EPA Region 8 trucking companies earn distinction for efficiency

EPA Press Release:

EPA Region 8 trucking companies earn distinction for efficiency

Top performers in freight industry include firms based in Colorado, North Dakota and Utah

DENVER (October 7, 2019) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored top-performers in the freight industry with its annual SmartWay Excellence Awards. Awardees are shippers, carriers and logistics providers that excel at saving fuel and shrinking their emissions footprints.

“Over the past 15 years, the U.S. EPA’s SmartWay Transportation Partnership has provided the tools and information for thousands of companies to create leaner, more efficient supply chains,” said EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality Director Sarah Dunham. “This year, EPA is recognizing 72 companies with SmartWay Excellence Awards for outstanding environmental achievements and leadership in goods movement.  These truck carriers, shippers, and third-party logistics providers are leading the industry and showing that it is possible to move more goods while using less fuel, reducing pollution and cutting costs.”

EPA Region 8 is proud to highlight this achievement for the following awardees:

• Navajo Express, Inc. of Denver, Colorado

• S & S Transport of Grand Forks, North Dakota

• C.R. England, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah

• Stokes Trucking, Inc. of Tremonton, Utah

SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing air pollution. Demonstrating a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility through SmartWay provides for a more competitive and sustainable business environment. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 134 million tons of air pollutants (NOx, PM, and CO2) contributing to cleaner air and healthier citizens, while saving more than 279 million barrels of oil and $37.5 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating the annual energy use of over 18 million homes.

This year’s award recipients are a diverse group ranging from many first-time awardees along with companies that keep improving year over year. Each year’s competition is based solely on the prior year’s environmental performance data. 

For more information on the SmartWay Awards: https://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-awardees

U.S. EPA extends comment period on Kettleman Hills proposed PCB permit

EPA Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2019
 

U.S. EPA extends comment period on Kettleman Hills proposed PCB permit

October 10th public meeting to be followed by November 14thhearing

KETTLEMAN CITY, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending to November 22 the comment period for a proposed permit renewal and modification for the storage and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste at the Kettleman Hills hazardous waste facility, located along the I-5 corridor, 3.5 miles southwest of Kettleman City, California. 

EPA will hold a public meeting with a question and answer session on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, at the Kettleman City Elementary School, located at 701 General Petroleum Ave. in Kettleman City. The meeting will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Presentations on the proposed permit will be at 5:45, 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. A public hearing has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the Kettleman City Elementary School.

EPA’s proposed permit would allow Chemical Waste Management Inc. (CWM), the owner and operator of the Kettleman Hills facility, to continue storing and disposing of PCB waste. The proposed permit includes comprehensive operating, monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure that PCB waste operations will not pose an unreasonable risk to public health or the environment.

If finalized, the proposal would allow PCB disposal at the existing hazardous waste landfill already approved by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

EPA has also prepared a Draft Environmental Justice Analysis to document that environmental justice concerns, including past outreach to seek the affected communities’ involvement, were considered in the drafting of the proposed permit. EPA is now seeking community input before reaching a final permit decision.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposed permit and supporting documents until Nov. 22, 2019. Comments may be submitted verbally or in writing at the public hearing and the public meeting. Comments can also be submitted online at www.regulations.gov (docket number EPA-R09-RCRA-2019-0088), or mailed or emailed to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division, LND-4-2
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attention: Frances Wicher
Telephone: (415) 972-3957
Email: r9landsubmit@epa.gov or wicher.frances@epa.gov

The draft permit and supporting documents are available for review at the Kettleman City Library in Kettleman City and online at https://www.epa.gov/ca/kettleman-hills. Information is also available in Spanish.

PCBs are toxic, manmade chemicals formerly used in electrical equipment. Congress banned the manufacture of PCBs in the U.S. in 1976 due to concerns over environmental and public health hazards. EPA has identified PCBs as probable human carcinogens, and they have been shown to cause other adverse health effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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EPA warns residents to stay away from the Iron King Mine tailings pile and Humboldt smelter

EPA Press Release:

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2019

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

EPA warns residents to stay away from the Iron King Mine tailings pile and Humboldt smelter

DEWEY-HUMBOLDT, Ariz. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently been alerted that people, many of whom are children, are playing in and around the Iron King Mine tailings pile and Humboldt smelter properties in Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona. This is dangerous. The smelter stack and nearby building are unstable and unsafe, and anyone near these structures is in danger of severe injury or death should these structures collapse. Both the smelter and mine tailings pile pose many dangerous fall hazards, as well as chemical hazards from toxic metals that could pose a health risk.

