EPA Tightens Emissions for Hospital, Medical, and Infectious Waste Incinerators

WASHINGTON – EPA is setting new limits that will affect most existing hospital, medical, and infectious waste incinerators. This final action will reduce about 390,000 pounds of several pollutants each year including acid gases, nitrogen oxides, and metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury.
EPA is also finalizing additional testing, monitoring, and inspection requirements. This final action revises the September 1997 new source performance standards and emission guidelines for these incinerators and responds to the Court remand of the regulations. It also satisfies the Clean Air Act requirement to conduct a review of the standards every five years.
More information on the final rule and amendments please visit EPA

FREE REACH compliance check

Reach and GHS compliance from

Did you know that you may need to provide all substances and preparations imported into the EU with a REACH-compliance letter or certificate? 
A British REACH Only Representative (OR) warns that companies may find it necessary, after a shipment belonging to one of its clients was halted at a Belgian port.

NCEC (National Chemical Emergency Centre) is offering a FREE compliance check on one of your Safety Data Sheets, in English or French, to the first 100 to respond to this notice. NCEC delivers fast, up-to-the-minute advice, setting global standards in emergency response and compliance. 

REACH is one of the largest single pieces of European legislation ever produced.  It is therefore understandable that most people get confused about the various terms and phrases associated with REACH, let alone understand how to comply.

Read full from  Environmental Expert

EPA region 5 now monitoring for air toxics at 15 schools

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced today that it is now monitoring at all 15 schools in the region that were selected as part of EPA's national Schools Air Toxics Initiative.

The initiative, which is monitoring 63 schools in 22 states, is designed to help EPA and the states determine whether long-term exposure to toxics in the outdoor air poses health concerns for children and staff at the schools.  Read more via glrppr.org

EPA Region 5 also announced that first sets of air toxics monitoring data from three schools in the region have been posted on the agency's Web site. The schools are: Lincoln Park Elementary School, Muskegon, Mich.; Minnesota International Middle Charter School, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Whitwell Elementary School, Ironton, Ohio. The data is posted at http://www.epa.gov/schoolair/schools.html.

EPA shows 30% drop in release of toxics

The Post-Tribune - Northwest Indiana polluters released 30 percent less toxics in 2008 compared to the year before, according to a Post-Tribune analysis of preliminary data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The decrease may be due to production slow-downs at local industries.  Overall, businesses in Lake and Porter counties released nearly 36.7 million pounds of toxics in 2008 — 15.8 million pounds less than in 2007. More

EPA to declare CO2 a dangerous pollutant

Carbon dioxide will soon be declared a dangerous pollutant - a move that could help propel slow-moving climate-change legislation on Capitol Hill, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told reporters that a formal "endangerment finding," which would trigger federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, probably would "happen in the next months."

A formal endangerment finding would obligate the agency to regulate greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act - even if Congress doesn't pass a final climate-change bill.

President Obama and Jackson have said they would prefer that Congress - rather than the EPA - take the lead in implementing new greenhouse gas limits. Businesses and energy industry leaders also have largely favored congressional action over EPA-imposed limits, because they believe lawmakers are better positioned to combine economic safeguards with any new carbon cap.

"Legislation is so important, because it will combine the most efficient, most economy-wide, least costly (and) least disruptive way to deal with carbon dioxide pollution," Jackson said. "We get further faster without top-down regulation."

But Jackson insisted the EPA would continue on a path that began when the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that greenhouse gases qualified as pollutants and could be regulated if the government determined they threatened the public.

Read more at: SF Gate

EPA to open Great Lakes hearings Tuesday in Milwaukee

The Environmental Protection Agency has picked Milwaukee to kick off a series of upcoming public hearings on how to chart a course to restore the Great Lakes.

 

A public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the federal government's proposed blueprint to begin fixing some of the troubles plaguing the world's largest freshwater system.

 

The EPA and its sister federal agencies are focusing their efforts on cleaning up sites contaminated with toxic waste, stopping the onslaught of invasive species, reducing surface and sewer pollution flowing into the lakes and restoring ecologically sensitive habitats.

