preferred over more complex fluidized bed processes. By separating the reagent humidification and sulfur capture steps, this enhanced system is simple and reliable. Hitachi is applying the EAD Scrubber technology with a modular approach that allows unlimited scrubber capacity, virtually unlimited turndown, and enhanced system layout flexibility. EAD Scrubber technology has the additional advantages of low capital cost, low water consumption and dry byproducts, avoiding costly waste water treatment.

For more, click the link below:

http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/120329.html

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LANDFILL TO SPEND $3.8 MILLION TO RESOLVE CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 28, 2012  DOJ CONTACT: Lauren Horwood, PHONE: 916-554-2706

U.S. EPA: Margot Perez-Sullivan, PHONE: 415-947-4149, Perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LANDFILL TO SPEND $3.8 MILLION TO RESOLVE CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Forward Inc., of Manteca, has agreed to a settlement to resolve alleged violations of air pollution laws at its landfill in Manteca. The settlement requires Forward to spend approximately $3.8 million to improve the landfill’s gas collection and control system and to replace trucks in the landfill’s fleet with less polluting vehicles. Forward has also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $200,000, to be shared with the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, a co-plaintiff in the enforcement action against Forward.

“Today’s settlement is good news for the families of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Benjamin B. Wagner, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California. “Cleaning up the Valley’s air so that our children can breathe easier is important for all of us.”

“Landfill fires that deteriorate the air quality in San Joaquin Valley are unacceptable,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Our federal enforcement action requires the landfill to spend $3.8 million to eliminate the risk of polluting fires and replace old diesel trucks with cleaner burning vehicles.”

The settlement resolves allegations that Forward violated the Clean Air Act by operating gas extraction wells in the landfill’s gas system in violation of the permit it had received from the District, and that Forward did not obtain permits required for equipment at the landfill. Federal law requires large landfills that are significant emitters of air pollution to install and operate systems that will collect gasses, such as air toxics, organic compounds, and methane, out of the decomposing refuse and destroy them, rather than allowing them to escape into the atmosphere. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. These systems are to be operated so that they draw and collect as much gas as possible without pulling air into the landfill that can start fires in the decomposing waste. The complaint alleges that Forward operated its gas system such that it caused multiple fires at the Manteca landfill.

The settlement requires Forward to overhaul the landfill’s gas system by November 2012 to improve gas control and collection and to bring the facility back into compliance with CAA regulations governing landfills, which will require an investment of approximately $1.7 million. The settlement also requires Forward to implement specific operations and maintenance actions to minimize air intrusion and the likelihood of subsurface fires at the landfill.

The settlement will also benefit the San Joaquin Valley’s air and its communities by reducing emissions of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), which can cause and exacerbate health problems, haze, and smog. PM is a pollutant commonly associated with landfill fires, and Forward will reduce its PM emissions by replacing 19 diesel trucks it currently owns with cleaner burning vehicles by the end of 2013, at an estimated cost of $2.1 million. This will directly reduce PM by 3.4 tons and NOx by 83.2 tons, and will result in further indirect reductions of PM, as NOx is a precursor of PM. The NOx reductions yield a double benefit, as NOx is also a precursor for ozone, and the San Joaquin Valley is an extreme non-attainment area for ozone, another pollutant linked to health problems and smog. 

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval and may be viewed at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

For more information about CAA landfill regulations, please visit the EPA’s web site at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/landfill/landflpg.html#IMP.

For more information about California air quality plans, please visit EPA’s web site at:http://www.epa.gov/region9/air/actions/ca.html.

