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Feature Stories
| Region 9 Top Stories Quick Finder | ||
EPA Recognizes Cities for Reducing Energy Consumption Energy Star buildings typically use 35% less energy and emit 35% fewer greenhouse gases than typical buildings. Los Angeles News Release | San Francisco News Release | Energy Star
Nevada Tribal Community Transforms Contaminated Property. EPA and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony partnered to clean up a former industrial site in Reno, Nevada.Feature story
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
| EPA's Brownfields ProgramNevada's Brownfields Program
Protecting People from PCBsShipping companies fined for alleged illegal distribution and export of PCBs.
January is Radon Action Month. Learn about protecting yourself and others from radon.About Radon
News Release | Radon Videos
Region 9/Where you Live
Arizona Wins WaterSense State Challenge Award
The state of Arizona is recognized for its efforts to use water efficiently. Feature story | WaterSenseClean Water Award to Santa Rosa, CA. The city is recognized for its innovative achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution prevention. News Release | Clean Water Act Recognition
Revitalizing Old Maui HighThe historic institution has been restored using green building practices and principles. Feature Story | Green Building | Resource Conservation
Keeping Drinking Water Safe EPA orders 11 public drinking water systems in California to reduce arsenic in drinking water supplies. News Release | Arsenic in Drinking WaterEnvironmental Justice Awards for Southern California Organizations San Diego’s Negocio Verde Environmental Justice Task Force and Huntington Park’s Communities for a Better Environment are honored by EPA for their work in communities. News Release
National Lead Poisoning and Prevention Week is October 19-25, 2008 - "Let's Wipe Out Lead Poisoning: Renovate Right."$1.13 Million Grant to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
(9/24) This EPA grant will help lower truckers' fuel costs and reduce diesel pollution of the air, one of the most significant air quality challenges in the nation. News Release | Clean Diesel | EPA SmartWay
U.S.-Mexico Border Program's Annual Meeting Highlights Successes (9/8)
The Border 2012 program protects the environment and public health for 10 states on both sides of the border, including 26 U.S.
tribes and seven groups of Mexican indigenous people. News Release | US-Mexico Border Web Site
September is National Preparedness Month EPA's Web site has audio files for downloading and other useful information to help citizens prepare for disasters.
News Release | Disaster Preparedness Web Site
News Release | Disaster Preparedness Web Site
Presidential Volunteer Service Award Honors Environmentalist Farmers (8/22/08)
John and Eda Muller are family farmers whose efforts have resulted in reduced water consumption, reduced pesticide use, and less soil erosion in the sensitive watershed area that drains to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. Press Release 
Rule Protects People from Hazardous Waste (8/15)
The Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) rule requires recycling of used CRTs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).News Release | Feature Story
Cleaning Up Groundwater in East Palo Alto (8/12)
EPA's remedy decision for the Romic property utilizes an enhanced biological treatment.
Romic East Palo Alto | Feature Story & Video
Romic East Palo Alto | Feature Story & Video
Protecting Drinking Water Near Colorado River (6/5) Lost Lake Resort was fined $55k and must clean up contamination from leaking underground fuel tanks. Feature Story & Video | Press Release & Soundbite
Golden Opportunity for Abandoned Gold Mines In Nevada City (5/12/08)
Nevada City and its partners are assessing five major mine tailings areas located in the heart of the city. Feature story & Video » 
Partnership Supports Cleanup and Reuse of Land The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) committed to rapid investigation and cleanup of a Fullerton, California site, and delivered on its promise.
