U.S. EPA’s $11 Million Cleanup Settlement Helps Protect Drinking Water in Rialto

EPA Press Release:

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2014
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, 213-244-1815, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov

U.S. EPA’s $11 Million Cleanup Settlement Helps Protect Drinking Water in Rialto
EPA oversees removal of contaminants from soil, groundwater at Superfund site

LOS ANGELES—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today reached an $11 million settlement for contamination at the Rockets, Fireworks, and Flares Superfund site in Rialto, Calif. The site was formerly known as the B.F. Goodrich Superfund site, but the name was changed by EPA as part of a prior agreement with a major settling party.

The settlement is with the estate of Harry Hescox, the late president of a defunct company known as Pyrotronics, which manufactured fireworks at the site. Under the terms of the agreement, $5.5 million will be used towards the cleanup work. The remaining $5.5 million will go to reimburse EPA for work it conducted at the site over the last several years.  Comprehensive cleanup of the site is anticipated to total as much as $100 million.

“EPA is pleased to conclude a decade of litigation that secured agreements from several parties contributing cash or work for the soil and groundwater cleanup,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.   “This final settlement will provide additional funds needed to protect a valuable source of drinking water in Southern California.”

Pyrotronics constructed a concrete-lined pond to dissolve explosive wastes containing perchlorate and other chemicals and disposed of wastes onsite. High concentrations of perchlorate have been found in the soil beneath the pond and in groundwater immediately downgradient.

The Superfund site has been used to store, test and manufacture fireworks, munitions, rocket motors, and pyrotechnics and was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List in September 2009. The area’s groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene and perchlorate, which have resulted in the closure of public drinking water supply wells in Rialto. 

Design work on the first groundwater cleanup project at the site began last year, pursuant to a settlement with Emhart Industries announced in December 2012.  Construction should begin later this year.  Testing needed to develop the final remedy is also underway, in accordance with a settlement with the Goodrich Corporation announced in March 2013. Both of the above settlements include contributions from the Department of Defense and certain settlement proceeds from other responsible parties.

Perchlorate is an ingredient in many flares and fireworks, and in rocket propellant, and may disrupt the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones needed for normal growth and development.

The consent decree for the Hescox settlement has been lodged with the federal district court by the U.S. Department of Justice and is subject to a comment period and final court approval. A copy of the decree is available on the Justice Department website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html .

For more information on the Rockets, Fireworks, and Flares Superfund site, please visit:www.epa.gov/region09/rff

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USDA Blog » Digging Deeper: New Video Series Unlocks the Secrets of Soil Health

USDA Blog » Digging Deeper: New Video Series Unlocks the Secrets of Soil Health

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

EPA Directs NL Industries to Remove Lead at Raritan Bay Superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville, New Jersey

EPA News Release:

EPA Directs NL Industries to Remove Lead at Raritan Bay Superfund Site

in Old Bridge and Sayreville, New Jersey

$79 Million Cleanup Will Remove Toxic Lead from Popular Beach and Public Park

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664 or (cell) 732-672-5520, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov; Mary Mears, (212) 637-3673, mears.mary@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – Jan. 30, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has directed NL Industries to conduct a $79 million cleanup at the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site in Old Bridge and Sayreville, New Jersey. Soil and sediment at the site are contaminated with lead-containing waste that was used to construct a seawall and jetty at the popular beach. In May 2013, the EPA finalized its plan to clean up lead contamination at the Raritan Bay site and the order requires that NL Industries implement that plan.

Lead is a toxic metal that is especially dangerous to children because their growing bodies can absorb more of it than adults. Lead in children can result in I.Q. deficiencies, reading and learning disabilities, reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and other behavioral disorders. The order requires the removal of lead-contaminated material and its replacement with clean material in order to reduce the risk to those who use the beach, particularly children.

