tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9580941129690388162024-03-14T04:59:43.618-04:00Progressive EarthWelcome to my personal blog. I will share non-technical environmental news, personal stories about my adventures, and photos of our amazing world.
Go for a hike! (and bring your camera)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-50860163930775470392014-11-30T11:00:00.002-05:002014-11-30T11:01:23.645-05:00Taking Notice of Sustainable Alternatives to Cage Raised Turkeys<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!</span></div>
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When I miss NYC, the NYT and New York Daily News satisfies my need to know what is happening in that crazy place. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I encountered an article in the NYDN titled <b>"Less mutant turkey, more gamey goose"</b> listing pleasantly surprising alternatives to the caged raised, overweight (and not in a good way) hormone fed turkeys. Few people may be surprised to know that geese are a great sustainable alternative to turkeys, and they described to are more tasty and fatty (in a good way) than the all white meat turkeys people buy. There are some farm raised, free ranging turkeys that one can find, and those are raised in a more environmental friendly way but in a place like NYC, most people may not be able to afford them or find them. In NC, it is easier to find free ranging and farm raised turkeys but those sold at Walmart are still cheaper (and bigger). I don't eat aves but if I did, I would try me a nice wild caught goose for thanksgiving.</div>
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check out the article! and may your next thanksgiving have some tasty goose </div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/dan-nosowitz-mutant-turkey-gamey-goose-article-1.2025011</span></b></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-83812409091006000662014-11-17T18:55:00.000-05:002014-11-17T18:55:03.089-05:00CSB DuPont- LaPorte, TX Investigation UpdateThe CSB investigation into the tragic accident at DuPont's La Porte, Texas, chemical plant got underway this morning at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1347714835" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">8 a.m.</span></span> Seven
members of the eight-member team met with company and local union
representatives to map out the direction of the CSB investigation. This
took place in a company building conference room at the facility. <br />
Subsequently, investigators began interviews of several DuPont
personnel, with plans being made to interview shift workers and other
possible witnesses to the events that led to a release of highly toxic
methyl mercaptan, exposure to which killed four workers early <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1347714836" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Saturday</span></span> morning. Those interviews were continuing this afternoon.<br />
The CSB is coordinating the worker interviews with the help of International Chemical Workers Union Council representatives. <br />
<span style="line-height: 1.6em;">The team has not yet been able to
access the area where the leak and the deaths occurred, described by
Investigator Banks as an approximately 5-stories high enclosed
structure with piping, valves and other equipment.</span><br />
Mr. Banks said, "DuPont is taking steps to assure the area is safe to
access. We will be evaluating that process and when we determine it is
safe for our team members to document the site we will enter. We don't
know how soon that will be. We have asked the company to preserve the
status of the process, valve and other equipment settings as close as
possible to where they were at the time of the accident to aid in our
investigation."<br />
<span style="line-height: 1.6em;">He continued, "At this point,
obviously it is too soon for us to be able to determine the immediate
cause of this accident. We will release information to the public as
soon as confirmed findings are known."</span><br />
Investigators are preparing document requests which typically concern
maintenance schedules, operator training, equipment histories, hazard
analyses and other information critical to determining the root cause of
the accident.<br />
CSB Managing Director Daniel Horowitz, will join the team this
evening in Houston, bringing the total to eight members. He will manage
CSB public affairs on site. He can also be reached through <a href="mailto:public@csb.gov" target="_blank"><span>public@csb.gov</span></a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-86670395840422382312014-11-13T16:07:00.000-05:002014-11-13T16:07:02.017-05:00The Top 100 Papers (according to Nature)http://www.nature.com/news/the-top-100-papers-1.16224?WT.mc_id=FBK_Nature_1410_Top100papers_PORTFOLIOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-68376090663213312232014-11-06T15:02:00.001-05:002014-11-13T16:07:39.679-05:00EPS-HDT: SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILES<h2 class="noborder noclear" style="background-color: white; border: none; clear: none; color: #b3072d; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 30px; margin: 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 12px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Economic Profile System –<br />Human Dimensions Toolkit</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.8181819915772px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">EPS-HDT is a free, easy-to-use software application</strong> that runs in Excel, from your desktop, and produces detailed socioeconomic reports of communities, counties, states, and regions, including custom aggregations and comparisons.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.8181819915772px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">EPS-HDT uses published statistics from federal data sources, including the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor; and others.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.8181819915772px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<small style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">System Requirements</strong>:<br />Windows (XP/Vista/7) with Microsoft Excel (Office 2003/07/10/13).<br />Mac (OS X 10.6+) with Microsoft Excel (Office 2011).<br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Price</strong>: Free. <strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Download Size</strong>: 4MB.</span></small></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.8181819915772px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new <span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Excel 2013 </span>compatible version of EPS-HDT is now available! Click “register” to download it now.</span></div>
