EPA Encourages the Public to Comment on Plan for Cleanup at Shenandoah Road Superfund Site in East Fishkill, New York

Press release:

EPA Encourages the Public to Comment on Plan for Cleanup at

Shenandoah Road Superfund Site in East Fishkill, New York

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

(New York, N.Y. – August 30, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a plan to clean up contaminated ground water at the Shenandoah Road Ground water Contamination Superfund site in a rural area of East Fishkill, New York. Past industrial activities contaminated the ground water with tetrachloroethene, commonly known as PCE, which is a volatile organic compound that can have serious health effects. The proposed plan calls for the continued operation of a system that extracts and treats ground water coupled with natural processes to reduce the contaminants in the ground water and restrictions on ground water use as well as to ensure that the remedy remains intact.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on September 12, 2012 to explain the proposed plan and is encouraging public comments. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the East Fishkill Fire District Administration Building, 2502 Route 52, Hopewell Junction, New York. Comments will be accepted from August 29 until September 28, 2012.

Between 1965 and 1975, Jack Manne, Inc. rented a property at 7 East Hook Cross Road in East Fishkill and operated a facility there to clean and repair computer chip racks supplied to it under a contract with International Business Machines. As part of this process, solvents, including PCE, were disposed of in a septic tank and an in-ground pit located at the property.

In 2000, well sampling conducted by the New York State Department of Health indicated that residential wells in the vicinity of the facility were contaminated with PCE above the federal and state maximum contaminant level. Following this discovery, the EPA initiated an emergency response at the site and began the delivery of bottled water to affected residences. The EPA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation determined that the source of the PCE contamination in these nearby residential wells was the facility.

The Shenandoah site was placed on EPA's Superfund list of the nation's most hazardous waste sites in 2001, and EPA notified IBM and Jack Manne of their status as parties potentially responsible for the cleanup. Later that year, IBM entered into an agreement with the EPA to complete soil cleanup work already begun at the site by the EPA.

With EPA oversight, IBM completed the removal of the excavated sources of ground water contamination from the facility. In early November 2003, IBM presented the EPA with the alternatives for providing a permanent water supply, and the EPA subsequently selected a connection to the Fishkill municipal water supply. In March 2009, the public water supply system was completed and began to supply drinking water to the Shenandoah Road community.

In September 2002, IBM entered into a second agreement with the EPA to perform a study of the nature and extent of contamination that remained at the site as well as cleanup alternatives. The proposed plan for the next phase of the cleanup involves the continued operation of the source area ground water extraction and treatment system currently in place, and natural processes such as dilution and dispersion as well as land and ground water use restrictions. Monitoring wells will be periodically sampled to measure the effectiveness of both the source ground water extraction and treatment system and the natural processes.

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. The cleanup of the Shenandoah Road site is expected to be performed by IBM with oversight by the EPA.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Damian Duda, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway – 20th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10007-1866

(212) 637-4269

duda.damian@epa.gov

For more information on the Shenandoah Road Ground water Contamination Superfund site, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/shenandoah/.

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EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Plan for the White Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey

Press release:

EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Plan for the White Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey

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

(New York, N.Y. – Aug. 29, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is extending by thirty days the public comment period for the plan it has proposed for the contaminated ground water beneath the White Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey. The ground water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds by past industrial activities at the site. Volatile organic compounds can cause serious damage to people’s health and the environment. The proposed plan calls for the injection of chemicals into the ground water that will break down the contamination. The ground water will be monitored and its use will be restricted.

The EPA held a public meeting on August 2, 2012 to explain the proposed plan. At the request of a member of the public, the agency is extending the public comment period from its original date of August 21 to a new public comment deadline of September 20, 2012.

The final phase of the cleanup, which was announced July 25 addresses the contaminated ground water. After extensive study, the EPA has concluded that it is not technically feasible to pump out and treat the contaminated ground water because of the complex rock formations underlying the site. The depth, nature and variety of the rock formations would present extreme technical challenges.

