![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081106223048im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Recent Additions
Other Recent Additions
October 30, 2008
Nominations for 2009 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards - EPA is accepting nominations for the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Self-nominations are expected and must be received by December 31. Read more information on how to enter the award competition.
October 20, 2008
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19-25. This year EPA is highlighting its new rule to protect families from the dangers of lead dust resulting from renovations and everyday painting and repairs, the “Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule.” Learn about lead poisoning prevention activities across the country.
October 16, 2008
The document Wire and Cable Insulation and Jacketing: Life-Cycle Assessments for Selected Applications – Summary is now available on the Design for the Environment Program web site, which summarizes the results of an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of resin systems with alternative heat stabilizer formulations used in several wire and cable applications.
September 24, 2008
Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP) - EPA has outlined enhancements to ChAMP, including a reset of the TSCA Inventory and collecting health and safety information on inorganic high-production volume chemicals. Read the speech (PDF) (5 pp., 2.4MB, about PDF) and press release.
September 8, 2008
National Pollution Prevention Week - One of the most important ways to protect the environment is by reducing pollution before it ever gets to the environment. National Pollution Prevention Week is September 15-21, and this year's theme "Pollution Prevention - Where Sustainable Practices Begins" reminds us that preventing pollution is at the heart of sustainability.
September 2, 2008
Lead Test Kit Evaluation - EPA is evaluating the effectiveness of lead test kits by asking vendors to submit test kits for review to ensure fewer false negatives.
August 19, 2008
The new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Import-Export Web site pulls together into one site a comprehensive presentation of information on TSCA import and export requirements that may apply to various chemicals and circumstances under, among others, TSCA Sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 12 and 13.
July 14, 2008
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) January 2007 – June 2008 Accomplishments Report Released – This web-based report highlights OPPT's expanded efforts to ensure the safety of existing chemicals through the newly created program "ChAMP," and OPPT’s promotion of pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. Other accomplishments include initiating the Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program, issuing a new lead rule to reduce risks of lead poisoning in children, and reaching a milestone in the PFOA Stewardship Program with member companies' first annual progress reports received and made publicly available.
June 24, 2008
2008 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winners Announced - Five leading researchers have received awards for chemical technology innovations that promote cleaner, cheaper, and smarter chemistry. Developing safer, environmentally friendly chemicals and processes results in reduced waste, safer products, and reduced use of energy and resources. Over the past 13 years, collectively, award-winning technologies have eliminated more than 1.1 billion pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents, saved over 21 billion gallons of water, and eliminated nearly 400 million pounds of carbon dioxide releases to air.
June 23, 2008
Following review of a TSCA Section 21 petition, EPA is launching a broad effort to gain a greater scientific understanding of the potential health risks of the use of formaldehyde in pressed wood products. Through this process, EPA will develop risk assessments on the potential adverse health effects, evaluate the costs and benefits of possible control technologies and approaches, and determine whether EPA action is needed to address any identified risks.
May 13, 2008
Participate in the Lifecycle Building Challenge 2 (LBC2)
, a national competition to develop strategies supporting building deconstruction and material reuse. Everyone is encouraged to enter including students and professionals interested in policy, recycling, design, architecture, engineering, education, and more.
April 21, 2008
New Green Building Approach - EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson announced a new Agency approach to help facilitate the mainstream adoption of green building practices to reduce the environmental and public health impacts of buildings and building-related products.
March 31, 2008
New requirements to protect children from lead-based paint hazards | Comunicado de prensa - Under the new regulations, workers must follow lead-safe work practices during renovation and repair of structures built before 1978.
March 18, 2008
EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson gave the keynote address at the Global Chemical Regulation Conference, attended by more than 300 chemical industry regulatory, environmental and health officials, in Baltimore, Md. The Administrator outlined the Agency's commitments to assess and initiate needed action on existing chemicals produced above 25,000 pounds per year made under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) and discussed several enhancements to EPA's Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP), a program created to implement SPP commitments.
March 18, 2008
Apply for EPA recognition through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program's Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI). Through this initiative, DfE will recognize environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to using only safer surfactants. Applications must be submitted no later than May 30, 2008. Awards will be presented in late 2008 in Washington, DC.