<div id="content_contact" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more information, contact:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Patricia Gude at <span class="skype_c2c_container notranslate" data-isfreecall="false" data-ismobile="false" data-isrtl="false" data-numbertocall="+14065997425" dir="ltr" id="skype_c2c_container" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; color: rgb(0, 175, 253) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 0.99em !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style: disc outside none !important; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; 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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-25988903275015342502014-10-26T11:50:00.001-04:002014-10-26T11:52:29.187-04:00In Shenandoah, What Else Can You See?<b><span style="font-size: large;">Last </span></b>weekend I had the opportunity to visit Shenandoah National Park and drive along the blue ridge parkway in Virginia and what an incredible experience that was. At the highest elevations, you will see gold colored trees, shining in the sunlight. Others are bight red or a mix of yellow, brown, red, orange. In the distance they appear like live size painting, still and peaceful. During the day, the colors are so striking that I felt like I was in an enchanted forest during my hikes. There are several hike trails at low or high elevations, some more popular than others with visitors. I did a 2.2 mile hike first down the mountain, leading to beautiful waterfalls, and then up the mountain leading to a comfortable walk in the last stretch. Overall, an incredible experience worth trying. At night,camping in the complete dark and after many years of urban living, saw the starts and the moon again and that experience is another blog entry on its own!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-34067064935928174432014-08-21T11:51:00.002-04:002014-11-13T16:08:37.845-05:00EPA Report Shows Progress in Reducing Urban Air Toxics Across the United States <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; width: 700px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">W</span><span style="font-size: small;">ASHINGTON -</span></strong><span style="font-size: small;"> Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Second Integrated Urban Air Toxics Report to Congress - the final of two reports required under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to inform Congress of progress in reducing public health risks from urban air toxics.<strong> </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“This report gives everyone fighting for clean air a lot to be proud of because for more than 40 years we have been protecting Americans – preventing illness and improving our quality of life by cutting air pollution - all while the economy has more than tripled,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “But we know our work is not done yet. At the core of EPA’s mission is the pursuit of environmental justice - striving for clean air, water and healthy land for every American; and we are committed to reducing remaining pollution, especially in low-income neighborhoods.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Using national emissions and air quality data, the Urban Air Toxics Report shows the substantial progress that has been made to reduce air toxics across the country since the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">- <span style="color: black;">A 66 percent reduction in benzene;</span><span style="color: black;">- A nearly 60 percent reduction in mercury from man-made sources like coal-fired power plants;</span>- <span style="color: black;">An 84 percent decrease of lead in outdoor air, which slows brain development in children;</span>- The removal of an estimated 1.5 million tons per year of air toxics like arsenic, benzene, lead and nickel from stationary sources and another 1.5 million tons per year (about 50 percent) of air toxics from mobile sources. This is significant because air toxics (also referred to as hazardous air pollutants or HAPs) are known or suspected of causing cancer and can damage the immune, respiratory, neurological, reproductive and developmental systems;<br />- And, approximately 3 million tons per year of criteria pollutants, like particulate amtter and sulfur dioxide, have been reduced from cars and trucks as co-benefits of air toxics reductions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Reducing toxics is a top priority for EPA, and even with this progress, we continue to improve our understanding of them, so we can effectively reduce remaining risks, particularly in overburdened communities. <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwODIxLjM1MjIzNjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDgyMS4zNTIyMzYzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODg3MjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">EPA’s Plan EJ 2014</span></a>, <span style="color: black;">is making sure environmental justice is addressed in programs and policies across the agency. EPA is working closely with state, local and tribal agencies to promote area-wide and regional strategies to address air toxics and support a number of community-based programs that help communities understand, prioritize and reduce exposures to toxic pollutants in their local environment. </span>For example, in Indianapolis, we are working with partners on the ground through an EPA grant for the “Building Lead Safe Communities” Project in the Martindale-Brightwood and Nearwest neighborhoods. We’re addressing the risk of toxic lead exposure in children through outreach efforts and compiling block level soil lead data, identifying hotspots utilizing air sampling and developing synergistic local solutions.