Please heed posted warnings and stay away from these properties. EPA is asking anyone who witnesses people, especially children, near the smelter building to immediately notify the Yavapai Sheriff’s office at (928)-771-3260. In Dewey-Humboldt, the tailings pile is west of Highway 69, and the smelter property is east of Main Street.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region or the Iron King Mine/Humboldt Smelter Superfund site. (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/ironkingmine). Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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New England Experienced Fewer Unhealthy Air Quality Days During 2019 Ozone Season

EPA Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2019
 

New England Experienced Fewer Unhealthy Air Quality Days During 2019 Ozone Season

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today confirmed that New England states experienced fewer days with unhealthy air quality this year, compared to 2018. Based on preliminary data collected between March and September 2019, there were 24 days when ozone monitors in New England recorded ozone concentrations above levels considered healthy versus 28 in 2018.

The number of unhealthy ozone days in each state this summer (as compared to last summer) are as follows:

• 21 days in Connecticut (23 in 2018)
• 5 days in Massachusetts (12 in 2018)
• 2 days in Rhode Island (12 in 2018)
• 1 day in New Hampshire (6 in 2018)
• 1 day in Maine (3 in 2018)
• 0 days in Vermont (1 in 2018)

“We can all feel proud of the progress we have made in reducing ozone pollution over the past several decades,” said EPA Region 1 Administrator Dennis Deziel. “There is still work to be done, as especially in some parts of southern New England, we continue to experience too many days with unhealthful air quality.”

Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides chemically react in the presence of sunlight. In New England, cars and trucks emit most of the pollution that makes ozone. Fossil fuels burning at electric power plants, which run at high capacities on hot days, emit substantial amounts of ozone-making pollution. Gasoline refilling stations, print shops, household products like paints and cleaners, as well as gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment also contribute to ozone formation.

The number of unhealthy days (when ozone concentrations exceed the 0.070 parts per million standard) vary from year to year, due to weather conditions. Hot, sunny, summery weather is conducive to ozone formation. For 2019, a cool, wet spring lead into an average New England summer. Since 1983, New England has experienced a decrease in the number of unhealthy ozone days – from 118 in 1983 to only 24 in 2019. This downward trend is due to a reduction in emissions that form ozone. Although the 2019 ozone season is ending, it is important to note that pollution from small particles in the air is a year-round concern.

More information:

• Free daily air quality forecasts are available year-round, and people can sign up for free air quality alerts: https://www3.epa.gov/region1/airquality/aqi.html. The alerts are issued by e-mail, whenever necessary, to notify program participants when high concentrations of ground-level ozone or small particles are predicted to occur, in their area.
• General information on ozone and what EPA is doing to reduce ozone emissions:https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution
• Historical charts of unhealthy air days from 1983 through 2019 for each New England state: https://www3.epa.gov/region1/airquality/histexc.html.
• A preliminary list of the unhealthy readings recorded this summer by date and monitor location and corresponding air quality maps for each day:https://www3.epa.gov/region1/airquality/o3exceed-19.html.

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U.S. EPA requires safer management of hazardous waste at the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, California

EPA Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2019
 

U.S. EPA requires safer management of hazardous waste at the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, California

  

CHINA LAKE, Calif. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with the Department of the Navy for improperly managing hazardous waste at the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake. Under the agreement, the federal facility will pay a $23,700 penalty.

“It is critical for federal agencies to comply with laws that protect public health and our natural resources,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “This agreement will bring the Department of the Navy into compliance with hazardous waste laws and help minimize the potential for hazardous waste releases to the environment.”

The Naval Air Weapons Station - China Lake is in the Western Mojave Desert region of California, approximately 150 miles north of Los Angeles. Operations at the facility include research and development of explosive materials and weapons, aircraft maintenance, facilities maintenance operations, metal fabrication operations, and storage of hazardous materials and waste. EPA’s 2018 inspections identified violations of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations. RCRA rules require the safe management of hazardous waste to protect public health and the environment and to prevent the need for costly and extensive cleanups.