 

Read full by Dan Egan of the Journal Sentinel

EPA Chief: "U.S. action alone will not impact CO2 levels"

An EPA chart was presented during the Senate's debate of the Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade legislation that showed the carbon reductions under that bill would not materially effect global carbon concentrations in the atmosphere.

SENATOR INHOFE: ...This is what we determined during the Warner-Lieberman bill last year, 13 months ago, and that was the EPA that said this is the difference it would make. And let's keep in mind, the IPCC said they wanted to keep it down below 550 parts per million. And this shows by the EPA chart that with or without the developing nations it makes virtually no change.

Do you still agree with this chart? Dr. Chu,

SECRETARY CHU: Uh, no, I don't agree with that chart.

INHOFE: Do you, Secretary Jackson?

ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON: I believe that essential parts of the chart are that the U.S. action alone will not impact CO2 levels ..

Watt's Up With That concludes with Inhofe's analysis on the effects of the bill if the USA acts unilaterally without China and India:

"I am encouraged that Administrator Jackson agrees that unilateral action by the U.S. will be all cost for no climate gain," Sen. Inhofe said. "With China and India recently issuing statements of defiant opposition to mandatory emissions controls, acting alone through the job-killing Waxman-Markey bill would impose severe economic burdens on American consumers, businesses, and families, all without any impact on climate."

"...I was somewhat surprised that Secretary Chu disagreed with EPA's analysis of what would happen if the U.S. acts alone to address climate change, which cap-and-trade supporters claim is a global problem," Sen. Inhofe said. "EPA's analysis that global greenhouse gas emission levels can only be stabilized with meaningful, mandatory action by China and India is widely accepted. I extend an invitation to the Secretary to see whether he wants to clarify his remarks."

So without the participation of China and India, the climate bill will have virtually no impact on global CO2 emissions.

Please read full from source and You can see the transcript of a video of both these Obama administration officials responding at complete odds with each other under questioning from Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe at the Senate hearing on climate bill.

EPA new Clean Air Rule to save 3% of ALL the worlds greenhouse gasses

After 20 Years in the making.... critical EPA rule moves forward.
While this should have happened back in 1989... I guess, better late than never.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new set of rules under the Clean Air Act that would require all U.S. flagged ocean-going vessels to meet stricter diesel engine and fuel standards, leading to cleaner air along the coasts of the US.

The EPA writes:

The rule comes on the heels of a key part of EPA’s strategy, a proposal last March by the United States and Canada to designate thousands of miles of the two countries’ coasts as an Emission Control Area (ECA). The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, begins consideration of the ECA plan this month, which would result in stringent standards for large ships operating within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Canada and the United States.

200 miles! Now we're talking. California's new law only applied up to 24 miles from the coasts (for legal reasons), and just for one state. But if the whole US (and Canada) has a uniform regulation that requires cleaner burning engines and fuels, it won't as easy to just ship around the regulation. This should make a real different (if it is enforced properly).

As we wrote previously, cargo ships often have horrible emissions: "Just 15 of the world's biggest ships may now emit as much pollution as all the world's 760m cars"

There's also a good argument to be made that any extra costs from getting cleaner fuel and engines will be partially or completely offset by savings coming from a reduction of health problems and lost productivity.

Via EPA, Environment News Service and AHugger

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Haase Comments - History of this on the blog
California makes HUGE gains in cleaning air in harbors
Ocean-going vessels emit up to 3% of the total world inventory of 100 tons greenhouse gas emissions (ICCT).

EPA Researcher Speaks Out

Alan Carlin (BS Physics-Caltech, PhD Econ-MIT),Speaks Out

EPA Proposes Stringent Standards for Large Ships

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency today announced the next steps in a coordinated strategy to slash harmful emissions from ocean-going vessels. EPA is proposing a rule under the Clean Air Act that sets tough engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships that would harmonize with international standards and lead to significant air quality improvements throughout the country.  Read full from  EPA

EPA, Dow Chemical resuming dioxin talks

Federal officials are resuming negotiations with Dow Chemical Co. over cleanup of dioxin pollution near the company's Midland plant. The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it has notified Dow that an offer from the company earlier this year is good enough for talks to continue. Talks stopped in March, shortly after Lisa Jackson became EPA chief. Discussions are to resume in mid-July and continue at least until Aug. 25. They could last longer if there's ... Read full from Associated Press

EPA Releases third National Assessment of Toxic Air Pollutants

EPA has released the latest version of a state-of-the-science tool that estimates health risks from breathing air toxics in the United States. The National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), based on 2002 air emissions data, helps federal, state, local and tribal governments identify areas and specific pollutants for further evaluation to better understand risks they may pose.