“The lead contamination at the Raritan Bay beach and park is a threat to the health of the people who live in this community and it is now time for NL Industries to fulfill its legal responsibility to conduct the cleanup,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “The cleanup will make it possible for children to play at the beach safely and for everyone to enjoy the beach without fear of lead exposure.”

The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. After sites are placed on the Superfund list of the most contaminated waste sites, the EPA searches for parties responsible for the contamination and holds them accountable for the costs of investigations and cleanups.

NL Industries has been identified as a party responsible for the cost of cleanup. Historical documents provide evidence that at least some if not all of the slag found at the site came from the former National Lead Company (now NL Industries) facility in Perth Amboy, NJ which was in operation approximately 40 years ago.

The cleanup of the Raritan Bay Slag site will be conducted in three areas contaminated with lead-containing materials, including lead slag, a byproduct of metal smelting. One sector includes the Laurence Harbor seawall adjacent to the Old Bridge Waterfront Park in the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge Township. Another section consists of the western jetty in Sayreville and extends from the Cheesequake Creek Inlet into Raritan Bay. The remaining section is approximately 50 acres of Margaret’s Creek and has elevated lead levels along with areas of slag and battery casings.

For both the Laurence Harbor seawall and the western jetty sectors, contaminated soil, sediment and waste including slag and battery casings will be dug up or dredged, and the material will be disposed of at permitted disposal facilities out of the area. Excavated areas will be restored with clean material.

Within the Margaret’s Creek section, EPA will require the removal of slag and battery casings, along with areas of contaminated soil associated with these materials. Clean material 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 and the community will be kept informed about activities and progress. The EPA has worked closely with the Community Advisory Group for the site throughout the investigation and cleanup. Cleanup activities conducted at the site will be done under EPA oversight.

To view a copy of the EPA’s order or for more information on the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/raritanbayslag.

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EPA News Release:

Coeur d'Alene Basin Cleanup - UPDATE

You Are Invited to the Quarterly Basin Envrionmnetal Improvement Project Commission Meeting February 12, 2014. The Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission will conduct a regular quarterly meeting from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM on February 12, 2014 at the Wallace Inn, Gold Room, 100 Front St., Wallace, Idaho. The meeting will include: ·      update on CDA Lake Management Plan implementation ·      presentation by EPA concerning planned 2014 work ·      report by EPA on Lower Basin pilot projects and 2013 sampling results ·      presentation, public discussion and approval by the Board of the 2013 annual Accomplishment Report ·      discussion by IDEQ concerning the risk management approach for property remediation The meeting draft agenda is posted at the BEIPC office, 1005 W. McKinley, Kellogg, Idaho and on the BEIPC Website at www.basincommission.com.  For more information and for individuals planning to attend the meeting requiring special needs, please contact Terry Harwood, BEIPC Executive Director at (208) 783-2528 orterry.harwood@deq.idaho.gov

EPA removes nearly 2,000 acres of El Toro site from Superfund list

EPA Press Release:

For Immediate Release: January 27, 2014
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, 213-244-1815, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov

EPA removes nearly 2,000 acres of El Toro site from Superfund listReuse, redevelopment planned for land declared clean

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week deleted more than 1,900 acres of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine, Calif. from the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. Hazardous wastes at this major portion of the site were cleaned up through activities that included soil sampling and excavation. To date, the Navy has spent approximately $165 million on the cleanup, and anticipates that the remaining work will cost an additional $50 million.

“This milestone is what the Superfund program is all about—ensuring land is free of contamination so it can be put back into use,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The creation of greenspace and sports facilities at the El Toro site will benefit the more than 3 million residents living in Orange County.”

“I thank the EPA for its consideration and decision. This announcement is another important step forward in the evolution of the Orange County Great Park and of our efforts to transition the former base into a unique public asset for residents of Irvine and Orange County,” said Jeffrey Lalloway, Chair of the Great Park Board of Directors and Mayor Pro Tem of Irvine.