Violations identified during the inspection included:

• Failure to comply with a permit condition that requires deteriorating containers to be replaced or put inside larger containers in good condition at the point of generation.
• Failure to keep hazardous waste containers closed.
• Failure to properly manage universal wastes.

The facility has resolved the identified violations and is now in compliance with the RCRA requirements.

For more information on EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act please visit: www.epa.gov/rcra

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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EPA Recognizes Leaders in Reducing Water Waste Including Charlottesville, Va.

EPA Press Release:

EPA Recognizes Leaders in Reducing Water WasteIncluding Charlottesville, Va.

PHILADELPHIA (October 3, 2019) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recognized the City of Charlottesville, Virginia for taking action to conserve water by promoting the adoption of WaterSense labeled products, homes and programs. Since 2006, over 2,000 EPA WaterSense partners have helped Americans save more than 3.4 trillion gallons of water and $84.2 billion on utility bills by supporting WaterSense and water efficiency.

“Forty states anticipate experiencing fresh water shortages in certain regions within their borders over the next decade,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “These WaterSense award winners are leading the effort to conserve our precious water resources and educate the public on the importance of water conservation.”

“I commend the City of Charlottesville for committing to using water efficiently and helping others do the same,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “Their water conservation efforts serve as a great model that other cities can replicate.”

“Charlottesville values clean, safe water,” said Paul Oberdorfer, Charlottesville Interim Deputy Manager of Operations. “We recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of this critical resource. Participation in the EPA WaterSense program continues to support the expansion and enhancement of our water conservation programs. Easy access to its messaging tools has been extremely helpful with our public education and outreach efforts.”

2019 Sustained Excellence Award Winners

Athens-Clarke County (Ga.) Public Utilities Department received its third Sustained Excellence Award. The county enlisted an “edutainer” to teach water conservation tips to children and used educational activities to promote water conservation at the annual Athens Water Festival.

The City of Charlottesville (Va.) was presented its second Sustained Excellence Award for rebating WaterSense labeled toilets and providing University of Virginia student apartments with WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators, which will help save an estimated 60 million gallons of water annually.

Citrus County (Fla.) Utilities earned its first Sustained Excellence Award after achieving Partner of the Year for the past three years. The county continued to offer its “Schedule a Specialist” customer service assistance program, which has helped save participants more than 19 million gallons of water.

Cobb County (Ga.) Water System received its third Sustained Excellence Award for creating a new short video series inspired by famous movies and pop culture to promote WaterSense labeled products. The county provided over 1,500 WaterSense labeled toilet rebates and other free WaterSense labeled products.

Metropolitan North Georgia (Ga.) Water Planning District was presented its second Sustained Excellence Award for its My Drop Counts campaign, which included the “Society of Intentionally Dry Lawns” and a pledge for building owners and tenants to reduce water waste. Twelve businesses took the pledge in 2018.

American Standard, part of LIXIL, (N.J.) received its second Sustained Excellence Award for continuing its Beauty in Motion Tour, a “showroom on wheels” that displays several of the company’s WaterSense labeled products. The tour made 101 stops and increased consumer exposure by 91% in 2018.

Delta Faucet Company (Ind.) earned its fifth Sustained Excellence Award. In 2018, all of Delta’s toilets were considered high efficiency and about two-thirds of showering products had earned the WaterSense label. The company hosted an event to promote innovative WaterSense labeled Delta and Brizo brand products to do-it-yourself influencers, who shared their experiences with their social media followers.

Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (SMSWP) (Calif.) was presented its third Sustained Excellence Award. This professional certifying organization makes its Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification accessible to other organizations that can certify professionals in their local area. SMSWP issued 40 new QWEL certificates in 2018, and its partners certified more than 300 professionals.

KB Home (Calif.) received its fifth Sustained Excellence Award for building 134 homes that earned the WaterSense label in 2018. KB Home also installed WaterSense labeled faucets, showerheads, and toilets in more than 11,000 other homes it built in 2018, not just the homes that earned the WaterSense label.