Green Building in Nevada (8/6)
High school students build straw bale classroom.Feature Story | Green Building | Waste
Risk Management and Emergency Response are EPA Priorities
Risk management plans help prevent chemical releases and prompt detection and response when chemical releases do occur. News Release | Emergency Management
Risk management plans help prevent chemical releases and prompt detection and response when chemical releases do occur. News Release | Emergency Management
Uranium Contamination in Navajo Nation
The tribe, EPA and other agencies launch a five-year plan to address and clean up the contamination caused by abandoned uranium mines. Feature Story
Land Revitalization in the Pacific IslandsEPA and its partners are collaborating to address environmental and revitalization issues unique to the Pacific Islands. Feature story
Presidential Environmental Youth Award to Riverside Student
A 13-year old Riverside student was honored by EPA Region 9 Administrator Wayne Nastri on Friday May 23, 2008, for her research on indoor ozone air pollution from air purifiers. Feature Story
Abandoned Gold Mines in Nevada City (5/13) EPA funds assessment of sites to enable future cleanup and development for beneficial uses. Feature story & Video
Energy Star Awards(5/8) EPA recognizes housing developers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. News Release | News Release | ENERGY STAR Web Site
U.S.- Mexico Emergency Preparedness Program Conducts Trainings(4/29) Federal, state, and local agencies from the US and Mexico met to conduct a binational, hazardous substance emergency response training exercise. News Release | US Mexico Border
Multi-Agency Collaboration on NEPA (3/26/08) Agencies find common ground in effort to improve the analysis of impacts for transportation projects in California. Feature Story | NEPA Web siteChromium Contamination in the San Fernando Valley (3/07/08) EPA, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control hosted a workshop for the public on San Fernando Valley Chromium. News Release | Feature Story
Bold in the Bay (4/22)
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel "The Bold" is in the San Francisco Bay this week.
About The Bold | Larger PhotoEnvironmental Advocate Honored (3/4/08) The Pasadena citizen works to preserve the Arroyo Seco, a dry gulch canyon running from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Los Angeles River. News Release & Photo
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Now Available (2/21/08) The 2006 chemical release data, collected under the Emergency Preparedness and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), has been published.
News Releases: AZ |CA |HI |NV |Guam |CNMI |Am Samoa | Region 9 TRI Program
Torres Martinez -
Solid Waste Collaborative's Public Event (2/7/08)Highlights include fire reduction, waste dump cleanups, and student awards. Web site | Video Update
Rio Dell - Innovation Used to Clean Up Business District (1/14/08) Rio Dell's innovative approach to redevelopment is allowing the city to promote economic growth in spite of its small size and limited budget. Feature Story »2007
Managing Munitions on the Mariana Islands (Unexploded Ordnance) (12/10/07) The EPA plan will help encourage residential and economic development. Feature Story »
Greening the Season (11/20/07) By reducing, reusing, and recycling during the holidays, you can minimize your impact on climate change. Feature Story» Go Green»
Enforcement Results in Emergency Response Improvements in AZ and CA Communities (11/07) Projects will include the purchase of emergency response equipment for local fire and hazardous materials response teams and compliance training in the San Joaquin Valley. Feature story »
$5 million settlement with Evergreen Pulp, Inc. announced that will protect air quality in the Eureka, Calif. Area
(10/07) EPA, the California Air Resources Board, and North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District reach a $5 million settlement that will reduce emissions of particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants by approximately 340 tons annually.Environmental Enforcement in 2007 (11/07) EPA enforced against violators of all sizes, in both the public and private sectors, resulting in reduced emissions of air pollutants, fewer discharges into our waterways, and cleanup of soil and groundwater pollution.
Video Summary
Land Revitilization in Hawai´i (10/07) Land revitalization projects preserve Hawai´i's precious natural resources and is key to sustainable living within this island state. Read about the projects
Four Products Approved for Emergency Use on Invasive Light Brown Apple Moth in SF Bay Area (8/07)The invasive pest, new in the continental US, can affect a wide variety of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. More information »
Solar Panels Installed at The Pemaco Superfund Site (8/07) As part of the Cleanup-Clean Air Initiative, the panels will supply renewable energy to equipment used for contamination cleanup at the site. Full story »
DDT and PCB Levels in Palos Verdes and San Pedro Bay Areas (8/07) Between 2002 and 2004, state and federal biologists collected over 2,500 fish from 30 locations along the southern California coast. Full story plus recent fish advisory reports »
EPA Continues to Assess Anaconda Mine In Nevada (8/07) EPA is conducting soil sampling and radiological assessment work at the Anaconda Mine site in Yerington, Nevada. News Release | Site Overview | Video, photos, map link
Multiple Agencies Work to Stop Illegal Dumping (3/07) EPA and other agencies have ordered California firms to pay up to $42.8M in cleanup costs at the Torres Martinez Reservation for dumping violations. Feature Story
Prevention, Preparedness and Response: 2005 in Review
Annual report
Saipan gets $1 million to fix sewage treatment problems (3/30/07) The money will used to construct a deep ocean outfall at the Agingan wastewater treatment plant. The plant now discharges three million gallons of treated wastewater directly into the surf. The new outfall will correct this problem. Story
Superfund
site takes action to protect groundwater. (3/24/07) Last
month, the EPA and Shell Oil Co. started constructing a new system at the
Del Amo Superfund site to remove volatile organic contaminants from the
soil. Web Page
EPA helps remove more than 60,000 pounds of lead contamination from California homes — Removing lead paint from the home is one of the simplest, most cost-effective measures people can take to reduce their exposure to environmental contaminants. Feature story and related information
2006
EPA, DOJ Employees Win Awards for Outstanding Achievements Eight Bay Area employees from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice received recognition at the 28th Annual Federal Employee of the Year awards ceremony.
