The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) Awards. The 2009 FEC Awards recognize the achievements of FEC partners and their leadership in federal electronics stewardship during 2008. See attachment for complete announcement.

The second public comment period for LEED for Neighborhood Development opened Friday, May 1, and will close Sunday, June 14.

Contaminant cleanup at Elmendorf AFB began in 1990 when the AFB was added to the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. The cleanup continues and associated documentation is available for public review.

Supplemental Funding for Brownfields RLF grantees provided under the April 10, 2009 notice will be subject to the Buy American provisions for activities defined as infrastructure by the Agency. This action is effective April 30, 2009. POC is Debi Morey, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, (202) 566-2735 or the appropriate Brownfields Regional Contact (Federal Register: April 30, 2009 [Notices], Page 19954-19956).

This year, 15 winners and 13 honorable mentions were selected from nearly 200 nominations in the areas of environmental management systems, pollution prevention, recycling, green product purchasing, alternative fuels, electronics stewardship and sustainable buildings. Recipients include representatives, teams, and programs from across the DoD and non-DoD agencies. The awards ceremony will be held on June 17, 2009, in the Natcher Auditorium of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, to formally recognize the winners and their programs. See the attached press announcement for all the winners and honorable mentions.

The U.S. EPA Office of Atmospheric Programs, Climate Change Division has issued information concerning the applicability of the proposed rule on greenhouse gas emissions reporting and federal facilities. Click here for information.

The nation's top 50 purchasers are buying more than 11 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, equivalent to the CO2 emissions that would be produced from the electricity use of more than 1.1 million average American homes. The U.S. Air Force is Number 8, the U.S. EPA is number 14, the U.S. Department of Energy is number 23. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is number 30, and the U.S. General Services Administration/Region 2 is number 43 on the list.

On April 15, 2009, the Department of Defense announced the winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.

A GAO report released March 13, 2009, addressing the need for greater EPA enforcement and oversight of cleanup operations at DOD sites.

The National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) Program has published the Winter/Spring 2009 NDCEE Newsletter.

The alleged violations involved 28 underground tanks at the Aberdeen facility that were used to store gasoline, fuel oil, diesel fuel, and JP-8 jet fuel and ranged in capacity from 600 gallons to 25,000 gallons. To settle the alleged violations, the U.S. Army has agreed to pay a $29,928 civil penalty and to perform a supplemental environmental project (SEP) at a cost of $209,432. The SEP involves the removal of the underground storage tanks and the installation of above-ground tanks.

Registration is now open for the 2009 Federal Environmental Symposium EAST, to be held June 16-18, 2009, on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. The entire Federal community, and contractors representing their Federal agencies, are welcome to attend this year's event, which focuses on the progress that has been made in the past year meeting the sustainability goals of Executive Order 13423. Exhibit applications are also being accepted from federal, non-profit, and organizations on the GSA Schedule, first come, first served (up to 50.) Registration ends May 29, 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.fedcenter.gov/symposia2009.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions at the national level and presents historical emissions from 1990 to 2007. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by "sinks," e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation and soils.

This new site emphasizes protection and conservation of aquatic ecosystems. The site also provides information on tools to identify and protect healthy watersheds and their components while providing critical information for making strategic decisions to both protect and restore our nation's waters.

Published 1 August 2008, this document describes Audit Policy incentives tailored for new owners that want to make a "clean start" at their recently acquired facilities by addressing environmental noncompliance that began prior to acquisition.

EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) plans to make available approximately $40 million in Recovery Act funding to supplement Revolving Loan Fund capitalization grants previously awarded competitively under section 104(k)(3) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(3). This action is effective April 10, 2009.

PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2009) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the addition of the Fort Detrick Area B Ground Water Site in Frederick, Md. to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The national priorities list is a national list of sites where hazardous contaminants could impact public health and/or the environment. NPL sites undergo a thorough investigation to determine the full nature and extent of contamination. EPA or the parties responsible for the contamination then address whatever risks the sites pose to human health and the environment.

With the new, final certification system, EPA lays out the requirements for the process and procedures for the certification of all WaterSense labeled products, ensuring that only accredited bodies are licensed to certify them. This system took effect in April 2009, superseding an interim process in place since 2006. The criteria that plumbing fixtures must meet to earn the WaterSense label has not changed, and consumers and most manufacturers will not notice any difference in the certification process.