2019 Promotional Partners of the Year

The Broward Water Partnership (Fla.) received its second WaterSense Partner of the Year Award. The collaboration of 18 Broward County utilities created three new animated characters to promote WaterSense and water efficiency on social media: Steph and Steve the Plumbers, and Prince Pre-Rinse, who promotes efficient pre-rinse spray valves in kitchens. The partnership issued 2,655 WaterSense labeled toilet rebates and distributed over 2,700 WaterSense labeled showerheads and aerators in 2018.

The City of Plano (Texas) earned its second WaterSense Partner of the Year Award after it created a new Water Ambassador Program for adult volunteers to promote leak detection, leak repair, efficient irrigation and landscaping principles. The city also hosted three do-it-yourself classes for Sprinkler Spruce-Up and has a Green Business Certification Program, which certified six new businesses in 2018 (bringing the total to 43).

Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Calif.) was presented its first WaterSense Partner of the Year Award for collaborating with other WaterSense partners on events and programs and encouraging all 27 of its water purveyors to become WaterSense partners. In 2018, the district hosted nine workshops covering efficient landscaping, smart outdoor water use, and leak detection and repair, including Fix a Leak Week workshops in both English and Mandarin.

Excellence Awards

• Alliance for Water Efficiency and San Antonio Water System (Texas) for Excellence in Strategic Collaboration.
• San Diego County Water Authority (Calif.) for Excellence in Certification Program Growth.
• City of Allen (Texas), City Durham Water Management (N.C.), City of Frisco (Texas), Irvine Ranch Water District (Calif.), Polk County Utilities (Fla.), City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (Calif.), and Sonoma Marvin Saving Water Partnership (Calif.) for Excellence in Education and Outreach.
• Hunter Industries (Calif.) and The Toro Company (Minn.) for Excellence in Education and Public Relations.
• Niagara Conservation (Texas) for Excellence in Labeled Products in the Marketplace.

Background

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering Americans a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, homes and services. WaterSense labeled products, which are independently certified to use at least 20% less water and perform as well or better than standard models, have been on the market since 2007. Today there are more than 30,000 labeled models, including products used in residential and commercial bathrooms, commercial kitchens and outdoor irrigation. EPA’s WaterSense program certifies homes with WaterSense labeled fixtures and features. To date, more than 2,000 homes have earned the label.

Learn more about the 2019 WaterSense Award winners at https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-awards.

EPA recognizes five Texas organizations for reducing water waste

EPA Press Release:

EPA recognizes five Texas organizations for reducing water waste

Media contacts: Joe Hubbard or Jennah Durant at r6press@epa.gov or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Oct.3, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized cities of Allen, Frisco and Plano, the Alliance for Water Efficiency, Niagara Conservation, and San Antonio Water System for taking action to conserve water in Texas. The partners also have produced and promoted the adoption of WaterSense labeled products, homes and program. Since 2006, over 2,000 EPA WaterSense partners have helped Americans save more than 3.4 trillion gallons of water and $84.2 billion on utility bills by supporting WaterSense and water efficiency.

“Forty states anticipate experiencing fresh water shortages in certain regions within their borders over the next decade. Our partners have made water-saving products, homes and programs accessible across the nation and have educated millions on the importance of water conservation,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “These WaterSense award winners are leading the fight against water waste to conserve one of our most precious resources.”

“Few things are more precious than fresh, clean water, yet most states say that in the next decade, they expect water shortages,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ken McQueen.  “Besides educating the public on the importance of water conservation, EPA’s WaterSense program works with our partners to find new and creative ways to conserve our resources.”

“We are grateful to be honored once again with this award. Continued recognition spurs us to keep striving for excellence. We are indebted to WaterSense for the expanse of resources they provide us, making it easier for our programs to have meaningful impact,” said, Rachel Patterson, Director of Environmental Health and Sustainability, City of Plano.

Nationally, EPA collectively recognized 25 water utilities, manufactures, builders and other organizations for taking action to conserve water across the nation:   

2019 Sustained Excellence Award Winners

Athens-Clarke County (Ga.) Public Utilities Department received its third Sustained Excellence Award. The county enlisted an “edutainer” to teach water conservation tips to children and used educational activities to promote water conservation at the annual Athens Water Festival.

The City of Charlottesville (Va.) was presented its second Sustained Excellence Award for rebating WaterSense labeled toilets and providing University of Virginia student apartments with WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators, which will help save an estimated 60 million gallons of water annually.