<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Additionally, recent EPA actions <span style="color: black;">will further address toxic pollution in communities. </span>Since 2005, EPA <span style="color: black;">has taken steps to address air emissions from stationary sources that include major reductions from boilers, power plants, and Portland cement facilities. For example, the </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwODIxLjM1MjIzNjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDgyMS4zNTIyMzYzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODg3MjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.epa.gov/mats" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">2011 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards</span></a><span style="color: black;"> will prevent about 90 percent of the mercury in coal burned in power plants from being emitted to the air. The </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwODIxLjM1MjIzNjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDgyMS4zNTIyMzYzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODg3MjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.epa.gov/otaq/toxics.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">2007 Mobile Source Air Toxics rule</span></a><span style="color: black;"> is projected to reduce toxics </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #151515;">emitted from highway vehicles and nonroad equipment, which are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health and environmental effects, </span><span style="color: black;">by 330,000 tons in 2030, including 61,000 tons of benzene, and </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #151515;">VOC emissions (precursors to ozone and PM2.5) by over one million tons</span><span style="color: black;">. We expect reductions in air toxics from cars and trucks to grow to 80 percent by the year 2030 as we get newer, cleaner vehicles on the road. </span><span style="color: black;">T</span><span style="color: black;">he </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwODIxLjM1MjIzNjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDgyMS4zNTIyMzYzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODg3MjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/d9554914cca0320685257cd9004a2ec4!OpenDocument" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">proposed updates to emission standards for petroleum refineries </span></a><span style="color: black;">would reduce emissions from the 150 petroleum refineries across the U.S., many of which are located near communities. It would also reduce emissions of chemicals such as benzene, toluene and xylene by 5,600 tons per year. </span>These efforts, along with the implementation and adoption of new and existing national rules for stationary and mobile sources of pollution, will improve public health for all Americans by providing further reductions in air toxics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More information on the report: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwODIxLjM1MjIzNjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDgyMS4zNTIyMzYzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODg3MjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://www2.epa.gov/urban-air-toxics" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://www2.epa.gov/urban-air-<wbr></wbr>toxics</span></a></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-18228790845005614342014-08-04T11:44:00.001-04:002014-08-04T11:44:26.260-04:00EPA Issues Policy Supporting Tribal and Indigenous Communities<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; width: 700px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>CONTACT</strong>:<br />Jennifer Colaizzi<br /><a href="mailto:Colaizzi.jennifer@epa.gov" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Colaizzi.Jennifer@epa.gov</a><br /><a href="tel:202-564-7776" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+12025647776">202-564-7776</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />July 24, 2014</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><strong>EPA Issues Policy Supporting <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Tribal</span> and Indigenous Communities</strong></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> – Today, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy signed the <em>EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Working with Federally Recognized <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Tribes</span> and Indigenous Peoples</em>, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to work with <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribes</span> on a government-to-government basis when issues of environmental justice arise.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">“All <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribal</span> and indigenous communities deserve environmental and public health protection. Through this agreement, we are reinforcing our commitment to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribal</span> communities, especially in addressing issues of Environmental Justice,” said Administrator McCarthy. “We know that <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribes</span> are uniquely impacted by a changing climate, which highlights the importance of this agreement and other agency actions, including funding research through the STAR <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Tribal</span> health grants.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">Over the past 20 years, the agency has made substantial progress in developing both its <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribal</span> and environmental justice programs. Building on EPA’s <em>Plan EJ 2014, </em>the policy integrates 17 environmental justice and civil rights principles. The plan also identifies existing informational and resource tools to support EPA in its endeavor to make indigenous regions environmentally safe.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">This policy, started in 2011, was developed through <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribal</span> government consultations, meetings with state and <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">tribal</span>organizations and three public comment periods engaging indigenous communities and other stakeholders.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">More information on:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"> <em>EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Working with Federally Recognized <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Tribes</span> and Indigenous Peoples</em><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzI0LjM0NDMwMDYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDcyNC4zNDQzMDA2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODcyMzUwJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/policy/indigenous/ej-indigenous-policy.