This spending plan details how GSA will expend the $5.55 billion authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including measures necessary to convert Federal buildings into high-performance green buildings, renovate and construct Federal buildings and courthouses, and renovate and construct land ports of entry (LPOE).

Quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice, covering recent environmental activities conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their partners.

This is a joint effort between EPA's Plug-In To eCycling program and leading cell phone manufacturers, retailers and service providers to increase national awareness about the importance of cell phone recycling. People can participate in this national event by donating or recycling their unwanted cell phones, PDAs and their accessories.

(San Francisco, Calif. -- 04/01/09) DOE will pay a $165,000 fine for shutting down the cleanup systems at Lawrence Livermore and failing to restart them as requested by the EPA in January 2009. Recent sampling showed that the closure of a large treatment unit on the perimeter of the site had resulted in a loss of control of the contaminated groundwater plume offsite. Some of the systems at the site have already been restarted and DOE is regaining control of contaminated groundwater. The remaining facilities that need to be restarted are subject to an agreed upon schedule that is enforceable by the EPA under a Federal Facility Agreement. The EPA and DOE have also agreed to re-evaluate the cleanup in areas where it is no longer effective, and will involve state regulatory agencies and community stakeholders in the decision-making.

(Honolulu, HI - April 2, 2009) Under an agreement signed with the U.S. EPA and the State of Hawaii's Department of Health, the Navy will address any remaining investigation and clean up issues at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific in Central Oahu and the Navy Radio Transmitter Facility at Lualualei near the Navy Munitions Command base in Leeward Oahu. Soil contaminants at the sites include PCBs, volatile organics, semi-volatile organics and metals.

This final document, EPA/100/K-09/003, was developed by EPA's Council for Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM) to improve the practices associated with the development, evaluation, and application of models for environmental decision making.

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive launched the 4th annual Electronics Reuse and Recycling Campaign (ERRC) today, Wednesday, April 1, 2009, on its new home at the FedCenter website, http://www.fedcenter.gov/errc. Federal agencies are allowed to report weights of eligible reuse and recycling activities from October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009. Due to the increasingly positive results over the past three Campaigns, registered facilities will no longer be broken out by geographic regions. The 2008-2009 ERRC is a national campaign, and all registered facilities will now compete with one another at the national level and based on the facility size and Civilian or Military designation. The 2008-2009 ERRC features a new Centralized Agency category for agencies that have a single centralized reuse/recycling program. The Centralized Agency category is for headquarters agencies only – sub-agencies and bureaus may not register under this category. For more information on this new category, visit the ERRC Rules page: http://www.fedcenter.gov/errc-rules. For additional information, please read the attached Press Release. Visit the new ERRC home today to register for the 2008-2009 Campaign! We look forward to your participation! Katie Miller OFEE katie.miller@ofee.gov 202.343.9841

This assessment, which is done every four years, reflects data collected in 2007 from states. According to the survey results, the nation's water utilities will need to invest an estimated $334.8 billion over the next 20 years to deal with aging infrastructure. This drinking water needs survey will help EPA determine the distribution formula for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) grants for the fiscal years 2010 through 2013 budgets.

The new EPA Web site "Watershed Central" has been developed to help watershed organizations and others find key information they need to implement watershed management projects. Watershed Central also contains links to watershed technical resources, funding sources, mapping applications and information specific to named watersheds. The site includes a "Watershed Central Wiki" for collaboration and information sharing. A webcast about the site will be presented April 15, 2009.

This is a 2-yr pilot program for the Navaho Nation and the U.S. EPA. The U.S. EPA issued inspector credentials to two NN EPA inspectors, giving them the ability to inspect tanks on behalf of the U.S. EPA. The federally-credentialed inspectors will have the ability to write U.S. EPA field citations for federal violations

Videos are being accepted on a wide variety of topics including: low impact development, wetlands, marine debris, watershed management, water quality monitoring, polluted runoff, and other water-related topics. The videos should convey to the public easy, low-cost steps that individuals and communities can take to improve and protect the nation's streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and oceans. The contest will run until Earth Day, April 22, 2009.

