EPA Approves Temporary Fuel Waivers to Assist States Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Press release from the EPA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2012

EPA Approves Temporary Fuel Waivers to Assist States Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON - EPA has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain federal clean gasoline requirements for gasoline sold and distributed in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The waiver was granted by EPA in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE).

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson determined that, as a result of effects of Hurricane Sandy, extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist, which may result in a temporary shortage of gasoline compliant with federal regulations. The federal waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of fuels in the impacted states.

The waiver allows the sale and distribution of conventional gasoline in a number of Eastern states that are required to use reformulated gasoline, and allows a number of additional states to mix reformulated gasoline and conventional gasoline to remove potential barriers to the supply of gasoline to the region.

More information: http://epa.gov/enforcement/air/fuel-waivers.html

EPA Reaches Final Agreement with Carmeuse Lime to Control Dust from its Chicago Plant

Press release from the EPA:

EPA Reaches Final Agreement with Carmeuse Lime to Control Dust from its Chicago Plant

Contact Information: Anne Rowan, 312-353-9391, rowan.anne@epa.gov 

For Immediate Release                                                                   OPA 093

Chicago (Oct. 31, 2012 )--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a consent decree with Carmeuse Lime, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to resolve Clean Air Act violations at the company's Chicago lime manufacturing facility. The company will pay a $350,000 fine and spend $125,000 to replace windows at residences primarily in Chicago’s East Side neighborhood.

EPA and the city of Chicago conducted a joint investigation at the Carmeuse facility in response to complaints from nearby residents about excessive dust. The investigation revealed that poor maintenance at the facility allowed dust to be released to the surrounding neighborhood.

The consent decree requires Carmeuse to upgrade and replace equipment and to improve maintenance and housekeeping practices. These changes will be incorporated in the facility's air permit to dramatically reduce the amount of dust released into the neighborhood.

Under terms of the consent decree, Carmeuse will pay for the installation of new energy-efficient windows in homes that currently have window frames with lead-based paint. The replacement windows will be installed in the homes of low-income residents with young children to reduce the risk of lead exposure.

Carmeuse is a major lime producer, with 35 facilities in the United States and Canada. For information, go to www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/carmeuse.html. 

EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waiver for New Jersey

Press release from EPA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2012


EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waiver for New Jersey

WASHINGTON - EPA has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive federal clean diesel fuel requirements in New Jersey to allow the use of home heating oil in most generators and pumps in emergency service in New Jersey. The waiver was granted by EPA in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE).

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson determined that, as a result of effects of Hurricane Sandy, extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist, which may result in a temporary shortage of diesel fuel compliant with federal regulations.  The federal waivers will help ensure an adequate supply of fuel for emergency response in New Jersey.

The waiver temporarily allows the use of heating oil in emergency generators and pumps if ultra low-sulfur fuel is not available. The waiver will not apply to a small subset of diesel engines used in generators and pumps that could be damaged by the high sulfur fuel.

More information: http://epa.gov/enforcement/air/fuel-waivers.html

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GE Encourages Healthy Habit: Change Your Water Filter When You Change Your Clock

Press release from GE:

31 October 2012

GE Encourages Healthy Habit: Change Your Water Filter When You Change Your Clock

 

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Remember to change your water filter by making it part of this biannual task

GE's SmartOrder program and Filter Finder tool can help consumers ensure they're always changing their filter within the recommended timeframe

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Oct. 31, 2012 — (NYSE: GE) — GE is encouraging habit-forming behavior: change your home water filter when you change your clock. Juggling life’s demands—coordinating schedules, staying on top of laundry and maintaining a balance—can seem overwhelming at times, and it can be a challenge to remember to do this chore every six months. Linking it to a biannual habit can help.

"An effective way to remember to change your water filter on a regular basis is to do it when you change your clocks in the spring and fall," said Laura Edwards, marketing manager, GE Appliances. "It’s a good way to make sure you have clean, contaminant-free water for your family every six months."

On Nov. 4, 2012, daylight saving time will end and the biannual job of changing all the clocks can stimulate your brain to make some other changes to keep your home healthy and safe. Use all the reminders to rewind your clock to help you remember other important household tasks, such as changing your water filter. GE Appliances suggests accomplishing the following on Nov. 5:

1. Turn back your clocks. This one will be easy since you’ll be prompted a few hundred times from the media and probably some family members, too.
2. Change your water filter. Whether you have a French door refrigerator or a side-by-side refrigerator, changing your water filter will ensure you’re getting the cleanest water possible.
3. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms. This chore could be a life saver.

GE makes changing your filter easyTo help kick-start this routine, GE is offering 10 percent off its water filters plus free shipping Oct. 31, 2012, through Nov. 20, 2012, atgeapplianceparts.com. Use the promo code, CLOCK, when placing an order.

To find the filter you need, GE has a nifty Filter Finder online tool that will help you order the replacement that fits with your GE refrigerator. And, ensure filtered water from the refrigerator all year round with GE’s SmartOrderprogram. SmartOrder allows consumers to set up automatic reorders so they receive water filters every six months without having to physically go out to the store or go online to purchase one. They simply input their model, sign up for the program and their credit card is charged every six months as a new filter is sent, free of shipping charges.

