EPA and USDA Join Together To Help Americans Reduce Wasted Food

EPA Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2013

EPA and USDA Join Together To Help Americans Reduce Wasted Food 

 WASHINGTON – Today EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to announce the launch of a challenge that asks farmers, processors, manufacturers, retailers, communities and government agencies to reduce wasted food. The U.S. Food Waste Challenge builds upon the success of EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge to help more Americans do their part to reduce food waste. 

“Food waste is the single largest type of waste entering our landfills -- Americans throw away up to 40 percent of their food. Addressing this issue helps to combat hunger and save money, while also combating climate change. Food waste in landfills decomposes to create potent greenhouse gases and by reducing this waste we can in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “I’m proud that EPA is joining with USDA today to announce the U.S. Food Waste Challenge. With the help of partners across the country, we can ensure that our nation’s food goes to our families and those in need – not the landfill.”

“The United States enjoys the most productive and abundant food supply on earth, but too much of this food goes to waste,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Not only could this food be going to folks who need it – we also have an opportunity to reduce the amount of food that ends up in America’s landfills. By joining together with EPA and businesses from around the country, we have an opportunity to better educate folks about the problem of food waste and begin to address this problem across the nation.”

Americans send more food to landfills and incinerators than any other single municipal solid waste (MSW) – 35 million tons– even more than paper and plastic.  When wasted food is sent to landfills, it decomposes and becomes a source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. In addition, the production and transportation of food has a number of environmental impacts; by reducing wasted food our society helps conserve energy and reduces environmental impacts.

In 2010, EPA began challenging organizations along the food lifecycle to adopt more sustainable practices through its National Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) program’s Food Recovery Challenge (FRC).  EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge provides direct technical assistance, a tracking system, and recognition to help support and motivate organizations to reduce their food waste.  Through the simple act of measuring food that is wasted, organizations can immediately identify simple changes that lead to big reductions More than 200 organizations are now participating in the Food Recovery Challenge.
More on the U.S. Food Waste Challenge: www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/index.htm

More on the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program and Food Recovery Challenge:  http://www.epa.gov/smm/foodrecovery/

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Press release:

Lockheed Martin Leans Forward With Aggressive, New Environmental Sustainability Goals

Company Sets Reductions in Carbon Emissions, Energy Use, Waste and Water by 2020

BETHESDA, Md., September 13, 2012 – Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced it will implement aggressive new global environmental goals to decrease its use of natural resources at all stages of product development and business operations over the next eight years.

By 2020, the company is targeting absolute reductions in carbon emissions by 35 percent, facility energy use by 20 percent, waste to landfills by 35 percent and water use by 10 percent, using third-party verified environmental performance from 2010 as a baseline.  These represent voluntary reductions which go beyond current regulatory requirements. The eight-year horizon aligns with U.S. Executive Order 13514, which requires U.S. federal agencies to achieve similar environmental goals. 

“With our Go Green 2020 goals, we can apply a new focus to the way we develop products, manage suppliers, operate facilities, design office space and other decisions we make throughout the business lifecycle,” said Chris Kubasik, vice chairman, president and chief operating officer. 

In April 2012, the company announced that it had met or exceeded its previous set of environmental goals of reducing carbon emissions, waste-to-landfill and water use by 25 percent since 2007, while revenues rose 12 percent in the same period.   According to publicly available data and the recently released Carbon Disclosure Project 2012 S&P 500 Report, Lockheed Martin is leading major aerospace and defense companies, and many other large industrial manufacturers, in meeting environmental performance targets. 

Several projects of varying scale contribute to the company’s environmental performance improvements, including the largest outdoor solar LED lighting system in the state of Fla. at the Orlando facility; the recently implemented fuel cell power generation system at the Sunnyvale, Calif. site; and using reusable containers for aircraft parts that eliminate wood packaging and streamline the production process in Fort Worth, Texas.

