Also See: What's New for National Programs and/or
What's New for National/State Environmental Excellence Awards

These entries are from EPA's Newsroom, updated regularly.

EPA Issues Latest Information on Toxic Chemical Releases

EPA has released its most recent report on the amount of toxic chemicals released into the U.S. environment. According to the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, the latest data, from the calendar year 2007, show an overall decrease of five percent in releases since 2006. Releases to air decreased seven percent and releases to water decreased five percent.

This year’s annual publication of the data includes 650 chemicals from 22,000 facilities. TRI provides the American public with vital information on chemical releases to communities and is an important tool industry can use to gauge its progress in reducing pollution. TRI reporting includes toxics managed in landfills and underground injection wells as well as those released into water and the air.

For more information on this report, please see epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri07/index.htm

EPA Announces $211 Million of Recovery Act Funding Available to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Spur Redevelopment, Create Jobs

State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and tribal agencies can now apply for up to an estimated $211 million in funding that will help create jobs for redevelopment nationwide and protect communities and the environment from diesel emissions. This is EPA funding available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 that President Obama signed into law Feb. 17, 2009.

Diesel grantees will use the total estimated $206 million to implement clean diesel projects that would cut thousands of tons of diesel emissions, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. As a result, the projects would also reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.

Brownfields grantees will use the total estimated $5 million to provide training for jobs and to facilitate job creation in the assessment, remediation, or preparation of brownfields sites for sustainable reuse. EPA anticipates awarding 10-12 cooperative agreements, whose maximum value each shall not exceed $500,000.

More information on the diesel and brownfields grants: http://www.epa.gov/recovery

Regional Energy Efficiency Workforce Development Forum Co-Sponsored By NESCAUM and EPA

EPA and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) recently co-sponsored a forum on “Regional Energy Efficiency Workforce Development� for the Northeast.

NESCAUM is an organization whose membership includes the environmental agencies in the Northeast states from Maine to New Jersey, and whose purpose is to provide scientific, technical, analytical, and policy support to the air quality, climate, and energy programs of the eight Northeast states.

The Northeast is a national leader in energy efficiency (EE), spending nearly $1 billion each year on EE programs that provide substantial environmental, energy, and economic benefits to the region.

In order to expand existing EE programs and implement new ones, the region needs a workforce that is sufficiently prepared, in size and skill for rapid, efficient, and cost-effective deployment. The Forum will bring together members of state environmental, energy, public utility, and economic development agencies, utilities, energy service companies, experts from community colleges and vocational/technical schools, and environmental justice advocates to identify the actions we need to take as a Region to prepare the best EE workforce for the Northeast.

EPA Helps Put America Back to Work Protecting Human Health and Cleaning Up the Environment

EPA has announced a national competition for $156 million in funding to jumpstart clean diesel projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The projects will create jobs and reduce harmful diesel pollution. Nearly $18.5 million of this funding is slated for projects in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven federally recognized Indian Nations. EPA is encouraging organizations and government entities to apply for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Applications are due by April 28, 2009.

EPA is accepting applications for funding from regional, state, local or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. Applications will also be accepted from nonprofit organizations or institutions that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to people or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or that have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality. School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, cities and counties are all eligible, provided that they fall within the definition above.

EPA Delays Again Effective Date of Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Requirements
EPA is delaying the effective date of the final rule that amends the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations promulgated in the Federal Register on Dec. 5, 2008, in accordance with the memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget entitled, “Implementation of Memorandum Concerning Regulatory Review” (M-09-08, January 21, 2009). The amendments will now become effective on January 14, 2010.

Additionally, EPA is requesting public comment on whether a further delay of the effective date may be warranted.

On December 5, 2008, EPA published in the Federal Register a rule to amend the SPCC regulations. The regulations contain requirements for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines. Through the December regulation, EPA sought to encourage greater compliance with the SPCC regulations by clarifying regulatory requirements, tailoring requirements to particular industry sectors, and streamlining certain requirements for facility owners or operators subject to the rule.

Neither this extension, nor the December 5, 2008 final rule remove any regulatory requirement for owners or operators of facilities in operation before August 16, 2002 to maintain an SPCC plan in accordance with the SPCC regulations.

More information about SPCC regulations: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/spcc

EPA Publishes Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the national greenhouse gas inventory, which finds that overall emissions during 2007 increased by 1.4 percent from the previous year. The report, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007, is the latest annual report that the United States has submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2007 were equivalent to 7,150 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The report indicates that overall emissions have grown by 17.2 percent from 1990 to 2007.

Information on the greenhouse gas inventory report: http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html

EPA Proposes First National Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are produced by the burning of fossil fuels and through industrial and biological processes. Approximately 13,000 facilities, accounting for about 85 percent to 90 percent of greenhouse gases emitted in the United States, would be covered under the proposal.

The new reporting requirements would apply to suppliers of fossil fuel and industrial chemicals, manufacturers of motor vehicles and engines, as well as large direct emitters of greenhouse gases with emissions equal to or greater than a threshold of 25,000 metric tons per year. This threshold is roughly equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from just over 4,500 passenger vehicles. The vast majority of small businesses would not be required to report their emissions because their emissions fall well below the threshold.