“We have found that, while consumers would ideally replace their filter every six months, they're currently replacing it an average of only two times during the life of their refrigerator,” says Edwards. “GE's SmartOrder program and Filter Finder tool can help consumers ensure they're always changing their filter within the recommended timeframe.”

Filtered water benefitsIn fiscal year 2010, 10 percent of all community water systems—serving more than 23 million people—sold water to consumers that violated at least one health-based EPA standard.* GE’s water filters do more than make water smell and taste better by removing the chlorine; they also filter out substances from the water. In fact, GE’s new French door refrigerator filters out five trace pharmaceuticals found in water such as ibuprofen and antidepressants.^†

Filtered water can also save you money. The U.S. spends $15 billion annually on bottled water. Use an online calculator to find out how much money is saved if a home switches from bottled water to filtered tap water.

So change your filter when you change your clock—and change some habits, too.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or check out our website for more informationFriend GE Appliances on Facebook to view how-to videos; learn about new GE appliances, and join in the discussion with other GE appliance owners.Join today and follow @GE_Appliances on Twitter or just locate detailed information about our products at www.geappliances.com.

About GE AppliancesGE Appliances is at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people’s lives. GE Appliances’ products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems and water heaters. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information on GE Appliances, visit www.ge.com/appliances.

*http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/womens-health/water-safety† Removes ibuprofen, atenolol, fluoxetine, progesterone, and trimethoprim. Not all pharmaceuticals may be present in your water

EM Press Release: WIPP Environmental Initiatives Earn DOE Recognition

EM Press Release: WIPP Environmental Initiatives Earn DOE Recognition

EPA Continues Work at San Gabriel Valley Superfund Site, Additional $1.44 Million Settlement Reached for Groundwater Cleanup

Press release from EPA:


For Immediate Release: October 29, 2012
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov

EPA Continues Work at San Gabriel Valley Superfund Site, Additional $1.44 Million Settlement Reached for Groundwater Cleanup
More than 12.5 billion gallons of drinking water treated, 5500 pounds of contaminates removed thus far

LOS ANGELES - The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement of $1.44 million with TDY Industries, LLC to help pay for groundwater cleanup at the South El Monte portion of the San Gabriel Valley Area 1 Superfund Site in Los Angeles, Calif. Since EPA began cleaning up this site in 2008, more than 12.5 billion gallons of drinking water have been treated and approximately 5,500 pounds of contaminants have been removed from the groundwater.

EPA is overseeing the extraction and treatment of groundwater polluted with industrial solvents such as TCE (trichloroethylene) and PCE (perchloroethylene), a chemical once common in dry cleaning operations. The current water treatment systems at the site operate continuously at an annual cost of more than $2 million.
“This settlement brings the total amount recovered to almost $27 million to pay for the cleanup of polluted groundwater,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Our goal is to protect and restore the safe drinking water supplies for the San Gabriel Valley communities.”

TDY owned and operated a facility on Chico Ave in South El Monte that was used to manufacture metal casings and electronics and re-condition drums.

This is part of an overall $1.8 Million settlement brought by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of EPA against TDY Industries, LLC (formerly known as TDY Industries, Inc., or Teledyne Industries, Inc.) and its affiliated entities Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, and TDY Holdings for the contributions its facility made to the contamination in South El Monte. Of the entire settlement, $1.44 million will be paid to EPA and $360,000 will be paid to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority for the groundwater treatment.

The San Gabriel Valley Area 1 Superfund site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1984 and overlays approximately eight square miles of solvent-tainted groundwater in the areas of South El Monte, El Monte and Rosemead. The San Gabriel Valley is a suburban, largely-developed portion of Los Angeles County containing more than one million residents and covering more than 170 square miles.

EPA signed an interim Record of Decision with the goal of containing contaminated groundwater at the site in 2000 and issued an Explanation of Significant Differences to address new contaminants in 2005. The San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority implements the cleanup under a Cooperative Agreement with EPA. The agreement funds groundwater extraction and treatment systems operated by the City of Monterey Park, San Gabriel Valley Water Company, and Golden State Water Company.

The settlement, lodged in Federal District Court on October 26, 2012 as a consent decree, will be posted in the Federal Register and available for public comment for a period of 30 days. The consent decree can be viewed on the Justice Department website: www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html .

For more information on the San Gabriel Valley Superfund Area 1 Site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/southelmonte

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EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Plan for the Raritan Bay Superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville, New Jersey

Press release from EPA:

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

(New York, N.Y. – Oct. 29, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is extending by thirty days the public comment period for the plan it has proposed to clean up lead contamination at the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville, New Jersey. Lead is a toxic metal that is especially dangerous to children because their growing bodies can absorb more of it than adults. Even at low levels, lead in children can result in I.Q. deficiencies, reading and learning disabilities, reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and other behavioral problems.

For both the Laurence Harbor seawall and the western jetty areas, contaminated soil, sediment and waste including slag and battery casings will be dug up or dredged and the material will be disposed at facilities licensed to handle hazardous waste. Excavated areas will be restored with clean fill. Within the Margaret’s Creek sector, the EPA is proposing to remove slag and battery casings, along with areas of contaminated soil associated with these materials. Clean fill will be placed as needed in the excavated areas. Throughout the cleanup, monitoring and testing will be conducted to ensure that public health and the environment are protected.