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Shipbuilder and Ship Engine Manufacturer Agree to Pay Civil Penalty and Perform Environmental Project to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2012

Shipbuilder and Ship Engine Manufacturer Agree to Pay Civil Penalty and Perform Environmental Project to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations

First enforcement action under marine diesel engine air rules

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Coltec Industries Inc., (Coltec) and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $280,000 and spend approximately $500,000 on an environmental project to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA’s marine diesel engine air rules. The project will significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from a testing stack at Coltec’s Beloit, Wis., engine manufacturing facility, improving air quality for residents. Coltec and NASSCO also agreed to attach the required EPA engine labels to 40 ship engines that were previously unlabeled or improperly labeled.
“EPA is committed to enforcing the Clean Air Act’s standards for engines, including ship engines,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “By ensuring that engines meet requirements and encouraging environmental projects that benefit nearby communities, we are making the air cleaner and healthier for the residents of southern Wisconsin.”
“This is the first time a settlement addresses Clean Air Act violations in the marine engine manufacturing and ship building industries. Under the settlement, Coltec and NASSCO will pay a just penalty and achieve compliance with the nation’s Clean Air Act and EPA’s emissions control regulations,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Compliance with the Clean Air Act by all industries is essential to preventing harmful pollutants from being released into the environment, whether on land or at sea.”
The CAA prohibits marine diesel engines from being sold in the U.S. unless the engines are covered by a certificate of conformity and have an EPA label indicating that the engine meets applicable emission standards. Engines that are not certified may be operating without proper emissions controls and emitting excess carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These excess emissions can cause respiratory illnesses, aggravate asthma and contribute to the formation of ground level ozone or smog.
On Sep. 30, 2010, the United States filed a complaint which alleged that Coltec violated the CAA by manufacturing and selling 32 marine diesel engines that were not covered by an EPA-issued certificate of conformity and that NASSCO violated the CAA by installing those engines in ships that NASSCO built and sold to the U.S. Navy. The complaint also alleged that the 32 uncertified Coltec engines, plus eight more certified engines Coltec sold to NASSCO, had missing or improper emissions compliance labels required by EPA’s regulations. Finally, the complaint alleged that NASSCO further violated the CAA by manufacturing and selling ships containing an additional six uncertified engines.
The settlement also includes a supplemental environmental project in which Coltec and NASSCO will install a nitrogen oxide (NO_x) control system to an engine test stand exhaust stack connected to Coltec’s Beloit, Wis., engine manufacturing facility. The engine test stand is used for testing large marine diesel engines that are manufactured and sold by Coltec for use in U.S. Navy ships. The NO_x controls required by the settlement are estimated to reduce levels of NO_x by at least 85 percent, from approximately 102 pounds emitted per hour to approximately 16 pounds per hour. The estimated cost to implement the project is $500,000 and will benefit the city of Beloit, Wis., by improving air quality near the facility, particularly in the adjacent Merrill neighborhood.
Coltec is a subsidiary of EnPro Industries Inc. and operates Fairbanks Morse Engine (FME), which supplies marine propulsion and ship service systems to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.
NASSCO is a subsidiary of General Dynamics. NASSCO designs and builds support ships, oil tankers, and dry cargo carriers for the U.S. Navy and commercial markets.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval.
More information on the settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/coltec.html

Logan Airport Oil Storage Facility Operators Fined for Inadequate Oil Spill Training

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
March 28, 2012
Contact: Paula Ballentine, (617) 918-1027

Logan Airport Oil Storage Facility Operators Fined for Inadequate Oil Spill Training

(Boston, Mass. – Mar. 28, 2012) – BOSFuel Corp. and Swissport Fueling, Inc., operators of an oil storage facility at Boston’s Logan Airport, will pay a $90,000 penalty for failing to take adequate precaution to contain oil spills.  The Logan facility is operated by BOSFuel, a consortium of major airlines, and has an oil storage capacity of over seven million gallons. Swissport Fueling operates the facility on a day-to-day basis.

In a Sept. 2011 complaint, EPA asserted that the companies had not properly prepared for possible oil spills at the Logan facility in violation of federal oil pollution prevention regulations issued under the Clean Water Act.  These Facility Response Plan (FRP) regulations require certain facilities, such as the one at Logan, to have a response plan for containing and cleaning up an oil release.


