EPA Fines Total Petroleum for Industrial Stormwater Discharge Violations

From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

EPA Fines Total Petroleum for Industrial Stormwater Discharge Violations

Company to Support Artificial Reefs in Condado Lagoon in San Juan

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

(New York, N.Y. – September 13, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has reached an agreement with Total Petroleum Puerto Rico Corporation (“Total Petroleum”) to settle the company’s alleged violations of requirements to control pollution from stormwater discharges at its Guaynabo Bulk Fuels Terminal. Under the agreement, Total Petroleum is required to comply with the Clean Water Act’s stormwater discharge requirements associated with industrial activities and will pay a $345,000 penalty. The company will also invest $40,000 to construct and install approximately 30 artificial reef modules in the Condado Lagoon, which was recently designated as a nature reserve.

“Puerto Rico has extraordinary natural resources, including amazing water bodies and coastal ecosystems that are important places of recreation and tourist attractions,” said Carmen Guerrero Pérez, the Director of the EPA’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division. “Every company operating in Puerto Rico has an obligation to comply with the Clean Water Act so these water resources are not damaged and degraded.”

The Clean Water Act requires that certain industrial facilities apply for and obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits to control the discharge of pollutants carried out by stormwater runoff into nearby water bodies. These facilities must develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan that details the best management practices that the company will follow to prevent stormwater runoff from washing harmful pollutants into local water bodies.

Without adequate on-site controls, stormwater runoff can flow directly to the nearest water body and can cause water quality damage such as siltation of rivers, beach closings, fishing restrictions, and habitat degradation. As stormwater flows over these facilities, it can pick up pollutants, including dirt or sediments, nutrients, trash, chemicals, and oils. Of particular concern is the uncontrolled runoff that can harm or kill fish and wildlife due to changes in water quality, hydrology, and other factors.

The EPA complaint alleges that Total Petroleum violated numerous stormwater requirements at its Guaynabo Bulk Fuels Terminal, such as failing to: implement best management practices; implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan; monitor and report discharge data of the facility’s discharges of pollutants; and obtain the appropriate stormwater discharge permit associated with industrial activity.

In addition to agreeing to come into compliance with the Clean Water Act and paying a penalty, Total Petroleum has also agreed to construct a new stormwater collection and discharge system at the Guaynabo Terminal, as well as submit an updated stormwater permit application for the facility. The company will also construct the third and final phase of the Condado Lagoon Taíno Coral Trail and Reef Enhancement Project, which is built in the northeastern reach of the Condado Lagoon’s outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.

Total Petroleum will install approximately 30 artificial reef modules to provide artificial habitats for reef species in the San Juan Bay Estuary. The purpose of this project is to enhance, protect, and promote marine life diversity in the Estuary System, which is designated as an estuary of national importance and is part of the EPA’s National Estuaries Program. Total Petroleum will invest a minimum of $40,000 for this project. The project, which benefits the environment and the community, is not required to bring the company into compliance.

The proposed consent decree has been lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy is available on the Department of Justice website at: http://justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

For more information about the requirements of the Clean Water Act and how the EPA protects the nation's water, visit http://water.epa.gov.

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

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Industrial Laundry in Lebanon, N.H. Faces Fine for Clean Water Violations

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
August 28, 2012

Contact: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

Industrial Laundry in Lebanon, N.H. Faces Fine for Clean Water Violations

(Boston, Mass. – Aug. 28, 2012) – An industrial laundry facility in Lebanon, N.H. faces a penalty of $64,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency for several violations of federal water laws, including discharging water containing detergent to the city’s public wastewater system which caused excessive foaming in the Connecticut River.

According to a complaint filed recently by EPA’s New England office, UniFirst Corp. discharged wastewater containing industrial grade detergent into the public wastewater system in Nov. 2010 and failed to immediately notify the city of the discharge.  Both actions violated the Clean Water Act. The complaint also details that in 2011 UniFirst discharged wastewater with a high acidity, also in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

UniFirst operates an on-site wastewater treatment system that introduces process wastewater into the City of Lebanon’s system, which in turn discharges treated wastewaters into the Connecticut River.  The detergent violations caused the city to be out of compliance with its own National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit regulating its wastewater system.