The EPA held a public meeting on October 17, 2012 to explain the proposed plan. In order to allow more time for the public to comment, the EPA is extending the public comment period from its original date of October 29 to November 27, 2012.

The Raritan Bay Slag site consists of three sectors that contain lead slag, a byproduct of metal smelting. This lead slag was used to construct a seawall and a jetty along the southern shore of the Raritan Bay in Old Bridge and Sayreville. The first sector is the Laurence Harbor seawall, adjacent to the Old Bridge Waterfront Park in the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge Township. The second sector consists of the western jetty in Sayreville and extends from the Cheesequake Creek Inlet into Raritan Bay. The third sector is Margaret’s Creek and is approximately 50 acres and has elevated lead levels along with areas of slag and battery casings. The EPA proposed plan will address contamination in all three sectors. NL Industries has been identified as potentially liable for the cost of cleanup.

For a history of the cleanup, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/raritanbayslag/.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Tanya Mitchell, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway - 19^th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10007-1866

(212) 637-4362

mitchell.tanya@epa.gov          

For more information on the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/raritanbayslag

For a Google Earth aerial view of the Raritan Bay Slag site: http://www.epa.gov/region2/kml/raritan_bay_slag_site.kmz. (Please note that you must have Google Earth installed on your computer to view the map. To download Google Earth, visit http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html).

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A Word from Adobe

With ‘The Bay,’ Barry Levinson Makes Eco-Horror

The following is an excerpt from an article in:


The New York Times
Sunday, October 28, 2012

With ‘The Bay,’ Barry Levinson Makes Eco-Horror

By ERIK PIEPENBURG

WHEN the villain of a horror film is an ax-wielding maniac, the doomed victims can at least beg for mercy. Reasoning with Freddy Krueger may not get you very far, but you can pray he has a conscience somewhere. What makes eco-horror films — from the 1954 sci-fi classic “Them!” to Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 thriller “Contagion” — so terrifying is that the enemy is Mother Nature herself, and she is invariably merciless.

Right on time for Halloween comes “The Bay,” a biological thriller by the Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson that played at both the Toronto and New York film festivals this year and opens across the country on Friday. Set in a small Maryland town on Chesapeake Bay, the film, a work of fiction, takes a look at what happened on July 4, 2009, several weeks after toxic materials from a local salination plant were pumped into the drinking water.

The film is narrated by a young, inexperienced journalist (Kether Donohue) who describes what happened during the town’s Fourth of July festivities, when parasitic creatures that had burrowed inside unsuspecting townsfolk suddenly started to get hungry. Her video as well as surveillance and point-and-shoot footage taken by others on the day of the outbreak show a town in chaos as the critters aggressively and gruesomely eat their way through their human hosts. The conceit is that her footage was confiscated by the federal government as part of a cover-up.

The idea behind “The Bay” began after Mr. Levinson was asked to direct a documentary about environmental crises facing Chesapeake Bay. After watching a 2009 “Frontline” broadcast on the topic he opted instead for a graphic fictional treatment. “I don’t know that we pay attention to facts anymore,” he said over lunch in New York recently. That the film takes a horror angle is a surprising departure for Mr. Levinson, who is known for more mainstream films like “Rain Man,”“Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Diner.”

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.

Rachel Carson’s Lessons, 50 Years After ‘Silent Spring’

The following is an excerpt from an article in:


The New York Times
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Rachel Carson’s Lessons, 50 Years After ‘Silent Spring’

By NANCY F. KOEHN

SHE was a slight, soft-spoken woman who preferred walking the Maine shoreline to stalking the corridors of power. And yet Rachel Carson, the author of “Silent Spring,” played a central role in starting the environmental movement, by forcing government and business to confront the dangers of pesticides.

Carson was a scientist with a lyrical bent, who saw it as her mission to share her observations with a wider audience. In the course of her work, she also felt called upon to become a leader — and was no less powerful for being a reluctant one.

As a professor at Harvard Business School, I encountered the great depth of her work when I was creating a course on the history of leadership. I was amazed to learn she wrote “Silent Spring” as she battled breast cancer and cared for a young child. After the book was published, 50 years ago last month, she faced an outburst of public reaction and a backlash from chemical companies. Yet throughout her personal and public struggles, she was an informed spokeswoman for environmental responsibility.

She was a classic introvert who exhibited few of the typical qualities associated with leadership, like charisma and aggressiveness. But as people like Susan Cain, author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” have pointed out, leadership can come in less obvious forms.

Carson’s life shows that individual agency, fueled by resolution and hard work, has the power to change the world. In this election year, when so much influence seems concentrated in “super PACs,” lobbying groups and other moneyed interests, her story is a reminder that one person’s quiet leadership can make a difference.

The natural world had fascinated Carson since she was a young girl growing up near Pittsburgh. At the Pennsylvania College for Women, later Chatham College, she majored in biology and earned her master’s degree in zoology at Johns Hopkins.

