EPA News in 2000 |
April 24, 2000 April 21, 2000 April 14, 2000 April 12, 2000 April 7, 2000 FEDERAL COURT ISSUES LANDMARK CLEAN WATER DECISION ANHYDROUS AMMONIA THEFTS CAUSE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS - APRIL 6, 2000 - EPA recently issued a chemical accident alert because a number of anhydrous ammonia thefts have resulted in chemical releases from agricultural product dealers and facilities with ammonia refrigeration systems. The accidents, causing leaks and spills, have occurred for a variety of reasons: valves were left open after anhydrous ammonia was siphoned off; locks were sawed or broken; anhydrous ammonia was transferred inappropriately into makeshift containers; plugs were removed from anhydrous ammonia lines at refrigeration facilities; or the wrong hose and/or fittings were attached to storage containers. Anhydrous ammonia is used as an agricultural fertilizer and industrial refrigerant. It is also used in the illegal production of methamphetamines. Illegal drug makers often steal anhydrous ammonia from areas where it is stored and used. Anhydrous ammonia can be harmful to people who come in contact with it or inhale airborne concentrations of the gas. When stolen the toxic gas can be unintentionally released, causing injuries to emergency responders, such as fire departments, police and hazardous material teams as well as the criminals themselves. EPA's chemical alert provides tips to deter anhydrous ammonia theft, such as: educating employees about the theft problem, storing tanks in well-lit areas knowing what chemicals the organization has in stock and other helpful hints. For a copy of the alert visit EPA's web page at www.epa.gov/ceppo or call the EPCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810. April 6, 2000
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Office of Pesticide Programs has released the revised risk assessments for the organophosphate pesticides Chlorpyrifos-Methyl and Trichlorfon (Office of Pesticide Programs). New from the Office of Solid Waste: Managing Hazardous Waste in Your Community - This folder provides education and outreach about EPA's hazardous waste management program under RCRA. The fact sheets provide a basic overview of EPA's hazardous waste regulations and include state hazardous waste contacts. April 27, 2000 Moving or Cleaning? Handle Hazards with Care. - Provides information on the safe and convenient disposal of household hazardous wastes. Includes a checklist that identifies some common household hazardous waste items. A 268KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. Section 319 Final Project Reports - This document describes the purpose of section 319 final reports, the information that should be included in the report, examples of especially effective elements from 319 reports, and ways to expand the final report to be used for outreach and education, building partnerships, and many other uses. A 3.3MB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; Comment Request; Land Disposal Restrictions - This notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Land Disposal Restrictions, EPA ICR #1442, OMB Control Number 2050-0085, expires August 31, 2000. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described in the notice Proposed Rule: Public Distribution of Off-site Consequence Analysis (OCA) Information - EPA and DOJ have proposed regulations governing public access to information concerning the potential off-site consequences of accidental releases from industrial facilities. The 1999 Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act required the government to assess both the chemical risk reduction benefits of allowing public access to OCA information and the increased risk of terrorist and other criminal activity from posting the information on the Internet. Based on these assessments, conducted by EPA and DOJ respectively, the proposed rule would allow public access to the OCA portions of the RMPs in ways that minimize the likelihood of chemical accidents as well as the increased risk of terrorist and criminal activity associated with Internet posting. A public hearing will be held on May 9. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by June 8, 2000. A 273KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document May is National Wetlands Month - More than 10,000 species, or 20 percent of the worlds freshwater fish have become extinct, threatened, or endangered in recent years due to wetlands loss. Get involved by visiting wetlands events in South Platte Park, Cherry Creek State Park, and Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. The Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge will host several events in May and June such as the May 7 International Dawn Chorus Day April 26, 2000 Revised Risk Assessments - The revised risk assessments for the organophosphate pesticide Coumaphos are now available Acid Rain Program Policy Manual Updated - This manual provides a series of questions and answers that can be used on a nationwide basis to ensure that the Acid Rain Program is applied consistently for all sources affected by the program Nondetected/Nonquantified Pesticide Residues - Provides non-binding guidance to interested stakeholders regarding the evaluation of non-detects in pesticide risk assessments. A 161KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document Lake Michigan Lake Wide Management Plan (LaMP 2000) - Lake Michigan is an outstanding natural resource of global significance, under stress, and in need of special attention. Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) are intended to identify the critical pollutants that affect the beneficial uses and to develop strategies, recommendations, and policy options to restore the beneficial uses Notice of Data Availability (NODA) - EPA has published a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) to provide the public and the regulated community with new information that will be considered in the finalization of the radionuclides rule. Proposed Revision to Regulatory Definition of "Fill Material" and "Discharge of Fill Material" - On April 20, 2000, a joint Army/EPA proposed rule was printed in the Federal Register proposing to revise the Clean Water Act section 404 regulations defining the term "fill material." 