Discharges of ­­prohibited effluents from industrial users can present a risk to nearby waters and aquatic life. An industrial user’s failure to immediately notify the local wastewater treatment system and any other applicable state or federal emergency responders undermines their ability to promptly respond to a potential threat.

More information on enforcement of Clean Water Act in New England http://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/water/index.html

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U.S. Attorney and EPA Announce Settlement with City of Fitchburg

Press release:

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
August 15, 2012

 Contacts: Paula Haschig, 617-918-1027 (EPA)
                Christine DiIorio-Sterling, 617- 748-3356 (US Attorney’s Office)

U.S. Attorney and EPA Announce Settlement with City of Fitchburg
Settlement Ensures that Fitchburg Addresses Wastewater and Storm Water Discharges

(Boston, Mass.—August 15, 2012) Under the terms of a Consent Decree lodged in federal court, the City of Fitchburg, Mass. will pay a civil penalty of $141,000 for violations of the Clean Water Act.   The City will also perform a Supplemental Environmental Project worth at least $100,000 and is implementing significant remedial measures to minimize future discharges of pollutants into the environment.

The Consent Decree is the result of a federal enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts on behalf of the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection.  The complaint alleges that Fitchburg violated conditions of its permit controlling combined sewer overflows, bypassed wastewater flows around its secondary treatment system, violated numeric effluent limits on hundreds of occasions, and discharged untreated overflows from the collection system without permit authorization. 

United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz said, “the federal Clean Water Act was established to ensure that everyone is committed to making our rivers and streams safe and healthy for our children and future generations.  I am pleased that The City of Fitchburg is dedicating itself to achieving this goal by agreeing to today’s Consent Decree, ensuring that the Nashua River is not left behind.”                       

“This settlement ensures that a major source of pollution to the Nashua River will be controlled,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England region.  “It is satisfying that the City will build upon the progress it has already made in restoring the River, once again making it accessible for safe recreation.” 

The Consent Decree to resolve the enforcement action imposes a schedule for addressing the City’s collection system and waste water treatment plant deficiencies.  It identifies specific combined system projects to prevent and control combined sewer overflows from significant portions of the City’s Collection System.  The City will also be required to establish a Collection System operations and maintenance program to overcome systemic neglect of the Collection System.  Similarly, the City will be required to develop operational changes and system upgrades to enable the City to comply with all of its permit limits. 

Preventing sewage from contaminating surface and ground waters of the United States is one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives.  The initiative continues EPA’s focus on municipal collection systems that are undersized or deteriorating.  Municipal wastewater presents significant health threats to those using contaminated waters for recreational use and downstream drinking water systems.

More information: The Consent Decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.  Once it is published in the Federal Register, a copy of the consent decree will be available on the Justice Department Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPA Orders Foster Poultry Farms to Stop Discharging Pollutants Into Louisiana Waters

EPA Orders Foster Poultry Farms

to Stop Discharging Pollutants Into Louisiana Waters

(DALLAS – March 26, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Foster Poultry Farms in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, for unauthorized discharges of pollutants into a tributary of Leatherman Creek.

On January 26, 2012, the EPA inspected the hatchery and found unauthorized discharges of pollutants from its process wastewater lagoon to an unnamed tributary of Leatherman Creek. Leatherman Creek drains into Black Creek Bayou and it in turn drains into the Red River.

“A chicken hatchery should be raising chickens not pollution levels in nearby rivers,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “We expect poultry farms to comply with laws that protect water quality.”

Foster Poultry Farms, doing business as Foster Farms Athens Hatchery, operates a chicken hatchery located approximately two miles east of Athens on the north side of Louisiana Highway 518 in Claiborne Parish. The facility has been ordered to immediately stop all discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States.