In the 1930s, there were few professional opportunities for women in the sciences. But in 1935, she found a job writing radio scripts about the ocean for what would become the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Within four years, she was editor in chief of all the agency’s publications, a position that connected her with researchers, conservationists and government officials.

Her work at the agency fed her larger calling as a writer. Throughout the 1930s and ’40s, she wrote freelance articles about the natural world for Colliers, the Atlantic Monthly and other magazines. In 1941, she published her first book, “Under the Sea-Wind,” a narrative account of the birds and sea creatures of North America’s eastern shores.

Carson wrote within the crevices of a busy life, and often with serious health problems. In 1950, she had surgery to remove a tumor from her left breast. The next year, she published “The Sea Around Us,” a wide-ranging history of the ocean. It was an instant best seller. Readers responded to her graceful prose and marshaling of scientific facts, as well as to her long-term perspective. The book’s success enabled her to leave her position at the wildlife agency and devote herself to writing.

IN early 1958, she began working intently on “Silent Spring” while serving as both a breadwinner and a caregiver. The previous year, her niece died after an illness and she adopted her 5-year-old grandnephew. Unmarried and living in Silver Spring, Md., she also cared for and financially supported her ailing mother.

For the next four years, she gave all the time and energy she could spare to researching and writing “Silent Spring.” A diligent investigator, she reached out to a network of scientists, physicians, librarians, conservationists and government officials. She found colleagues, clerks, whistle-blowers and others who had studied pesticide use and were willing to share their knowledge.

With an assistant’s help, she spent weeks in the research libraries of Washington. Many of her contacts generated even more leads.

Carson was particularly interested in possible connections between cancer and human exposure to pesticides. In late 1959, she wrote this to Paul Brooks, her editor at Houghton Mifflin: “In the beginning I felt the link between pesticides and cancer was tenuous and at best circumstantial; now I feel it is very strong indeed.”

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.

EM Press Release: One of the Largest Pieces of Processing Equipment Removed from Plutonium Finishing Plant

EM Press Release: One of the Largest Pieces of Processing Equipment Removed from Plutonium Finishing Plant

Sunoco Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Former Philadelphia Facility

Press release:

Sunoco Settles Hazardous Waste Violations

at its Former Philadelphia Facility

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 25, 2012) -- Sunoco, Inc. (R&M) has agreed to pay a $117,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its former facility located at 4701 Margaret St., Philadelphia, Pa., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.
EPA cited Sunoco for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
According to EPA, Sunoco violated RCRA requirements involving hazardous waste storage. The alleged violations related to storage of a hazardous waste (phenol sludge) without a RCRA hazardous waste permit; storage of a leaking spent lead-acid battery; and failure to keep universal waste lamps in a closed container.
The violations were discovered in an EPA inspection in September 2010. Sunoco subsequently sold this facility in July 2011. The settlement penalty reflects the company's compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the resolution of this matter. As part of the settlement, Sunoco has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.
For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm.

EM Press Release: WIPP Security Contractor Receives DOE Voluntary Protection Program Award

EM Press Release: WIPP Security Contractor Receives DOE Voluntary Protection Program Award

EPA Settles Case Alleging Chemical Reporting Violations at St. Marys, Pa. Plant

Press release:

EPA Settles Case Alleging Chemical Reporting Violations

at St. Marys, Pa. Plant

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 23, 2012) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that Mersen USA St. Marys-PA Corp. (Mersen) will pay a $79,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of toxic chemical reporting requirements. According to EPA, the company failed to timely submit required reports on toxic chemicals at its manufacturing plant in St. Marys, Pa.

EPA cited the company for violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).This federal law requires companies that process, manufacture or use more than a threshold amount of regulated toxic chemicals to report annually their releases and transfers of these chemicals. The reports are filed with the EPA and state, and the data are made available to the public through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data system. The TRI includes information on disposal and releases of more than 650 toxic chemicals at thousands of U.S. facilities. The TRI also provides information on how facilities manage those chemicals through recycling, energy recovery, and treatment.

The EPCRA law also requires facilities to report on their hazardous chemicals to state and local emergency response agencies. This information helps communities and first responders to prepare for chemical emergencies.

According to EPA, Mersen did not submit timely annual reports for four EPCRA-regulated chemicals (lead compounds, polycyclic aromatic compounds, copper, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene). This case involved alleged reporting violations, and not unlawful releases of these chemicals.

The settlement penalty reflects the company's cooperation with EPA in resolving the alleged violations.

For more information on EPCRA, visit http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/content/epcra/   EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory - a public, searchable database of toxic chemicals at thousands of facilities nationwide - is available at ttp://www.epa.gov/tri/.

EPA Orders Philadelphia Company to Stop Sale of Unregistered Pesticides

Press release:

EPA Orders Philadelphia Company to

Stop Sale of Unregistered Pesticides

 PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 23, 2012) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order to FMC Corp., requiring the Philadelphia-based company to immediately stop the sale and distribution of three pesticide products: Microbemax™ Volumetric Drain Foam, Microbemax™ Continuous Cleaning System, and Microbemax™ Starter Kit.

 EPA cited FMC for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), a federal law requiring the registration of pesticide products and pesticide‑production facilities, and the proper labeling of pesticides. FIFRA's requirements protect public health and the environment by ensuring the safe production, handling and application of pesticides; and by preventing false, misleading, or unverifiable product claims. FIFRA also prohibits the marketing of misbranded, improperly labeled, or adulterated pesticides.