65 Fed. Reg. 21292. The Army and EPA definitions of "fill material" currently differ from each other, and this has resulted in regulatory uncertainty and confusion. The proposal would amend both the Army regulations (33 C.F.R. 323.2(e)) and the EPA regulations (40 C.F.R. 232.2 ) to provide a single consistent definition. The proposal also would make conforming changes to the related definition of "discharge of fill material." Background Press Information On Municipal Solid Waste Management - This series of documents has been organized to assist reporters covering municipal solid waste management issues. They provide background information on EPA's solid waste reduction and recycling goals New National Coastal Assessment Web Site - To answer broad-scale questions on environmental conditions, EMAP and its partners have collected estuarine and coastal data from hundreds of stations along the coasts of the continental United States. EMAP's National Coastal Assessment comprises all the estuarine and coastal sampling done by EMAP beginning in 1990. This includes the sampling done in the biogeographic provinces as well as data from the Regional EMAP (R-EMAP) studies done by EPA Regional Offices April 18, 2000 OPP Biennial Report for FY 1998-1999 - A summary report regarding many of the important activities carried out by the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) during 1998 and 1999. A 1.7MB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document April 17, 2000 Proposed Ground Water Rule - Vice President Al Gore announced a proposal to protect ground water supplies from disease-causing viruses and bacteria. EPA is proposing a rule which specifies the appropriate use of disinfection in ground water and addresses other components of ground water systems to assure public health protection. The GWR is scheduled to be issued as a final regulation in November of 2000 Integrated Pest Management in Schools - This website provides information to help school officials implement IPM practices to reduce children's exposure to pesticides in schools Metabolic and Engineering Work Group's new site - Metabolic Engineering is a new approach to understanding and using metabolic processes. ME is the targeted and purposeful alteration of metabolic pathways found in an organism in order to better understand and use cellular pathways. The MEWG is comprised of representatives from eight federal agencies who work together to facilitate assistance to those investigating application of metabolic engineering principles in a wide range of areas. April 13, 2000 EPA's Radiological Emergency Response Plan - EPA has published an update of its 1986 "Environmental Protection Agency Radiological Emergency Response Plan." The plan represents EPA's concept of operations consistent with the federal policies, planning considerations, and response plans. A 219KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. Progress Report from OPP - OPP has released a progress report describing the streamlining of the registration and reregistration processes for antimicrobial pesticides in Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999. A 93KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. Collection Efficiency - Collection efficiency means getting more for less - picking up more solid waste or recyclables using fewer trucks or fewer people or less time. Dozens of local governments and haulers across the continent have demonstrated that residential solid waste (RSW) collection cost-cutting strategies work. Some of these strategies require a major shift in paradigm - new equipment, new approaches to staffing, new set-out behaviors from residents. Other strategies are based on using existing resources more imaginatively. The collection efficiency strategies described in these publications can have dramatic impacts on the cost-effectiveness and quality of service delivery New Concerned Citizens page - The Office of Water has updated and reorganized the Concerned Citizens page. It contains collections of sites with information to raise public awareness and encourage involvement in water quality and other environmental issues 2000 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards - The Stratospheric Protection Division invites nominations for the 2000 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards. This annual program was established in 1990 to recognize exceptional leadership, personal dedication, and technical achievements in eliminating ozone-depleting substances April 11, 2000 EPA Earth Day 2000 - The Environmental Protection Agency was born with Earth Day 30 years ago. EPA is hosting, sponsoring, and participating in Earth Day activities all around the country. Find out what we have planned, what other organizations have planned in your community, a little of Earth Day's history, and of the environmental movement in the United States on EPA's Earth Day 2000 site. New Chemicals Program Web Site - The revised New Chemicals Program Web Site is now online. OPPT's New Chemicals Program is EPA's program for management of potential risk from chemicals new to commerce and is mandated by Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Anyone who plans to manufacture or import a new chemical substance for a non-exempt commercial purpose is required under TSCA Section 5 to provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with notice before initiating the activity Revised Public Notification Rules - EPA has revised and improved its public notification rules that alert consumers when their water system violates state and EPA rules
Ruling Uphold EPA's Authority to Identify Waters Polluted By Runoff
WASHINGTON -- For the first time, a federal judge has upheld the EPA's longstanding interpretation and practice that the EPA and states have the authority to identify which U.S. waterways are polluted by runoff from urban areas, agriculture and timber harvesting -- "nonpoint sources" of pollution - and to identify the maximum amount of pollutants that may enter these waterways.
"This important decision allows us to build on our successes of completing the task of cleaning our nation's waters," said EPA Administrator Carol Browner. "The Clinton-Gore Administration has made delivering clean, safe water to all Americans a priority in our efforts to ensure greater protection for the environment in communities across the country."
The March 30 opinion by U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco affirms the comprehensive scope of the Clean Water Act's Total maximum Daily Load program. In the first decision to squarely address the issue, Judge Alsup found that Congress intended to include nonpoint source pollution in the Clean Water Act's water quality standards program, and he noted that nonpoint source pollution is the dominant water quality problem in the United States today.
"The court has affirmed a strong tool for restoring America's rivers and cleaning up pollution, regardless of its source," said Lois Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment Division of the Justice Department.