EPA’s action stemmed from a May 2011 unannounced exercise at the facility carried out by EPA, the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) and the U.S. Coast Guard. The objective of this exercise - a simulated oil spill - was to determine whether a facility can successfully respond to an oil release.  As a result of the exercise, EPA determined that the companies were unable to properly implement the facility’s FRP and its personnel were not adequately trained, resulting in an “unsuccessful” overall rating for the exercise. 


Since EPA filed its action, the companies have worked cooperatively with EPA, as well as the USCG and Mass DEP to correct the deficiencies noted during the exercise.

Federal law requires that facilities that have the potential for spills take every step possible to prevent, before they occur, oil discharges to the nation’s rivers, lakes and oceans through implementation of Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure (SPCC) plans.  Any facility with more than 1,320 gallons of above-ground oil storage capacity and meeting certain other criteria must develop and implement SPCC plans to prevent and contain spills, such as by installing impervious secondary containment around storage tanks and transfer areas.  Facilities also need to know how to react to a spill to minimize environmental damage when one does occur.  The FRP regulations require response planning and spill preparation especially for facilities with more than one million gallons of storage capacity. To ensure that a facility can adequately response to a spill, it must have adequate employee training, spill response equipment, and a contingency plan for containing and cleaning up a release.

While EPA’s action against the Logan Airport oil storage operators is not based on an actual oil release but on the unsuccessful May 2011 unannounced exercise, other facilities should be aware that EPA will continue to pay unannounced visits to conduct simulated spill exercises at facilities throughout New England.


More information:
FRP Requirements (http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/frps/index.htm )
SPCC Requirements (http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/index.htm)

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Preserving Route 66 is a Good Investment for the Future

This article about Historic Preservation is a bit off-topic, but I thought it might be of interest.  So I decided to go ahead and post it, anyway.

Preserving Route 66 is a Good Investment for the Future

$132 million spent per year in communities along Route 66

NEW YORK,  March 28, 2012 -- 

A recently completed economic impact study sheds new light on the importance of heritage tourism and historic preservation along Route 66 as a contributor to local, state, and national economies. Route 66, which runs from Chicago to Santa Monica and is known as the Mother Road, is America's most celebrated automobile highway, and a symbol of twentieth-century American culture and history. The study was directed by Rutgers University professor David Listokin of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and was carried out between 2008 and 2011 in collaboration with the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and World Monuments Fund, with the support of American Express.

The study demonstrates the tremendous influence tourists have on the economies of towns and cities along the route:

• More than 85% of Route 66 travelers visit historic places and museums, and these tourists spend $38 million dollars a year in these communities.
• Heritage preservation, through Main Street revitalization programs and museums, add another $94 million in annual investments.
• The national impact is an annual gain of 2,400 jobs, $90 million in income, $262 million in overall output, $127 million in gross domestic product and $37 million in tax revenues.
• At the local level, the restored Route 66-themed motel, restaurant, and gift shop anchor the downtown in many small communities and bring new life and revenue to towns once bypassed by the Interstate Highway System.

In other words, preserving Route 66 is a good investment with significant community and economic benefits.

"We fund the preservation of historic places, museums and cultural institutions because we recognize the critical role that these institutions play in their communities," said Timothy J. McClimon, President of the American Express Foundation. "This research really showed the potential that Route 66 offers to preserve our cultural heritage, and we look forward to seeing this research create new ways for historic places to drive economic prosperity."

"The 2008 World Monuments Watch brought attention to the cultural value of America's Mother Road," said World Monuments Fund President Bonnie Burnham. "The Watch was the catalyst for developing this study, which now demonstrates the tremendous economic value tied those traveling this historic route and argues for investment in preservation."