            EPA alleged that FMC made pesticidal claims for these products, and violated FIFRA registration and labeling requirements. EPA’s order requires the company to immediately stop the sale, use, removal, or distribution of these unregistered products. For more information about EPA's pesticide program, visit http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/.

EPA Awards Grant in Connecticut to Support Healthy Schools

Press release:

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
October 24, 2012

Contact: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

EPA Awards Grant in Connecticut to Support Healthy Schools

(Boston, Mass. – Oct. 24, 2012) – Connecticut will receive nearly $144,000 in a capacity building grant to help implement comprehensive K-12 school environmental health programs using EPA’s new “Voluntary Guidelines for States: Development and Implementation of a School Environmental Health Program.”

The grant program, announced in conjunction with Children's Health Month, means that Connecticut is one of only five states – the others are Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin – sharing nearly $750,000. The grants will be targeted to help states implement programs that will help their schools create healthy, productive learning spaces for students by reducing chemical and environmental hazards in local schools.

EPA has awarded $143,938 of this grant money to the Connecticut Department of Health to sustain and expand a comprehensive statewide multi-agency group addressing school indoor environmental quality problems. The project will also include developing and making resources available to other states to support statewide interagency steering committees. Connecticut will complete implementation of EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (TfS) program in its large urban districts; complete implementation of TfS in the remaining small and medium school districts; and complete implementation of specialized “Tools for Techs” programs in the remaining technical high schools in the Connecticut Department of Education’s Technical High School System. Approximately 170 schools will be included in the program.

School environments play an important role in the health and academic success of children. Children spend 90 percent of their time indoors, and much of that time is spent in school. Unhealthy school environments containing hazards like asthma and allergen triggers and harmful pesticides can affect student attendance, concentration, and performance, as well as lead to expensive, time-consuming cleanup and remediation activities for schools.

Protecting children’s health is one of EPA’s primary goals. Children are frequently more heavily exposed to toxic substances in the environment than adults. In addition, children in minority, low income, and other underserved communities, as well as children with disabilities, may experience higher exposures to multiple environmental contaminants and may be placed at a disproportionate risk for associated health effects.

While many states have existing programs to address children’s environmental health in schools, these grants will provide an opportunity to help states develop a comprehensive programs that can help states better provide safe, healthy, and productive school environments for children and school staff.

More information: Developing & Implementing a School Environmental Health Program ( http://www.epa.gov/schools )

- EPA work to protect children's health: (http://www.epa.gov/children )

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EPA reaches agreement with the County of Maui for air pollution issues at landfill

Press release:

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2012
Contact:  Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov                         

EPA reaches agreement with the County of Maui for air pollution issues at landfill
County to spend $5.1 million on compliance measures and renewable energy project

HONOLULU - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the County of Maui has agreed to a settlement to resolve alleged violations of air pollution laws at Central Maui Landfill in Puunene.

The settlement requires the County to implement enhanced gas monitoring to help reduce the threat of underground fires at the landfill and to follow fire response procedures in the event of a fire. Additionally, the County will be building a renewable energy wind farm to reduce fossil fuel power plant emissions near the landfill. The County will also pay a civil penalty of $380,000.

“Today’s settlement is good news for the families living in Kahului,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.  "Achieving compliance with the Clean Air Act and reducing emissions at a landfill and the power plant, while supporting renewable energy, is a win-win."

The County estimates that it has spent about $4.5 million to design and construct a gas collection and control system required by the Clean Air Act at the landfill. Federal law requires large landfills to install and operate systems to collect gases generated by decomposing refuse, such as air toxics, organic compounds, and methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Effective gas controls at the landfill reduces the release of these gases, preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere.

Maui will also benefit by the reduction of power plant emissions as a result of the wind turbine project. The County is responsible for the installation of at least eight wind turbines collectively capable of generating approximately 55,000 kilowatt hours per year which could supply up to 38 percent of the Landfill’s power needs. The wind turbines and installation are estimated to cost at least $250,000. In addition to reducing emissions from power generated by fossil fuels, the project is aligned with sustainability goals of the County and the State of Hawaii.  

The settlement resolves allegations that the County violated the Clean Air Act by failing to design, construct and operate a gas collection/control system, apply for a permit from the Hawaii Department of Health, prepare a startup, shutdown and malfunction plan, and operate  controls within the gas temperature limit.
      
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, 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.
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EPA Completes Building Demolition at Toxic Site in Garfield, N.J.

Press release:

EPA Completes Building Demolition at

Toxic Site in Garfield, N.J.

                       

Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – October 24, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has demolished the E.C. Electroplating building at the Garfield Ground Water Contamination Superfund site in Garfield, New Jersey. Areas underneath the building, located at 125 Clark Street, are contaminated with hexavalent chromium that is reaching the basements of some area residences and businesses through the ground water. The EPA continues to assess and, if needed, clean up nearby basements. The demolition of the building will allow the EPA to remove contaminated soil that is a likely source of chromium contamination in the ground water.

