Giselle Hosein peers into the dark sky above a manicured fairway on the Coral Gables Granada Golf Course, trying hard to see what she can so far only hear: an elusive Florida bonneted bat, among the rarest in the world.
Endangered bats find haven at Coral Gables golf course - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Fabien Cousteau’s undersea mission in Florida Keys concludes with significant accomplishments - Florida Keys - MiamiHerald.com
Outside the view port of the underwater habitat Aquarius, during the Fabien Cousteau-led Mission 31, a Goliath Grouper nicknamed Sylvia attacked a barracuda while a reef shark and aquanauts watched in delight.
“Oh, did you see that?” one of the aquanauts said with the excitement of a kid opening a Christmas present. “Oh, wow. Did you get it?”
Fabien Cousteau’s undersea mission in Florida Keys concludes with significant accomplishments - Florida Keys - MiamiHerald.com
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
USDA Blog » USDA Conservation Funding Helps Provide Protection for Great Lakes
I have the Great Lakes in my blood. Born and raised on the shores of Lake Huron, my sisters and I spent countless summer days playing in the water and running along the beaches of soft singing sand.
The Au Sable River, a clear blue ribbon trout stream, empties into Lake Huron in Oscoda, Mich., my hometown. We canoed the river frequently, noticing eel-like lampreys undulate menacingly upstream in the water beneath our paddles.
USDA Blog » USDA Conservation Funding Helps Provide Protection for Great Lakes
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
EPA Finalizes $47 Million Plan to Address Pollution in Three Areas of Ringwood Mines Superfund Site in Ringwood, New Jersey
EPA Press Release:
(New York, N.Y. – July 1, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its plan to address contamination in three areas of the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site in Ringwood, New Jersey. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, these areas were used to dispose of waste materials, including paint sludge and waste in drums, from the Ford Motor Company’s automobile assembly plant in Mahwah, New Jersey. Sampling of the paint sludge found that it contained lead, arsenic, chromium and other contaminants. Exposure to these contaminants can have serious health effects and, in some cases, increase the risk of cancer. Lead is a toxic metal that can cause damage to a child’s ability to learn and a range of health problems in adults. To date, the cleanup of the Ringwood site has been conducted and paid for by Ford and the Borough of Ringwood with oversight by the EPA. The cost of the cleanup plan for the three areas is currently estimated to be $46.7 million.
EPA Finalizes $47 Million Plan to Address Pollution in Three Areas of Ringwood Mines Superfund Site in
Ringwood, New Jersey
Contact Information: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov
(New York, N.Y. – July 1, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its plan to address contamination in three areas of the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site in Ringwood, New Jersey. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, these areas were used to dispose of waste materials, including paint sludge and waste in drums, from the Ford Motor Company’s automobile assembly plant in Mahwah, New Jersey. Sampling of the paint sludge found that it contained lead, arsenic, chromium and other contaminants. Exposure to these contaminants can have serious health effects and, in some cases, increase the risk of cancer. Lead is a toxic metal that can cause damage to a child’s ability to learn and a range of health problems in adults. To date, the cleanup of the Ringwood site has been conducted and paid for by Ford and the Borough of Ringwood with oversight by the EPA. The cost of the cleanup plan for the three areas is currently estimated to be $46.7 million.
The decision contains the following plans to address contamination in three areas of the site:
- · Peter’s Mine Pit - Contaminated soil and other material will be removed from around the opening of the mine and the pit will be capped.
- · Cannon Mine Pit - The mine pit will be capped.
- · O’Connor Disposal Area - The area will be excavated, with a contingency to consolidate and cap wastes if the Borough of Ringwood moves forward with its plan to build a recycling center on this area of the site.
The EPA held a public meeting in Ringwood on November 7, 2013 to explain its proposed plan, encouraged comments from the public for over 120 days and considered public input before finalizing the plan. The EPA has prepared detailed responses to the comments, which can be found in the EPA’s Responsiveness Summary. http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/ringwood/documents.html
EPA recognizes and is grateful for the dedication and perseverance of members of the Ramapough tribe, community members and the Community Advisory Group for the site who have for years remained focused on remediation of the Ringwood Mines site.
The 500-acre Ringwood Mines/Landfill site is in a historic iron mining district in the Borough of Ringwood, New Jersey. The site, which is in a forested area with about 50 private homes, includes abandoned mine shafts and pits, an inactive landfill and other disposal areas. The site was originally added to the Superfund list of hazardous waste sites in 1983. It was removed from the Superfund list in 1994 based on a finding that all appropriate cleanup actions had been taken. In 1995, 1998 and 2004, additional areas of paint sludge were discovered at the site, prompting further cleanup actions. The EPA restored the site to the Superfund list in 2006 due to the discovery of additional contaminated materials.
