Friday, September 30, 2016
EPA Reaches Legal Agreements to Close Two Landfills in Puerto Rico
From EPA:
EPA Reaches Legal Agreements to Close Two Landfills in Puerto Rico
Cayey and Arroyo to Close Landfills, Expand Recycling and Launch Composting Programs
EPA Agreements Now in Place at 12 Landfills in Puerto Rico
Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov
(New York, N.Y. – Sept. 29, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached agreements with the municipalities of Cayey and Arroyo to permanently close their municipal solid waste landfills, improve landfill operations, make major improvements to recycling, and introduce composting programs.
“It is imperative that Puerto Rico expand source reduction, recycling, and composting on the island,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "The most effective way to handle solid waste is to produce less of it, while making sure that landfills are properly closed when they reach capacity. That is the strategy that the EPA has used in addressing the many landfills in Puerto Rico that are near or beyond capacity.”
Cayey will permanently stop receiving waste at its landfill by January 1, 2018, and Arroyo will permanently stop receiving waste at its landfill by June 30, 2019. Both landfills would be permanently closed according to an approved closure schedule.
Under the two legal agreements with the EPA, Arroyo will create a recycling program, and Cayey will expand and improve its existing recycling program. Both municipalities will also create new composting programs. These recycling and composting programs, which will be designed with EPA and community input, will be aimed at minimizing the disposal of recyclable materials, and food and yard waste. Both municipalities will also develop an educational and outreach program to inform the public of these initiatives, and will include outreach to schools, municipal facilities, small businesses, and households.
The municipalities have also agreed to make improvements to operations, including measures to better manage stormwater, reduce dust, monitor ground water, and install landfill gas control systems. Both Cayey and Arroyo are required to submit Zika virus mosquito control plans to the EPA, and to implement them at their landfills. In addition, both municipalities will continue to cover exposed areas of the landfill on a daily basis to help control odors and blowing debris. Cayey and Arroyo are required to improve landfill security and will inspect incoming loads of waste to ensure that hazardous wastes, certain liquid wastes, scrap tires, recyclable materials, refrigerators and other appliances are not being sent to the landfill.
During inspections of the Cayey and Arroyo landfills, the EPA discovered that both lacked adequate security, adequate stormwater controls, and effective ground water and methane monitoring systems, and had steep and potentially unstable slopes. Both landfills were expanded without installing required liners and leachate collection systems. Arroyo also failed to properly maintain a partial liner and leachate collection system on its landfill. Leachate is a liquid that percolates through a landfill or has been generated by decomposing waste.
The EPA held public meetings in Cayey and Arroyo to discuss these agreements and to seek comment from the public. The proposed Administrative Orders on Consent that detail these agreements were subject to public comment periods. During these public comment periods, no written comments were received.
Since 2007, the EPA has reached agreements with 12 municipalities and other owners and operators of landfills in Puerto Rico to improve landfill operations and to put them on schedules for closure. 11 of these agreements have included the implementation of municipal recycling programs. The EPA is continuing to assess landfills throughout Puerto Rico and to develop legal agreements where appropriate.
For more information on the EPA’s work with Puerto Rico landfills, visit: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-puerto-rico
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at http://facebook.com/eparegion2
16-092
EPA Determines that No Further Cleanup is Needed at the Hormigas Groundwater Superfund Site in Puerto Rico
From EPA:
EPA Determines that No Further Cleanup is Needed at the
Hormigas Groundwater Superfund Site in Puerto Rico
Contact: Brenda Reyes, reyes.brenda@epa.gov, 787-977-5869 or Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov
(New York, N.Y. – Sept. 29, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its determination that no further cleanup is needed at the Hormigas Groundwater Superfund site in Caguas and Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. The site was added to the federal Superfund list because solvents were found in a public drinking water supply well, which is no longer in use. The community’s current drinking water supply from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) is monitored regularly to ensure the water quality meets drinking water standards and is safe to consume.
“We are pleased to announce that based on the data collected and our evaluation of the data, the EPA has made a final determination that no further cleanup action is needed at the site,” said EPA’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division’s Director Carmen R. Guerrero Pérez.
The former Hormigas public water system has two wells - Eufracia and Hormigas - and provided drinking water to over 5,000 people in Caguas and Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. In 2006, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) detected a contaminant known as Tetrachloroethylene (also called Perchlorethylene or PCE) in one of the two wells (Eufracia well) above the federal drinking water standards. PRASA closed the Hormigas water system in 2009, and connected people to a different public water supply. The EPA collected more samples from the Eufracia well in 2009, and the results confirmed the presence of PCE. Two additional contaminants (Trichloroethylene and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene) were also detected in the Eufracia well.
Since the site was added to the Superfund list in 2011, the EPA conducted further assessments. The EPA has not identified any areas of soil or groundwater contamination that would pose a risk to human health or the environment. Originally affected homes have been connected to a different and safe water distribution system.