Instead, the proposed plan calls for bioremediation, the injection of chemicals into the ground water to promote the breakdown of the pollutants. The specific process to be used to inject the chemical additive will be determined by the EPA as part of the design of the cleanup. Once the process has begun, the EPA will collect samples to confirm that the bioremediation is effective. The EPA is proposing to install additional monitoring wells to monitor the ground water and to put into place restrictions that will prevent its use as a source of drinking water in the future. The EPA is requiring periodic collection and analysis of ground water samples to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining and that people’s health and the environment are protected.

The former White Chemical Corporation site, which covers 4.4 acres, is located at 660 Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, and is surrounded by many residential, commercial and industrial properties. Beginning in the 1930s, portions of the site were used by multiple businesses for industrial activities including the manufacture of acid chlorides and fire retardants. The White Chemical Corporation operated a chemical manufacturing facility at the site from 1983 to 1990 and was cited by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for multiple environmental violations before the company abandoned the facility. Thousands of drums were left behind, with many of them leaking hazardous chemicals. The site was added to the federal Superfund list of the country’s most hazardous waste sites in 1991.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Ray Klimcsak, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway- 19th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10007-1866

(212) 637-3916

klimcsak.raymond@epa.gov

           

For more information on the White Chemical Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/whitechem.

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

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EPA proposes air permit for Capitol Power Plant

Press release:

EPA proposes air permit for Capitol Power Plant

(PHILADELPHIA --- August 29, 2012) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a proposed permit for the Capitol Power Plant in Washington, D.C. that would provide the facility with the flexibility to begin using more-efficient natural gas rather than coal as its main source of energy.

The Capitol Power Plant was built in the early 1900’s and provides steam for heat and chilled water for cooling to nearby federal buildings, including the U.S. Capitol.

The proposed Plantwide Applicability Limit permit reduces the permitting burden for the plant in exchange for limiting its ability to increase emissions. The permit would establish a site-wide emissions cap for greenhouse gases, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter at the power plant.

EPA prepared the permit in response to an application submitted by the Architect of the Capitol, which oversees the Capitol Power Plant. According to the application, the Capitol Power Plant intends to install two natural gas fired co-generation units to provide steam and electricity to the Capitol and nearby buildings.

This permit does not authorize construction of the project, but it does streamline the permitting process, which is handled by the D.C. Department of Environment.

This co-generation project will allow the Capitol Power Plant to generate its own electricity, which has not been done since 1951. The co-generation units would also improve energy efficiency.

  The proposed permit is subject to a public comment period beginning Wednesday, Aug. 29 and concluding with a public hearing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, at the Washington Council of Governments, 777 North Capitol Street, NE, # 300. A copy of the draft permit is available online at http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/. 

EPA to Extend Public Comment Period On Air Permit for Arecibo Waste to Energy Facility Agency Will Hold Five Public Hearing Sessions August 25, 26 and 27

Press release:

EPA to Extend Public Comment Period

On Air Permit for Arecibo Waste to Energy Facility

Agency Will Hold Five Public Hearing Sessions August 25, 26 and 27

Contact: Brenda Reyes (787) 977-5869; reyes.brenda@epa.gov; Mary Mears (212) 637-3673 

(San Juan, P.R. -- August 22, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended to August 31 the public comment period for its proposed action to approve an air permit to construct a waste to energy facility in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The agency is holding a series of public hearing sessions beginning this Saturday to accept public comments on Energy Answers International, Inc. has proposed to construct a new 77 megawatt facility at the former site of the Global Fibers Paper Mill in Barrio Cambalache, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The EPA encourages public participation and input in this decision.

The EPA will hold five formal public hearing sessions spread over three days on August 25, 26 and 27, 2012. The sessions will run on Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 10:00pm. On Monday, August 27, a session will be held from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The hearing sessions will all be held at the Arecibo Lions Club located at Avenida Ing. Manuel T. Gillan, Sector El Tanque, Arecibo.

The EPA will accept written comments or written presentations at the hearing and will allow each person wishing to give oral testimony for up to 10 minutes. Oral testimony and written comments submitted during the public hearing or anytime during the public comment period will be given equal consideration.