The first annual report would be submitted to EPA in 2011 for the calendar year 2010, except for vehicle and engine manufacturers, which would begin reporting for model year 2011. For more information on the proposed rule go to: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

New Grants to Measure Progress of Environmental Programs in Protecting Human Health
EPA has awarded 10 grants totaling $5 million to universities, state departments of public health and one research institute to develop a new generation of markers or indicators that measure progress in environmental programs in protecting human health

Traditionally, environmental decision makers have evaluated success by numbers such as annual air releases, pollutant concentrations in water, or being in attainment for air quality. While these measures are useful, health outcomes data will provide a new way to determine whether a program is succeeding in reducing the incidence of environmentally-related diseases, such as asthma. The research results will inform the public and policy makers about the impact of current air quality regulations or programs and provide valuable feedback for improving regulatory or other actions.

For more information on the grants, go to: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/indicators/

EPA Orders Review of Key Clean Air Document

EPA has granted a petition for reconsideration of a Bush Administration memo regarding the scope of the Clean Air Act. The interpretive memo, put forward by then-EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson in December 2008, addresses when the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program applies to carbon dioxide, a chief greenhouse gas.

EPA will review the Johnson memo to ensure that it is consistent with the Obama Administration's climate change strategy and interpretation of the Clean Air Act. While conducting this review, EPA will abide by the three core principles outlined by Administrator Jackson: overwhelming transparency, adherence to the rule of law, and science-based policies and regulations.

To facilitate a transparent, impartial and fair review, EPA will seek comment from the general public on this memo and its potential impact on American communities. This public comment period is consistent with the recommendations of the Environmental Appeals Board and allows for a measured, inclusive approach to reviewing this memo. The EAB last year held that EPA had not adequately articulated why its interpretation of the PSD program did not apply to carbon dioxide.

US-Mexico Border 2012 Program - Waste Tire Piles
The U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program (Border 2012) is a collaboration between the United States and Mexico to improve the environment and protect the health of the nearly 12 million people living along the border. The bi-national program focuses on cleaning the air, providing safe drinking water, reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous waste, and ensuring emergency preparedness along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The U.S.-Mexico border region has a history of health and environmental issues concerning the management of scrap tires. One of the original objectives of the Border 2012 program is to clean up three of the largest sites containing abandoned tires in the U.S.-Mexico border region. A measure of progress toward this goal is the percent of tires removed from the estimated abandoned waste tire piles (English (PDF) (1 pg, 755K) | en Español (PDF) (1 pg, 756K), Data Table (PDF) (2 pp, 132K), Metadata (PDF) (1 pg, 46K). As of December 2005, over two million tire piles had been removed. The U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Waste Policy Forum has developed the Scrap Tire Integrated Management Initiative (PDF) (6pp, 124K) document that lays out the general goals and future activities for Border 2012 scrap tire initiatives.

EPA Proposes to Reduce Air Toxics from Stationary Diesel and Gas-Fired Engines

For the first time, EPA is proposing to set emission limits for formaldehyde, benzene, acrolein and other air toxics from certain stationary diesel and gas-fired engines. In 2008, over 1 million of these engines generated electricity, powered equipment and operated during emergencies at industrial, agricultural and other facilities. The proposed limits would apply to engines located at smaller sources of air toxics.

For major sources of air toxics, this rule would only apply to engines that are:

Smaller than or equal to 500 horsepower that were constructed or reconstructed before June 12, 2006, or
Larger than or equal to 500 horsepower that were constructed or reconstructed before December 19, 2002.

To meet the proposed emissions requirements, owners and operators of these engines would need to install "after treatment" controls, such as filters or catalysts, to engine exhaust systems. EPA estimates that this rule would reduce air toxics emissions by 13,000 tons per year, particle pollution by 2,600 tons and carbon monoxide emissions by 510,000 tons, when fully implemented in 2013.

The public comment period will be open for 60 days upon publication in the Federal Register.

California Greenhouse Gas Waiver Request

EPA will reconsider its decision denying California permission to set standards controlling greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. The waiver request was made by California on December 21, 2005, to allow the state the right to control greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. The request was denied by then-EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson on March 6, 2008. On January 26, shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama requested that EPA revisit the matter of the denial.

The Clean Air Act gives EPA the authority to allow California to adopt its own emission standards for motor vehicles due to the seriousness of the state’s air pollution challenges. There is a long-standing history of EPA granting waivers to the state of California. EPA believes that there are significant issues regarding the agency’s denial of the waiver. The denial was a substantial departure from EPA’s longstanding interpretation of the Clean Air Act’s waiver provisions.

EPA received on January 21, 2009, a letter from California outlining several issues for EPA Administrator Jackson to review and reconsider about the previous denial of the waiver. Many other states are interested in adopting California’s standards. Stakeholders and the public have expressed concerns. EPA will take public comment concerning the reconsideration of the waiver for a period of 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. There will also be a public hearing to be held in March in Washington, D.C.