Superfund turns 25 in California (12/09/06) As the Superfund law celebrates its 25th anniversary this week, it is a good time to reflect on the program’s history and in particular look at some of the success stories we have right here in California. Feature story
Genentech Development in South San Francisco (12/06/06) A new biotechnology campus will rise where a decrepit century-old paint factory once stood in South San Francisco, thanks to a recent RCRA brownfields agreement. Feature story
Assistive Technology Center now Open in EPA’s San Francisco Library (11/16/06) EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region recently opened an Assistive Technology Center in its library at 75 Hawthorne Street in downtown San Francisco. Feature story
Lead Week Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States, but it is entirely preventable. October 23-29, 2005 is the 7th annual National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Feature story
Stormwater RunoffHave you ever wondered where the oil goes that makes driving so dangerous after the first rainfall? Or what happens to the detergent that runs down the driveway when you wash your car?
University of California steps up to audit its environmental management program(3/25) – UC's participation in EPA's Compliance Incentive Program demonstrates the benefits of this creative way of achieving greater environmental and human health protection.
The U.S.-Mexico Border (3/7) – Environmental challenges are being addressed through the Border 2012 environmental program, a binational program designed to protect the environment and the public’s health in the U.S.-Mexico border region. 
Owens Valley Today, clean air is on the horizon in Califonia's Owens Valley, where drylake bed dust has been a problem for generations.
Areas Designated for Fine Particulate StandardsThe nation's first-ever fine particle standard recently announced by Administrator Mike Leavitt portends large ramifications in the Pacific Southwest.
2004 Enforcement Accomplishments Enforcement results in the Pacific Southwest for Fiscal Year 2004 continued an upward trend over the past three years to rise to the highest number ever.
Cracking down on illegal pesticide pet productsThe EPA has initiated a multi-state effort to protect consumers from illegal pesticide products, most recently fining companies in three Western states a collective $748,000 for trafficking counterfeit and/or unregistered pet products.
Alien Seaweeds In the continuing battle to prevent the spread of alien species in Hawai’i, the EPA and the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources are making available an easy to use education tool to help control alien seaweed species.
Bolsa Chica Wetland Restoration ProjectOfficials from state and federal agencies and the city of Huntington Beach joined with local environmental groups to break ground for the Bolsa Chica Wetland Restoration Project in Southern California.
West Coast Diesel Collaborative 
The West Coast Diesel Emissions Reductions Collaborative is working to reduce air pollution emissions from diesel sources along the West Coast.
Compliance assistance at work Within the U.S., an estimated 10 tons of highly toxic mercury are released to the environment each year from mercury-containing light switches during the shredding and crushing of old vehicles.
U.S., Mexico cooperate to better monitor and inspect border hazwaste shipmentsU.S. federal, Arizona, and Mexican environmental and customs agencies recently conducted a joint exercise at the Nogales, Arizona port of entry to improve coordination on inspecting hazardous waste shipments moving across the border.
Naturally Occurring Asbestos in CaliforniaCleanup has begun of naturally occurring asbestos at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado county. EPA believes that asbestos in soils could pose a threat to public health if it became airborne.
Ensuring companies in your community file hazardous waste reportsWhether they are Fortune 500 companies or just neighborhood mom-and-pop shops, making sure companies report their hazardous waste is important to residents of nearby communities who want to know what’s in their back yards.
Coastwide Snapshot Day; May 1, 2004
Volunteers will take water samples at over 500 sites where California's coastal streams and rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean, in the state's second Coastwide Snapshot Day.Last year's event, involving 637 trained volunteers sampling 300 rivers and streams at 550 sites, was the first to cover California's entire coastline, providing public agencies with a "snapshot" of coastal water quality prevention practices
Mercury exposures in Nevada In January 2004, residents in northern Nevada found out first hand how dangerous mercury can be when dozens of middle school children in Gardnerville were exposed to the element and the vapors it gives off. Less than a week later, severe poisoning from long-term exposure to mercury vapor sent a Las Vegas 17-year-old youth to a hospital's intensive care unit for a week, and the exposure may cause lifelong effects.
