News Release from EPA Region 2

Drums from the Lehigh Valley Railroad Derailment Superfund Site in Le Roy, New York To Be Removed by Friday

Contact: Mary Mears (212) 637-3673; mears.mary@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – February 22, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the removal of 235 drums from the Lehigh Railroad Derailment Superfund site in Le Roy, N.Y. will begin today. The EPA reviewed the sampling results for the contents of all the drums and in all cases considers them to be non-hazardous. The drums, which contain soil and rocks generated when wells were drilled at the site, were sampled during the past month.

A December 1970 train derailment resulted in the release of liquid trichloroethene (TCE) and cyanide crystals. The material in the drums was tested for these and other contaminants. No tested contaminants were detected in materials from 203 of the drums. In 32 of the drums, some detectable concentrations of contaminants were found.

Specifically, eight drums had detectable levels of TCE only, eight others had detectable levels of cyanide only and eight drums had detectable levels of both. One drum had detectable levels of TCE and cis-1,2-dichloroethene, which is a breakdown product of TCE. The remaining 7 drums primarily had detections of either common lab contaminants or contaminants typically associated with petroleum products. These contaminants include: acetone, carbon disulfide, ethylbenzene, toluene, total xylenes, methylcyclohexane, and 2-butanone (MEK). In all cases the levels of these contaminants were low and are below health-based levels.

While the EPA considers the drums non-hazardous and eligible for disposal as non-hazardous waste, the Lehigh Valley Railroad has arranged for material to be disposed of at a landfill that is permitted to accept hazardous waste. The facility set to accept the waste is EQ-Wayne Disposal Inc. Landfill in Belleville, Michigan. Drum removal from the site will begin this morning and is expected to be completed by the end of the week. The Lehigh Valley Railraod will pay the cost of disposing of the drums, not tax payers.

For more information about the site visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/lehighvalley/.

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

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News Release from EPA Region 3

Allegheny-Ludlum to pay $535,000 in cleanup costs for Breslube-Penn Superfund site

       PHILADELPHIA (February 22, 2012) -- In settlement papers filed in federal district court, Allegheny-Ludlum has agreed to reimburse the federal government for $535,000 of past cleanup costs at the Breslube-Penn Superfund site in Coraopolis, Pa., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

Allegheny Ludlum is the last of 158 responsible parties to reach a settlement with EPA since 2005 over cleanup costs associated with the site, where EPA continues to oversee ongoing cleanup activities being paid for by the responsible parties.

Under the Superfund law (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act), the landowners, waste generators and waste transporters that are responsible for the contamination of a Superfund site must either clean up the site, or reimburse the government or other parties for cleanup activities.

In June 1996, EPA added the Breslube-Penn Site to the EPA’s Superfund National Priority List of sites where hazardous contaminants could impact public health and/or the environment. Industrial activities at the site contaminated soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, PCBs, metals, and cyanide.

Wiseman Oil, Inc constructed a fuel oil recycling facility on the site in 1978 that was used to manufacture lubricating oil by recycling waste oil. After Wiseman Oil became bankrupt in 1982, the property was purchased by Breslube-Penn Inc., which continued used oil reprocessing until 1986. The facility was used as a used oil transfer station from 1987 until it was closed in 1992.

Additional information about the ongoing cleanup and site history is available at http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/PAD089667695/index.htm . 

News Release from EPA Region 9

For Immediate Release:  February 21, 2012
Contact:  Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov     

                             
EPA awards over $6.7 million to the Guam Waterworks Authority for wastewater and drinking water projects

HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded over $6.7 million as part of a yearly grant to the Guam Waterworks Authority to improve drinking water and wastewater systems on Guam.

 “The $6.7 million that EPA is providing Guam will go towards meeting critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure standards on the island. The future health of Guam's economy is dependent on securing clean air, water and land,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “There is still a lot of work to be done by GWA to improve both these systems to meet health and environmental goals.”

The wastewater funds will be used for system wide asset inventories, sewer system evaluations and assessments, hydraulic model development, and master planning activities to identify and prioritize projects.  In addition, funds will be used for critical sewer pump station repairs.