Past military operations at the site contaminated the groundwater with volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethylene, and soil contamination included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The EPA determined that all environmental impacts at a total of 112 locations were thoroughly investigated and the appropriate cleanup actions were taken to protect human health and the environment. Other than periodic review, no further cleanup is necessary on this portion of the site.

Of the 1,900 acres deleted from the NPL list, 1,200 acres are owned by Heritage Fields El Toro, LLC which plans to redevelop the majority of the property for the construction of approximately 9,500 new homes and development of space for commercial, retail, and other non-residential facilities. The remaining 700 acres were transferred to the City of Irvine to develop the Orange County Great Park. The Great Park will include a

tournament quality sports complex, a wildlife corridor, and a golf course.

The El Toro site covers approximately 4,712 acres in the City of Irvine in Orange County, Calif. Development of the site began in 1942 and the base was used to support the Fleet Marine Forces in the Pacific Ocean, and served as the major West Coast jet fighter facility. The site was added to EPA’s Superfund NPL list in 1990 and was officially decommissioned as an active base in 1999.

The EPA is continuing work on the remainder of the El Toro Superfund Site, including operating a groundwater extraction and treatment system, and continued monitoring of capped landfills and groundwater.  This delisting, made final on January 21, 2014, comes as part of an ongoing collaboration between the EPA, Navy and State of California established over 20 years ago.

The consideration of future land use is an integral part of the EPA’s Superfund process and gives communities the opportunity to productively use sites following cleanup. Today, reused sites provide economic, environmental and social benefits by supporting virtually every type of land use, from residential, commercial and industrial uses to parks, farmland and public facilities in more than 2000 communities throughout the country.

For more information on the El Toro Superfund Site, please visit:   http://epa.gov/region09/eltorousmc

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Illinois EPA Refers DeKalb County Landfill in Cortland to Attorney General for Enforcement

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

Illinois EPA Grants Provisional Variance At Request Of Caterpillar Inc., Mossville, Illinois

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

Resolve to Be Green

Verizon Press Release:



Resolve to Be Green

Two More Defendants Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court in Scheme to Exert Control Over the Waste-Hauling Industry

FBI New York Field Office News Release:

Two More Defendants Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court in Scheme to Exert Control Over the Waste-Hauling Industry
Twenty-One Defendants Have Now Pled Guilty in the Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeJanuary 16, 2014

Southern District of New York(212) 637-2600

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Scott Fappiano and Anthony Bazzini pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court in connection with their roles in an illegal scheme to exert control over the commercial waste-hauling industry in the greater New York City metropolitan area and in parts of New Jersey. Fappiano and Bazzini, who were among 32 defendants charged in January 2013 in connection with the scheme, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel. Fappiano and Bazzini are the 20th and 21st defendants to plead guilty in this matter.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “With today’s pleas, we have convicted nearly two-thirds of the defendants originally charged in this case, and we will not rest until all responsible for this scheme to control the waste-hauling industry in New York City and beyond are made to answer for their numerous crimes.”

According to the Indictment against Fappiano and Bazzini, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at related court proceedings:

Fappiano, who is an associate of the Gambino crime family, and Bazzini, who is a made member of the Gambino crime family, participated in a scheme, along with other members and associates of three different organized crime families of La Cosa Nostra (LCN)—the Genovese, Gambino, and Luchese crime families—to control various waste disposal businesses in the New York City metropolitan area and multiple counties in New Jersey. Members of the scheme engaged in various crimes including extortion, loansharking, mail and wire fraud, and stolen property offenses. As part of their involvement in the scheme, Fappiano and Bazzini made threats of bodily harm to a cooperating government witness (CW-1) who owned a waste hauling company in an effort to obtain payments from CW-1.

Fappiano, 52, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty to one count of communicating a threat of bodily harm in interstate commerce and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Fappiano is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Castel on May 8, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.

Bazzini, 54, of Glen Head, New York, pled guilty to one count of communicating a threat of bodily harm in interstate commerce and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Bazzini is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Castel on May 8, 2014, at 11:30 a.m.