Citrus County (Fla.) Utilities earned its first Sustained Excellence Award after achieving Partner of the Year for the past three years. The county continued to offer its “Schedule a Specialist” customer service assistance program, which has helped save participants more than 19 million gallons of water.

Cobb County (Ga.) Water System received its third Sustained Excellence Award for creating a new short video series inspired by famous movies and pop culture to promote WaterSense labeled products. The county provided over 1,500 WaterSense labeled toilet rebates and other free WaterSense labeled products.

Metropolitan North Georgia (Ga.) Water Planning District was presented its second Sustained Excellence Award for its My Drop Counts campaign, which included the “Society of Intentionally Dry Lawns” and a pledge for building owners and tenants to reduce water waste. Twelve businesses took the pledge in 2018.

American Standard, part of LIXIL, (N.J.) received its second Sustained Excellence Award for continuing its Beauty in Motion Tour, a “showroom on wheels” that displays several of the company’s WaterSense labeled products. The tour made 101 stops and increased consumer exposure by 91% in 2018.

Delta Faucet Company (Ind.) earned its fifth Sustained Excellence Award. In 2018, all of Delta’s toilets were considered high efficiency and about two-thirds of showering products had earned the WaterSense label. The company hosted an event to promote innovative WaterSense labeled Delta and Brizo brand products to do-it-yourself influencers, who shared their experiences with their social media followers.

Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (SMSWP) (Calif.) was presented its third Sustained Excellence Award. This professional certifying organization makes its Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification accessible to other organizations that can certify professionals in their local area. SMSWP issued 40 new QWEL certificates in 2018, and its partners certified more than 300 professionals.

KB Home (Calif.) received its fifth Sustained Excellence Award for building 134 homes that earned the WaterSense label in 2018. KB Home also installed WaterSense labeled faucets, showerheads, and toilets in more than 11,000 other homes it built in 2018, not just the homes that earned the WaterSense label.

2019 Promotional Partners of the Year

The Broward Water Partnership (Fla.) received its second WaterSense Partner of the Year Award. The collaboration of 18 Broward County utilities created three new animated characters to promote WaterSense and water efficiency on social media: Steph and Steve the Plumbers, and Prince Pre-Rinse, who promotes efficient pre-rinse spray valves in kitchens. The partnership issued 2,655 WaterSense labeled toilet rebates and distributed over 2,700 WaterSense labeled showerheads and aerators in 2018.

The City of Plano (Texas) earned its second WaterSense Partner of the Year Award after it created a new Water Ambassador Program for adult volunteers to promote leak detection, leak repair, efficient irrigation and landscaping principles. The city also hosted three do-it-yourself classes for Sprinkler Spruce-Up and has a Green Business Certification Program, which certified six new businesses in 2018 (bringing the total to 43).

Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Calif.) was presented its first WaterSense Partner of the Year Award for collaborating with other WaterSense partners on events and programs and encouraging all 27 of its water purveyors to become WaterSense partners. In 2018, the district hosted nine workshops covering efficient landscaping, smart outdoor water use, and leak detection and repair, including Fix a Leak Week workshops in both English and Mandarin.

Excellence Awards

• Alliance for Water Efficiency and San Antonio Water System (Texas) for Excellence in Strategic Collaboration.
• San Diego County Water Authority (Calif.) for Excellence in Certification Program Growth.
• City of Allen (Texas), City Durham Water Management (N.C.), City of Frisco (Texas), Irvine Ranch Water District (Calif.), Polk County Utilities (Fla.), City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (Calif.), and Sonoma Marvin Saving Water Partnership (Calif.) for Excellence in Education and Outreach.
• Hunter Industries (Calif.) and The Toro Company (Minn.) for Excellence in Education and Public Relations.
• Niagara Conservation (Texas) for Excellence in Labeled Products in the Marketplace.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering Americans a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, homes and services. WaterSense labeled products, which are independently certified to use at least 20% less water and perform as well or better than standard models, have been on the market since 2007. Today there are more than 30,000 labeled models, including products used in residential and commercial bathrooms, commercial kitchens and outdoor irrigation. EPA’s WaterSense program certifies homes with WaterSense labeled fixtures and features. To date, more than 2,000 homes have earned the label.

Learn more about the 2019 WaterSense Award winners at https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-awards.

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.htm 

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