For the first four sessions on August 25 and 26, people who registered ahead of time will be given preference in filling slots to testify in each session. People who register at the door will be accommodated in that session only if there are slots left in that session. If that session is full, the EPA will give that person a choice of sessions and still have open slots. The final session on August 27 will be preserved to accommodate those who signed up to, but were not able to, testify at previous sessions.

The EPA is proposing an air permit for the facility after evaluating the potential impact of the facility on air quality by comparing it to EPA air quality standards which are established to protect public health.

To obtain the EPA permit, Energy Answers was required to demonstrate that the pollution controls on the plant represented the best available pollution control technology. The proposed permit also requires Energy Answers to test the pollution it emits to the atmosphere and demonstrate that it meets the pollution limits the EPA is proposing to establish. The permit requires emissions limits to be measured and reported to the EPA during operation. Failure to meet any of these permit limits would subject the facility to EPA enforcement actions.

The EPA is extending the public comment period. Written comments may be submitted at any time during the comment period, which will now be open until August 31, 2012. EPA's final permit decision will be made only after full consideration of all public comments received.

Members of the public wishing to review the administrative record for the proposed decision, which includes all documents relevant to the EPA’s proposed permit, can make an appointment Monday – Friday between 9:00am and 4:30 pm in the EPA’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division at City View Plaza III-Suite 7000 in Guaynabo. To make an appointment, contact John Aponte by email at Aponte.john@epa.gov or phone at 787-977-5853. The documents are also available online through the Interamerican University-Arecibo Campus website at http://www.arecibo.inter.edu/reserva/epa/epa.htm#. In addition, the administrative record is also available for viewing in EPA’s New York offices at 290 Broadway in New York City.

Public comments may be mailed or emailed to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 2

Caribbean Environmental Protection Division

City View Plaza III-Suite 7000

#48 Rd. 165 km 1.2

Guaynabo, PR 00968-8069

Attention: Mr. John Aponte

(787) 977-5853

Aponte.john@epa.gov 

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EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Plan for the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey

Press release:

EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Plan for the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey

Contact: Mary Mears (212) 637 3673; mears.mary@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – August 20, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is extending by thirty days the public comment period for the plan it has proposed for the contaminated ground water at the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The plan would prevent the use of contaminated ground water as a source of drinking water. The ground water associated with the site, located at 333 Hamilton Boulevard in South Plainfield, became contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and volatile organic compounds from past industrial activities. PCBs are likely cancer causing chemicals and can have serious neurological effects. Volatile organic compounds can cause serious damage to people’s health.

The ground water at the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics site is contained within underground layers of rock and soil. Municipal water supply wells in Middlesex County draw ground water from some portions of the rock formations to the north of the site. The plan proposed in July will require enhanced and continued monitoring of the ground water and will prevent the contaminated site ground water from being used as a source of drinking water in the future. The Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site is part of a Borough of South Plainfield redevelopment area.

The EPA held a public meeting on August 7, 2012 to explain the proposed plan. At the request of a member of the public, the agency is extending the public comment period from its original date of August 20 to a new public comment deadline of September 20, 2012.

Cornell-Dubilier Electronics, Inc., manufactured electronics parts at the 26-acre facility from 1936 to 1962. PCBs and solvents were used in the manufacturing process and the company disposed of PCB-contaminated materials and other hazardous wastes at the facility property.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed by September 20, 2012 to:

Diego Garcia, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway – 19th floor

New York, NY 10007-1866

(212) 637-4947

garcia.diego@epa.gov

For more information on the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/cornell.

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

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EPA Proposes to Renew US Ecology’s PCB Landfill Permit; Public Comment Period Begins

Press release:

For Immediate Release: August 10, 2012

Media Contact:  Margot Perez-Sullivan, (415) 947-4149, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

EPA Proposes to Renew US Ecology’s PCB Landfill Permit; Public Comment Period Begins

SAN FRANCISCO – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting comments on its proposed PCB permit for US Ecology, Inc., a hazardous waste management facility located outside Beatty, Nevada. EPA’s proposed permit will allow US Ecology to continue commercial storage, treatment and disposal of PCB wastes. The company has disposed of PCBs at this location since 1978.