Approximately 2,900 acres of the Griffiss Air Force Base Superfund Site located in Rome, New York, is being deleted from the National Priorities List (NPL). The EPA and the State of New York, have determined that, with regard to the specified properties at the GAFB Site (i.e., the soil and groundwater beneath), either no significant threat to public health or the environment exists or all appropriate response actions, other than operation, maintenance, and 5-yr reviews, have been implemented such that they no longer pose a significant threat to public health or the environment. This action is effective March 20, 2009.

More than 50 nominations were received for the FY08 Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards program. Judging was completed in December and winners have been announced. Winners will represent the Army in the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards competition.

The data in this report was gathered through the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) database. The report summarizes the data collected for 2007. Federal facilities are listed separately in Section C, beginning on page C-27 of the report.

NASA and the EPA joined the City of Pasadena, CA to celebrate the groundbreaking for a facility that will remove perchlorate and other chemicals from the groundwater near the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Superfund site.

Grants Application for these grants is due April 15, 2009. The maximum funding level is $250,000 per project. The project period of performance is limited to two years. The assistance agreements are for research, public education, training, monitoring, demonstration and studies.

The Nature Conservancy has transferred two properties totaling 210 acres adjacent to Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Santa Rosa County to the Department of Environmental Protection. The conservation of these properties represents the work of a broad partnership among state agencies, military, local government and private nonprofits to help protect the water quality of Clear Creek and buffer Naval Air Station Whiting Field against the threat of encroaching development.

Annual U.S. emissions for the period of time from 1990 through 2007 are summarized and presented by source category and sector. The inventory contains estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions. Comments are due April 10, 2009.

The Gulf Guardian awards recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. The awards are given in seven categories: Business, Civic/Non-Profit Organization, Partnerships, Youth/Education, Individual, Government, and Bi-National.

This document, Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Developing and Managing Capital Program Costs (GAO-09-3SP), dated March 2009, is intended to help agencies produce well-documented, comprehensive, accurate, and credible estimates. multi-step process for developing high-quality, trustworthy cost estimates; explains how to manage program costs once a contract has been awarded; and presents 48 case studies, drawn from GAO published audits, that illustrate typical pitfalls and successes in cost estimating. The guide stresses both sound cost estimating and earned value management (EVM), a project management tool that compares completed work to expected outcomes, in setting realistic program baselines and managing risk. In future audits, GAO plans to use the Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide to assess the accuracy of agencies' cost estimates and determine whether programs are on schedule.

Dated January 2009, this is an EPA report examining building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007. The report shows that while a large share of new residential construction still takes place on previously undeveloped land at the urban fringe, more than half of the county's larger metro regions have seen a sharp increase in residential building in urban core areas.

Created by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE), this is a compilation of the products for which EPA, DOE, and USDA have provided environmental or energy attribute recommendations. For the first time, product and services specifiers and contracting officials can find all of the designated products in an easy to use series of spreadsheets.

Details the status and progress for each agency in the areas of energy, transportation, and environment.

Section 2.8m of the document tells agencies that each Recovery Program Plan must include the following: Federal Infrastructure Investments: a description of agency plans to spend funds effectively to comply with energy efficiency and green building requirements and to demonstrate Federal leadership in sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing the agency's environmental impact.

The Development, Community, and Environment Division in EPA's Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. Applications are due at 5:00 pm EST, April 23, 2009.

Boston, Mass. – Feb. 6, 2009) – EPA has approved a second pilot program for the Massachusetts National Guard to further evaluate a lead bullet capture system on two additional small arms ranges, and has also extended the duration of the initial small arms range pilot project which began in August 2007. The pilot program is taking place at Camp Edwards, at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) in Bourne, Mass. The authorization for lead ammunition training at the three ranges, which expires at the end of 2009, calls for regular testing of soil and water resources with reporting to state and federal environmental officials to ensure that land and water resources are not significantly impacted by the reintroduction of lead bullets to the ranges.

(Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 3, 2009) - EPA Region 7 has reached a legal settlement that paves the way for environmental cleanup work to be completed at a contaminated landfill and lagoon facility on the grounds of the 2,445-acre former Des Moines Ordnance Plant in Ankeny, Iowa.