Water quality across the United States is threatened by phosphorus and nitrogen, two nutrients present in chicken litter. In excessive amounts, nutrients often cause an explosion of algae that robs water of oxygen, causing fish kills.

As a result of the inspection, Foster Poultry Farms has been ordered to immediately take action to stop all discharges of pollutants from its process wastewater lagoon. Within 30 days they must submit to the EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality a certified summary, including photographs, that document the unauthorized discharges have been stopped.

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/mar2012.html

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Crowds fill downtown for St. Patrick's Day

Do you suppose they had an NPDES permit to turn the Chicago River green?

Crowds fill downtown for St. Patrick's Day

News Release from EPA - Armstrong Envtl. Svc.

Armstrong Environmental Services to Pay $35,000 Penalty for Clean Water Act Violations at Lancaster, Pa. Facility 

(PHILADELPHIA – March 1, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a settlement with Armstrong Environmental Services (AES) over alleged Clean Water Act violations at the company’s waste processing and disposal facility in Lancaster, Pa. AES agreed to pay a $35,000 penalty for allegedly exceeding permit limits when discharging industrial wastewater pollutants to the City of Lancaster Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lancaster County, Pa. The settlement also requires the company take actions to minimize the likelihood of future violations.

EPA’s complaint alleged AES exceeded its pretreatment permit discharge limits for pollutants oil and grease, pH and copper for a period of five-years. As part of the settlement, AES did not admit liability for the alleged violations, but has certified that it is now in compliance with applicable Clean Water Act requirements.
 The Clean Water Act requires companies discharging pollutants to publicly owned wastewater treatment works (POTWs) to obtain a permit from the POTW limiting the amount of pollution that may be discharged to the plant. This usually requires some type of pretreatment by the discharging facility.

Pretreatment permit limits for pollutants are established in order to prevent impairment of waterways, either as a result of pollutants passing through the POTW -- or interference with the functioning of the treatment plant.

For more information about pretreatment requirements visit:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=3

MOEX Offshore Agrees to $90 Million Partial Settlement

News release from EPA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2012
MOEX Offshore Agrees to $90 Million Partial Settlement of Liability in Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
$70 million penalty is largest under the Clean Water Act; MOEX also to perform Gulf conservation projects worth at least $20 million
 

WASHINGTON – MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC has agreed to settle its liability in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in a settlement with the United States valued at $90 million, announced the Department of Justice, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today.  Approximately $45 million of the $90 million settlement is going directly to the Gulf in the form of penalties or expedited environmental projects.

According to the terms of the settlement, MOEX will pay $70 million in civil penalties to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act resulting from the spill and agreed to spend $20 million to facilitate land acquisition projects in several Gulf states that will preserve and protect in perpetuity habitat and resources important to water quality and other environmental features of the Gulf of Mexico region.  At the time of the spill, MOEX was a minority investor in the lease for the Macondo well. It no longer owns any share of the lease.

The terms of today’s settlement do not affect the potential liability of – or recoveries from – other parties involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Beginning with a well blowout and explosion on April 20, 2010, the owners and operators of the Macondo Well and  the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon allowed millions of barrels of oil to escape into the Gulf of Mexico, affecting the entire region.  Oil spills can cause both immediate and long-term harm to people’s health and the environment.  The Clean Water Act provides for civil penalties for such discharges.  This is the largest civil penalty ever recovered under the Clean Water Act.

“The Department of Justice has not wavered in its commitment to hold all responsible parties fully accountable for what stands as the largest oil spill in U.S. history,” said Attorney General Eric Holder.  “This landmark settlement is an important step – but only a first step – toward achieving accountability and protecting the future of the Gulf ecosystem by funding critical habitat preservation projects.”

“This will move the Gulf Coast along in its recovery as it continues to rebound from the largest spill in U.S. history,” said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp.  “The settlement demonstrates our firm commitment to  hold accountable those who pollute our environment.”