The 45-day comment period begins August 10 and ends September 24. The EPA is hosting an informational Public Meeting and Hearing on September 13 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Beatty Community Center located at 100 A Avenue South in Beatty, Nevada.

Production of PCBs was banned in the United States in 1979. PCBs remain present in some products and materials produced before the 1979 ban. Products that may contain PCBs include: electrical transformers and capacitors, other electrical equipment, and fluorescent light ballasts. EPA regulates the treatment, storage and disposal of PCBs under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

If you are a person with a disability, and require reasonable accommodations for the informational public meeting and hearing, please contact Phillip Kum at kum.philip@epa.gov or (415) 947-3566. If possible, please submit your request 5 to 10 days in advance.

For more information on the proposed permit and how to submit public comments, please go to: www.epa.gov/region9/pcbs/usecology/ 

 For more information on PCB regulation, as well as the Toxic Substances Control Act enforcement in general, please visit the EPA’s website at: http://epa.gov/region9/toxic/pcb/index.htm

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EPA Encourages the Public to Comment on Plan for Cleanup at Scientific Chemical Superfund Site in Carlstadt, New Jersey

News release:

EPA Encourages the Public to Comment on Plan for Cleanup at

Scientific Chemical Superfund Site in Carlstadt, New Jersey

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

(New York, N.Y. – August 2, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a plan to clean up contaminated ground water at the Scientific Chemical Processing Superfund site in Carlstadt, New Jersey. Past industrial activities contaminated the ground water with volatile organic compounds, which can have serious health effects, including liver damage and an increased risk of cancer. The proposed plan calls for the ground water to be treated to break down the contaminants to protect people’s health and the environment.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on August 9, 2012 to explain the proposed plan and is encouraging public comments. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Carlstadt Borough Hall, 500 Madison Street, Carlstadt, New Jersey. Comments will be accepted until September 4, 2012.

From the 1940s to 1980, what is now referred to as the Scientific Chemical Processing site was used to process solvents for further use or disposal. In 1970, the Scientific Chemical Processing Company leased the site and used the property for processing industrial waste from 1971 until the company was shut down.

The Scientific Chemical Processing site was listed on the EPA’s Superfund list of the nation’s most hazardous waste sites in 1983. Between 1983 and 1985, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection required the company to remove approximately 250,000 gallons of wastes stored in tanks which had been abandoned at the site. The EPA took the lead in overseeing the cleanup in 1985.

Because of the nature and complexity of the contamination at the site, the cleanup has been conducted in three phases. The first phase began in 1990, when the EPA implemented a plan to contain contaminated ground water and soil on the Scientific Chemical Processing property proper while a longer term plan could be developed. An underground wall was constructed to prevent contaminated ground water from moving off-site. A cap was installed to prevent exposure to contaminated soil on the site and to keep water from seeping into the ground water. In addition, a system was built to collect the ground water so it could be shipped off-site and treated.

In August 2002, based on the results of monitoring conducted after the first phase of work, the EPA began implementing a long term plan for the ground water and soil on the property. Under this plan, the EPA removed an area of highly contaminated soil and upgraded the ground water extraction. Ground water is still being shipped off-site for treatment. This work was completed in October 2011.

During the third phase, currently proposed by the EPA, substances designed to break the contaminants down to less toxic forms would be injected into the ground water in affected areas outside of the site. Samples of the ground water would be collected and analyzed regularly to ensure the technology is effective, and remains protective of human health and the environment. Monitoring will continue until ground water cleanup levels have been met.

