Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter

EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending March 21, 2008

NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK TOOK PLACE ON MARCH 16-22

National Poison Prevention Week raised awareness about the dangers of poisonous medicines and household chemicals in the home. The more than 2 million poisonings reported each year across the country can be avoided by taking precautions such as keeping chemicals out of the reach of children, keeping items in their original containers, and reading the labels and dosages on all products thoroughly before use. Installing carbon monoxide alarms in homes can also save lives. To learn more about the ways to keep children safe and help prevent poisonings, go to http://www.poisonprevention.org or go to EPA's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/child-ten-tips.htm or en espanol at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/child-ten-tips-esp.htm

ROUND TABLE PRESENTATION TOUCHES ON EPA SOLID WASTE PROGRAM GOALS

At the South Central Regional County and Municipal Recycling Coordinators Round Table Meeting in Harrisburg, Pa., an EPA representative outlined the EPA Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) guidelines to reduce municipal solid waste and prevent pollution by recycling and reusing materials in an efficient way. RCC’s recycling goals were outlined and as well as the EPA intention to encourage recycling by expanding the RecycleMania competition program to include K-12 schools throughout Pennsylvania. Grant Applications, increased sustainability of municipal and county recycling programs, and school recycling programs were also discussed. To visit the RCC Web site, go to http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/index.htm For information on RecycleMania, go to http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/targeted/colleges/recycmania.htm

EPA CLEAN WATER ACT SETTLEMENT INCLUDES PHARMACEUTICAL AWARENESS EDUCATION

EPA announced a proposed $16,200 Clean Water Act settlement with the Upper Southampton Sewer Authority in Southampton, Bucks County, Pa. From the proposed settlement, $10,800 will be used to fund an awareness campaign to encourage proper collection and disposal of unused pharmaceuticals to help protect drinking water sources. The campaign will include preparing and distributing materials to local hospitals, retirement communities, and schools about the proper disposal of prescription drugs. The proposed settlement will undergo a 40-day comment period before becoming final. For more information about pharmaceuticals in drinking water go to: http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/

TWO REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SITES MAKE THE EPA SUPERFUND (NPL) LIST

The Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) identifies badly polluted hazardous waste sites that warrant EPA cleanup. Currently EPA announced that it has added the Chem-Fab electroplating and metal processing plant in Doylestown, Pa. to the Superfund National Priorities List. Groundwater beneath the former Chem-Fab facility and adjacent properties is contaminated with trichloroethene and hexavalent chromium. The Hidden Lane Landfill in Sterling, Va. was also added to the Superfund National Priorities List. The landfill was covered with a clay cap, and is now vacant land. For basic information on the NPL listing process, go to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/npl_hrs.htm

PHARMACEUTICALS IN DRINKING WATER STIMULATE PUBLIC INTEREST

EPA is committed to investigating pharmaceuticals and personal care products as pollutants and developing strategies to help protect the health of both the environment and the public. EPA believes that one way to prevent pharmaceuticals from polluting water is by proper disposal rather than by flushing, which releases them into the water system. Mixing them with an undesirable substance in the trash is recommended. For more information about pharmaceuticals and personal care products, go to: http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/

REGION PROMOTES AWARENESS OF EPA LEAD-BASED PAINT REQUIREMENTS AT HOME SHOWS

From March 13 through March 16, EPA Region 3's Waste and Chemicals Division's Toxics Programs and Enforcement Branch staffed a booth at the Washington, D.C. Home and Garden Show. Pamphlets and brochures were provided to educate families and home renovators about lead paint exposure in older homes. The Toxic Substances Control Act Lead-based Paint Disclosure Rule and Pre-Renovation Rule protects the public, mainly children under the age of 6, from the lurking dangers of lead-based paint. On March 15 and 16 another similar outreach was held at the Greater Pocono Home Show at Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pa. For detailed information on the rule, go to www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/lead.htm

RESEARCH VESSEL IS RETIRED, TO BE HANDED OVER TO EPA

The Rude, a federal research vessel is officially retired and decommissioned to make room for larger, more sophisticated research vessels run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The new NOAA ships will continue mapping the ocean floors, charting navigational routes, searching for lost objects and obstacles - but will be equipped with new radars and sonars, science labs, and environmentally-friendly technology. The Rude will be handed over to EPA after being re-equipped to perform research in its new duties to check for pollution and measure water quality.

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