The EPA held a public meeting in the Hormigas Sector, Cañaboncito Ward in Caguas on August 3, 2106 to explain its decision. The EPA accepted public comments for 30 days and considered public input before finalizing the plan. The EPA spent approximately $1.5 million on a study of the nature and extent of the contamination.
To read the EPA’s final decision, outlined in a Record of Decision, visit:https://www.epa.gov/superfund/hormigas-ground-water-plume
For a direct link to the Record of Decision, visit: https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/02/393187
16-091
EPA Requests Applications to Reduce Diesel Emissions from School Buses
From EPA Headquarters:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2016
September 29, 2016
EPA Requests Applications to Reduce Diesel Emissions from School Buses
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of approximately $7 million in rebates to public school bus fleet owners to help them replace or retrofit older school buses. Upgrading buses with older engines reduces diesel emissions and improves air quality.
"Modernizing school bus fleets across the country with retrofits, replacements, and idle reduction practices helps reduce children’s exposure to air toxics,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “With the amount of time kids spend on buses, we need to protect them from the harm older diesel engines can cause.”
EPA standards for new diesel engines make them more than 90 percent cleaner than older ones, but many older diesel engines still in operation predate these standards. Older diesel engines emit large quantities of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have been linked to serious health problems such as aggravated asthma and lung damage.
EPA will accept applications from September 29 to November 1, 2016.
This is the fourth rebate program to fund cleaner school buses offered under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) reauthorization. Nearly 25,000 buses across the country have already been made cleaner as a result of DERA funding.
To learn more about the rebate program, applicant eligibility, selection process and informational webinar dates, visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-rebates.
Questions about applying may be directed to CleanDieselRebate@epa.gov.
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EPA Tool Helps Communities Across the Country Prepare for Climate Change
From EPA Headquarters:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2016
EPA Tool Helps Communities Across the Country Prepare for Climate Change
WASHINGTON - As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthen America’s climate resilience, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an updated online climate change risk assessment tool that assists users in designing adaptation plans based on the types of threats confronting their communities. EPA’s Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) is designed for water utilities.
“Water utilities operate on the front lines of climate change and face the challenges of increased drought, flooding and sea level rise. EPA is working to strengthen America’s communities by providing climate preparedness tools like CREAT that local leaders can use to make smart decisions,” said Joel Beauvais, deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.
In its updated version, CREAT presents information in a series of intuitive modules, provides climate change projection data, and presents monetized risk results. CREAT’s climate projection map illustrates future climate scenarios including precipitation intensity for a 100-year storm or the number of days per year with temperatures above 100ºF. With this powerful information, utility owners and operators can better prepare for the impacts of climate change.
CREAT was built and updated in consultation with drinking water and wastewater utilities, water sector associations, climate science and risk assessment experts, and multiple federal partners. The tool has been used by a number of communities in their adaptation planning efforts. For example, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. used CREAT to better understand the vulnerability of its wastewater infrastructure and operations while the city of Houston, Texas used the tool to better understand the vulnerability of its surface water supplies.
Click the following links to see videos that show how CREAT has benefitted utilities such as Camden, N.J. and Faribault, Minn.
To access CREAT or to learn more about water sector climate readiness, visit EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities initiative.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2016
EPA Tool Helps Communities Across the Country Prepare for Climate Change
WASHINGTON - As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthen America’s climate resilience, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an updated online climate change risk assessment tool that assists users in designing adaptation plans based on the types of threats confronting their communities. EPA’s Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) is designed for water utilities.
“Water utilities operate on the front lines of climate change and face the challenges of increased drought, flooding and sea level rise. EPA is working to strengthen America’s communities by providing climate preparedness tools like CREAT that local leaders can use to make smart decisions,” said Joel Beauvais, deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.
In its updated version, CREAT presents information in a series of intuitive modules, provides climate change projection data, and presents monetized risk results. CREAT’s climate projection map illustrates future climate scenarios including precipitation intensity for a 100-year storm or the number of days per year with temperatures above 100ºF. With this powerful information, utility owners and operators can better prepare for the impacts of climate change.
CREAT was built and updated in consultation with drinking water and wastewater utilities, water sector associations, climate science and risk assessment experts, and multiple federal partners. The tool has been used by a number of communities in their adaptation planning efforts. For example, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. used CREAT to better understand the vulnerability of its wastewater infrastructure and operations while the city of Houston, Texas used the tool to better understand the vulnerability of its surface water supplies.
Click the following links to see videos that show how CREAT has benefitted utilities such as Camden, N.J. and Faribault, Minn.
To access CREAT or to learn more about water sector climate readiness, visit EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities initiative.
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Thursday, September 29, 2016
Tree Swallow
From U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):
One of the major problems that environmental contaminants pose to organisms is their ability to build up in the food web. For instance, insects that are exposed to contaminants can then be eaten by birds, who can then pass on the contaminants to their offspring when eggs are laid.
To see how much this process might be affecting Great Lakes tree swallows, we analyzed eggshells from tree swallows from 59 sites across all 5 Great Lakes. Fortunately, in general, we found that levels of contaminants were at or below background concentrations for most sites. The only places we found elevated concentrations were near Midland, Michigan, and the Saginaw River just downstream from Midland, where we found high concentrations of dioxins and furans.