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. The cleanup of the Scientific Chemical Processing site is being conducted and paid for by a group of over 100 companies with oversight by the EPA.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Stephanie Vaughn, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway – 19th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10007-1866

(212) 637-4410

vaughn.stephanie@epa.gov

For more information on the Scientific Chemical Processing Superfund site, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/scientificchemical/

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

EPA Extends Public Comment Period for Visibility rule at three Ariz. Power Plants

Press release:

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2012

Contact:  Margot Perez-Sullivan, (415) 947-4149, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

EPA Extends Public Comment Period for Visibility rule at three Ariz. Power Plants

Proposed rule would improve visibility at 18 National Parks and Wilderness Areas

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency extended the public comment period for a rule proposed earlier this month that would require additional pollution controls for nitrogen oxide at three power plants in eastern Ariz. The rule would improve visibility and human health at 18 national parks and wilderness areas, including the Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park and the Petrified Forest.

EPA is soliciting public comments on the proposal through September 18, and will host two additional public hearings in Ariz. The hearings will be held on August 14, 2012 at 6 PM at Northland Pioneer College (Tiponi Community Center Conference Room) in Holbrook, Arizona, and on August 15, 2012 at 6 PM at Cochise College (Rooms 113 and 115) in Benson, Arizona. The deadline for final EPA action remains November 15, 2012.
On July 2, EPA proposed to approve Arizona’s plan that controls emissions of sulfur dioxide and coarse particles from older boilers at the Apache Generating Station, Coronado Generating Station and the Cholla Power Plant. In addition, EPA proposed a federal plan to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions at these plants. Specifically, the proposal is designed to cut NOx emissions by 7,800 tons per year at the Cholla Power Plant, 4,700 tons/year at the Apache Generating Station, and 4,500 tons/year at the Coronado Generating Station.
Under the Clean Air Act, Congress set a long-term goal of restoring natural visibility conditions in numerous national parks and wilderness areas throughout the United States, known as Class 1 Areas. One of the strategies for achieving this goal is the use of Best Available Retrofit Technology at older power plants that cause or contribute to visibility impairment at Class I areas. The three power plants impact 18 of these areas.
For additional information on the proposed rulemaking and opportunities to provide input, please go to: http://www.epa.gov/region9/air/actions/az.html#all

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EPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Changes to List of Impaired Waters for Missouri

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

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

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

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Changes to List of Impaired Waters for Missouri

Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., July 12, 2012) - EPA has released its proposed decision on Missouri’s 2012 list of impaired waters. EPA is approving Missouri’s listing of 253 waters as impaired, and the removal from the list of 66 water bodies. The Agency is requesting public comment on its proposed decision to restore a total of 10 water bodies and corresponding pollutants to Missouri’s 2012 impaired waters list.

“We look forward to receiving feedback on the proposed modifications to Missouri’s Impaired Waters List,” said Karl Brooks, regional administrator. “Transparency and public involvement are important components of this process and we need to hear from those that are affected by our decisions."

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted its 2012 impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval. The Clean Water Act and federal regulations require EPA to review the state’s list to determine if the state reasonably considered existing and readily available water quality-related data and information, and reasonably identified waters to be listed.

EPA is proposing to restore several water bodies that were excluded from listing or removed from Missouri’s list. These proposed additions to the list include waters found to be impaired by sediment, bacteria, ammonia and other pollutants.

The 60-day public comment period on EPA’s proposed decision begins today. The comment period ends September 12, 2012.

EPA’s decision letter is available at www.epa.gov/region7/newsevents/legal. A link to the public notice, which describes how to submit comments, is available on the EPA Region 7 website at www.epa.gov/region7/public_notices. Additional supporting documentation is available upon request by contacting Carol Taylor-Curth, Water Quality Management Branch, EPA Region 7, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, Kan., 66101, taylor-curth.carol@epa.gov, (913) 551-7638 or (800) 223-0425.

EPA will consider written public comments in reaching its final decision on the additional water bodies identified for inclusion on Missouri’s final 2012 impaired waters list.

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News Release from EPA - Comments Sought on GHG Inventory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASEFebruary 27, 2012
EPA Requests Comment on 17th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on the annual “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2010” (Inventory) draft report. The Inventory is the United States’ official estimate of total national greenhouse gas emissions, and is developed annually to meet commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The draft report will be open for public comment for 30 days.