Two other defendants have also recently pled guilty in connection with this case. Anthony Cardinalle, 61, of Saddle River, New Jersey, pled guilty on December 20, 2013, before Judge Castel to participation in a racketeering conspiracy and participation in an extortion conspiracy. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Charles Giustra, 52, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty on December 23, 2013, before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein to using a facility of interstate commerce in furtherance of a narcotics transaction. He faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon on March 25, 2014, at 4:00 p.m.

The charges against the remaining defendants are merely accusations, and these defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Westchester County Police Department.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian R. Blais, Natalie Lamarque, and Patrick Egan are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Micah Smith of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Unit is responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.

USDA Blog » Let’s Carry the Values of Tu B’Shevat with Us Every Day

USDA Blog » Let’s Carry the Values of Tu B’Shevat with Us Every Day

Illinois EPA files Emergency Rules Addressing Coke and Coal Piles

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

USDA Blog » Clearer Air Awaits You in Wilderness Areas Across the Country

USDA Blog » Clearer Air Awaits You in Wilderness Areas Across the Country

Anger Rises in Italy over Toxic Waste Dumps from the Mafia - SPIEGEL ONLINE

For decades, the Mafia has been dumping toxic waste illegally in the region north of Naples. Recently declassified testimony shows that leading politicians have known about the problem for years, yet done nothing about it -- even as the death toll climbs.

Anger Rises in Italy over Toxic Waste Dumps from the Mafia - SPIEGEL ONLINE

USDA Blog » U.S. Forest Service to Mark 50th Anniversary of Wilderness Act

USDA Blog » U.S. Forest Service to Mark 50th Anniversary of Wilderness Act

Mapping Oil- & Gas-Wells in PA | 2014-01-10 | Pollution Engineering

Mapping Oil- & Gas-Wells in PA | 2014-01-10 | Pollution Engineering

Tackling E-Waste in the Heart of Times Square

Tackling E-Waste in the Heart of Times Square

Wetland Protection in New England | 2014-01-10 | Pollution Engineering

Wetland Protection in New England | 2014-01-10 | Pollution Engineering

Eagle viewing day planned for Duke Energy's Cayuga station - Duke Energy

Eagle viewing day planned for Duke Energy's Cayuga station - Duke Energy

TUESDAY: U.S. EPA, San Diego Foundation, Center for Civic Engagement Inaugurate Bi-National Park Space; U.S. EPA to Make Major Announcement on Border Funding

EPA Press Release:

**MEDIA ALERT**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2014

Media Contact Information:  Nahal Mogharabi, 213-514-4361,mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov

TUESDAY:  U.S. EPA, San Diego Foundation, Center for Civic Engagement Inaugurate Bi-National Park Space; U.S. EPA to Make Major Announcement on Border Funding 

LOS ANGELES—On Tuesday, January 14, EPA Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld, the San Diego Center for Civic Engagement and other state and local stakeholders will inaugurate the “Border Gateway to Nature” project at Border Field State Park in San Diego. In addition, Regional Administrator Blumenfeld will make a significant announcement on environmental funding benefiting both California and Arizona border communities. 

“Border Gateway to Nature” was funded by the San Diego Foundation and EPA Border 2020 through a grant to 4walls International. 4walls constructed bi-national park space utilizing trash pulled from the Tijuana River Valley and tributary canyons. The project made use of thousands of discarded plastic soda bottles stuffed with trash for the construction of park benches and other infrastructure, which reduced the cost of raw materials such as cement, while increasing the structure’s strength. The re-purposed trash might have otherwise entered the Tijuana River, polluting the fragile ecosystem of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Diego. Mexico’s Environment Ministry (SEMARNAT) is also contributing significant resources to the beautification of Los Sauces Park in Tijuana. 