Air toxics are of concern because they are known to or are suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems, including birth defects. The report assessed 180 air toxics plus diesel particulate matter from stationary sources of all sizes and from mobile sources such as cars, trucks, buses and construction equipment.

The 2002 NATA estimates that most people in the United States have an average cancer risk of 36 in 1 million if exposed to 2002 emissions levels over the course of their lifetime. In addition, 2 million people—less than one percent of the total U.S. population—have an increased cancer risk of greater than 100 in 1 million. Benzene was the largest contributor to the increased cancer risks.

NATA provides broad estimates of risk over geographic areas of the country and not definitive risks to specific individuals. The results are best used to prioritize pollutants and areas for further study, not as the sole basis for regulation or risk reduction activities.

Read more from source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA guide to save Millions$

EPA Issues Clean Energy Guidebook To Help States Save Money, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

EPA today released a first-of-its-kind guide to help states save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting clean energy practices in their facilities, operations and vehicle fleets.

States spend about 10 percent of their operating budgets on energy bills, yet these costs can be greatly reduced by implementing well-designed energy management and greenhouse gas reduction programs. For example, in New York, where a 2001 executive order directed state agencies to reduce energy consumption by 35 percent by 2010 relative to 1990 levels, the state saved $54.4 million in energy costs from energy efficiency improvements between fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2003-2004.

EPA’s Clean Energy Lead by Example Guide helps states identify key strategies, resources and tools best-suited to their energy needs. Each strategy has been tested and is proven to be cost effective.Download here - Clean Energy Lead By Example Guide (PDF)

EPA Economics - "nothing is free," but called the impact "manageable and affordable."

US EPA Sees Little Economic Impact from CO2 Cuts
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/43285/story.htm

Lieberman also said the EPA analysis found that his plan would hold US carbon dioxide levels below 500 parts per million by the end of the century, a key level that international scientists say will allay the worst global warming impacts.

The EPA analysis also found that US gasoline prices would rise by 26 cents a gallon in 2030 and 68 cents a gallon by 2050, and electricity and natural gas prices would rise slightly.

Cap-and-trade regimes envisioned in many legislative proposals in Congress would create a multi billion-dollar market for trading emissions credits.

If the McCain-Lieberman bill is enacted, the EPA found the market for credits and offsets would be US$25 billion in 2030 and US$57 billion in 2050.

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Haase Comments: I am not sure where this "analysis" is getting numbers.... a simple inflation model will put the price of gas nearly double that with just cost of living increases???

I can also prove with very solid data, electricity and natural gas prices will also double in the same time frames (2030).

Hey maybe the "analyst" should try a inflation calculator. www.westegg.com/inflation

Simple math: In 23 years (2030) $3 dollar a gallon gas will be $6 (Double) and by 2050 a gallon of gas should be $19.

I am not sure why they are minimizing the cost of environmental protection or the MASSIVE impact of what our energy demands will cost the U.S. in just ten years.

My guess is that a lot of people are planning to line pockets on the $25-50 BILLION dollar Cap-and-trading racket.

After this report, I hardly think I would let the this EPA analyst run my 401k.

While there is currently enough federal funding is in place to resolve that vast majority of Environmental problems in the U.S. .... I have know idea how bad the energy wars will get, but it will be much worse that the 70's and at a minimum quadruple our current energy costs by 2020.

I would bet my 401k on that ;-)

Are FEMA Trailers Making Residents Sick?

Today the government says 86,000 families are still living in those white FEMA travel trailers across the Gulf — more and more waking up with a host of health problems — tied, medical experts believe, to the place they still call home.

Trailers with floors and cabinets built with particle board containing the chemical formaldehyde. Under hot, humid conditions, formaldehyde lets off toxic fumes, especially harmful to young lungs.