More information about Lockheed Martin’s energy, environment, safety and health performance can be found at: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/csr2011.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

U.S. EPA Fines Kettleman City Landfill for Improper Analysis of PCBs Waste

Press release:

For Immediate Release: September 7, 2012
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov

U.S. EPA Fines Kettleman City Landfill for Improper Analysis of PCBs Waste

LOS ANGELES—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined Chemical Waste Management, Inc. (CWM) $9,375 for a single instance in which it failed to analyze leachate for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) before disposal at its Kettleman Hills Facility located in Kings County, Calif.

On May 9, 2012, CWM voluntarily disclosed to EPA that leachate, or liquid that drains from a landfill, was disposed in a hazardous waste surface impoundment without being sampled or analyzed for PCBs. The leachate remaining in the tank was later tested for PCBs and found to be below the regulatory limit 50 milligrams per liter, allowing it to be placed into the surface impoundment.

In addition to paying the fine, CWM will implement new safety protocols for its leachate collection tanks to ensure that the leachate is properly sampled for PCBs before removal from the tanks —preventing the mismanagement of this liquid in the future. The new protocols consist of additional equipment tagging and a detailed documentation process.
There is no evidence to suggest that the landfill’s violation posed any danger to nearby communities or workers at the facility.
Prior to 1976, PCBs were commonly added to liquids used in electrical transformers, capacitors, circuit breakers, voltage regulators/switches, plasticizers, and other additives in lubricating and cutting oils. EPA regulates PCBs under the Toxic Substances Control Act. EPA will continue to monitor this facility and other PCB storage and disposal facilities.
For more information on EPA Activities in the Kettleman City area, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/kettleman

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100,000th Refrigerator Recycled as Part of GE Agreement with Appliance Recycling Centers of America

Press release:

07 September 2012

100,000th Refrigerator Recycled as Part of GE Agreement with Appliance Recycling Centers of America

 

• 100,000 refrigerators and freezers have now made their way through the revolutionary UNTHA Recycling Technology system
• Innovative recycling system reduces landfill waste and greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance emissions
• Initiative has diverted 5.5 million pounds of material from U.S. landfills[1]

LOUISVILLE, Ky., — September 7, 2012 — (NYSE: GE) — This week, GE, in collaboration with Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA), reached a milestone of 100,000 refrigerators and freezers recycled through North America’s only UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT) System. ARCA’s (Nasdaq: ARCI) URT machine, a unique 40-foot-tall engineering marvel, recovers approximately 95 percent of the insulating foam in refrigerators and freezers,[1] reducing landfill waste and greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance emissions.

As a result of this milestone, an estimated 5.5 million pounds of refrigerator and freezer material has been diverted from U.S. landfills.[1] Eighty-nine percent of the material has been recovered for reuse for new products, and 11 percent is being used as fuel in cement manufacturing.[1]

“This achievement represents a significant advance in how appliances are recycled in the U.S.,” said Brian Conners, president and COO of ARCA Advanced Processing (AAP). “As a result of our work with GE Appliances, AAP has made great strides toward achieving our goal of zero landfill appliance recycling.”

Roughly 9 million refrigerators are disposed of annually in the U.S., and only a fraction of those have the insulating foam in their walls and doors recycled. While 90 percent of used refrigerators in the U.S. are shredded for their metal, the remaining foam and other materials typically go to a landfill.[2]If the foam from all of those refrigerators was processed through the URT system, the greenhouse gas emissions avoided would be equivalent to the annual CO₂-e emissions of more than 2.4 million cars on U.S. roads.[3]

How the GE Appliance Recycling Initiative WorksAs part of GE’s agreement with ARCA, when qualifying consumers purchase a new appliance from a participating retailer in the 12-state region, their old unit will be taken away when their new one is delivered. The old unit will then be transported to the Philadelphia-based AAP center for recycling. Consumers can find a participating Retailer in their area atwww.geappliances.com/refrigerator-recycling.

Economic Impact
Integral to GE’s agreement with ARCA is a commitment to supply used appliance volumes from a 12-state region into AAP’s recycling center. ARCA, in turn, has invested in proven appliance recycling technology and has created more than 50 green jobs in Pennsylvania proving how market-based solutions such as these can drive economic success. This initiative demonstrates the potential for future growth in foam recycling technology throughout the U.S. industry.

