USDA Blog » Native Seedlings to Return to Reforest Burned Areas

USDA Blog » Native Seedlings to Return to Reforest Burned Areas

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

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

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

EPA News Release:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219

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

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

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

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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USDA Blog » 2013: A Fine Year for Conservation

USDA Blog » 2013: A Fine Year for Conservation

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

EPA Press Release:

EPA Orders Company to Stop Removing Asbestos at the

Former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center in Dutchess County, NY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Illinois EPA Releases Air Quality Report for 2012

Illinois EPA Press Release:

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

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