The study draws on a wide array of empirical information on Route 66 from the national decennial census, a first-ever comprehensive survey of Route 66 travelers, a Route 66 museum survey, Route 66 case studies, and other sources. The result is a better understanding of the mosaic and dynamics of America's Main Street, and the identification of opportunities to improve preservation of this resource and to enhance its already significant heritage tourism and economic contribution. The organizations behind the study are currently working to raise awareness of the significant findings among both the private and public sectors. A follow-up event, including industry, government, and others, is being planned for 2012, with a goal of leveraging the new knowledge provided by the Economic Impact Study toward improved investment and innovative partnerships in heritage tourism and historic preservation.

A Synthesis of Findings of the Route 66 Economic Impact Study, along with a two-volume Technical Report, are available at: http://www.wmf.org/dig-deeper/publication/route-66-economic-impact-study-synthesis-findings.

American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Historic preservation has long been the hallmark of American Express' involvement in the community, reflecting the company's recognition of the importance of cultural sites and monuments as symbols of national and local identity, and the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing neighborhoods. Learn more atamericanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress,foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express,twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy
The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy is one of the nation's key centers for the theory and practice of planning and public policy scholarship and analysis. The school was established in 1992 by the Rutgers University Board of Governors to provide a focus for all of Rutgers' initiatives and programs of instruction, research, and service in planning and public policy. The Bloustein School was ranked No. 3 in the United States in the latest survey of the nation's top graduate programs in urban planning by Planetizen, a Los Angeles–based planning and development network.

National Park Service, Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
The National Park Service, Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program was established in 2001 to help preserve the special places and stories of historic U.S. 66. The program collaborates with private individuals, organizations, government agencies, and others to identify and address the priority needs of this historically significant American icon. The program offers cost-share grants to assist with preservation, planning, research, and educational initiatives. Learn more at www.nps.gov/rt66.

World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is the leading independent organization devoted to saving the world's most treasured places. For over 45 years, working in more than 90 countries, its highly skilled experts have applied proven and effective techniques to the preservation of important architectural and cultural heritage sites around the globe. Through partnerships with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF seeks to inspire an enduring commitment to stewardship for future generations. Headquartered in New York City, WMF has offices and affiliates worldwide. wmf.org,twitter.com/worldmonuments, and facebook.com/worldmonuments.

EPA and LA Water Board Set Strict New Pollution Reduction Plans for 175 Waterways in Los Angeles Area

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2012Media Contacts:
Nahal Mogharabi, EPA, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov
Deborah Smith, LA Water Quality Board, 213-576-6609, Dsmith@waterboards.ca.gov  

EPA and LA Water Board Set Strict New Pollution Reduction Plans for 175 Waterways in Los Angeles Area
Action Culminates 13 Year Effort, Eliminating Beach Closures, Reducing Trash and Toxic Chemicals in Waters

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board today announced the latest in a series of pollution reduction plans designed to restore 175 water bodies in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The pollution targets set by these plans will improve water quality, restore ecosystems, and protect the public by eliminating beach closures due to bacteria and improving the health of fish used for consumption.

“EPA and our partners have achieved a breakthrough on the path toward restoring the health of Los Angeles’ creeks, streams, and beaches,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “These precious natural resources lay at the heart of what makes the Golden State shine.”

The Los Angeles region is home to a vast network of streams, lakes, rivers, and beaches used for fishing and recreation. The pollution plans call for reductions in the amount of bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, mercury, pesticides and other toxic chemicals that affect these waterways.  More than 95% of the impaired waters will meet applicable water quality standards once the pollution reduction plans are fully implemented.

“I am proud to acknowledge achievements that are leading to healthier watersheds for the benefit of the people and wildlife who call the Los Angeles area home.” said Maria Mehranian, Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.  “This wave of water quality improvement is the result of tremendous efforts by this Board, past Boards, and EPA in collaboration with local municipalities and environmental organizations.”

Under the federal Clean Water Act, states are required to develop pollution reduction plans for waters that are impaired by pollutants.  These plans are called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and must be approved by the EPA. 