Read more: http://bit.ly/2cB1H6g
Image shows a typical tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) studied by the scientists. Photograph credit: Thomas Custer, USGS. #USGS #Science#GreatLakes #Toxicology
One of the major problems that environmental contaminants pose to organisms is their ability to build up in the food web. For instance, insects that are exposed to contaminants can then be eaten by birds, who can then pass on the contaminants to their offspring when eggs are laid.
To see how much this process might be affecting Great Lakes tree swallows, we analyzed eggshells from tree swallows from 59 sites across all 5 Great Lakes. Fortunately, in general, we found that levels of contaminants were at or below background concentrations for most sites. The only places we found elevated concentrations were near Midland, Michigan, and the Saginaw River just downstream from Midland, where we found high concentrations of dioxins and furans.
Read more: http://bit.ly/2cB1H6g
Image shows a typical tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) studied by the scientists. Photograph credit: Thomas Custer, USGS. #USGS #Science#GreatLakes #Toxicology
EPA Environmental News
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION III - OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029 Phone - 215/814-5100 Fax - 215/814-5102
EPA Environmental News
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Contact: Roy Seneca, seneca.roy@epa.gov 215-814-5567
EPA to award $820,000 brownfields grant to Philadelphia To assess and clean up abandoned industrial, commercial properties
PHILADELPHIA (September 28, 2016) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced an $820,000 brownfields grant to support the assessment and cleanup of abandoned industrial and commercial properties in Philadelphia.
The brownfields revolving loan fund grant goes to the Philadelphia Authority of Industrial Development (PAID). Philadelphia is one of 131 communities nationwide to receive $55.2 million in EPA brownfields grants this year.
“Brownfields funding helps communities remove critical barriers to redevelopment and reuse,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “This funding supports Philadelphia’s plans for improving the quality of life of residents by reclaiming areas for housing, commercial development and open space and at the same time protecting public health and the environment.”
Brownfields are properties where real or suspected environmental contamination has prevented productive reuse of those properties.
Regional Administrator Garvin made the announcement today during a celebration at the Pennovation Works site in Philadelphia where $600,000 in previous EPA brownfields funding was used to help assess and clean up abandoned property. Today, Pennovation Works – located adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania – is a unique blend of offices, labs and production space being developed by the university.
EPA’s Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. Investments provide communities with the funding necessary to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
Brownfields grants provide resources early on, which is critical for the success of communities’ abilities to leverage additional partnerships and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources needed to meet their revitalization goals.
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EPA Awards Environmental Science Fellowships to Grad Students at Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Oregon Health and Science University
From EPA Region 10:
EPA Awards Environmental Science Fellowships to Grad Students at Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Oregon Health and Science University
Media Contact: Suzanne Skadowski, 206-553-2160, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov
(Seattle – September 28, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Science to Achieve Results or STAR fellowships for environmental and public health research to three graduate students at Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Oregon Health and Science University. STAR graduate fellows are selected from a large number of applications in a highly competitive review process. Master’s students are awarded up to $88,000 over two years and PhD students are awarded up to $132,000 over three years to support their graduate research.
Oregon State University
Christina Murphy, PhD research: Managing Hydropower Reservoir Levels to Protect Salmon
The majority of Pacific Northwest hydropower dams form large reservoirs on rivers that support threatened and endangered Salmon. However, these habitats and the effects of reservoir management also have tradeoffs for hydropower and aquatic ecology. This research will use field data and models of reservoir ecology to explore how managing reservoir water levels and volume changes may affect food webs, reservoir productivity, salmon growth and survival, and water quality.
Portland State University
James Powell, PhD research: Studying Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Effects on Dolphins and Humans
This research uses data from dolphins to develop a model for assessing adverse human health impacts of exposures to endocrine disrupting compounds. Because the rate and pattern of bone formation is affected by environmental exposures, bone density could provide a record of an animal’s chronic exposure to environmental contaminants and serve as a model for similar effects that would be expected in humans under similar exposure conditions. This research will use custom-designed ultrasound devices to assess coastal ecosystem health and establish the bone density of live, free-ranging, and stranded or beachcast dolphins.
Oregon Health and Science University - Portland State University School of Public Health
Kathryn Fankhauser, master’s research: Using Drones to Study Environmental and Public Health
Environmental monitoring in remote areas can be constrained by resource-intensive fieldwork. Drone technology, however, can offer rapid, reliable data collection and processing. This research will develop an unmanned aerial system to assess the environmental impact of a public health program in Rwanda. This research will increase the capacity of a disadvantaged country to monitor development projects and evaluate environmental outcomes. This technology can then be customized for different areas and applications.
Since the STAR Fellowship Program began more than 20 years ago, graduate fellows have engaged in innovative research opportunities leading some to become prominent leaders in environmental science. The program has awarded nearly 2000 students a total of more than $65 million in funding since 1995. This year’s STAR Fellows are poised to become the next generation of environmental professionals who can make significant impacts in environmental science and beyond.