               

WHO:                U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency
Secretariat of Environmental and Natural Resources (Mexico’s Environment Ministry)

San Diego Foundation, Center for Civic Engagement

Border Environment Cooperation Commission
California State Parks

4Walls International           

WHEN:             Tuesday, January 14, 2014
10:00 a.m.
 

WHAT:             “Border Gateway to Nature” Inauguration Ceremony, Border Funding Announcement

WHERE:           Border Field State Park

1500 Monument Road

San Diego, CA 92154       

                               

RSVP REQUIRED:  *** Credentialed press who would like to attend and/or would like to request additional details should e-mail mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov. Please include your name, media affiliation, and contact information in your request.

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USDA Blog » Native Seedlings to Return to Reforest Burned Areas

USDA Blog » Native Seedlings to Return to Reforest Burned Areas

USDA Blog » USDA Helps Water Quality Trading Systems Thrive in the Chesapeake Bay Region

USDA Blog » USDA Helps Water Quality Trading Systems Thrive in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Core Sampling Phase of Engineering Survey to Begin Week of Jan. 13 at West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Mo.

EPA News Release:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219

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

Core Sampling Phase of Engineering Survey to Begin Week of Jan. 13 at West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Mo.

Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., Jan. 8, 2014) - Contractors working under the oversight of EPA Region 7 will begin a new core sampling phase of an engineering survey during the week of January 13 at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Mo.

The survey will examine the area between Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill and West Lake Landfill to locate radiologically-impacted material that may be present and identify the location for future construction of an isolation barrier that will separate the two landfills.

This new phase of the survey will involve the use of sonic drilling equipment to penetrate the surface of the landfill and collect core samples of underground material. The work is being done under EPA oversight by contractors hired by the potentially responsible parties at the Superfund site

"Persons who remain outside the fenced boundaries of the Superfund site will not experience any harmful exposures to radiation as a result of this survey activity," EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said.

A previous phase of the survey, involving Gamma Cone Penetrometer Testing (GCPT), which drove a probe and sensor into the surface at various locations to screen for radiation, was completed in December.

The new sonic drilling and coring activity will occur in the area accessed during the GCPT probing phase of the survey. During this phase, samples of underground material will be brought to the surface of the site under tightly controlled conditions for radiation field screening and off-site lab testing. All handling of core samples at the site will occur inside a mobile enclosed protective structure.

EPA anticipates that the sonic drilling and coring activity will continue at the site until late February or early March. Results of this activity will be shared with the public when the quality-assured data becomes available.

An on-site radiation safety officer will continue to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment that workers will wear while engaged in this survey. The radiation safety officer will monitor all phases of work and adjust the required protective equipment as dictated by field conditions. If elevated radiation readings are found, workers will be notified and directed to adjust their activities accordingly.

Air monitoring of the West Lake Landfill Site, conducted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under direction of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, will continue. No monitoring results to date indicate elevated radiation levels, further ensuring the health and safety of people living and working in the area near the West Lake and Bridgeton landfills.

Soil cores may be drilled to a depth of up to 80 feet in some locations of the survey area. All material brought to the surface will be screened for radiation and stored on site in secured containers until it is either ready for shipment to a laboratory for testing, or deemed ready for safe and proper disposal at an off-site facility to be identified.

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USDA Blog » 2013: A Fine Year for Conservation

USDA Blog » 2013: A Fine Year for Conservation

EPA Orders Company to Stop Removing Asbestos at the Former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center in Dutchess County, NY

EPA Press Release:

EPA Orders Company to Stop Removing Asbestos at the

Former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center in Dutchess County, NY

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

(New York, N.Y. – Jan. 7, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Olivet Management LLC to stop all work that could disturb asbestos at its facility, The Olivet Center, in Dover, New York. Buildings at the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center are being renovated for future use as a research institution and information technology hub by Olivet University. Olivet Management did not notify the EPA about the asbestos work and did not handle or dispose of asbestos-containing materials properly during the renovations, as required by law.