 “Los Angeles’ relationship to water is a historic one. We are known for our beaches and were founded because of the LA River,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “The U.S. EPA and the Regional Water Board have been strong partners as we work to protect our rivers, streams, and waterways. We applaud the U.S. EPA and the Regional Water Board for continuing to prioritize water quality and safety in Los Angeles.”

Today’s announcement is a  part of a 1999 legal settlement between EPA and local environmental groups  in which EPA committed to approve LA Water Board-developed TMDLs or independently establish TMDLs for a list of water bodies in the Los Angeles Region.  As a result of the consent decree, 47 TMDLs have been established for 175 water bodies that address numerous pollutant impairments including elevated bacteria, metals, pesticides, PCBs and trash.  Additional TMDLs will be approved or established within the next year.

 “The consent decree put Los Angeles and Ventura counties on track for having oceans and rivers that are safe for swimming and fishing year round,” said Kirsten James, Heal the Bay’s Water Quality Director.  “The implementation of these requirements has already led to less trash in local rivers and bays and cleaner beaches.”

EPA established four TMDLs to address pollutants and impairments for the following water bodies:

• Long Beach City beaches and Los Angeles River estuary for bacteria: will help protect the health of the tens of thousands of people visiting the beaches during summer months. Once implemented, the average number of days during the swimming season exceeding bacteria standards will be reduced from 34 days to 0.
  
• Santa Monica Bay waters for DDTs and PCBs: will increase the health of the fish and other aquatic life and protect the public who use the Bay for recreational fishing and boating. Once implemented, DDT and PCB levels in the Bay will be reduced up to 50% and 75%, respectively.
  
• Ballona Creek wetlands for sediment and exotic vegetation: will help restore the last remaining critical coastal wetlands in Southern California.  Once implemented, 600 acres of habitats adjacent to Marina del Rey will support the hundreds of migratory birds species and the dozens of native birds that use these wetlands.
  
• Nine Los Angeles area urban lakes for toxics, trash, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution: will support recreation and wildlife for nine lakes in the Los Angeles area, including Echo Park Lake, Lake Calabasas, Puddingstone Reservoir and El Dorado Park Lakes.
  

In addition, the EPA has approved four LA Water Board-adopted TMDLs to address pollutants and impairments for the following water bodies:

• Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors for toxic pollutants: will reduce toxic levels of metals and organic pollutants to protect sensitive habitat, fishing, recreation, and navigation in the harbors.
  
• Machado Lake for toxic pollutants: will remediate contaminated water and sediments in the lake so that fish are safe to eat.
  
• Los Angeles River for bacteria: will protect the health of swimmers, waders, and boaters in the river and at downstream beaches in the City of Long Beach.
  
• Santa Monica Bay for trash: will prohibit trash and plastic pellets (“nurdles”) from entering the bay to protect beachgoers and marine life.

Pollution reduction plans adopted over the years have led to innovative solutions by municipalities and pollution equipment industries to address some of the most deep-rooted pollution problems in the region.  These plans have led to the installation of trash capture devices by 42 cities resulting in a 65% reduction in total tons of trash entering the Los Angeles River. The landmark Santa Monica Bay Beaches Bacteria TMDL has, since its adoption, reduced exceedances of bacteria standards at local beaches by half for the benefit of the 55 million people who visit Santa Monica Bay Beaches annually.

For more information on the pollution plans approved today, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/tmdl/final.html 

For more information on all of the TMDLs in the Los Angeles Region, please visit: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/water_issues/programs/tmdl/  
For more information about the Clean Water Act, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html  

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Columbia N.H. Sand & Gravel Facility Faces Fine for Discharging Polluted Water

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
March 27, 2012

Contacts: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

Columbia N.H. Sand and Gravel Facility Faces Fine for Discharging Polluted Water

(Boston, Mass. – March 27, 2012) – CSG Holdings, Inc. of Columbia, N.H. faces a possible fine of up to $532,500 from EPA for allowing polluted stormwater and process water from its Columbia facility to flow into nearby waters, in violation of the Clean Water Act.  CSG Holdings is the former operator of Columbia Sand and Gravel, a mining facility on the banks of the Connecticut River.