“This is good news for the Gulf Coast communities that are continuing to rebuild their economy and restore their ecosystem. This administration is going to stand with the people here to ensure a full recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Dedicating funds to actions that restore the local waters is a vital part of restoring these communities.  As someone who grew up on the Gulf Coast, I know how important clean water is to the lives and livelihoods of the people here, and I know we need to take every possible action to get the ecosystem here on a path to long-term restoration.”

As part of the settlement, MOEX Offshore has agreed to pay $70 million in civil penalties, of which, $45 million will go to the United States.  The money will go toward replenishing the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, where by law it will be available to pay for response actions, cleanup and damages caused by future spills.  The remaining penalty will go to Gulf states that participate in the settlement.  Those states will receive penalty payments as follows: $6.75 million to Louisiana, $5 million each to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, and $3.25 million to Texas.

MOEX Offshore has also agreed to secure and protect properties of ecological significance for the Gulf habitats.  MOEX Offshore will ensure that properties within the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Florida are transferred to – or acquired by – state governments, non-profit groups, land trusts or other appropriate entities, to protect those properties from development.  In all, these projects are expected to cost at least $20 million. The negotiation process with MOEX included numerous discussions with the Gulf states, who have been indispensible in reaching this important agreement.

This settlement does not affect the government’s claims against any other defendant in the Deepwater Horizon lawsuit that was filed on Dec. 15, 2010.  The trial of the first phase of the case is set to begin in federal district court in New Orleans on Feb. 27, 2012.

MOEX Offshore is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MOEX USA Corporation.  Mitsui Oil Exploration Co. Ltd. is the corporate parent of MOEX USA, which in turn is owned by Mitsui & Co. Ltd. of Japan.

The proposed settlement, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, is subject to a 30-day comment period and final court approval.

More information on the settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/moex.html

EPA Issues New Construction Stormwater General Permit

News release from EPA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2012

EPA Issues Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites

New permit includes more protections for waterways, shaped by important public and stakeholder feedback

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a new permit, in accordance with the Clean Water Act, that will provide streamlined permitting to thousands of construction operators, while protecting our nation’s waterways from discharges of polluted stormwater from construction sites. Stormwater discharges from construction sites can contain harmful pollutants, such as nutrients, that contaminate waters, increase drinking water treatment costs, and damage aquatic ecosystems. The new permit was shaped by important input from the public and stakeholders to ensure that it provides important protections for waterways, while also providing flexibility to operators.

The 2012 construction general permit (CGP) is required under the Clean Water Act and replaces the existing 2008 CGP, which expired on February 15, 2012. The new permit includes a number of enhanced protections for surface waters, including provisions to protect impaired and sensitive waters. Under the Clean Water Act, national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits are typically issued for a five-year period, after which time EPA generally issues revised permits based on updated information and requirements, as is the case with today’s announcement. NPDES permits control water pollution by including limits on the amount of pollutants that can be discharged into waterways by specific sources. The permit also provides new flexibilities for operators. For example, it allows for emergency projects (e.g., restoration following a flood or other natural disaster) to begin immediately without permit authorization from EPA, while still retaining full authority for EPA to ensure that the project proceeds in an environmentally responsible manner once it has commenced. The permit also enables operators of already permitted projects flexibility where compliance with a new permit requirement is economically impracticable.  

The 2012 CGP updates include steps intended to limit erosion, minimize pollution sources, provide natural buffers or their equivalent around surface waters, and further restrict discharges to areas impaired by previous pollution discharge.

Many of the permit requirements implement new effluent limitations guidelines and new source performance standards for the construction and development industry that became effective on February 1, 2010, which include pollution control techniques to decrease erosion and sediment pollution.

The permit will be effective in areas where EPA is the permitting authority: Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., and most U.S. territories and in Indian country lands.

EPA invited the public to comment on the draft permit. The agency also had a webcast to introduce owners and operators of construction sites, members of the public, and State or Tribal permitting authorities to the new requirements of the proposed CGP.