EPA is delaying by sixty days the effective date of the final rule that amends the SPCC regulations published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2008. Thus, the amendments will become effective on April 4, 2009. EPA additionally is requesting public comment on the extension of the effective date and its duration, and on the regulatory amendments contained in the final rule. Comments must be received on or before March 5, 2009. POCs are Vanessa E. Principe at 202-564-7913 (principe.vanessa@epa.gov), or Mark W. Howard at 202-564-1964 (howard.markw@epa.gov), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20460-0002, Mail Code 5104A (Federal Register: February 3, 2009 [Rules and Regulations], Page 5900-5903).

Eleven Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states will cooperate to develop a regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The 11 states-the 10 members of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) plus Pennsylvania-will work together to create an emissions-performance standard that will eventually provide incentives for energy providers to use lower-carbon fuels.

The information from the survey provides important input for EPA and others to use in evaluating biosolids generated by the nation's publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The report also provides the first national estimates of which pharmaceuticals, steroids and hormones may be present in sewage sludge and at what concentrations.

EPA Region 3 podcast that reviews the mercury hazards associated with CFLs and whether or not the energy benefits outweigh the mercury hazard.

Article details suggested actions for greening meetings and travel.

This report summarizes water quality assessments submitted by the states to EPA under section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. The report finds that the states assessed 16 percent of the nation's 3.5 million river and stream miles, 39 percent of its 41.7 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 29 percent of its 87,791 estuary square miles. Forty-four percent of assessed river and stream miles, 64 percent of assessed lake acres, and 30 percent of assessed estuary square miles were found to be impaired for one or more of the uses designated for them by the states. Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen. Top sources of impairment included atmospheric deposition, agriculture, hydrologic modifications, and unknown or unspecified sources. This report is a companion to electronically-submitted state water quality information available on EPA's Web site, known as ATTAINS, at http://www.epa.gov/waters/ir. In addition to viewing the national summary and information by state at this Web site, users can click down to the individual waterbody level to find out more about water quality conditions.

This conference is hosted by International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ). Abstracts are due on or before February 6, 2009.

(New York, N.Y.) Do you know an individual or organization that deserves recognition for their environmental achievements? Nominate them for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Quality Award. Each year, EPA Region 2 recognizes and honors those individuals and organizations who contributed significantly to improving the environment during the past year in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and tribal nations within the region's jurisdiction. Winners are presented with a plaque and recognized by senior EPA officials during a ceremony coinciding with Earth Day celebrations.

The 2009 Federal Environmental Symposia (FES) Call for Presentations is open and will run through February 13, 2009. Visit http://www.fedcenter.gov/symposia2009-cfp to learn more and to submit an abstract for consideration. Don't forget to mark your calendars for these exciting events! FES-West: June 2-4, 2009, Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound, Washington FES-East: June 16-18, 2009, Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland A "Save the Date" and "Call for Presentations" information document is attached.

(San Francisco, Calif. -- 01/07/08) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified the Department of Energy that they must immediately resume cleanup activities at its Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., or face escalating penalties.

Monthly EPA publication to provide "what you can do" information about activities and events that we can use in our homes, communities, and offices.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by the following organization to coordinate water efficiency research: the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the International Code Council, and the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute. Sample projects that might be undertaken include drainline carry research for high efficiency toilets, non-water-using urinals, sizing of water efficient plumbing systems, and safe applications for re-use of water.

A message from the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive As with this past year, we are very pleased to announce that the 2009 Federal Environmental Symposia (FES) will again be held at both East and West venues. Having set a very high standard for excellence and appeal at the Big Sky Resort in 2008, our host - Navy Region Southwest - has selected the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington for this year's Symposium West. And, with continuing generosity, NIH will once again host the Symposium East at their convenient and spacious Natcher Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Both events will occur in June: FES-West: June 2-4, 2009 FES-East: June 16-18, 2009 Registration is scheduled to open in March 2009.

Quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice, covering recent environmental activities conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their partners.

Topics of interest include: Coastal Resource Impacts and Management; Environmental Ethics; Regional Water Resources and Pollution Issues; Climate Change and Coastal Areas; Creative Visions of the Changing Landscape; and the Economics of Sustainability. Abstracts are due May 17, 2009.