Funding for the drinking water system will be similarly used for system wide asset inventories, condition assessments, hydraulic model development, and master planning activities to identify and prioritize projects for improving Guam’s drinking water system.  Funds will also be used to assist GWA in meeting groundwater monitoring requirements. 

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Follow the U.S. EPA's Pacific Southwest region on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EPAregion9 and join the LinkedIn group: http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/1823773/

News Release from EPA

Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Contact: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

Pennsylvania Company Settles Toxic Chemical Reporting Violations at Nazareth, Pa. Facility

PHILADELPHIA (February 21, 2012) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that Essroc Cement Corporation has agreed to pay a $82,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of toxic chemical reporting requirements at its manufacturing facility located at 401 West Prospect St., Nazareth, Pa.

According to EPA, Essroc failed to submit three years of required reports on a regulated toxic chemical (lead) which was processed at this facility.

EPA cited the company for violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). This law requires companies that manufacture, use or process more than a threshold amount of listed toxic chemicals to file an annual toxic chemical release form with EPA and the state. These reports are used to compile the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) -- a publicly available EPA database, searchable by zip code, that contains information on toxic chemical releases and waste management activities.

The multi-establishment Nazareth, Pa., plant processes lead as part of the manufacturing process for bulk and packaged cement. Lead and lead compounds are regulated under EPCRA due to the public health effects of ingestion or inhalation of lead, particularly among children, including damage to the nervous system. According to EPA, a June 2011 inspection revealed that Essroc did not submit annual reports for lead for three years (2006 through 2008) when the Nazareth facility processed lead in amounts in excess of 130,000 pounds annually -- significantly exceeding EPCRA’s 100 pound reporting threshold. (This settlement involves alleged reporting violations, not unlawful releases of toxic chemicals.)

The settlement penalty reflects the company's cooperation with EPA in resolving the alleged violations, and its compliance efforts. As part of the settlement, the company did not admit liability for the alleged violations, but has certified compliance with applicable EPCRA requirements.



In a separate matter, the United States recently announced a $1.7 million settlement of alleged Clean Air Act violations at six Essroc facilities nationwide, including the Nazareth plant.
See press release at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/48aa8dd28f3ab133852579750077751e!OpenDocument.

For more information on TRI and the TRI searchable database, go to: www.epa.gov/tri.

For more information on lead and its health effects, go to: See http://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html.

News Release from EPA Region 10

Seeing no levels of concern, EPA curtails emergency air monitoring at BP refinery fire site near Bellingham, Washington

 Contact Info: Mark MacIntyre, EPA Public Affaris, macintyre.mark@epa.gov, 206-369-7999 (cell)

(Seattle, Washington) - As cleanup begins in earnest at the BP refinery fire site, 20 miles northwest of Bellingham, Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's air monitoring team is standing down after seeing no measurable threats to public health from airborne pollutants related to the fire.

As EPA responders arrived at the scene last night, a team of four EPA contractors, accompanied by a BP Industrial Hygienist, conducted air monitoring at several locations around the perimeter of the facility, including locations downwind.

The sweep was completed by midnight and the results were compared to similar locations that BP responders had monitored earlier in the day. EPA measured for elevated Volatile Organic Compounds, particulate matter, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. According to Andy Smith, EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator, "No readingswere found to be above background or demonstrate any level of concern."

Once the site was stabilized and secured, EPA and Department of Ecology responders completed their assessment and demobilized.

Public Meeting on Floyds Fork Pollution Control Plan

News release from EPA Region 4:

EPA to Host Third Public Meeting on Floyds Fork Pollution Control Plan

Contact Information: EPA, Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davina@epa.gov

KDOW, Allison Fleck (502) 564-3410, Allison.Fleck@ky.gov

(Atlanta, Ga. – Feb. 17, 2011) – On Tuesday, Feb.21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 will conduct a public meeting to obtain comments from stakeholders on the work completed thus far on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Floyds Fork watershed in north-central Kentucky. This meeting is a follow-up to the well-attended TMDL development meetings held in Louisville in August and November.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. (EDT) in the Eastern High School auditorium. The school is located in the Middletown community of Louisville at 12400 Old Shelbyville Road.