Hexavalent chromium is extremely toxic, may cause cancer and nervous system damage. Prior to the demolition of the structure, the EPA met with community members and local officials to keep them informed, coordinate activities and ensure public safety.

“The EPA has safely taken down the former E.C. Electroplating building, an important step in the agency’s work to protect the health of the Garfield community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Our next step is to assess the best way to address the chromium contaminated soil that is underneath the structure.

The EPA’s sampling had shown that the parts of the E.C. Electroplating building above the foundation slab were not contaminated with hexavalent chromium, but two basements and the soil under the structure were contaminated. The structure had to be demolished to access the contaminated soil underneath. The industrial materials and building debris left at the E.C. Electroplating site have been removed and disposed of at facilities licensed to receive the waste. Over 600 cubic yards of debris and over 325 drums of hazardous waste were removed from the site. The demolition work began on October 12, 2012 and was completed on October 22, 2012.

Throughout the demolition work, the EPA followed strict work procedures to protect public health. Dust was controlled and the air was monitored to ensure that contamination was not getting into the community during the demolition. Air monitoring data showed that there have been no hazardous levels of hexavalent chromium, total chromium, lead or cadmium.

As part of its longer-term work, the EPA has established a network of ground water monitoring wells to determine the extent of chromium contamination in the ground water. This in-depth investigation is ongoing and will allow the EPA to develop a proposed plan for the cleanup of chromium-contaminated ground water.

For a complete history of the EPA’s work at the Garfield Ground Water Contamination Superfund site please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/removal/garfield.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA Takes Legal Action Against Western New York Gas Stations to Protect Ground Water from Petroleum Contamination

Press release:

EPA Takes Legal Action Against Western New York Gas Stations to

Protect Ground Water from Petroleum Contamination

                       

Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – October 24, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a legal complaint to the owner and operator of seventeen underground storage tanks at six gasoline stations in Western New York for violating federal regulations. The complaint, which seeks $42,295 in penalties, was issued to United Refining Company for violations at its Kwik Fill stations in Dunkirk, Westfield, Jamestown, Fredonia and Rochester, New York. In addition to paying penalties, the complaint requires the facilities to come into full compliance with the environmental regulations.

“When underground tanks are not properly maintained, ground water can be contaminated, putting people’s health and the environment at risk," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "Gas station owners have a legal obligation to maintain underground tanks so pollution does not damage the community.”

Ground water is the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. When petroleum or other hazardous substances leak from underground tanks, the leaks are difficult and expensive to clean up, particularly if they involve a public source of drinking water.

The complaint alleges the company failed to:

• ·         Upgrade piping at one service station
• ·         Keep adequate records of corrosion protection at one service station
• ·         Ensure equipment was running properly at one service station
• ·         Keep adequate records of release detection monitoring at three service stations

The law authorizes the EPA to seek between $11,000 and $16,000 per tank for each day a violation exists.

In a separate action, the EPA reached an agreement with the NOCO Energy Corporation to settle violations involving thirty-nine underground storage tanks at 13 stations in the Buffalo area and in Rochester. Under the terms of the agreement, NOCO will pay the EPA $14,000 and has agreed to operate its underground tanks in full compliance with the law.

For more information on proper maintenance of Underground Storage Tanks, visit: http://www.epa.gov/oust/.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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U.S. Navy Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Patuxent River Naval Air Station

Press release:

U.S. Navy Settles Hazardous Waste Violations

at its Patuxent River Naval Air Station

            PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 23, 2012) -- The U.S. Navy has agreed to pay a $38,500 penalty to settle alleged hazardous waste violations at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, located at 22268 Cedar Point Road in Patuxent River, Md.

This settlement resolves alleged violations alleged by EPA of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

Following an EPA inspection, the U.S. Navy was cited for allegedly failing to determine whether waste was hazardous, failing to maintain aisle space to allow for the movement of personnel and fire protection equipment, failing to conduct weekly inspections of waste containers for leaks and deterioration, failing to mark each container with a date and whether it contained hazardous waste, failing to keep hazardous waste containers closed during storage, and failing to properly maintain leak detection and spill prevention equipment on underground storage tanks.

The violations were found in 11 buildings including: the public works transportation, the hazmat warehouse, the Webster field annex, hangar, fleet readiness center, and the materials lab.

The $38,500 settlement penalty reflects the Navy's cooperation in resolving this matter. The Navy has certified its compliance with applicable hazardous waste requirements.

            For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm.

 Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

As Water Scarcity Grows, GE Survey Shows Most Americans Strongly Support “Toilet-to-Turf” Water Reuse Solutions

I wonder if the people conducting the survey questioned Oprah or any of her fans.

News release from GE:

23 October 2012

As Water Scarcity Grows, GE Survey Shows Most Americans Strongly Support “Toilet-to-Turf” Water Reuse Solutions

 

• Majority of Americans Surveyed See an Increase in Safe and Efficient Water Reuse as a Competitive Advantage over Other Countries
• Survey Shows Americans are Looking for Government Leadership and Industry Involvement to Protect Water Resources and Advance Water Reuse
• American Understanding of the Water Supply and Solutions Lags Behind China and Singapore

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—October 23, 2012—Amidst growing water scarcity and concern about the future availability and quality of water, a new GE (NYSE: GE) consumer survey unveiled today indicates that Americans strongly support reusing water to help the U.S. drive economic competitiveness and protect the environment.