More information on the proposed construction general permit:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp.cfm

EPA Orders Louisiana Poultry Farms to Stop Discharging

News release from EPA Region 6:

EPA Orders Louisiana Poultry Farms to Stop Discharging

(DALLAS – February 10, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued cease and desist administrative orders to two chicken broiler facilities in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, for discharging chicken litter into a tributary of the Dugdemona River.

The Mike Reeves 1 and Beaver Creek Farm chicken broiler facilities are concentrated animal feeding operations located approximately four miles east of Arcadia on the south side of U.S. Highway 80, Lincoln Parish. The broiler facilities have been ordered to immediately stop all discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States.

“We expect poultry farms to put food on our tables, not waste into our rivers,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “Owners and operators of animal feeding operations have a responsibility to comply with the law.”

On January 24 and 25, 2012, the EPA inspected the facilities and found unauthorized discharges of pollutants from chicken litter storage piles to an unnamed tributary of the Dugdemona River.

As a result of the inspection, the owners and operators of the Mike Reeves 1 and Beaver Creek Farm chicken broiler facilities have been ordered to immediately take action to stop all discharges of pollutants from their facilities’ chicken litter storage piles. Within 30 days they must submit to EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) a certified summary, including photographs, that document the unauthorized discharges have been stopped.

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/feb2012.html

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Proposed Storm Water Permit Incorporates Low Impact Development

News release from EPA Region 10:


EPA’s Proposed Stormwater Permit for JBLM Incorporates Low Impact Development to Protect Puget Sound

(Seattle – January 31, 2012) Due to its size, population and proximity to Puget Sound, Joint Base Lewis-McChord has received a proposed Municipal Stormwater discharge permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The permit, when final, is expected to help guide how stormwater is managed across nearly 142 square miles of base property over the next decade and beyond.

Located just south of Tacoma, JBLM is recognized as the largest military installation on the West Coast. The most recent population estimate for the base was 95,000 people, including military personnel, military dependants residing on base, civilian employees, and visitors.

"JBLM plays a vital role in our national security and the regional economy," said Mike Bussell, Director of EPA’s office of Water and Watersheds in Seattle. "So we designed this new permit to help them accomplish their mission of providing a safe, healthy community for those who serve our country, while reducing the storm water pollution threat to base streams, lakes and Puget Sound."

Stormwater (surface runoff from rain and snow melt) is recognized as a major source of pollution to the Puget Sound. Commercial and housing development alters the land’s natural ability to absorb and evaporate rainfall. Expanding impervious surfaces (like roads and roofs) then converge with a growing population to produce more vehicle related pollution that settles on those surfaces. When it rains, it all runs off into lakes, rivers, streams and ultimately the Puget Sound.

EPA’s draft municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit for JBLM is the first such proposed permit for a military or other federal facility in western Washington. The draft permit requires specific actions and activities that must be accomplished over at least the next five years to protect local waters.

JBLM has been implementing a stormwater program for several years in anticipation of receiving a permit from EPA. Among the new requirements under the proposed permit, the base must control runoff from all construction sites; control runoff from all new development and redevelopment sites; map, inspect, and maintain the storm system, and engage JBLM employees and the community about preventing pollutants in storm water runoff.

Due to its proximity to Puget Sound, the Base permit also requires:

• stormwater runoff from redevelopment and new projects must meet performance standards through use of Low Impact Development (LID) techniques and, if needed, traditional stormwater features (detention ponds);
• a new construction project threshold of 5,000 square feet or greater;
• a program to reduce runoff from the existing developed areas;
• a biological stream health monitoring program using aquatic insects in Clover and Murray Creeks.