A Cradle-to-Cradle Appliance ApproachGE takes a cradle-to-cradle approach to managing the life cycle of an appliance, from the manufacturing of refrigerators with more environmentally sustainable insulating material to responsible end-of-life disposal. Steel recovered from recycled appliances at AAP’s recycling center is reused as steel deck bottom plates in new GE locomotives. GE Appliances is the only appliance manufacturer to partner collectively in four voluntary Environmental Protection Agency programs: ENERGY STAR®; Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD); WasteWise, an initiative focused on waste reduction and saving environmental resources while reducing emissions; and SmartWay®, a program designed to help lower transportation-related emissions.

The partnership with these programs is consistent with the company’s ecomagination^SM initiative to deploy solutions for today’s energy and environmental challenges.

"One year ago we helped welcome the country's first fully automated URT System facility," said Sarah Dunham, director of EPA's Office of Atmospheric Programs. "GE Appliances' continued success as a partner in EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program helps protect the Earth's ozone layer, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and divert materials from landfills."

A long-time ENERGY STAR partner, GE offers approximately 500 ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, which deliver efficiency and cost savings to customers over product life.[4]

About Appliance Recycling Centers of America
ARCA (www.ARCAInc.com), one of the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities, currently provides services for more than 175 utility programs in the U.S. and Canada. Toxic chemicals and environmentally harmful materials such as ozone-depleting refrigerants, PCBs, mercury and oil are carefully recovered in the decommissioning process for destruction or disposal, preventing them from contaminating soil, air and water resources. The company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), a materials recovery system for household refrigeration appliances.

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

---

[1] Based on ARCA Advanced Processing letter dated December 2010 re: PUR recovery rates

[2] Based on results from a survey undertaken by AHAM as reported in UNEP 2005 and recently reported by ICF International in April 2010 report

[3] Based on Stevenson Company data and calculations using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency global warming potential (GWP) equivalents: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html

[4] Compared to non-ENERGY STAR appliances

Final Hazardous Waste Permit Modifications Issued for Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, Mo.

Press release:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

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

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

Final Hazardous Waste Permit Modifications Issued for Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, Mo.

Contact Information: David Bryan, 913-551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov, Ben Washburn, 913-551-7364, washburn.ben@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., August 27, 2012) – EPA Region 7 and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources have issued final hazardous waste permit modifications that will allow better coordination of environmental investigations and hasten the cleanup of the Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, Mo.

The two environmental agencies issued the permit modifications to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. General Services Administration, both of which have responsibility for different parts of the complex located at 2000 E. Bannister Road in southeast Kansas City, Mo.

The U.S. Department of Energy owns the Kansas City Plant and the U.S. General Services Administration owns the remaining portions of the federal complex. Last September, DOE and GSA submitted a permit modification request asking that DOE’s hazardous waste permits include the entire complex and that GSA be added as a permittee. Both DOE and GSA were performing environmental investigation and cleanup activities on their respective portions of the complex, but under separate environmental laws.

The final permit modifications issued by EPA and MDNR require DOE and GSA to conduct further environmental investigation, monitoring, risk-assessment and cleanup.

EPA issued the final Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II Permit Modifications. MDNR issued the final Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I Permit Modifications. These modifications, as well as a summary and response to comments received during the public comment period, are available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/permits/notices.htm.

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EPA and Baltimore's CNX Marine Terminals, Inc. Settle Water and Waste Violations

Press release:

EPA and Baltimore's CNX Marine Terminals, Inc. Settle Water and Waste Violations

PHILADELPHIA (August 23, 2012) -- CNX Marine Terminals, Inc. has agreed to pay a $34,600 penalty to settle alleged violations of federal environmental laws involving the discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff, the operation and maintenance of underground storage tank systems and waste storage, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. The alleged violations were at the CNX terminal at 3800 New Gate Ave., Baltimore, Md.