At the Feb. 21 meeting, EPA Region 4 will present the completed land use and stormwater runoff model for the watershed and describe how the water quality model will be developed. The agency is seeking public feedback on the completed watershed model and the development of the water quality model.

Total Maximum Daily Load is a term used to describe the amount of pollution a stream can receive and still meet water quality standards. Water quality standards are regulations based on federal or state law that set numeric or narrative limits on pollutants. TMDLs are required for water bodies that are determined to be impaired. Floyds Fork fails to meet state standards for recreation and aquatic life.

EPA Region 4 awarded a contract to Tetra Tech consulting firm for the development of a water quality model for the entire Floyds Fork Watershed to the confluence with the Salt River to address nutrient pollution. Technical assistance is being provided by the Kentucky Division of Water.

Members of the public who wish to obtain additional information regarding this public meeting may e-mail floydsfork@epa.gov. Inquiries regarding EPA's approach to developing the Floyds Fork TMDL should be directed to Tim Wool, EPA Region 4, at wool.tim@epa.gov or 404-562-9260.

Additional information about this meeting can be found online at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/tmdl/

Cleanup Brings Milwaukee Area of Concern Closer to Restoration

News release from EPA Region 5:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               
No. 12-OPA010

Cleanup Brings Milwaukee Area of Concern Closer to Restoration, Delivers Results Under Great Lakes Initiative
  
CHICAGO (Feb. 17, 2012) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Milwaukee County today announced completion of contaminated sediment removal in Lincoln Creek and the Milwaukee River Channel.  This project brings the Milwaukee Estuary closer to being removed from a binational list of Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes.  

"The work by state, county, city and other partners over the years has helped deliver real results under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative," said Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the EPA Administrator.  “Thousands of cubic yards of harmful contaminated sediment were removed to help boost human, ecological and local economic health. But we can’t stop here. We’re looking for new partners to match funds to accelerate cleanups in other Areas of Concern in Wisconsin and around the Great Lakes."

The $24.6 million project under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s Legacy Act removed about 140,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PCBs and PAHs.  The contamination led to limits on eating fish caught in the river, as well as loss of habitat and other environmental problems. 

“The Great Lakes are the largest source of fresh water in the world.  Keeping them clean for the future is a priority,” said WDNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, “We are making major strides cleaning up the Milwaukee River Estuary.  I am pleased that we were able to fund most of the non-federal cost share for this project from state bonding, and delighted at the level of public support this project has received.  With our partners we will continue to work to bring the Milwaukee River back to provide recreational and economic benefits for the Milwaukee area." 

GLRI Legacy Act funds covered about $16 million.  WDNR contributed roughly $8.6 million.  The result was the cleanup of the largest known deposit of PCB-contaminated sediment in this Area of Concern. 

“This joint effort demonstrates the tangible benefits that can come from cooperation between all levels of federal, state and local government. By working together we are removing the impairments to our waterways that resulted from our long industrial history,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.  “This significant portion of the Milwaukee River and its natural resources are now cleaner, safer and more sustainable. We embrace the triumphant return of this park land to the greater use and enjoyment of our citizens.”

The Milwaukee River section of the Area of Concern extends from Cedar Creek downstream through the Outer Harbor. It includes Cedar Creek, Lincoln Creek and portions of the Menomonee, Little Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers.  In the 1980s, the U.S. and Canada identified 43 highly degraded shoreline areas along the Great Lakes.  Today there are 30 AOCs wholly in the U.S. or shared with Canada.

The Great Lakes provide 30 million Americans with drinking water and underpin a multi-billion dollar economy.  In February 2009, President Obama proposed the GLRI, the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. 




The Action Plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, was developed by a task force of 16 federal departments and agencies to implement the president’s historic initiative.  It calls for aggressive efforts to address five urgent priority focus areas:

•Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot areas of concern.
•Combating invasive species.
•Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff.
•Restoring wetlands and other habitats.
•Tracking progress, education and working with strategic partners.

The plan also ensures accountability by establishing measures of progress and benchmarks for success.
For more on this project and the Legacy Act, visit www.epa.gov/glla. 

For more on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, see www.glri.us.

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