EPA’s proposed permit requires LID practices such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, native vegetation areas, and green roofs to avoid or lessen the reliance on traditional stormwater pipes and ponds. By using LID, a larger portion of rainfall will be intercepted, infiltrated, evaporated, or reused to avoid excess runoff. These actions will help maintain or restore a more natural stream flow throughout the year, replenish groundwater, and help protect fish and other aquatic organisms. It will also reduce the influx of pollutants washed into the streams, creeks and lakes on the base or into Puget Sound.

EPA will hold a public meeting to discuss the permit on:

Monday, March 19, 2012

Lakewood Library

6300 Wildaire Road Southwest

Lakewood, Washington 98499

6:00 pm open house & 6:30 – 8:00 pm public meeting

Comments on the Draft Permit Will Be Accepted through March 30, 2012

Send or e-mail comments by March 30, 2012 to:

EPA Region 10

Office of Water and Watersheds, OWW-130

Attn: NPDES Stormwater – JBLM

1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900

Seattle, WA 98101

or via email to the following address: vakoc.misha@epa.gov

After the comment period ends EPA will consider and respond to all comments, and make any necessary changes to the draft permit. The Washington Department of Ecology will also consider certifying the permit in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The EPA Director of the Office of Water & Watersheds will then make a final decision about permit issuance.

For a copy of the Draft Permit:


http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/WATER.NSF/stormwater/homehttp://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/npdes+public+notices/jblm-ms4-pn-2011

For more about how EPA works to protect water quality from stormwater in the Pacific Northwest: 

http://www.epa.gov/region10/stormwater

EPA Proposes Waste Water Discharge Permits

From EPA Region 10:


EPA proposes waste water discharge permits for oil and gas exploration in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas


Comments from the public accepted until March 30, 2012
Contact:
Suzanne Skadowski, Community Involvement, 206-553-6689, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov
Marianne Holsman, Public Affairs, 206-553-1237, holsman.marianne@epa.gov  


(Seattle – Jan. 30, 2012) EPA is now seeking input on two draft waste water discharge permits for oil and gas exploration activities in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The proposed Clean Water Act permits protect public health and the marine environment by placing limits and conditions on the types and amounts of pollution companies can discharge in waste water during oil and gas exploration activities. The proposed permits also require the companies to conduct environmental studies before, during, and after drilling discharges occur to ensure compliance with permit limits.       

These permits are National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits. EPA is proposing one General Permit for the Chukchi Sea and one for the Beaufort Sea. The existing Arctic General Permit (GP), which covered oil and gas exploration discharges for both seas, expired June 2011. Companies currently covered under the expired Arctic GP must reapply for coverage and comply with the new terms and conditions under the final Beaufort and/or Chukchi General Permits.

A detailed summary table of the changes in the General Permits and the specific sections EPA is requesting comments on is included in Appendix A of the Fact Sheet. EPA plans to re-issue the final Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea General Permits by October 2012.

The public comment period for the proposed permits starts: January 30, 2012 and ends March 30, 2012. After the public comment period ends, the EPA will review and address public comments before making final decisions on the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea General Permits.

People who want to comment on the draft General Permits and Fact Sheet must do so by March 30, 2012 by any of the following methods:

• Mail: US EPA Region 10, Suite 900, Attn: Hanh Shaw, Office of Water/Watersheds, 1200 6th Ave, OWW-130, Seattle, WA 98101
• Email: R10arcticpermits@epa.gov
• Fax: Hanh Shaw, 206-553-0165

EPA will hold public hearings on the following dates:

• March 13, 2012, in Barrow, Alaska, at the Inupiat Heritage Center
• March 15, 2012, in Anchorage, Alaska, at the Loussac Public Library

Both hearings will begin at 6:00 p.m.  Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and end at 10:00 p.m.
EPA will also hold two hearings via teleconferences on March 16, 2012, at the following times: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. AKST, 1-866-299-3188, code: 2065536524.