According to the consent agreement and final order, the specific alleged violations include unauthorized stormwater discharges from a pipe into the Janney Run Creek, failure to properly operate and maintain the release detection system on a 2,000-gallon underground storage tank, failure to conduct a line tightness test on the underground storage tank every three years, and failure to properly store used fluorescent lamps.

The $34,600 settlement penalty reflects the cooperation of CNX Marine Terminals with EPA's investigation.

Uncontrolled stormwater runoff often contains sediment, suspended solids, oxygen-demanding compounds and other pollutants that can harm our nation's waterways. Under the Clean Water Act, facilities must obtain permits issued by EPA or the state environmental agency before discharging stormwater runoff into waterways. These permits include requirements for erosion and sediment controls and precautionary best management practices such as spill prevention safeguards, material storage, and employee training.

Underground storage tanks (UST) must be tested to prevent leaks because the greatest potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. These leaks can threaten public safety and health as well as the environment because UST systems contain hazardous and toxic chemicals. Cleaning up petroleum leaks is difficult and usually expensive. Federal regulations ensure that USTs are structurally sound because it is easier and less costly to prevent leaks before they happen.

U.S. Navy Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at Facility in Virginia Beach, Va.

Press release:

U.S. Navy Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at Facility in

Virginia Beach, Va.

PHILADELPHIA (August 23, 2012) -- The U.S. Navy has agreed to pay a $32,800 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations and underground storage tank (UST) regulations at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story facility in Virginia Beach, Va. , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA cited the U.S. Navy for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste. In addition, RCRA regulates underground storage tanks with the emphasis on preventing releases from USTs which can cause serious contamination to our nation's groundwater.

The U.S. Navy facility, which provides housing and training for the nation’s expeditionary forces, allegedly violated RCRA by failing to determine if the waste was hazardous; storing hazardous waste at the facility, failing to label containers with date and contents; failing to have functioning spill and over fill equipment for two USTs; and failing to notify the state when a new oil-containing UST was installed.

The settlement penalty reflects the Navy's compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the investigation and resolution of this matter. The facility has made significant improvements to come into compliance including the removal of an underground storage tank, providing personnel training and implementing better management practices. As part of the settlement, the U.S. Navy has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.

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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New Haven Company Faces Fine for Hazardous Waste Violations

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Office
August 2, 2012 

Contact: Dave Deegan (617) 918-1017

New Haven Company Faces Fine for Hazardous Waste Violations

(Boston, Mass. – August 2, 2012) - A New Haven, Conn. company that makes door hardware faces a penalty of $64,495 from the US Environmental Protection Agency for violating state and federal hazardous waste laws.

According to a complaint filed recently by EPA’s New England office, the Sargent Manufacturing Company failed to segregate containers of incompatible hazardous waste, failed to have an adequate hazardous waste training program, failed to close containers of hazardous waste, failed to maintain adequate aisle space between containers of hazardous waste, failed to mark containers with the date  that accumulation of hazardous waste began, failed to update and submit revised contingency plan to local authorities, and otherwise failed to manage hazardous waste in accordance with the requirements.

Sargent Manufacturing is owned by Assa Abloy, a company based in Sweden.

The case stems from a March 2011 inspection by EPA to see if the company was meeting the requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and related state regulations.  This federal law is designed to help protect public health and the environment by promoting the proper management of hazardous wastes. 

Sargent’s failure to segregate containers of spent hydrochloric acid and sodium fluoride prompted significant concern.  If the containers were to break or leak, the mixing of these incompatible wastes could lead to a reaction, such as fire or explosion, or the generation of flammable hydrogen gas.  Sargent’s failure to have an adequate hazardous waste training program increased the likelihood that wastes generated may not be properly managed and that Sargent personnel may not be able to adequately coordinate all emergency response measures in the event of emergency.