Learn more about the STAR fellows at: https://www.epa.gov/research-fellowships/graduate-research-internship-program-grip-opportunities-epa.
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Southern Maine Resort Owners Agree to Restore and Preserve Wetlands to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations
From EPA New England Region:
News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
September 28, 2016
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
September 28, 2016
Contact: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017
Southern Maine Resort Owners Agree to Restore and Preserve Wetlands to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations
BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement with FKT Resort Management LLC, FKT Bayley Family Limited Partnership, Bayley’s Camping Resort Inc., Bayley Hill Deer and Trout Farm Inc., and related individuals, resolving violations of the federal Clean Water Act related to wetlands.
EPA alleged that the Bayley entities violated Section 404 of the Clean Water Act by filling wetlands and other waterways on property they own and/or operate in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The violations allegedly started in the late 1980s and continued through the mid-2010s.
Under terms of the settlement, the Bayleys will establish through restoration and mitigation at least 64.5 acres of freshwater wetlands, restore site hydrology, and permanently protect all restored and mitigated wetlands, as well as associated riparian, upland, and open water habit through enforceable conservation easements. The entities will also pay a civil penalty of $227,500. The companies worked cooperatively with the United States to resolve the violations.
Natural wetlands are vital to protecting the integrity of our rivers and estuaries, and help to protect the health and safety of people and their communities by providing a natural filtration system for pollution before it gets into our rivers, lakes and ponds, and by preventing flooding after storms. Wetlands also provide valuable wildlife habitat, offering breeding and feeding grounds for a broad array of fish, birds and other wildlife. Converting large areas of natural wetlands to other uses can profoundly alter flood flows, undermine the pollutant-filtering abilities of wetlands, and reduce important habitat.
“Wetlands are incredibly valuable ecological areas that provide important functions including protecting and improving water quality, and helping to buffer floods and major storm events,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Each acre of destroyed or lost wetlands means our communities are losing critical resources that feed the rivers, lakes and streams we depend on to provide sources of food, transportation, and recreational opportunities.”
The settlement requires wetland restoration, mitigation and preservation that will restore valuable wetland functions and result in improvements to downstream water quality, improve wetland habitats, reduce the drainage of water from adjacent wetlands, and help protect downstream areas from flooding. The Complaint and Consent Decree were filed in the US District Court for the District of Maine, in Portland, on Sept. 28, 2016.
More information:
The settlement agreement is subject to a thirty day public comment period and court approval. A copy of the Consent Decree will be available on DOJ’s website at: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees
Protecting wetlands and CWA Section 404: https://www.epa.gov/cwa-404/section-404-permit-program
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Sears to Improve Public Health Protections from Lead Pollution During Home Renovations
From EPA Headquarters:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2016
Sears to Improve Public Health Protections from Lead Pollution During Home Renovations
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced a settlement with Sears Home Improvement Products Inc. that resolves alleged violations of the federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule for work performed by Sears’ contractors during home renovation projects across the country. Under the settlement, Sears will implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide program to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities. Sears will also pay a $400,000 civil penalty.
“Today’s settlement will have a widespread impact across the home improvement industry, significantly reducing exposure to lead paint dust among children and other vulnerable people,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “In order to contract with Sears, a worker must follow lead safe practices. Contractors will carry this certification to every job they do. EPA expects all renovation companies to ensure their contractors follow these critical laws that protect public health.”
“This settlement will help prevent children and workers’ exposure to lead during home renovations in communities across the United States by ensuring that Sears’ contractors are fully aware of their obligations under lead safety regulations,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Sears is required to implement system wide changes across the corporation which will provide additional protection for consumers and bring the company into compliance with the law.”
EPA discovered the alleged violations through a review of Sears’ records from projects performed by the company’s renovation contractors at numerous projects in cities across California and in Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, New York and Wisconsin.
The government also alleged that Sears failed to establish, retain, or provide compliance documentation showing that specific contractors had been certified by EPA, had been properly trained, had used lead-safe work practices, or had performed required post-renovation cleaning.
Under the settlement, Sears will implement a company-wide program to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work for its customers comply with the RRP Rule during renovations of any child-occupied facilities, such as day-care centers and pre-schools and any housing that was built before 1978. For these projects, Sears must contract with only EPA-certified and state-certified firms and renovators, ensure they maintain certification and ensure they use lead safe work practices checklists during renovations.
Sears will also add a link on its website to EPA’s content on lead-safe work practices and use a company-wide system to actively track the RRP firm and renovator certifications of its contractors. In addition, Sears must suspend any contractor that is not operating in compliance with the RRP Rule, investigate all reports of potential noncompliance and ensure that any violations are corrected and reported to EPA.
EPA reached a similar settlement with home improvement retailer Lowe’s Home Centers in 2014 requiring the company to implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide compliance program at its over 1,700 stores nationwide to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities.