For more information about the draft General Permits and to view project documents, visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/npdes+permits/arctic-gp

EPA Orders Racetrack to Stop Discharges

News Release from EPA Region 6:

EPA Orders Albuquerque Racetrack to Stop Discharges to Protect Rio Grande

(DALLAS – January 25, 2012)  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an order to halt discharges of animal waste, industrial run-off and other pollutants into the Rio Grande.  The action was taken against the Downs at Albuquerque Inc. and EXPO New Mexico, a 93-acre race track and casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that accommodates almost 1,400 horses during racing season.

“Companies must operate in a way that protects vital water resources,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz.  “When a facility fails to meet its responsibilities, the EPA will work closely with our state partner agencies to enforce the law.”

On November 15, 2011, the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) conducted an on-site inspection and found that the facility did not have a properly designed storm water runoff containment structure.  The facility also does not have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit which allows facilities to discharge to waters of the U.S.  

Pollutants commonly associated with animal waste or manure often include nitrogen and phosphorus, organic matter, bacteria and sediments.  These pollutants can clog rivers and streams with algae, kill fish by reducing oxygen in the water, transmit waterborne diseases and impair the enjoyment of waterways.

To comply with the order, the Downs and EXPO New Mexico must immediately take all necessary actions to prevent future discharges of pollutants into U.S. waters and notify the EPA of any discharges of pollutants from the facility into waters of the U.S.  

For more information about animal feeding operations, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/cafofinalrule.cfm
More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html
EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/jan2012.html

EPA Awards Innovative Plating Company

News Release from EPA Region 9:

For Immediate Release: January 25, 2012

Media Contact:  Nahal Mogharabi, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov    

EPA Awards Innovative Plating Company in Clovis for Significant Reductions of Toxic Chemicals

Zero Discharge Facility Reduces 9,000 Pounds of Lead and Hex-chrome, Protects Workers, Public Health

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today recognized Valley Chrome Plating for its achievements in environmental and worker protection under the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) program.  The plating company, located in Clovis, Calif., successfully substituted lead anodes and hexavalent chromium with less harmful alternatives. These advancements have resulted in the reduction of these harmful chemicals by 9,000 pounds—significantly protecting the environment and worker exposure.

“This is a great example of how a company can protect its employees and the environment while growing its business and providing important local jobs,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Removing thousands of pounds of lead and chromium-six from its products ensures a safer environment for Valley Chrome Plating’s workers and the community.”

In 2009, the company eliminated the use of hexavalent chromium and replaced it with the more environmentally friendly trivalent chromium. That same year, Valley Chrome also replaced its lead anodes with safer graphite anodes. The switch to graphite and trivalent chromium has eliminated 3,000 pounds of lead waste and 6,000 pounds of hexavalent chromium from its waste stream.

In addition to altering the materials used its truck bumpers and accessories; Valley Chrome discharges zero wastewater to the public sewers through recycling and the underground plumbing that captures roof run-off from the facility for re-use. This system collects up to 100,000 gallons of rain water that is then used by the facility as part of its cleaning and finishing processes. Valley Chrome also installed ion exchange waste reduction systems in its manufacturing and plating operations, further reducing pollution associated with trivalent chromium as well as nickel plating.

These innovations saved this family-owned company thousands of dollars in waste treatment costs, hauling fees and reduced energy consumption and still allowed the company to compete in the global market.

Hexavalent chromium is associated with irritation to the skin, nose, eyes and throat and more serious complications. Lead is a toxic metal used in plating tanks as anodes. Lead is tied to  a range of health effects, including behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and death. Children six years old and under are at most risk.

NPEP was a voluntary program fostering partnerships between regulatory agencies and manufacturers, commercial companies, and other facilities to reduce the use and release of highly toxic chemicals. NPEP officially ended in 2011. The NPEP partnership encouraged innovative thinking about conservation of our natural resources and ways to substitute, reduce, reuse and recycle..

Today’s announcement was part of Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld’s two day “Whistle Stop Tour” of San Joaquin Valley. For more information on his overall visit, today’s event and photos, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/mediacenter/sjv-tour/

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EPA Releases New Water Pollution Tool

News Release form EPA Headquarters:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2012

EPA Releases New Tool with Information about Water Pollution Across the U.S.