More information :  Enforcing hazardous waste laws in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/waste/index.html )

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Energy Department Announces New Technical Review to Assess Black Cells at Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant

News release from the U.S. Dept. of Energy:

Energy Department Announces New Technical Review to Assess Black Cells at Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant

August 2, 2012 - 12:15pm

News Media Contact

• (202) 586-4940

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has assembled a group of  independent technical experts  to assess the Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment Plant (WTP), specifically as it relates to the facility’s “black cells.” The review involves the plant’s capability, as designed, to detect equipment failure and to repair failed equipment inside the WTP’s black cells.  Black cells are enclosed concrete rooms within the WTP Pretreatment facility that contain tanks and piping.  Due to high levels of radioactivity once the plant begins operations, the cells are designed to be sealed with no access by personnel over the anticipated 40-year operating life span of the plant.  The review will include the individual input of technical experts in a variety of fields.

“I will be receiving input from each of these highly capable experts to help improve our ability to detect and address any potential issues in the black cells that could arise during the course of the Waste Treatment Plant’s operational life,” said Chu.  “These experts have a reputation for developing creative solutions to highly technical issues and their independent advice will enable us to integrate worthwhile ideas into the design of the plant before construction is completed.”

The WTP is being designed and built to treat millions of gallons of tank waste from plutonium production at Hanford from the 1940s to the 1980s.  The equipment in the facility’s 18 black cells is designed to operate without moving mechanical parts that would require maintenance. DOE is now reviewing that technical approach to determine whether or not those areas can or should be accessible for monitoring and repairing equipment once operations begin.

Secretary Chu and the independent experts will begin reviewing information about WTP this week and are expected to visit the Hanford Site in the coming months. The principal purposes of the review are to assess the plant’s capability to detect equipment vulnerabilities or failures in the black cells, assess plans to repair those systems, and recommend any design changes or operational enhancements that may be needed.  The Department has named William Hamel, the Assistant Manager for Infrastructure at Idaho, as the lead federal employee to facilitate this review.  Hamel, an employee of the Office of Nuclear Energy, has in-depth knowledge and experience with black cell designs and vitrification operations.

“We welcome this assessment and look forward to assisting with this review at the Waste Treatment Plant,” said Scott Samuelson, Manager, DOE’s Office of River Protection.  “These individuals are known for both their expertise and capability to analyze complex problems and facilities and provide sound recommendations to the government.”

The following individuals will be participating in the review:

• Langdon Holton has over 35 years experience in radiochemical process engineering and operations, nuclear fuel reprocessing, waste separations and treatment and development of waste treatment technologies supporting programs within the United States, Germany and France.  Langdon Holton is employed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and has been supporting DOE in its oversight of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.  He has academic degrees in chemical engineering from the University of California, and graduate degrees in chemical engineering and business from the University of Washington.

• Dr. Thomas O. Hunter retired in July 2010 as President and Laboratories Director of Sandia National Laboratories.  Dr. Hunter joined Sandia in 1967 and became president in April 2005.  In May, DOE Secretary Steven Chu appointed Dr. Hunter as lead of the federal government’s scientific team that worked with BP officials to develop and analyze solutions to the BP oil spill. That work is continuing.  Dr. Hunter is a member of the Engineering Advisory Board for the University of Florida, Council on Foreign Relations, American Nuclear Society, New Mexico Technology Commercialization Council, the MIND Research Network, and the U.S. Strategic Command’s Strategic Advisory Group.  He is the author of numerous technical papers and presentations.  Dr. Hunter earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, an M.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin.

• Dr. David Kosson is a Professor of Engineering, Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University.  He also is co-principal investigator (with Charles Powers) of the multi-university Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP).  Kosson’s research focuses on management of nuclear and chemical wastes, including process development and contaminant mass transfer applied to groundwater, soil, sediment, and waste systems.  Kosson has undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical and biochemical engineering from Rutgers University.

• Dr. Milton Levenson has more than 60 years experience in nuclear energy, much of it relating to nuclear safety.  His technical experience includes work related to nuclear safety, fuel cycle, water reactors, advanced reactors, and remote operations.  Levenson was at Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project in the early 1940s.  He had first-hand knowledge of the first fatal nuclear accident in the United States (known as the SL-1 accident in Idaho).  He led the technical team that responded to the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, and he was appointed to a special Soviet commission that investigated the Chernobyl accident.  His professional experience includes research and operations positions at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Argonne National Laboratory, Electric Power Research Institute, and Bechtel, where he retired as vice president in 1989.  Levenson is a fellow and past president of the American Nuclear Society, a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and a recipient of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers' Robert E. Wilson Award in Nuclear Chemical Engineering.  He is the author of more than 150 publications and presentations and holds three U.S patents.  He is also a member of the National Academies' Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board and has served on several National Research Council committees.