January 30, 2008
Need help interpreting Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) release data? Try the newly released update of EPA's popular computer-based screening tool, the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI). This tool uses risk factors to put TRI release data into a chronic health context. Use it to examine trends, identify important emissions situations for follow-up, support community-based projects and more.
January 28, 2008
Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) Launched - The NMSP will encourage submission and development of key scientific information and use of risk management practices for chemical nanoscale materials. Submit your contact information if you are interested in participating in the NMSP.
December 19, 2007
Visit EPA's new Sustainable Futures Web site. The goal of the Sustainable Futures Initiative (SF) is to make new chemicals safer, available faster, and at lower cost. It works by giving chemical developers the same risk-screening models that EPA uses to evaluate new chemicals before they enter the market. The new Web site gives easy access to these models, as well as information on training and graduation, publications and more.
December 18, 2007
CARE Grants and Request for Proposals Announced - Eighteen communities have received cooperative agreement grants to continue improving health and the environment at the local level through the CARE program. EPA also announced the availability of approximately $3 million in cooperative agreement funding through 2008 CARE request for proposals.
December 5, 2007
Accepting nominations - EPA is accepting nominations for the 2008 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Self-nominations are expected and must be received by December 31. Read more information on how to enter the Award Competition.
November 19, 2007
EPA has selected three 2007 awardees under the P2 Recognition Project that honors companies for developing innovative chemistry and technologies that further pollution prevention and other environmental goals. The 2007 awardees are BASF Corp., Chisso America, Inc. and Clariant Corp.
November 5, 2007
Federal purchasers, visit EPA's newly-redesigned Web site for Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. Get clear and easy access to federal procurement policies and guidance; information on specific products and services; on-line tools; calculators; publications, case studies, and related Web links. This site can help green vendors, businesses large and small -- and consumers, too.
October 21-27, 2007
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week - This year's theme, "Protect Our Most Valuable Resource -- Our Children," highlights the importance of educating parents and children about the dangers of lead exposure, especially lead-paint hazards in housing. Lead poisoning prevention activities across the country.
October 5, 2007
EPA Requires Notification Prior to Use of Certain Motor Vehicle Switches - EPA issued a final Significant New Use Rule to require notification to EPA 90 days prior to U.S. manufacture, import, or processing of elemental mercury for use in convenience light switches, anti-lock brake system switches, and active ride control system switches in certain motor vehicles. This will provide EPA the opportunity to evaluate the potential risks of resuming the use of elemental mercury in such switches.
September 17-23, 2007
National Pollution Prevention Week - Reducing pollution before it ever gets to the environment is one of the most important ways to protect the environment. National Pollution Prevention Week is September 17-23, and this year's theme urges us to "Take the Next Step" toward sustainability.
September 10, 2007
EPA released High Production Volume Chemical (HPV) Hazard Characterizations summarizing basic hazards (toxicity) of 101 chemicals based on HPV Challenge Program data submitted by U.S. chemical companies. EPA will combine hazard and exposure information to develop risk characterizations and determine if additional action is needed to ensure the safe manufacture and use of HPV chemicals.
August 21, 2007
The United States, Canada, and Mexico will work together to ensure the safe manufacture and use of industrial chemicals. The partnership will be built on EPA's ongoing efforts to study and characterize the risks of chemicals that are produced in high volumes. The United States is committing to complete, by 2012, risk characterizations and initiate needed actions on more than 9,000 chemicals produced above 25,000 pounds per year in the country. Read more about the US-Canada-Mexico partnership. General information about chemical risks.
July 18, 2007
EPA and CDC Join Forces to Support Communities - EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have joined forces to support community environmental and health goals. The first four pilot project communities have been announced.
July 12, 2007
Public Asked To Comment on Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program Concept and ICR, TSCA Inventory Approach - To ensure stakeholder involvement in the development of the program, the agency is seeking public comment on approaches for the Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program and ICR and TSCA Inventory paper. A public meeting on the proposed approaches and materials will be held on August 2, 2007, in Arlington, Virginia.