EPA to host webinar on how to use tool to access information on pollutants released into local waterways

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a new tool that provides the public with important information about pollutants that are released into local waterways. Developed under President Obama’s transparency initiative, the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool brings together millions of records and allows for easy searching and mapping of water pollution by local area, watershed, company, industry sector, and pollutant. Americans can use this new tool to protect their health and the health of their communities.

“Transparency leads to greater accountability and better information about pollution in our nation’s communities,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “By making the data we collect available in easy to use tools, we are keeping Americans informed about the health of the environment in their neighborhoods.”

Searches using the DMR Pollutant Loading Tool result in “top ten” lists to help users easily identify facilities and industries that are discharging the most pollution and impacted waterbodies. When discharges are above permitted levels, users can view the violations and link to details about enforcement actions that EPA and states have taken to address these violations.

Facilities releasing water pollution directly into our nation’s waterways, such as wastewater treatment plants or industrial manufacturers, must receive a permit to discharge under the Clean Water Act. Each permit sets specific limits for how much can be discharged. It also requires the permittee to frequently sample their wastewater discharges and report the data to their state or EPA permitting authority.

A link to the new tool can be found on EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) website, which provides information about inspections, facility compliance, and state and federal enforcement actions. EPA has also released several new ECHO features, including a search for criminal enforcement cases and web developer tools that make it easy to tap into ECHO reports and maps.

Information about the webinar:

WHAT: A webinar to demonstrate how to use the new Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool.

WHO: Members of the media, non-profit organizations, industry, business, and citizens interested in learning how to use the tool are encouraged to participate.

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 10 a.m., Eastern Time

HOW: To participate, please use the following dial-in numbers.

Audio Contact Instruction:

(1) Dial the toll-free dial-in number: (866) 358 1366

(2) At the recorded prompt, enter the Conference Code (2025661014) and the "#" sign, using the telephone keypad.
(3) Wait for the Leader to join and the conference to begin.
(4) To disconnect, hang up the telephone.

To access the Webinar use GoToWebinar link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/192410536

*** YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO ACCESS THE WEBINAR***

DMR Pollutant Loading Tool: http://www.epa.gov/pollutantdischarges

ECHO: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo

More information about new features in ECHO: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/recent_additions.html

Los Alamos National Laboratory and Zero Wastewater Discharge

News Release from Los Alamos National Laboratory:

LANL achieves milestone on path to zero wastewater discharge

Improved compliance while recycling millions of gallons of industrial wastewater

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico, January 20, 2012—Millions of gallons of industrial wastewater will be recycled at Los Alamos National Laboratory as the result of a long-term strategy to treat wastewater rather than discharging it into the environment.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, which issues permits for industrial and sanitary wastewater discharges, recently approved the removal of four more outfalls from the Laboratory’s permit. (An outfall is where wastewater from Lab operations is discharged down canyons.)  Only 11 outfalls remain, down from 141 in 1993. 

"One of the objectives of our Environmental Management System is to reduce liquid discharges to a single outfall by the end of 2012," said Dennis Hjeresen, Division Leader of the Environmental Protection Division at the Lab. "Removing four more facilities from our permit is an important step toward reaching that goal."

The wastewater comes from many places at the Laboratory and does many things.  It cools the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), one of the Lab’s premier science research facilities, and the Strategic Computing Complex, which creates world-class high-performance computing systems. The water also cools the Lab’s power plant and comes out of the sanitary plant that treats water from toilets and sinks.

The treated sanitary wastewater and water flushed from cooling towers is transported to the Lab’s Sanitary Effluent Reclamation Facility (SERF). It then can be reused in cooling towers around the Lab.
"The SERF should be recycling up to 300,000 gallons per day by the summer of 2012," Hjeresen said.


About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and URS for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

LANL news media contact: Colleen Curran, (505) 664-0344, colleen_curran@lanl.gov