Asbestos was once used in insulation and other building materials. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to cancer and asbestosis, a serious respiratory disease. The removal ofasbestos-containing materials during demolition requires strict adherence to procedures outlined in the Clean Air Act to protect public health.

“Asbestos can cause serious health problems and must be handled properly to protect people’s health,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “By stopping work at The Olivet Center, EPA has taken action to protect the health of workers at the site and nearby residents.”

Federal regulations require property owners or operators to notify the EPA before the demolition or renovation of buildings that could contain a certain amount of asbestos. Demolition and renovation work involving asbestos must be done carefully. Before demolition and construction activities can begin, inspections must be conducted to identify the presence of asbestos and materials that may pose a threat to the health of workers or the public must be removed.

Materials containing asbestos must be wet down until they are collected and disposed of properly to prevent fibers and dust from becoming airborne during renovations and demolitions. Asbestos-containing materials must be disposed of at facilities licensed to receive the waste.

On November 4 and 5, 2013, EPA inspectors, in coordination with inspectors from the New York State Department of Labor and the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, inspected the site after being refused access three days earlier. The inspectors examined six buildings and the surrounding areas, sampled materials appearing to contain asbestos and observed numerous potential violations of the asbestos requirements. Many of the buildings contained significant amounts of asbestos.

The EPA legal order alleges that Olivet Management violated the federal Clean Air Actasbestos regulations by failing to provide adequate notice to EPA of construction projects involving asbestos, adequately wet all regulated asbestos-containing material that had been removed or stripped from the site and ensure that all of these materials remained adequately wet until collected and contained in preparation for proper disposal.

In addition to halting work at the site, the EPA order requires Olivet Management to prepare a comprehensive site cleanup work plan, submit the plan to EPA for review and approval to ensure it conforms with asbestos requirements and ensure that future demolition and activities at the site comply with EPA’s order. The EPA’s investigation is ongoing.

For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/.

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

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Corps submits report to Congress with alternatives to prevent Asian carp and other species’ transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins Chicago District Chicago District News Releases

Corps submits report to Congress with alternatives to prevent Asian carp and other species’ transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins Chicago District Chicago District News Releases

Illinois EPA Releases Air Quality Report for 2012

Illinois EPA Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 31, 2013 Illinois EPA Releases Air Quality Report for 2012  Illinois EPA Releases Air Quality Report for 2012 Record Breaking Temperatures Impacted Illinois Air Quality   SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has released the Bureau of Air’s Annual Air Quality Report for calendar year 2012.  The Report is available on the Illinois EPA web site at http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/air-quality-report/2012/index.html   Air quality is significantly impacted by several meteorological factors that include temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, wind speed and even wind direction. Much of the country, including Illinois, experienced unusual weather patterns in 2012, which resulted in conditions more likely to lead to elevated air pollution levels. High temperature records were broken throughout the Illinois in 2012, including the warmest year on record for both Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis and the second warmest year in Springfield.    Even accounting for these record-breaking conditions, air quality was either good or moderate 86 percent of the time throughout Illinois, a drop from the 92 percent recorded in 2011. Illinois recorded 11 “Unhealthy” (category Red) days in 2012, and an additional 40 days (31 days in 2011) when air quality in some part of Illinois was considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” (category Orange).    “While 2012 did see slightly lowered air quality, we are encouraged that 10-year trends continue to show Illinois air quality is improving,” said Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett. “We hope that trend continues as more citizens and businesses make sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices a priority.”   Air quality data for the 2012 report was obtained from the states extensive air monitoring network, which includes 75 different sites and more than 170 instruments. The Illinois EPA also provides daily air quality information through their website to keep residents and businesses informed. Daily air quality forecasts using the national Air Quality Index are issued for 14 sectors throughout the state. Daily ozone and fine particulate matter data is also provided, including any exceedances of federal standards. For additional air quality information, visitwww.epa.state.il.us/air/air-quality-menu.

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