The RRP Rule, which is a part of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, is intended to ensure that owners and occupants of housing built before 1978, as well as any child-occupied facilities, receive information on lead-based paint hazards before renovations begin, and that individuals performing such renovations are properly trained and certified by EPA and follow specific work practices to reduce the potential for lead-based paint exposure. Home improvement companies such as Sears that contract with renovators to perform renovation work for their customers must ensure that those contractors comply with all of the requirements of the RRP Rule.
Lead-based paint was banned in 1978 but still remains in many homes and apartments across the country. Lead dust hazards can occur when lead paint deteriorates or is disrupted during home renovation and remodeling activities. Lead exposure can cause a range of health problems, from behavioral disorders and learning disabilities to seizures and death, putting young children at the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing. A blood lead test is the only way to determine if a child has a high lead level. Parents who think their child has been in contact with lead dust should contact their child's health care provider.
Renovation firms that are certified under EPA’s RRP Rule are encouraged to display EPA’s “Lead-Safe” logo on worker’s uniforms, signs, websites and other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by looking for the logo before hiring a renovation firm. Consumers can learn more about the RRP Rule and hiring a certified firm by calling the National Lead Information Center at 1 (800) 424-LEAD or visiting www.epa.gov/lead.
Sears Home Improvement Products is part of the Sears Home Services division, within Sears Holdings Corporation. The Home Services division makes over 12 million service and installation calls annually through a network of 6,700 technicians and Sears’ 705 retail stores in the United States. Sears Home Improvement Products is headquartered in Longwood, Florida, does business in 45 states, and maintains 58 district offices.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of Illinois. Notice of the lodging of the consent decree will appear in the Federal Register allowing for a 30-day public comment period before the consent decree can be entered by the court as final judgment. To view the consent decree:www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html
More information about today’s settlement:
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/sears-home-improvement-products-inc-lead-rrp-rule-settlement
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2016
Sears to Improve Public Health Protections from Lead Pollution During Home Renovations
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced a settlement with Sears Home Improvement Products Inc. that resolves alleged violations of the federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule for work performed by Sears’ contractors during home renovation projects across the country. Under the settlement, Sears will implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide program to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities. Sears will also pay a $400,000 civil penalty.
“Today’s settlement will have a widespread impact across the home improvement industry, significantly reducing exposure to lead paint dust among children and other vulnerable people,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “In order to contract with Sears, a worker must follow lead safe practices. Contractors will carry this certification to every job they do. EPA expects all renovation companies to ensure their contractors follow these critical laws that protect public health.”
“This settlement will help prevent children and workers’ exposure to lead during home renovations in communities across the United States by ensuring that Sears’ contractors are fully aware of their obligations under lead safety regulations,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Sears is required to implement system wide changes across the corporation which will provide additional protection for consumers and bring the company into compliance with the law.”
EPA discovered the alleged violations through a review of Sears’ records from projects performed by the company’s renovation contractors at numerous projects in cities across California and in Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, New York and Wisconsin.
The government also alleged that Sears failed to establish, retain, or provide compliance documentation showing that specific contractors had been certified by EPA, had been properly trained, had used lead-safe work practices, or had performed required post-renovation cleaning.
Under the settlement, Sears will implement a company-wide program to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work for its customers comply with the RRP Rule during renovations of any child-occupied facilities, such as day-care centers and pre-schools and any housing that was built before 1978. For these projects, Sears must contract with only EPA-certified and state-certified firms and renovators, ensure they maintain certification and ensure they use lead safe work practices checklists during renovations.
Sears will also add a link on its website to EPA’s content on lead-safe work practices and use a company-wide system to actively track the RRP firm and renovator certifications of its contractors. In addition, Sears must suspend any contractor that is not operating in compliance with the RRP Rule, investigate all reports of potential noncompliance and ensure that any violations are corrected and reported to EPA.
EPA reached a similar settlement with home improvement retailer Lowe’s Home Centers in 2014 requiring the company to implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide compliance program at its over 1,700 stores nationwide to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities.
The RRP Rule, which is a part of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, is intended to ensure that owners and occupants of housing built before 1978, as well as any child-occupied facilities, receive information on lead-based paint hazards before renovations begin, and that individuals performing such renovations are properly trained and certified by EPA and follow specific work practices to reduce the potential for lead-based paint exposure. Home improvement companies such as Sears that contract with renovators to perform renovation work for their customers must ensure that those contractors comply with all of the requirements of the RRP Rule.
Lead-based paint was banned in 1978 but still remains in many homes and apartments across the country. Lead dust hazards can occur when lead paint deteriorates or is disrupted during home renovation and remodeling activities. Lead exposure can cause a range of health problems, from behavioral disorders and learning disabilities to seizures and death, putting young children at the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing. A blood lead test is the only way to determine if a child has a high lead level. Parents who think their child has been in contact with lead dust should contact their child's health care provider.
Renovation firms that are certified under EPA’s RRP Rule are encouraged to display EPA’s “Lead-Safe” logo on worker’s uniforms, signs, websites and other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by looking for the logo before hiring a renovation firm. Consumers can learn more about the RRP Rule and hiring a certified firm by calling the National Lead Information Center at 1 (800) 424-LEAD or visiting www.epa.gov/lead.