The HP Pavilion at San Jose/Shark Tank: An arena recycling success In 2001, the HP Pavilion's event managers developed a plan with Waste Management - the Pavilion's trash contractor - to improve the recycling program at the arena. Through cooperation, HP Pavilion at San Jose and Waste Management created a far more effective recycling program that now also includes an impressive composting component. For HP Pavilion, better recycling and the startup of a composting program turned out to be significantly cheaper than landfill disposal.
Children's health issues in the Pacific Southwest
An overview of key children’s health programs and research in the Pacific Southwest, including efforts by EPA, state and local health and environmental organizations, and links to other resources.
Protecting Coral Reefs In conjunction with EPA's Pacific Islands Environmental Conference in Honolulu on June 25-27, 2003, EPA co-sponsored two workshops focusing on coral reef issues for all U.S. Pacific Islands. These workshops addressed key threats to coral reefs identified by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, a partnership of EPA and other federal agencies, states and U.S. territories.
Compliance and Enforcement Accomplishments, 2002
EPA released a report of its compliance assurance and enforcement results in the Pacific Southwest Region for the Fiscal Year 2002. The agency pursued 276 civil enforcement actions resulting in $6.9 million in penalties and over $1 billion in cash and work for cleanups.
Introduction to Dairy Waste in the Pacific Southwest Region
California is America’s biggest dairy producer, with over 1.4 million cows producing over three billion gallons of milk annually -- and 30 million tons of manure. All this waste can pollute rivers, streams, ground water, and air, if not properly managed.
Project Loko I'a: Restoring Hawaii's Traditional Fish PondsFish pond restoration began on the island of Molokai, and is now expanding throughout the state of Hawai'i. For many Hawai'ians, fish pond restoration is seen as an important step toward a sustainable future.
EPA Grant Helps Stardust Non-Profit Building Supplies Reduce Waste in Phoenix AreaA $40,000 EPA grant awarded in 2001 to Stardust Non-Profit Building Supplies in Phoenix, Ariz., has helped reduce construction and demolition waste going to area landfills by more than 1,200 tons in the first half of 2002.
San Francisco Bay Area Hospital Pollution Prevention ProjectEPA established the San Francisco Bay Area Hospital Pollution Prevention Partnership in 1999 to reduce the amount of wastes generated by hospitals. The Partnership, consisting of members from hospitals, government agencies, and community groups, is working to reduce the amount of mercury, medical, and solid wastes generated from six major hospitals in the Bay Area.
Energy Issues in Region 9
The EPA's Pacific Southwest and Pacific Northwest regional offices have been working diligently with other federal, state and local agencies to craft energy solutions that are consistent with clean air and protecting human health and the environment.
Illegal Pest Products Pose Hazards
Illegal urban pesticide products have been a source of growing concern to EPA over the last several years. EPA's Pacific Southwest Regional office is part of a national EPA initiative to protect consumers through enforcement actions against companies selling or distributing illegal household pesticides, and by raising public awareness of these products.
Tosco-Rodeo Oil Refinery Air Quality Monitoring Project
EPA's Pacific Southwest regional office is supporting a project to make real-time air toxics monitoring data from the Tosco-Rodeo Oil Refinery in Contra Costa County, California, available to the public in useful and accessible ways.
Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS)
Mission Accomplished: The U.S. Army safely destroyed the last of over 400,000 obsolete chemical weapons collected from Okinawa and other U.S. military bases in the Pacific Basin and West Germany between 1971 and 1991.
EPA at 30: Top Environmental Stories, 1970-2000
EPA Region 9 has compiled a timeline that shows our choices of 30 of the top national environmental news stories of the past 30 years, and 30 of the top regional stories.
Cleaning Up the Palos Verdes ShelfThe U.S. and the State of California announced a $73 million settlement to clean up DDT pollution and help rehabilitate natural resources off the coast of Los Angeles.
Barrio Logan Environmental Justice Project
An Interagency Committee selected Barrio Logan Community as an environmental justice pilot project. The community is one of 15 across the country chosen for the new program.