• Dr. Arun Majumdar became the first Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), the country's only agency devoted to transformational energy research and development, in October 2009.  Prior to joining ARPA-E, Majumdar was the Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Environment at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.  His highly distinguished research career includes the science and engineering of energy conversion, transport, and storage ranging from molecular and nanoscale level to large energy systems.  In 2005, Majumdar was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for this pioneering work.  He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

• Dr. Richard A. Meserve is President of the Carnegie Institution for Science and Senior of Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP.  He is a former chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is a member of the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.  With his Harvard law degree, received in 1975, and his Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford, awarded in 1976, Meserve devoted his legal practice to technical issues arising at the intersection of science, law, and public policy.  Early in his career, Meserve served as legal counsel to the President’s science advisor and was a law clerk to Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court and to Judge Benjamin Kaplan of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.  Meserve received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University in 1966.

• Dr. Per Peterson is Professor and Chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB).  He is a member of the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.  After joining UCB in 1990 as an Assistant Professor he received a NSF Presidential Young Investigator award, and most recently received the Fusion Power Associates Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award and the American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division Technical Achievement Award.  Peterson’s research interests focus on topics in heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, and phase change.

• Dr. Monica Regalbuto works in the Process Chemistry and Engineering Department at Argonne National Laboratory.  She previously served as a Senior Program Manager with the Office of Waste Processing with the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management, supporting technical risk reduction and uncertainty in the Department’s clean-up programs. From 2003 to 2008, Regalbuto served as the head of the Process Chemistry and Engineering Department in Argonne’s Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division and managed a group of 30 researchers. Regalbuto has academic degrees in chemical engineering from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and graduate degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

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

Press release:

EPA to Hold Five Public Hearing Sessions August 25, 26 and 27

On Air Permit for Arecibo Waste to Energy Facility

The Public Encouraged to Pre-Register to Testify

Contact: Elias Rodriguez (212) 637-3664; rodriguez.elias@epa.gov; Brenda Reyes (787) 977-5869; reyes.brenda@epa.gov 

(San Juan, P.R., July 19, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has scheduled a new series of public hearing sessions to accept public comments on its proposed action to approve an air permit to construct a waste to energy facility in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. 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 register 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.

To pre-register for August 25 or 26, contact John Aponte of the EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division Office by email at Aponte.john@epa.gov or phone at 787-977-5853.

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 to coincide with the conclusion of the additional hearing sessions. Written comments may be submitted at any time during the comment period, which remains open until August 27, 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

12-090                                                             #   #   #

EPA to Hold Public Hearing on Air Permit for Arecibo Solid Waste Incinerator on Monday, June 25

News release:

EPA to Hold Public Hearing on Air Permit for Arecibo Solid Waste Incinerator on Monday, June 25

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

(New York, N.Y. -- June 22, 2012) Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is repeating its announcement that it is accepting public comments on its proposed action to approve an air permit to construct a garbage incinerator in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. 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 a formal public hearing on June 25, 2012, from 6:00 pm until the last speaker has been heard. The hearing will also be held in the Theater of the University of Puerto Rico at the Arecibo campus, which is located in the Business Administration building of the University. The address of the campus is Carretera 653 Km. 0.8 Las Dunas Sector, Arecibo. Comments given at this hearing will be part of the official public record and will be considered as comments on the air permit. EPA encourages all interested parties to participate in the public hearing and to submit comments on the proposed action either in writing or by participating at the public hearing.

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. The EPA’s evaluation also included assessing the impact of the facility on nearby low income communities. Based on information available to date, EPA has concluded that operation of the facility will not cause any health standards to be exceeded or any communities to be disproportionately and adversely impacted.