EPA and partners are inviting the nation's architects, product developers, educators, environmental leaders, and students to submit innovative designs that minimize waste, reuse materials, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. This free, Web-based competition supports an on-line library of competition entries and green building resources. Designs and ideas must be submitted by August 30, 2009. The two main categories are: building an entire building from foundation to roof or building products or materials

EPA and USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service National Water Program are seeking abstracts. The theme of the conference is "Achieving Results with Tight Budgets." Abstracts are due January 30, 2009.

The U.S. EPA estimates there are more than 20,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths each year in America. The U.S. Surgeon General issued a national health advisory on radon because of this risk. All Americans are urged to test, and if necessary, fix their homes to reduce their risk.

Recognition was awarded in five categories in 2008: Water Utility, Corporate/Industry, Individual, Nongovernmental Organization, and Government. These award winners provide case studies on tools, techniques, and processes to reduce water consumption.

The 2008 Vessel General Permit (VGP) regulates discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels operating in a capacity as a means of transportation. Due to a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, vessel owners and operators who have previously been exempt from Clean Water Act requirements for the last 35 years will now require a permit starting Dec. 19. The ruling revoked 40 CFR 122.3(a)) which concerns the exclusion of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel as of February 6, 2009. The VGP covers non-recreational vessels 79 ft in length or longer, such as cruise ships or oil and cargo tankers, but excludes fishing vessels of any length, unless they discharge ballast water. The VGP incorporates the Coast Guard's mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards, and provides technology-based and water-quality-based effluent limits for other types of discharges, including deck runoff from rain or cleaning, ballast water used to stabilize ships and "gray water" from showers, sinks and laundry machines. It also establishes specific corrective actions, inspections and monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The Vessels Electronic Notice of Intent (eNOI) system will be available in late Spring 2009. No vessel owner/operator is required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) until June 19, 2009. more info...

(Washington, D.C. – Dec.22, 2008) EPA has notified 25 governors and 23 tribal leaders that certain areas in their states and tribal lands do not meet the agency's daily standards for fine particle pollution, also known as PM 2.5.

Starting 2 January 2009, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE) will accept applications for the 2009 White House Closing the Circle (CTC) Awards. This program recognizes outstanding achievements of Federal employees and their facilities for efforts that resulted in significant contributions to, or have made a significant impact on, promoting environmental stewardship. The awards focus on waste prevention, recycling, green purchasing activities, environmental management systems, high performance/sustainable buildings, electronics stewardship, alterative fuel use and reduced fuel usage under Executive Order 13423. Please note nominations can only be submitted on-line from 2-30, January 2009

Under the terms of a consent agreement, GSA will bring the facilities into compliance with federal regulations, either by upgrading or permanently closing and replacing old systems with new ones. In addition, GSA has agreed to voluntarily provide release detection for tanks that store fuel solely for use by emergency power generators and pay a $70,000 penalty.

The objective of the sessions is to increase awareness of Green Procurement business practices and techniques by providing practical solutions, learnings and tools pertaining to such topical areas as Sustainability, Socially Responsible Procurement, incorporating Green Initiatives into a Strategic Plan, Green Supplier Selection, Green Initiative Performance Measurement, etc. Proposals are due December 31, 2009.

The Building Technologies Program (BTP), within DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, is seeking submissions from qualified groups for formal recognition as High-Performance Green Building Partnership Consortia. Letters from groups seeking recognition must be received at the address below no later than February 2, 2009.

The SSI Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008 are available for download and public comment. The public comment period closes on January 20, 2009. The new draft contains over 50 proposed prerequisites and credits ranging from site selection to sustainable maintenance practices.

This inaugural 2007 report, "U.S. Air Force Energy, Environment, Safety and Occupational Health: Managing for Operational Sustainability", identifies, compiles and describes existing Air Force Energy, Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health programs, processes and performance information essential to supporting Air Force operations and mission capabilities.

(Washington, D.C. - Dec. 4, 2008) Fiscal year 2008 was a banner year for EPA's enforcement and compliance program, which concluded civil and criminal enforcement actions requiring regulated entities to spend an estimated $11.8 billion on pollution controls, cleanup and environmental projects, a record for EPA.

In 2007 the U.S. GHG emissions were 7,282 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e), an increase of 1.4 percent from the 2006 level according to "Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2007", a report released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Since 1990, U.S. GHG emissions have grown at an average annual rate of 0.9 percent.