According to allegations in the complaint, CSG Holdings discharged process waste waters and stormwater from the facility without proper permits and violated the federal Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations by failing to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan. The recent complaint against CSG Holdings states that the violations were discovered by EPA’s New England office in 2010.

Stormwater monitoring by CSG Holdings confirmed that stormwater discharges from its sand and gravel mining and aggregate processing operations contain total suspended solids at levels that exceed permit benchmarks for their industrial sector.  When a facility's stormwater discharges exceed benchmark levels, the facility must review its stormwater control measures to determine if changes are necessary and make these changes as needed.

The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of process waste waters without a permit. The law also requires that industrial facilities, such as sand and gravel facilities, have controls in place to minimize pollutants from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. Each site must have a stormwater pollution prevention plan that sets guidelines and best management practices that the company will follow to prevent runoff from being contaminated by pollutants. Without on-site controls, runoff from sand and gravel facilities can flow directly to the nearest waterway and can cause water quality impairments such as siltation of rivers, beach closings, fishing restrictions, and habitat degradation. As stormwater flows over these sites, it can pick up pollutants, including sediment, used oil, and other debris. Polluted process water discharges or stormwater runoff can harm or kill fish and wildlife and can affect drinking water quality.

Every year, thousands of gallons of oil are spilled from oil storage facilities, polluting New England waters. Even the  effects of smaller spills add up and damage aquatic life, as well as public and private property. Spill prevention plans are critical to prevent such spills or, if they do occur, adequately address them.

In May 2011, CSG Holdings sold its Columbia, N.H. facility to another owner/operator. The new owner maintains the facility’s stormwater management system and is authorized to discharge stormwater under a general permit covering discharges from industrial facilities.


More information: Stormwater control for Industrial facilities (http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/indust.cfm)

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EPA to Host April 5 Session in Byrnes Mill, Mo., to Discuss Residential Lead Sampling in Big River Floodplain of Southwest Jefferson County

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

EPA to Host April 5 Session in Byrnes Mill, Mo., to Discuss Residential Lead Sampling in Big River Floodplain of Southwest Jefferson County

Contact Information: Ben Washburn, 913-551-7364, washburn.ben@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., March 27, 2012) - EPA Region 7 will host a public availability session from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, at the Byrnes Mill, Mo., City Hall, to share information about lead sampling of residential property soils in the Big River Floodplain, as part of EPA’s ongoing activities at the Southwest Jefferson County Mining Superfund Site.

Residential properties located in portions of the 100-year floodplain of Big River inside the Superfund site boundaries will be screened for possible lead contamination. Multiple studies and samplings have indicated widespread lead contamination in the floodplain, extending from Leadwood to the Meramec River Confluence.

Qualifying properties will be screened and prioritized for future sampling. The remedial program has funding to sample 256 properties this fiscal year. Additional funds are being sought to sample an undetermined number of remaining properties in fiscal year 2013. To date, EPA has conducted soil sampling at 2,004 residential properties, as well as water samplings at 654 private wells.

EPA will be sending letters to property owners of the 256 residences seeking access to do necessary sampling.

EPA representatives will attend the April 5 public availability session to discuss past and future site sampling activities.

EPA’s current sampling effort is focused on screening properties along the Big River Floodplain throughout Jefferson County. However, residents outside the floodplain who believe their property may have contaminated soils should contact Debbie Kring, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, 913-551-7725 or 1-800-223-0425, to discuss having EPA screen the property.

EPA Region 7 is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who may want to attend this event. To request reasonable accommodations, please contact Jonathan Cooper at 1-800-223-0425 or cooper.jonathan@epa.gov at least a week in advance of the meeting. Speech or hearing-impaired individuals should email or call using the local relay service.

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