Despite the “ick factor” often associated with recycled water, two thirds of Americans (66 percent) feel positive about water reuse, according to the survey of 3,000 consumers in the U.S., China and Singapore. The survey reports that Americans also think that industry and government should play a stronger role in making water reuse a priority.

Reuse Offers a Solution
This is a significant finding, considering that 36 U.S. states face water shortages in the coming year^[1] and by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population—or 5.3 billion people—will be vulnerable to water shortages^[2].

“Population growth, rapid industrialization and accelerated urbanization are driving the need for water reuse,” said Heiner Markhoff, president and CEO—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “The survey, which we developed to get a better understanding of the awareness and barriers to adoption of water reuse, revealed stronger support for water recycling than we expected. It shows that the vast majority of Americans understand the value of water reuse.”

While the majority of Americans hesitate at the concept of “toilet-to-tap” recycling, more than 80 percent of Americans surveyed indicated that they support using recycled water for many “toilet-to-turf” uses—activities that require significant amounts of non-potable water, such as agricultural irrigation, power generation, landscaping, industrial processing and manufacturing, toilet flushing and car washing.

Industry Has Large Role to Play
Nearly 20 percent of the world’s freshwater resources are used for industrial purposes and nearly 70 percent for agriculture^[3]. The survey showed that Americans feel that the largest water users are most responsible for contributing to water scarcity. Large industries (74 percent), agriculture (69 percent) and utilities and power companies (67 percent) were seen as most responsible for contributing an “extreme amount” or “quite a bit” to water scarcity.

Americans also see the connection between energy and water—more than eight in 10 (86 percent) understand that you need energy to deliver water and more than seven in 10 (74 percent) are aware that you need water to create energy. Americans expect energy industry leaders to demonstrate water stewardship by using recycled water to produce electricity—and believe this can positively impact cost and efficiency. Around 84 percent said smart water management can help the U.S. more efficiently create and use energy and nearly nine out of 10 (87 percent) Americans are in favor of using recycled water for power generation, more than any other application.

“There is an inextricable tie between energy and water,” said Markhoff. “As the supplier of technologies that deliver 25 percent of the world’s energy, we are encouraged by the survey results. Every day, we are working to develop power generation technology to significantly reduce or eliminate the need for water, while also innovating water technologies to treat and reuse water in the most energy-efficient and sustainable way."

Policy, Innovation and Education as Path Forward
Despite having positive perceptions of water reuse and a good grasp on the country’s largest water users, Americans’ understanding of the water lifecycle and solutions lags behind that of those surveyed in China and Singapore. For example, 31 percent of Americans don’t know where their water comes from, compared to only 14 percent of those in China and 15 percent of those in Singapore.

Additionally, Americans are looking to national government to take the lead to advance water reuse. Eight in ten (84 percent) Americans believe protection of water resources should be a national priority. However, Americans are willing to do more than just call on the national government; they will open their pocketbooks as well. Nearly half would immediately pay more—12 percent on average—to ensure that future generations will be less vulnerable.

“GE sees water reuse as a critical solution to help reverse the trend of growing water scarcity in the U.S. and around the world, and the technology needed to move toward that reality is available today,” said Markhoff. “We can deliver the advanced technology to efficiently treat, recycle and reuse water—such as our ecomagination-qualified ZeeWeedmembrane technology. Each day, GE technology is used to treat more than 2 billion gallons of water. We continue to invest millions of dollars every year in R&D to innovate more cost-effective and energy-efficient technologies to support a sustainable water future. The adoption of technology, combined with forward-thinking government policy and education, will be the key to overcoming barriers to water reuse.”

GE is committed to reducing freshwater use across its business and is exceeding goals, achieving in 2011 a 35 percent reduction from 2006. Also in 2011, GE’s ecomagination initiative put $2.3 billion of R&D to work to develop innovative technologies that deliver great economics and drive resource efficiency in areas like water reuse, with a commitment of an additional $10 billion from 2010 to 2015.

For a more in-depth look at the results of this survey, please visit the GE Power & Water’s water and process technologies website. For more on ecomagination, visit: www.ecomagination.com.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Numerous products are qualified under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better. Power & Water’s seven business units include Aeroderivative Gas Turbines; Gas Engines; Nuclear Energy; Power Generation Services; Renewable Energy; Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

Follow GE Power & Water, its water business and ecomagination on Twitter@GE_PowerWater, @GE_Water and @ecomagination.

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[1] United States General Accounting Office

[2] United Nations “Water For Life” 2005-2015

[3] United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

EM Press Release: Hanford Determines Double-Shell Tank Leaked Waste from Inner Tank

EM Press Release: Hanford Determines Double-Shell Tank Leaked Waste from Inner Tank

Four technology transfer awards go to Sandia Labs

Sandia Labs News Releases

October 22, 2012

Four technology transfer awards go to Sandia Labs

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sandia National Laboratories has won four awards from the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Sandia’s efforts to develop and commercialize innovative technologies.