(Washington, D.C. - Dec. 3, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army are issuing revised guidance to ensure America's wetlands, streams and other waters are better protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The guidance clarifies the geographic scope of jurisdiction under the CWA. "We are providing improved guidance today to ensure the information is in place to fully protect the nation's streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water. "The guidance builds upon our experiences and provides consistent direction to our staff and the public." "We are committed to protecting America's aquatic resources as required by the Clean Water Act and in accordance with the Supreme Court decision," said John Paul Woodley Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). "This revised interagency guidance will enable the agencies to make clear, consistent, and predictable jurisdictional determinations within the scope of the Clean Water Act." The revised guidance replaces previous policy issued in June 2007 and clarifies a June 2006 Supreme Court decision in Rapanos v. United States regarding the scope of the agencies' jurisdiction under the CWA. The guidance follows the agencies' evaluation of more than 18,000 jurisdictional determinations and review of more than 66,000 comments. More information: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/CWAwaters.html

(12/01/08) HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a Finding of Violation to the U.S. Navy Base Guam for permit violations under the federal Clean Water Act. In July, EPA inspectors discovered the violations during inspections covering several different federal environmental statutes and programs. "Department of Defense facilities on Guam must be in compliance with all environmental requirements," said Alexis Strauss, EPA's Water Division director for the Pacific Southwest region. "EPA will work with Guam EPA and DOD to ensure construction and ongoing operations comply fully with environmental requirements to protect and restore Guam's environment."

On November 17, 2008, the U.S. Army released their first annual sustainability report. The report covers environmental, energy, and fleet sustainability activities and initiatives for the period 2004-2007.

EPA's holiday tips anyone can employ to reduce their impact on the environment this holiday season.

This tool has been created to assist home builders, landscape professionals, and irrigation partners in meeting the outdoor criteria of a future WaterSense specification for new homes. The tool will help guide user through the water budget calculations of the draft specification for water-efficient, single-family new homes, including: the amount of water the designed landscape is allowed (budgeted) based on EPA criteria; how much water the designed landscape requires based on climate, plant type, and irrigation system efficiency; whether the designed landscape meets the budgeted amount. The public comment period ends 19 December 2008.

The EPA Docket contains information reported to EPA by Federal facilities that manage hazardous waste or from which a reportable quantity of hazardous substances has been released. The Docket is used to identify Federal facilities that should be evaluated to determine if they pose a threat to public health or welfare and the environment and to provide a mechanism to make this information available to the public. 33 Federal facilities are being added to the Docket, including facilities in USDA, DOI, DHS, USACE, Navy, Air Force, Army, VA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and DOJ. 53 Federal facilities are being deleted from the Docket., including facilities in DOJ, DHHS, DOI, USDA, Army, Air Force, DLA, Navy, USACE, Federal Reserve, GSA, EPA, USPS, and DHS (Federal Register: November 25, 2008 [Notices], Page 71644-71653).

The National Environmental Partnership Summit has a call for speakers for its annual summit that will be held at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco on May 4 - 8, 2009. The summit will focus on pollution prevention and environmental assistance, including greening your business, research and new clean technologies, regulatory updates, resource efficiency, and community engagement success stories, with sustainability as an underlying common thread in all tracks. The call for speakers is out now through December 5, 2008.

EPA and 14 national organizations have signed an MOU pledging to work together to improve management of septic wastewater systems by exchanging information and providing technical assistance to their members, states and local municipalities.

The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities program, the U.S. EPA has honored the Pacific Area of the U.S. Postal Service for its commitment to voluntarily replace all lead wheel weights for approximately 31,000 fleet delivery vehicles -- removing more than 8,000 pounds of lead from its workplace operations and potential deposition into the environment.

This updated action plan outlines strategies to help lower the growth in energy demand across the country by more than 50 percent, and shows ways to save more than $500 billion in net savings over the next 20 years. These actions may help to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 90 million vehicles. The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is directed by a leadership group of 30 electric and gas utilities, 20 state agencies and 12 other organizations. This state driven initiative is designed to help electric and natural gas ratepayers increase energy efficiency while saving money.

(11/17/08) HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, working with Guam Environmental Protection Agency staff, inspected 19 petroleum underground storage tank facilities and issued citations at two facilities for underground storage tank violations.