Sears Home Improvement Products is part of the Sears Home Services division, within Sears Holdings Corporation. The Home Services division makes over 12 million service and installation calls annually through a network of 6,700 technicians and Sears’ 705 retail stores in the United States. Sears Home Improvement Products is headquartered in Longwood, Florida, does business in 45 states, and maintains 58 district offices.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of Illinois. Notice of the lodging of the consent decree will appear in the Federal Register allowing for a 30-day public comment period before the consent decree can be entered by the court as final judgment. To view the consent decree:www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html
More information about today’s settlement:
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/sears-home-improvement-products-inc-lead-rrp-rule-settlement
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EPA awards Hawaii over $18.6 million to improve water quality, protect public health
From EPA:
For Immediate Release: September 28, 2016
EPA awards Hawaii over $18.6 million to improve water quality, protect public health
HONOLULU – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today awarded the Hawaii Department of Health a $10.3 million grant for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and an $8.3 million grant for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for projects to renew water infrastructure.
The Department of Health will provide low-cost loans to the counties to upgrade drinking water and wastewater facilities. In Hawaii, where most of the wastewater treatment occurs along the coast, funding will modernize aging systems, and make facilities more energy and water efficient. Statewide, the total infrastructure needs for both clean water and drinking water are estimated at $3 billion.
“EPA continues to make substantial investments to protect Hawaii’s drinking water and incomparable coastal waters,” said Alexis Strauss, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.
Since 1989, EPA has awarded $314 million for Hawaii’s clean water infrastructure program. The state has issued a total of 89 loans totaling over $715 million, utilizing a combination of the federal funds, a 20% state funding match, plus the principle and interest returned as loans are repaid. The monies are used for a wide variety of water quality projects, including watershed protection and restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, improving water and energy efficiency, and traditional municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems.
Since 1997, EPA has awarded $168 million for Hawaii’s drinking water infrastructure program, and the state has issued 76 loans totaling $230 million. Funds support drinking water treatment and distribution projects, as well as developing water supplies, conducting sanitary surveys, and training drinking water operators.
In October 2014, EPA found the Department of Health to be in non-compliance for failing to expend its drinking water funds in a timely manner. The Department has been working under a corrective action plan since January 2015. EPA provided last year’s drinking water funding in phases as the state met the plan’s milestones. As a result of significant progress made, EPA is now awarding all 2016 funds. EPA continues to work with the Department of Health to ensure it achieves all commitments required by the plan.
Forty years ago, when the federal Clean Water Act was passed, Congress charged a fledgling EPA with the goal of making the nation’s waters “fishable and swimmable.” Achieving this goal requires communities to invest in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The state revolving funds are EPA’s primary tools for helping communities meet their continuing and significant water infrastructure needs. Each state maintains revolving loan fund programs, capitalized by the EPA, to provide low‑cost financing for water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects.
For more information about EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf
For more information about EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf
Media Contact: Dean Higuchi, higuchi.dean@epa.gov
DOE Awards Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers Grant
Cincinnati – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded a grant to the Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) for “National Research Institute: Collaborative Research: Multi-Modal Characterization of Department of Energy—Environmental Management Facilities.”
DOE Awards Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers Grant
DOE Awards Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers Grant
Bacardi USA, Inc. Coral Gables, Fla. Honored as a Green Leader in the Freight Industry
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2016
September 28, 2016
Bacardi USA, Inc. Coral Gables, Fla. Honored as a Green Leader in the Freight Industry
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Bacardi USA, Inc. in Coral Gables, Fla. is one of the 2016 winners of the SmartWay® Excellence Awards, which honors logistic companies and shippers in the retail and manufacturing sectors. The awards recognize the top-performing SmartWay shipper partners that demonstrate how businesses can mitigate their carbon footprints and contribute to cleaner, healthier air, while saving on fuel costs as they move goods across America.
“EPA is honoring its top environmental performers – those SmartWay Partners that have taken significant steps towards a sustainable freight transportation energy future,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “SmartWay Excellence Award recipients have become leaders in this crucial sector of our economy by embracing the mutual benefits that efficiency brings for both operational performance and environmental results.”
The 2016 SmartWay Excellence Awardees for retailers, manufactures and logistics companies are:
- Bacardi USA, Inc. (Coral Gables, Fla.)
- Hewlett-Packard Inc.
- Johnson & Johnson (Skillman, N.J.)
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Lowe's Companies Inc. (Wilkesboro, N.C.)
- The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Transportation Insight LLC (Hickory, N.C.)
- Union Pacific Distribution Services (Omaha, Neb.)
- Whirlpool Corporation (Benton Harbor, Mich.)
Award winners demonstrate a commitment to environmental leadership by achieving lower emissions and by demonstrating effective collaboration, advanced technology and operational practices, robust SmartWay data validation and reporting, communication and public outreach, and implementation of sustainability practices in local communities.