The actions in the plan build on cleanup work performed at the Ringwood Mines Superfund site over many years. Between 1984 and 1988, Ford, with EPA oversight, conducted an investigation of the nature and extent of contamination at the site. Ford excavated and disposed of the paint sludge found and monitored ground water and surface water on a long-term basis. In 1987-1988, 7,700 cubic yards of paint sludge and soil were removed from the site and approximately 600 cubic yards of paint sludge and 54 intact and crushed drums were removed in 1990. Since December 2004, approximately 53,528 tons of additional paint sludge, drum remnants and associated soil from the Peter’s Mine Pit Area, the O’Connor Disposal Area and 15 additional disposal areas within the site were removed and disposed of properly.
In 2011, the EPA began testing for lead on residential properties and dioxin in people’s homes. Wherever lead or dioxin has been found to exceed protective levels, the EPA has cleaned it up. More than 2,400 tons of soil has been removed from people’s yards.
The following are key elements of the cleanup plan:
EPA will require more frequent ground water monitoring to confirm that contamination is not leaving the site and reaching any surface water. Ground water monitoring data will be posted on the EPA web site.
Peter’s Mine Pit
The EPA plan requires the excavation, removal and disposal to a facility outside of the area of about 22,000 tons of fill material, soil and debris from around the opening of the mine pit. The plan includes the option of separating out the nonhazardous material and placing it back in the pit. The area surrounding the pit will be excavated down to native soil, bedrock or the water table, whichever is encountered first. If drums or paint sludge are encountered, excavation will continue to ensure they will be removed. A permeable cap will be placed on the pit to raise its level above that of the surrounding ground to restore it for use as part of Ringwood State Park. Due to the depth and nature of the contamination at Peter’s Mine, people are not exposed to any waste that might be present in the mine.
Cannon Mine Pit
Under the plan, all of the waste in the Cannon Mine Pit will be capped in place. A clean layer of soil will be placed over the cap and the area will be re-planted. The area will then be fenced off and the plan requires a deed notice to prevent activities that could disturb it.
O’Connor Disposal Area
The cleanup plan calls for the O’Connor Disposal Area to be completely excavated and the waste to be disposed of at a facility outside the area. An estimated 106,400 tons of contaminated soil would be removed from the O’Connor Disposal Area and the excavated areas would be covered with topsoil and re-planted.
The plan includes a second option for this area of the site because the Borough of Ringwood informed the EPA that it is planning to move its recycling center from its current location in Upper Ringwood to the O’Connor Disposal Area. If the borough moves forward with its plan to construct a municipal facility at the O’Connor Disposal Area and satisfies EPA’s requirement concerning the timely construction of the facility, the plan would allow for this change under this “contingency remedy.” Under the contingency, the EPA would allow the capping of waste within the portion of the O’Connor Disposal Area that would be used for the proposed facility. The borough has indicated that capping portions of the O’Connor Disposal Area would create a level area near the center and southern part of the area upon which it would construct the proposed facility. If the area was used for a municipal facility, much of it would likely be capped with asphalt or concrete.
If the borough constructs the recycling center on the site of the O’Connor Disposal Area, some acreage around the perimeter of that area will be fully excavated and restored with appropriate native vegetation.
If the borough does not finalize its plans for a recycling center and within six months from today provide the EPA with assurances regarding the timely construction of the facility, the EPA’s selection of complete excavation of the O’Connor Disposal Area will continue in effect.
The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. After sites are placed on the Superfund list of the most contaminated waste sites, the EPA searches for parties responsible for the contamination and holds them accountable for the costs of investigations and cleanups. The cleanup of the Ringwood site has been conducted and paid for by Ford and the Borough of Ringwood with oversight by the EPA. The EPA expects to enter into an agreement with Ford and the Borough to implement this cleanup as well.
To view the EPA’s record of decision for the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/ringwood/index.html.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page,http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2
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EPA Proposes Updates to Reduce Methane, Other Harmful Pollution from New Landfills
EPA Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2014
EPA Proposes Updates to Reduce Methane, Other Harmful Pollution from New Landfills
Agency also seeks public input on potential updates to guidelines for existing landfills
WASHINGTON – As part of the President’s Climate Action Plan – Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing updates to its air standards for new municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. These updates would require certain landfills to capture additional landfill gas, which would reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and help further reduce pollution that harms public health. The agency also is seeking broad public feedback on how and whether to update guidelines for existing landfills.