The draft report shows that in 2010, overall greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions increased by 3.3 percent from the previous year. This trend is attributed to an increase in energy consumption across all economic sectors, due to increasing energy demand associated with an expansion in the economy. There was also an increase in air conditioning use due to warmer summer weather during 2010. Total emissions from GHGs were about 6,866 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent. Overall, emissions have grown by 11 percent from 1990 to 2010.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions nationally from 1990 to 2010. The gases covered by this inventory include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by “sinks,” e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation, and soils.

This annual report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with experts from other federal agencies. After responding to public comments, the U.S. government will submit the final inventory report to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC. This report will fulfill the annual requirement of the UNFCCC international treaty, ratified by the United States in 1992, which sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.

More information on the draft report and submitting comments: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html
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Comment Period Extended; West Butte Wind Project

News release from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:

Comment Period Extended on Permit Request For West Butte Wind Project

The deadline is being extended for people to comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of a request from West Butte Wind Power, LLC, for a permit that would allow for the “take” of golden eagles at the company’s proposed wind project in central Oregon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today.

Notice of the extension to February 17, 2012, published in today’s Federal Register. The previous deadline was February 2, 2012.

“Take” means to kill, harass or disturb the birds, their nests or their eggs. The Service will consider take permits when commitments are made for conservation measures that benefit eagle populations.

This is the first application the Service has received from a proposed wind project for a take permit under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA). Regulations adopted in 2009 enabled the agency to authorize, for the first time, take of eagles for activities that are otherwise lawful but that result in either disturbance or mortality.  Since then, guidelines for issuing the permits to wind projects have been developed.  Permits are only issuable under circumstances that ultimately guarantee the conservation of eagle populations.

“The new deadline will give people additional time to submit comments,” said Chris McKay, Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds and State Programs in the Service’s Pacific Region. The agency decided to extend the deadline after receiving several requests to do so.

The West Butte permit, if issued, would allow the take of up to three golden eagles over a period of five years as long as the company fulfills its conservation commitments. In cooperation with the Service, the company developed an avian and bat conservation plan and an eagle conservation plan that describe actions that have been taken to initially avoid and minimize and then mitigate for any remaining adverse effects to eagles. If the permit is granted, there must be no net loss to breeding populations of golden eagles. The proposed wind project, consisting of up to 52 turbines about 30 miles east of Bend, is in an area of low use by golden eagles.

West Butte Wind Power’s eagle conservation plan outlines advanced conservation practices and measures to avoid and minimize impacts, assesses risk, makes commitments for mitigating eagle mortalities, and makes commitments for monitoring bird mortality after the project is built. If the permit is granted, these conservation commitments would become conditions of the permit.

The Service would review the permit every five years to ensure the project was complying with the conditions.

The full text of the draft EA can be downloaded at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/migratorybirds/nepa.html.

Comments can be submitted by:

• Email: pacific_birds@fws.gov. Include “DEA for the West Butte Wind Project” in the subject line of the message.
• U.S. Mail: Please address written comments to Michael Green, Acting Chief, Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 NE 11^th Ave, Portland, OR 97232. Attn.: DEA for the West Butte Wind Project.
• Fax: Michael Green, Acting Chief, Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs, 503-231-2019, Attn.: DEA for the West Butte Wind Project.

EPA Announces Comment Period for Permit Changes

From EPA Region 5:


For Immediate Release

No. 12-OPA006

EPA Announces Comment Period for Injection Well Permit Changes in Wright County, Minn.

CHICAGO (Jan. 26, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the start of a public comment period on a request from the Joint Powers Water Board to make changes to its current permit for injecting treated drinking water into the Mount Simon-Hinkley aquifer. EPA will accept written comments until Feb. 21.

Comments should be addressed to William Bates, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (WU-16J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590 or bates.william@epa.gov. For questions and additional information, contact William Bates at 312-886-6110 or call EPA's toll-free line at 800-621-8431, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays.

Draft documents and more information about public comment procedures are available on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/r5water/uic/.

Official records are also available at the Great River Regional Library, St. Michael Branch, 11800 Town Center Drive, N.E, St. Michael.

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