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership supports companies who demonstrate their commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility by moving goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 72 million metric tons of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change, while saving more than 170 million barrels of oil and $24.9 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating annual energy use in more than six million homes. SmartWay also contributes to cleaner air and healthier citizens by significantly reducing emissions of the pollution that contributes to smog, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
The awards were presented today at the 2016 Annual Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals conference in Orlando, Florida.
Awards for SmartWay carrier partners – such as trucking companies, multimodal transport companies and barge transport companies – will be announced next week at the 2016 American Trucking Association Management Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information about SmartWay Excellence Awards, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartway-excellence-awards
For more information about SmartWay, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartway
###
The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. Honored as a Green Leader in the Freight Industry
From US Environmental Protection Agency:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2016
September 28, 2016
The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. Honored as a Green Leader in the Freight Industry
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. is one of the 2016 winners of the SmartWay® Excellence Awards, which honors logistic companies and shippers in the retail and manufacturing sectors. The awards recognize the top-performing SmartWay shipper partners that demonstrate how businesses can mitigate their carbon footprints and contribute to cleaner, healthier air, while saving on fuel costs as they move goods across America.
“EPA is honoring its top environmental performers – those SmartWay Partners that have taken significant steps towards a sustainable freight transportation energy future,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “SmartWay Excellence Award recipients have become leaders in this crucial sector of our economy by embracing the mutual benefits that efficiency brings for both operational performance and environmental results.”
The 2016 SmartWay Excellence Awardees for retailers, manufactures and logistics companies are:
- Bacardi USA, Inc. (Coral Gables, Fla.)
- Hewlett-Packard Inc.
- Johnson & Johnson (Skillman, N.J.)
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Lowe's Companies Inc. (Wilkesboro, N.C.)
- The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Transportation Insight LLC (Hickory, N.C.)
- Union Pacific Distribution Services (Omaha, Neb.)
- Whirlpool Corporation (Benton Harbor, Mich.)
Award winners demonstrate a commitment to environmental leadership by achieving lower emissions and by demonstrating effective collaboration, advanced technology and operational practices, robust SmartWay data validation and reporting, communication and public outreach, and implementation of sustainability practices in local communities.
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership supports companies who demonstrate their commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility by moving goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 72 million metric tons of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change, while saving more than 170 million barrels of oil and $24.9 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating annual energy use in more than six million homes. SmartWay also contributes to cleaner air and healthier citizens by significantly reducing emissions of the pollution that contributes to smog, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
The awards were presented today at the 2016 Annual Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals conference in Orlando, Florida.
Awards for SmartWay carrier partners – such as trucking companies, multimodal transport companies and barge transport companies – will be announced next week at the 2016 American Trucking Association Management Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information about SmartWay Excellence Awards, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartway-excellence-awards
For more information about SmartWay, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartway
###
Compliance with Environmental Laws Helps Protect Air, Water and Land in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington
From EPA Region 10:
EPA Region 10 completed the following environmental enforcement actions from April 1 through June 30, 2016:
Compliance with Environmental Laws Helps Protect Air, Water and Land in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington
(Seattle – September 28, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, completed more than 30 environmental compliance and enforcement actions in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington in April through June of this year.
Violations of environmental laws put public health and the environment at risk. EPA enforces federal environmental laws to protect communities and to keep our air, land and water healthy. These compliance and enforcement efforts also level the playing field by deterring violators who might otherwise have an unfair business advantage over environmentally compliant facilities and businesses.
EPA Region 10 completed the following environmental enforcement actions from April 1 through June 30, 2016:
State
|
City
|
Name
|
Description
|
Penalty/ Enforcement Action
|
Date
|
AK
|
ANCHORAGE
|
STONKE CONSTRUCTION
|
Violated Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting rules. (TSCA)
|
$840
|
4/26/2016
|
AK
|
ANCHORAGE
|
RAPID REPAIR LLC
|
Violated Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting rules. (TSCA)
|
$640
|
6/2/2016
|
AK
|
PRUDHOE BAY
|
Violated spill prohibition rules. (CWA)
|
$30,000
|
6/2/2016
| |
ID
|
BOISE
|
HRN INVESTMENTS I LLC DBA BOISE HUNTER HOMES & WESTERN CONSTRUCTION INC - HARRIS RANCH NORTH
|
Unauthorized discharge. (CWA)
|
$1,750
|
6/16/2016
|
ID
|
BONNERS FERRY
|
THREE MILE CORNER EXXON
|
Violated underground storage tank rules. (UST)
|
$210
|
6/14/2016
|
ID
|
EAGLE
|
TPC BROOKLYN PARK INVESTORS - EAGLE LAKES SUBDIVISION
|
Unauthorized discharge. (CWA)
|
$1,500
|
6/20/2016
|
ID
|
KAMIAH
|
CLONINGER'S HARVEST FOODS
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$576
|
4/29/2016
|
ID
|
NAPLES
|
ESSENTIAL OIL RESEARCH FARM LLC
|
Violated wetlands protection rules. (CWA)
|
Administrative Compliance Order
|
6/27/2016
|
ID
|
PLUMMER
|
PLUMMER QUICK STOP
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$173
|
5/18/2016
|
ID
|
POCATELLO
|
Violated air pollution control rules for SO2, acid mist and fine particulates (PM2.5). (CAA)
|
$899,000
|
4/12/2016
| |
ID
|
PRIEST RIVER
|
PRIEST LAKE SERVICE CENTER LLC
|
Violated underground storage tank rules. (UST)
|
$210
|
5/27/2016
|
ID
|
REXBURG
|
CITY OF REXBURG, IDAHO
|
Violated sewage sludge
disposal reporting requirements. (CWA)
|
$22,000
|
5/18/2016
|
OR
|
ASTORIA
|
PORT OF ASTORIA WEST BASIN MARINA (A/K/A WEST MOORING BASIN)
|
Violated spill prevention and control rules. (CWA)
|
$2,325
|
6/8/2016
|
OR
|
PORTLAND
|
2812 SE 115TH AVENUE REMOVAL ACTION
|
Administrative settlement to conduct cleanup and pay EPA oversight costs. (CERCLA)
|
Administrative Compliance Order
|
4/4/2016
|
OR
|
TUALATIN
|
HYDRO-PHOTON INC.