Non-hazardous waste from homes, business and institutions ends up in municipal solid waste landfills, where it decomposes and breaks down to form landfill gas, which includes carbon dioxide, a number of air toxics and methane. Methane has a global warming potential 25 times that of carbon dioxide.
“Reducing methane emissions is a powerful way to take action on climate change,” said Administrator Gina McCarthy. “This latest step from the President’s methane strategy builds on our progress to date and takes steps to cut emissions from landfills through common-sense standards.”
Today’s proposal would require new MSW landfills subject to the rule to begin controlling landfill gas at a lower emissions threshold than currently required. Under the proposal, landfills would capture two-thirds of their methane and air toxics emissions by 2023 – 13 percent more than required under current rules. EPA estimates the net nationwide annual costs of complying with the additional requirements in the proposed rule would be $471,000 in 2023.
Today, methane accounts for nearly 9 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane in the country, accounting for 18 percent of methane emissions in 2012. Regulatory and voluntary programs, including the agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program, have helped reduce emissions from landfills by 30 percent from 1990 to 2012. However, without additional actions, methane emissions are projected to increase through 2030.
Also today, EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking broad public input on whether and how to update current emissions guidelines for existing landfills to further reduce their emissions, including methane. The agency is considering updating those guidelines based on a several factors, including significant changes that have occurred in the landfill industry since the original guidelines were issued in 1996. Nearly 1,000 MSW landfills in the U.S. currently are subject to either the 1996 emission guidelines for existing landfills or the 1996 NSPS for new landfills.
EPA will take public comment on the proposed performance standards updates and the ANPR for 60 days after they are published in the Federal Register. If a hearing is requested, it will be held on August 12, 2014 in Washington, D.C.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/landfill/landflpg.html
Information on the Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/03/28/strategy-cut-methane-emissions
Information on the Climate Action Plan: http://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change
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EPA Grants Nearly $800,000 to Improve Houston-Galveston Area Air Quality
EPA Press Release:
EPA Grants Nearly $800,000 to Improve Houston-Galveston Area Air Quality
Houston-Galveston Area Council will use grant to reduce ozone-forming emissions
DALLAS – (July 1, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nearly $800,000 to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) to reduce emissions from non-road equipment and marine vessels. The council will distribute the funds to equipment operators to upgrade to cleaner-burning, more efficient engines.
With the help of efforts such as the HGAC’s Clean Marine and Nonroad Program, the Houston area has seen its air quality improve over the last several decades, despite a growing population. The program will use this EPA grant to provide competitive sub-grants to equipment operators to help further curb emissions that form ground-level ozone.
Ozone levels in the Houston area have dropped significantly since the mid-1980s, when 8-hour average levels stayed around 120 parts per billion. Since that time, hard work and cooperation from local governments, businesses, and citizens have helped bring 8-hour average levels to around 80 parts per billion in the last few years. Efforts such as the HGAC’s clean diesel program will help the area keep improving to attain the current health-based standard of 75 parts per billion.
More information about ozone: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ozonepollution/
Connect with EPA Region 6:
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6
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EPA Settlement with Patton, Mo., Property Owner Resolves Clean Water Act Violations Affecting Baltimore Creek
EPA Press Release:
Environmental News
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations
EPA Settlement with Patton, Mo., Property Owner Resolves Clean Water Act Violations Affecting Baltimore Creek
Contact Information: Ben Washburn, 913-551-7364, washburn.ben@epa.gov
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Lenexa, Kan., July 1, 2014) – EPA Region 7 has reached an administrative consent agreement with a Patton, Mo., property owner to resolve Clean Water Act violations involving unpermitted discharges of pollutants into two tributaries of Baltimore Creek.
Brent McMinn agreed to pay a $20,000 civil penalty as part of the settlement filed by EPA Region 7 in Lenexa, Kan.
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) inspection in December 2011 found that McMinn violated the Clean Water Act (CWA) when he, or others working on his behalf, used earth-moving equipment to discharge fill material into the tributaries, as a part of work associated with the construction of a dam and dam roadway. The tributaries are classified as waters of the U.S. by the CWA. The work was performed without a permit issued pursuant to Section 404 of the CWA.The USACE referred the case to EPA after discovering the violations.
Unauthorized fill activity degrades watershed health, results in habitat loss, impacts stream channel configuration, decreases biological diversity, and limits the movement of fish, other aquatic organisms and organic material. Such activity can also deprive downstream landowners and the public from the use and enjoyment of public waters.
As part of the settlement agreement, McMinn has certified that he is now in compliance with the Clean Water Act. The consent agreement is subject to a 40-day public comment period before it becomes final.
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