EPA Seeks Advice on Perchlorate in Drinking Water
Agency Issues Interim Health Advisory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking advice from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) before making a final determination on whether to issue a national regulation for perchlorate in drinking water.

The agency also is issuing an interim health advisory of 15 parts per billion (ppb) to assist state and local officials in addressing local contamination of perchlorate in drinking water and making a corresponding change to the factors it considers in cleaning up Superfund sites. States have the right to establish and enforce drinking water standards, and EPA encourages state-specific situations to be addressed at the local level. EPA expects to issue a final health advisory concurrent with the final regulatory determination for perchlorate.

On Oct. 10, 2008, the agency issued a preliminary regulatory determination for public comment in the Federal Register. The notice described the agency's decision that there is not a "meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction" through a national drinking water regulation for perchlorate. The agency received more than 32,000 comments on the notice.

After considering public comments, as well as recommendations from EPA advisory groups and offices, EPA is asking the NAS to provide additional insight on various issues. Specifically, EPA is asking the NAS to evaluate its derivation of the Health Reference Level of 15 ppb, the use of modeling to evaluate impacts on infants and young children, and the implication of recent biomonitoring studies. The agency is also asking the NAS how it should consider the role of perchlorate relative to other iodide uptake inhibiting compounds and if there are other public health strategies to address this aspect of thyroid health.

EPA is replacing the existing preliminary remediation goal of 24.5 ppb with the interim health advisory value of 15 ppb. This goal will be used as a consideration when establishing cleanup levels for perchlorate at Superfund sites.

More information on the perchlorate health advisory: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.html

EPA Goes Mobile with the Launch of m.epa.gov

EPA is launching one of the first government Web sites tailored specifically for cell phone users: http://m.epa.gov.

The world is getting more mobile, with estimates of more than 250 million cell phones in use in the U.S. – and EPA is going with you. The site has been tailored to load fast on a small screen, providing EPA information that visitors might need when they are away from their large-screen desktop computer. Services available on m.epa.gov include:

• how to contact EPA – national and regional offices
• Find environmental information by ZIP code
• EPA news releases
• Greenversations blog, including the question of the week
• links to other government mobile websites.

Over the coming months, EPA will be adding more features. Readers are invited to help us improve – there’s a feedback form right on the home page.

EPA’s mobile site: http://m.epa.gov

EPA Announces New Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a new Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for an estimated 4,100 industrial facilities in 29 different sectors - including salvage yard operators - to implement site-specific stormwater pollution prevention plans to protect water quality. Facilities are required to install control measures that meet established technology- and water quality-based effluent limits and must develop a stormwater pollution prevention plan.

The new permit offers several improvements from the previous MSGP, including easier to understand discharge requirements; fast and easy electronic filing of Notices of Intent (NOIs) and monitoring reports; web-based tools for locating waterbodies and determining impairment status; and updated monitoring, inspection and corrective action schedules.

Existing and new dischargers (or new sources) covered under the MSGP 2000 must file a new NOI no later than January 5, 2009.

For more information go to: epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp

PNEAC Offers Industrial Stormwater Permit Guide

The Printers' National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC) website (http://www.pneac.org/) now offers The Industrial Stormwater Permit Guide to assist businesses in complying with federal stormwater regulations.

PNEAC has developed an easy to use on-line tutorial about the Industrial Stormwater Permitting requirements. This program explains federal stormwater regulations for business (not just printers), and the options available for compliance. It also provides detailed guidance on which states have permitting authority and links to state and/or federal forms that industrial facilities must submit to be in compliance with the regulations.

The tool walks the user through the regulations in order for the user to determine whether they must obtain a Stormwater Permit or is exempt from permitting requirements and then walks the user through the process of completing and submitting the "No Exposure Certification". It is an easy to use tool utilizing a lesson format which also provides a visual guide for understanding compliant vs. non-compliant stormwater situations.

This new tool was modeled after the EPA Hazardous Waste Manifest Compliance Assistance tool that PNEAC previously developed. You can find the full compliment of compliance assistance tools at http://pneac.org/videotraining/.

Video Shows Green Practices to Manage Stormwater Runoff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The techniques are innovative stormwater management practices that manage urban stormwater runoff at its source, and are very effective at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff and capturing harmful pollutants. Using vegetated areas that capture runoff also improves air quality, mitigates the effects of urban heat islands and reduces a community’s overall carbon footprint.

To watch the video: http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid and for more information on stormwater management please see: http://www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure

EPA's Environmental Indicators Gateway Provides Best Practices

EPA’s Environmental Indicators Gateway web site provides enhanced public access to environmental and health information generated by EPA. The Gateway establishes a single catalog of EPA's indicator work that allows browsing and searching among existing EPA Web sites and indicator materials. The site allows users to browse EPA's environmental indicator reports by geography, topic area, or time period.
In addition to enhancing public access, the Gateway provides a resource for EPA and other federal agencies and partners to better coordinate their own environmental indicator work. By sharing key information and best practices among existing projects, EPA can improve its ability to generate environmental indicator information in the future. To see this site go to http://www.epa.gov/indicators/.

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