|
Violated pesticide rules for branding and labeling. (FIFRA)
|
Unregistered Pesticides Denied Import
|
4/28/2016
|
WA
|
BOTHELL
|
LEVITON MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC.
|
Violated hazardous substances inventory reporting rules. (EPCRA)
|
$5,000
|
6/2/2016
|
WA
|
MOSES LAKE
|
Violated hazardous substances storage and inventory reporting requirements. (EPCRA/CERCLA)
|
$125,000
|
4/29/2016
| |
WA
|
MUKILTEO
|
APPLIED FINISHING INC.
|
Violated hazardous waste management rules. (RCRA)
|
$2,000
|
6/2/2016
|
WA
|
OTHELLO
|
MULTISTAR
|
Violated risk management program requirements. (RMP)
|
Administrative Compliance Order
|
4/13/2016
|
WA
|
PACIFIC
|
GORDON TRUCKING INC.
|
Violated hazardous substances inventory reporting requirements. (EPCRA)
|
$5,000
|
4/26/2016
|
WA
|
POMEROY
|
JIM'S FERTILIZER
|
Violated risk management program requirements. (RMP)
|
$2,080
|
6/16/2016
|
WA
|
PORT ANGELES
|
Judicial action to recover response costs. (CERCLA)
|
Consent Decree
|
6/13/2016
| |
WA
|
REDMOND
|
WILLIAM C NELSON JR AND THE ESTATE OF BARBARA NELSON (GUNSHY MANOR)
|
Violated wetlands protection rules. (CWA)
|
Administrative Compliance Order
|
6/7/2016
|
WA
|
SEATTLE
|
SMG EQUIPMENT LLC
|
Violated mobile source rules. (CAA)
|
$9,100
|
5/27/2016
|
WA
|
SEATTLE
|
Violated toxic chemical release inventory reporting rules. (EPCRA)
|
$133,900
|
6/2/2016
| |
WA
|
TOPPENISH
|
CHS INC.
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$3,052
|
6/16/2016
|
WA
|
TOPPENISH
|
SAFEWAY INC.
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$1,267
|
4/29/2016
|
WA
|
WAPATO
|
WOLF DEN RESTAURANT INC.
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$403
|
4/15/2016
|
WA
|
WAPATO
|
WHEELERS KOUNTRY KORNER
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$1,037
|
5/18/2016
|
WA
|
OKANAGAN
|
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
|
Violated Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. (CAA)
|
$1,037
|
6/2/2016
|
WA
|
WESTPORT
|
Violated ozone depleting substance rules and toxic chemical storage and release rules. (CAA/EPCRA)
|
$495,000
|
4/25/2016
| |
WA
|
YAKIMA
|
BORTON & SONS FRUIT & COLD STORAGE INC.
|
Violated risk management program requirements. (RMP)
|
$12,100
|
6/2/2016
|
WA
|
ZILLAH
|
BORTON FRUIT ZILLAH PLANT LLC
|
Violated risk management program requirements. (RMP)
|
$7,560
|
6/2/2016
|
More information about the environmental rules referenced above:
- CAA – Clean Air Act
- CERCLA – Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act
- CWA – Clean Water Act
- EPCRA – Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
- FARR – Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations (CAA)
- FIFRA – Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
- RMP – Risk Management Program (CAA)
- RCRA – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
- SDWA – Safe Drinking Water Act
- SPCC – Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Rules (CWA)
- UST – Underground Storage Tank (RCRA)
- TRI – Toxics Release Inventory (EPCRA)
- TSCA – Toxic Substances Control Act
More information on EPA’s environmental compliance and enforcement: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement.
Report environmental violation tips and complaints to the EPA at: www.epa.gov/tips.
Follow EPA Region 10 on Twitter: www.twitter.com/EPAnorthwest.
Like EPA Region 10 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/region10.
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