"It's the long-term carcinogen issue that really concerns me," Needle said.

Terry Sloan was a floor supervisor at a Gulf Stream Coach factory in Etna Green, Ind. Gulf Stream Coach built more than 50,000 stripped-down travel trailers.

Sloane says his crew worked at a breakneck pace for months, which, he says, forced the company to use cheaper wood products.

"Quality suffered dramatically because of the drive and pressure to put these trailers out," Sloan said.

Executives at Gulf Stream Coach declined an on-camera interview. Instead, the company issued this statement saying, in part, "For the FEMA trailers it used components and materials that met or exceeded industry standards."

But there are no federal standards for formaldehyde. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a workplace exposure limit of .1 parts per million.

Last year the Sierra Club tested 31 travel trailers in Mississippi and found that virtually all — 94 percent — had levels of formaldehyde above that limit.

And CBS News has discovered an internal FEMA document that cites cancer as a potential job hazard for those just inspecting the trailers.

FEMA'S recommendation for fixing the problem? Open the windows and turn on the air conditioner.

David Paulison, FEMA's administrator, told Keteyian, "I don't know that the trailers are causing" any sickness.

As for Angela Orcutt, she's long suspected something in her home was making her son sick.

So we tested it, using the exact same meter used by FEMA.

Our result read .17. That's 70 percent higher than what the EPA standard is.

"It's scary," Orcutt said.

New EPA Environmental Steward Site

EPA has launched a Web site to help business, government and private citizens make intelligent choices on sustainable environmental benefits.

The environmental stewardship Web site can be found at http://www.epa.gov/stewardship.

 

Environmental stewardship is the responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment. Everyday, more than 300 million Americans make countless choices that can impact our environment. By being an active environmental steward you can reduce those impacts and make a difference in the kind of world we live in today and pass on to future generations.

As the leading environmental agency in the United States, EPA has an important role to play in promoting environmental stewardship-by individuals, communities, businesses and other organizations, and by our partners throughout government.

Search EPA Programs Supporting
Environmental Stewardship

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EPA Reporting Rules Reduce Toxic Information

Mike Salinero of The Tampa Tribune explains the new EPA rule on filing information to the toxic release inventory 12/27/06. EPA said it will lessen paperwork for small businesses; environmentalists say it deprives communities of information about toxic chemical releases in their neighborhoods.

Texas Refinery Will Pay $2.9 Million to Resolve Air Violations - Company Will Take Significant Steps to Reduce Harmful Emissions

Texas Refinery Will Pay $2.9 Million to Resolve Air Violations - Company Will Take Significant Steps to Reduce Harmful Emissions
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/2429C6557018E506852572CE00474B27

 

Three Decades of Federal Clean Air Act Violations have caused our global crisis

As this and 100's of similar articles point out:  Utilities Have Failed To Follow Federal Clean Air Act Regulations for Three Decades

And now the question should be asked -  Who is accountable?

 

These massive violators have NO problem blaming U.S. consumers and their SUV's for causing global "manmade emissions", but find it impossible to own up to the inarguable fact that these sources caused it (by proof of reems of EPA data).

 

Our nation must hold these companies not only accountable for the massive environmental problems they have caused to our great resources, but also for the restoration of these resources.

 

FACT - Your SUV didn't cause it and can't stop it: Data, facts, laws are right... and you are not wrong, just misinformed.

 

Today's Article: Since 1977, federal law requires utilities to report upgrades they plan at power plants. And if the upgrades increase emissions, the utility must obtain a permit from the government. But few plants have done this, according to a story by Karen Dillon of The Kansas City Star 4/16/07. Read more here... By kdillon@kcstar.com

 

Ethanol Vehicles Pose Significant Risk To Health, New Study Finds

This was news back on 1998 (EPA) and earlier... where did it go? and why is it back ;-)

Ethanol is widely touted as an eco-friendly, clean-burning fuel. But if every vehicle in the United States ran on fuel made primarily from ethanol instead of pure gasoline, the number of respiratory-related deaths and hospitalizations likely would increase, according to a new study by a Stanford University atmospheric scientist.