To obtain an the EPA permit, Energy Answers was also required to demonstrate that the pollution controls on the plant are as strict or stricter than any other plant being built in the United States today. The EPA has included these pollution controls, which are considered the best pollution control technology available, as requirements in the proposed permit.

The proposed permit also requires Energy Answers to test the pollution it emits to the atmosphere. Before the facility can begin full operation it must demonstrate it meets the pollution limits the EPA is proposing to establish. The permit requires pollution levels to be measured and reported to the EPA during operation. Failure to meet any of these standards would subject the facility to EPA enforcement actions.

The EPA is asking for public comments on this preliminary decision to approve Energy Answers’ application. Written comments may be submitted at any time during the comment period, which remains open until June 29. EPA's final permit decision will be made only after full consideration of all public comments received.

The administrative record for the proposed decision, which includes all documents relevant to the EPA’s proposed permit, is available 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. 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

Division of Environmental Planning and Protection

Air Programs Branch - Permitting Section

290 Broadway, 25^th Floor

New York, New York 10007-1866

Attention: Mr. Steven C. Riva

(212) 637-4074

riva.steven@epa.gov

OR:

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. Jose Font

(787) 977-5870

font.jose@epa.gov

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Recology Teams with IBM in Quest to Help San Francisco Become First City in North America to Achieve Zero Waste

News release from IBM.

IBM (NYSE:IBM) announced today a collaboration with Recology, San Francisco’s resource recovery company, to continue reducing landfill disposal by further improving recycling programs designed to help the city achieve zero waste by 2020.

For more, click the link below:

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/37874.wss

EPA to Hold Public Meeting and Public Hearing on Air Permit for Arecibo Solid Waste Incinerator

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

(San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 14, 2012) – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing that it is accepting public comments on its proposed action to approve an air permit to construct a garbage incinerator in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. 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 host a public availability session to allow an informal opportunity for the public to learn about the proposed permit. This session will be held on May 23, 2012, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the Theater of the University of Puerto Rico at the Arecibo campus, which is located in the Business Administration building of the University. The address of the campus is Carratera 653 Km. 0.8 Las Dunas Sector, Arecibo. The EPA will provide simultaneous translations between English and Spanish.

In addition, the EPA will hold a formal public hearing on June 25, 2012, from 6:00 pm until the last speaker has been heard. The hearing will also be held in the Theater of the University of Puerto Rico at the Arecibo campus. Comments given at this hearing will be part of the official public record and will be considered as comments on the air permit. EPA encourages all interested parties to participate of the public availability session and to submit comments on the proposed action either in writing or by participating of the public hearing.

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. The EPA’s evaluation also included assessing the impact of the facility on nearby low income communities. Based on information available to date, EPA has concluded that operation of the facility will not cause any health standards to be exceeded or any communities to be disproportionately impacted.

To obtain an the EPA permit, Energy Answers was also required to demonstrate that the pollution controls on the plant are as strict or stricter than any other plant being built in the United States today. The EPA has included these pollution controls, which are considered the best pollution control technology available, as requirements in the proposed permit.

The proposed permit also requires Energy Answers to test the pollution it emits to the atmosphere. Before the facility can begin full operation it must demonstrate it meets the pollution limits the EPA is proposing to establish. The permit requires pollution levels to be measured and reported to the EPA during operation. Failure to meet any of these standards would subject the facility to EPA enforcement actions.

The EPA is asking for public comments on this preliminary decision to approve Energy Answers’ application. The public comment period will extend for forty-five days until June 25. Written comments may be submitted at any time during the comment period. EPA's final permit decision will be made only after full consideration of all public comments received.

The administrative record for the proposed decision, which includes all documents relevant to the EPA’s proposed permit, is available 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. 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

Permitting Section
Air Programs Branch
290 Broadway
New York, New York 10007
Attention: Mr. Steven C. Riva

(212) 637-4074

riva.steven@epa.gov

OR:

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. Jose Font

(787) 977-5870
font.jose@epa.gov

012-065

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