June 26, 2007
2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winners Announced - Leading researchers received awards for chemical technology innovations that promote cleaner, cheaper, and smarter chemistry. Developing safer, environmentally friendly chemicals and processes results in reduced waste, safer products, and reduced use of energy and resources. Over the past 12 years, Challenge winners have made nearly a billion pounds of progress including 193 million pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents eliminated each year – enough to fill almost 900 railroad tank cars or a freight train 11 miles long.
June 5, 2007
Proposal Increases Protections for Children During Renovations - EPA has proposed requiring lead-safe work practices and worker training and certification for contractors and construction professionals renovating child-occupied facilities. More information on this proposal which supplements an earlier one.
May 16, 2007
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics 2005-2006 Accomplishments Report Released – EPA is releasing the first web-based report that highlights various efforts in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics to ensure chemical safety under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and to promote pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. Accomplishments include making High Production Volume (HPV) chemical data publicly available through the newly-created web-based HPV Information System, initiating the PFOA Stewardship Program, and coordinating the development of the Mercury Roadmap.
May 2, 2007
EPA Gives Green Meaning to Its Meetings – The Agency has changed its acquisition rules to give preference to facilities that manage their resources in environmentally positive ways. When considering meeting space, EPA will ask facilities if they have a recycling program, a linen/towel reuse option, and many other "green" options.
April 26, 2007
Celebrating Earth Day, EPA Assistant Administrator Jim Gulliford visited Rochester, New York, which is an EPA CARE community. Among his stops was an older home that had been renovated as a show place for toxics education. He also toured Strong Memorial Hospital to learn how they eliminated mercury and hospital waste and visited a company that successfully reduced thousands of pounds of ink through the Green Supplier's Network.
April 21, 2007
EPA Wins Award on Design for the Environment (DfE) Program - The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. has awarded EPA its 2007 Design for Recycling Award. The DfE program was chosen for its overall leadership in creating innovative design partnerships, and its dedication to empowering businesses and industry sectors to incorporate environmental considerations into decision-making processes. The award was accepted by Assistant Administrator Jim Gulliford on April 21, 2007 in New Orleans.
April 16, 2007
Lead in Toy Jewelry - EPA and the Sierra Club reached a settlement on April 13 under which the Agency will take targeted actions to complement numerous other measures EPA has taken, along with its federal and state partners, to protect children from lead exposure. EPA will continue to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to address lead in children's products, and the EPA actions are in support of CPSC’s ongoing program.
April 2, 2007
The brochure entitled, Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers was released by EPA. The brochure is intended to provide information for automotive professionals and home mechanics on preventing exposure to brake and clutch dust that may contain asbestos fibers. En español.
March 29, 2007
Mercury Stakeholder Panel Process – EPA and its federal partners are establishing a stakeholder panel process to provide the U.S. government with a range of options for better managing non-federal mercury supplies. The process is part of a commitment made in EPA’s Roadmap for Mercury to assess options for managing domestic elemental, commodity-grade mercury. The first public meeting will be held in Washington, DC on May 8.
March 28, 2007
The first report establishing a baseline for future progress to reduce PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) emissions and product content levels of PFOA by companies voluntarily participating in the PFOA Stewardship Program was released by EPA. Progress made toward meeting the program's goals will be measured against this baseline.
March 16, 2007
In light of two new lead dust studies, EPA is seeking public comment on the proposed work practice standards to reduce exposures to lead hazards. Once the agency reviews the public comments, it will determine if any changes to the proposed rule are warranted. The studies include one conducted by EPA, "Characterization of Dust Lead Levels after Renovation, Repair, and Painting Activities," and a second study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, "Lead-Safe Work Practices Survey Project."
March 12,2007
Chemical Management Resource Guide for School Administrators - released by EPA, can help your school reduce the use of dangerous chemicals and install safer chemical management practices. The guide is aimed especially at helping school administrators to set policies that protect against dangerous chemical exposures. It also is meant to be a resource to help parents and concerned citizens determine if their children's schools are minimizing potential exposure to dangerous chemicals.
October 18, 2006
EPA Launches Collaborative Effort to Design, Develop New Stewardship Program -- Today EPA sent letters to more than 500 organizations and individuals inviting participation in the design and development of a stewardship program. Through open dialogue, public engagement and sound science, EPA can establish the appropriate oversight for nanoscale materials and ensure public confidence in its safety.