The court heard a challenge to an EPA decision to put the Garcia River on a list of impaired waterways in California and define the amount of sediment that should be allowed to enter the river from land along its banks. Although salmon and steelhead once flourished in the Garcia River, excessive sediment from forestry operations now prevents the river from supporting healthy fish. In March 1998, the EPA developed a "total maximum daily load" (TMDL) for sediment for the river. A TMDL defines the greatest amount of a particular pollutant that can be introduced into a waterway without exceeding the river's water quality standard. The agency also defined the reductions in sediment that are necessary for the river to attain the water quality standard set by the State of California.
The American Farm Bureau Federation and other agriculture and timber groups filed suit, claiming that the EPA and the states should calculate TMDLs only for pollutants that are discharged from pipes, or point sources. The court rejected this argument, holding that the Clean Water Act is designed to provide a comprehensive solution to the nation's water quality problems, "without regard to the sources of pollution."
In California, only 1% of impaired waterways fail to meet water quality standards solely because of pollution that comes from pipes, municipal waste treatment works, or other point sources. According to EPA, 54% of California's impaired waterways are polluted by nonpoint sources exclusively, while another 45% are impaired by a combination of point and nonpoint sources.Status of Chemicals in Special Review - Describes the status of pesticides which are currently undergoing or have completed the Special Review program mandated by FIFRA. (March 2000 Report). An 11KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. Boosting Your Bottom Line - By making improvements that optimize performance, companies are cutting costs, adding value, and increasing market share. That's why many companies have come to view environmental management as a fundamental part of smart business strategy. They're protecting the environment and gaining competitive advantages as a result. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a variety of programs, known collectively as Partners for the Environment, that help organizations make improvements that are good for business and the environment. They're designed to help apply ideas and practices that can produce environmental results more quickly and cost-effectively. New from the Office of Air and Radiation: Clean Air Excellence Awards Program - The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program annually recognizes and honors outstanding, innovative efforts that help to make progress in achieving cleaner air. All entries must be submitted by June 2, 2000. The Healthy Buildings, Healthy People Draft Final Report - This report serves as a call to action for all of us to work together to influence the indoor environment. As such, the report serves as the basis for discussion and education among professionals in public policy, health, building sciences, product manufacturing and environmental research. Second, it is a blueprint for channeling available resources. Already, EPA has undertaken program and budget initiatives focused on childhood asthma, increasing demand for cleaner indoor products for use in schools, and creating standards of care for existing buildings. Only sustained enterprise fixed upon these goals by those in the public and private sectors will let us fulfill the Healthy Buildings, Healthy People (HBHP) vision in the decades ahead. Schedule Announced for RCRA Corrective Action Guidance Documents - EPA announces a schedule and invites comment on three upcoming RCRA Cleanup Reforms draft guidance documents and invites additional feedback on the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) Cleanup Reforms announced on July 8, 1999. By inviting additional feedback and giving advanced notice of when EPA expects these draft guidance documents to be available for review and comment, EPA hopes to encourage greater involvement by states, industry, and the public. April 4, 2000 Innovations in Environmental Management - The following report provides an overview of how we're working to make environmental programs work better and cost less. EPA hopes it will lead to more collaboration and more new ideas that are good for business, good for the environment, and good for the citizens that live and work in communities throughout the country. Innovations in Environmental Management is also available as a 4.7MB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. Citizen's Guide to Ground-Water Protection - EPA has reprinted the Citizen's Guide to Ground-Water Protection (EPA 440-6-90-004). The Guide is updated to include new information that describes the source water assessment and protection program. OERR Virtual Earth Day 2000 Forum - On April 26, 2000, the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR), with the support of the National Technology Services Division (NTSD), will host a virtual forum as part of EPA's celebration of Earth Day's 30th anniversary. The OERR Virtual Earth Day 2000 Forum will allow EPA to take advantage of new technologies to bring together government policy makers, citizens, students, business people, public health officials, and scientists in an interactive Internet setting. EPA stakeholders can also use the forum to foster a greater knowledge and understanding about the environment and what can be done to protect it. In addition, the forum will allow individuals to participate in and get involved with Earth Day activities. April 3, 2000 FY 1999 Annual Performance Report - EPA has released the Agency's first Annual Performance Report required under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Resources for Promoting Global Business Principles and Best Practices - The April update of the Directory is now available. This resource provides contact names, numbers, Internet addresses for a variety of national and international programs, initiatives, organizations, business organizations, various NGOs (Non - Governmental Organizations), and many other resources. The directory is updated monthly EPA's Office of Solid Waste Earth Day 2000 Art Contest - EPA's Office of Solid Waste publishes the results of the Earth Day 2000 Art Contest. Over 10,000 entries were received from all over the US and they were judged by a panel of EPA staff . List for January through March 2000
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Interesting Reads:
THE PREPPER'S CANNING & PRESERVING BIBLE: [13 in 1] Your Path to Food Self-Sufficiency. Canning, Dehydrating, Fermenting, Pickling & More, Plus The Food Preservation Calendar for a Sustainable Pantry
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