The FLC’s Far West/Mid-Continent regional awards recognized Sandia’s technology transfer work with crystalline silico-titanates (CSTs), biomimetic membranes, the i-Gate Innovation Hub and DAKOTA software.

“It is always gratifying when the Federal Laboratory Consortium shines a light on the amazing work that is taking place at Sandia National Laboratories,” said Jackie Kerby Moore, Sandia’s representative to the FLC. “They recognized the entire spectrum of our work, from technology development to technology transfer, as well as the economic impact that technology transfer creates.”

Honeywell UOP products with Sandia Labs CST technology successfully treated more than 40 million gallons of contaminated water at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after it was damaged in an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. (Photo courtesy of Sandia Science & Technology Park) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image.

Radioactive contaminant removal with CSTs

The Excellence in Technology Transfer award went to people involved in development and commercialization of CSTs — Bianca Thayer of Sandia’s intellectual property licensing group, Geochemistry Department Manager Mark Rigali and chemist Tina Nenoff.

CSTs are inorganic, molecularly engineered ion exchangers that can remove high-level radioactive contaminants such as cesium from wastewater. UOP, a Honeywell company, licensed the Sandia technology in the mid-1990s and revised the license last year to become the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of CSTs.

CSTs played a role when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was damaged in an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, and seawater was pumped in to cool the reactors. The water was contaminated with cesium and could not be released back into the ocean.

Nenoff, who had experience developing and working with CSTs in the 1990s, was called upon to test the material for removal of cesium in seawater. She worked around the clock for 10 days, concluding that CSTs outperformed other materials in removing cesium from seawater.

Since then, Honeywell UOP products with CST technology have successfully treated more than 40 million gallons of contaminated water at Fukushima.

The biomimetic membrane is a revolutionary advance in the field of membrane technology for water filtration. The technology developed at Sandia Labs can increase access to clean water by dramatically reducing energy use and costs. (Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image.

Biomimetic water filtration                

The Notable Technology Development award recognized Sandia nanobiologist Susan Rempe and her team’s work with biomimetic membranes, a revolutionary advance in the field of membrane technology for water filtration.

Nearly half the world’s population lacks adequate access to clean, fresh water. Desalination plants pass saltwater through membranes that remove salts and create drinkable water. But membrane technology has advanced slowly over the past 30 years.

The biomimetic membrane, inspired by the way the human body filters water, uses self-assembly and atomic layer deposition. It is designed for water purification using reverse osmosis technology, which removes impurities with applied pressure powered by electrical energy. The technology received an R&D 100 Award in 2011.

“We made a synthetic membrane that mimics the nanoscale design features of natural water purification channels,” Rempe said. “By doing so, our initial membranes achieved a 10-fold improvement in water purification efficiency compared with state-of-the-art RO membranes.”

Biomimetic membranes can increase access to clean water by dramatically reducing energy use and costs.

iGate labs-industry partnership

The Outstanding Partnership award recognized the i-GATE regional public-private partnership in California, an organization that supports small businesses and helps maximize the economic potential of green transportation and clean-energy technologies. i-GATE (Innovation for Green Advanced Transportation Excellence) creates a link between national laboratories and entrepreneurs, industry, venture capital, universities and economic development resources to accelerate the commercialization of energy technologies and grow a cohesive innovation ecosystem.

The i-Gate National Energy Systems Technology (NEST) incubator opened in June 2011 to help small companies work with advanced transportation or renewable energy technologies that can leverage technical assistance from Sandia National Laboratories’ site in California or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The i-GATE NEST has helped create 62 direct and 118 indirect jobs.

The award recognized Bruce Balfour, i-GATE president and a member of Sandia’s Technical Business Development group; Rob White, city of Livermore Economic Development director and CEO of i-GATE; Louis Stewart, deputy director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development; and Buck Koonce, director of Economic Development for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Open-source software checks simulation accuracy

The fourth FLC award was an honorable mention for Notable Technology Development that went to DAKOTA software and the project lead, Sandia computer scientist Brian Adams. Sandia’s Design Analysis Kit for Optimization and Terascale Applications (DAKOTA) is an open-source software tool that helps researchers adjust and assess the accuracy of computational simulations developed to solve scientific problems.

DAKOTA helps researchers assess how well their simulations represent the problem and learn how they can be optimized to produce the most realistic, reliable predictions. The software answers such questions as how reliable or variable a system is and what models or parameters best match experimental data.

DAKOTA shortens design cycles and cuts development costs. It is used extensively at national laboratories to solve a range of energy and national security-related problems and to conduct research with academic, government and industrial partners.

“This year, we were honored for our technology-transfer successes across the globe, as well as closer to home,” Kerby Moore said. “Whether our impact was in Japan or our own Livermore community, our technologies and our people are making a difference.”

The FLC is a nationwide network of more than 300 members that provides a forum to develop strategies and opportunities for linking laboratory technologies and expertise with the marketplace.

The FLC Awards Program annually recognizes federal laboratories and their industry partners for outstanding technology transfer efforts. Since its establishment in 1984, the FLC has presented awards to nearly 200 federal laboratories, becoming one of the most prestigious honors in technology transfer.

For more information on technology transfer and working with Sandia Labs, visit:www.sandia.gov/working_with_sandia/technology_partnerships/index.html.

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Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.