A new report has been released that describes EPA's environmental and financial progress over the past year. The Performance and Accountability report highlights the agency's efforts to dramatically reduce air pollution, improve water quality, make significant strides in cleaning up Superfund sites, increase health and environmental safety through pesticide and chemical evaluation, and avoid pollution through strong enforcement actions in fiscal year 2008. Click here for the report.

Promoted by the National Recycling Coalition, their website helps you find America Recycles Day events in your local area.

The database contains information on: mercury-containing equipment, devices, supplies and laboratory chemicals and coatings; non-mercury alternative products; companies that manufacture or distribute the products. Whenever possible, information is also provided on: product use; approximate mercury content; and contact information for companies.

This edition focuses on greening travel, meetings, and conferences.

The purpose of this document is to develop a commonly accepted set of R2 practices for the electronics recycling industry. Accredited certification programs--by verifying an electronics recycler adheres to these R2 practices--will enable customers to make better informed decisions and have increased confidence that their end-of-life electronic equipment will be dealt with in a responsible manner. The R2 practices set forth herein are not legal requirements and do not replace electronics recyclers' legal obligations.

The 21 winners in seven categories was announced October 29, 2008, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The seven categories are: Business, Civic/Non-Profit Organization, Partnerships, Youth/Education, Individual, Government, and Bi-National.

Co-sponsors Environmental Council of States (ECOS) and U.S. EPA's TRI Program are calling for submissions for the conference on "Increasing Effective Use of TRI Information" as it relates to studies and tools that make TRI an effective program. The will be held conference on March 31 – April 1, 2009 in Bethesda, MD. Submit proposals to Lia Parisien of ECOS at lparisie@sso.org by December 1, 2008.

EPA is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. These awards recognize innovative chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use, and that have broad applications in industry.

The conference, held January 22 – 23, 2009 in Lake Buena Vista, FL is requesting abstracts be submitted no later than November 21, 2008. Featured topics are: Biomass/Waste to Energy and also Biofuel.

This effort has released two interim guidance documents on drinking water contamination warning systems. The Interim Guidance on Developing an Operational Strategy for Contamination Warning Systems will assist utilities with developing standard operating procedures for the monitoring and surveillance components of a contamination warning system. The Interim Guidance on Developing Consequence Management Plans for Drinking Water Utilities will aid utilities with developing plans for validating, responding to, and recovering from a contamination incident in the drinking water distribution system.

The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) is seeking nominations for their annual National Environmental Excellence Awards. They are requesting nominations from you, your company, or agency describing outstanding environmental contributions from applicable projects and programs. It is not necessary for you or your organization to be a member of NAEP and nominations may include projects or programs recognized by others. The Environmental Excellence Award nomination(s) are to be submitted to the NAEP Awards Review Committee and must be received by November 1, 2008. Each selected Award Winner will receive a beautiful award plaque and an invitation to briefly address participants at the Annual NAEP National Conference. This year's conference will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 3-6, 2009. Award winners are required to prepare a poster for display during the entire conference. Award winners may also be asked to present their program or project in one of the technical sessions scheduled throughout the conference (optional). The nomination form and instructions are attached below.

USDA and U.S. DOE have released the National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP), an interagency plan detailing the collaborative efforts of federal agencies to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry. The NBAP was developed and is being implemented by the Biomass Research and Development Board. Co-chaired by USDA and DOE officials, the Board was created to coordinate the activities of federal agencies involved in biomass research and development.

This report contains information on federal government agencies regarding compliance with federal environmental laws, cleanup enforcement, administrative enforcement, inspections and compliance assistance. Environmental compliance information from 1993 to 2007 is presented so trends can be observed, but this report does not attempt to analyze the underlying causes of noncompliance. Progress of EPA's federal facilities enforcement and compliance programs from 2005 to 2007 is also presented.

(Boston, Mass. – October 28, 2008) – An EPA Administrative Complaint alleges multiple violations of federal hazardous waste laws by the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, based in Hanover, N.H. The facility may be subject to penalties of nearly $113,000 for violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

This plan, dated October 2008, describes a series of specific actions, new tools, and expanded partnership efforts EPA will launch over the next three years. In the plan, EPA identifies four strategic initiatives and activities to return abandoned petroleum brownfields sites to productive use.