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>environmentaljustice/<wbr></wbr>resources/policy/indigenous/<wbr></wbr>ej-indigenous-policy.pdf</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">EPA’s <em>Plan EJ 2014</em></span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzI0LjM0NDMwMDYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDcyNC4zNDQzMDA2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODcyMzUwJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/policy/plan-ej-2014/plan-ej-2011-09.pdf" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: small;" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>environmentaljustice/<wbr></wbr>resources/policy/plan-ej-2014/<wbr></wbr>plan-ej-2011-09.pdf</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">R183</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-33003095666218615112014-07-23T17:12:00.002-04:002014-10-25T22:14:40.275-04:00IMPRESSIVE Simulation of Aerosols Transport Courtesy of NASA <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Even if we can't see them, aerosols play an important part in weather, pollution, and air quality. As NASA points out, t<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">hey are recognized as one of the most important forcing agents in the climate system (Forster et al. 2007).</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"> Using GEOS-5, NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office have made available two very impressive simulations of aerosols distribution throughout the earth. It looks like gentle smoke moving about with the wind, but it helps us see clearly how pollution can spread far and wide. We are more connected than we realize. </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/aerosol/modeling/nr1_movie/">http://gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/aerosol/modeling/nr1_movie/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-50243431359937319642014-07-01T16:57:00.001-04:002014-07-01T16:57:40.450-04:00FDA and EPA issue updated draft advice for fish consumption<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Advice encourages pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to eat more fish that are lower in mercury</em></span><br /><br /><strong>WASHINGTON -</strong><strong> </strong>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued updated draft advice on fish consumption. The two agencies have concluded pregnant and breastfeeding women, those who might become pregnant, and young children should eat more fish that is lower in mercury in order to gain important developmental and health benefits. The updated draft advice is consistent with recommendations in the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEwLjMyOTQyMTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMC4zMjk0MjEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ2MjE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a>.<br /><br />Previously, the FDA and the EPA recommended maximum amounts of fish that these population groups should consume, but did not promote a minimum amount. Over the past decade, however, emerging science has underscored the importance of appropriate amounts of fish in the diets of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and young children.<br /><br />“For years many women have limited or avoided eating fish during pregnancy or feeding fish to their young children,” said Stephen Ostroff, M.D., the FDA’s acting chief scientist. “But emerging science now tells us that limiting or avoiding fish during pregnancy and early childhood can mean missing out on important nutrients that can have a positive impact on growth and development as well as on general health.”<br /><br />An FDA analysis of seafood consumption data from over 1,000 pregnant women in the United States found that 21 percent of them ate no fish in the previous month, and those who ate fish ate far less than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends–with 50 percent eating fewer than 2 ounces a week, and 75 percent eating fewer than 4 ounces a week. The updated draft advice recommends pregnant women eat at least 8 ounces and up to 12 ounces (2-3 servings) per week of a variety of fish that are lower in mercury to support fetal growth and development.<br /><br />“Eating fish with lower levels of mercury provides numerous health and dietary benefits,” said Nancy Stoner, the EPA’s acting assistant administrator for the Office of Water. “This updated advice will help pregnant women and mothers make informed decisions about the right amount and right kinds of fish to eat during important times in their lives and their children’s lives.”<br /><br />The updated draft advice cautions pregnant or breastfeeding women to avoid four types of fish that are associated with high mercury levels: tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico; shark; swordfish; and king mackerel. In addition, the updated draft advice recommends limiting consumption of white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces a week.<br /><br />Choices lower in mercury include some of the most commonly eaten fish, such as shrimp, pollock, salmon, canned light tuna, tilapia, catfish and cod.<br /><br />When eating fish caught from local streams, rivers and lakes, follow fish advisories from local authorities. If advice isn’t available, limit your total intake of such fish to 6 ounces a week and 1-3 ounces for children.<br /><br />Before issuing final advice, the agencies will consider public comments, and also intend to seek the advice of the FDA’s <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEwLjMyOTQyMTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMC4zMjk0MjEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ2MjE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.fda.gov/advisorycommittees/committeesmeetingmaterials/riskcommunicationadvisorycommittee/default.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Risk Communication Advisory Committee</a> and conduct a series of focus groups.<br /><br />The public can provide comment on the draft advice and the supplemental questions and answers by submitting comments to the Federal Register docket or by participating in any public meetings that may be held. The comment period will be open until 30 days after the last transcript from the advisory committee meeting and any other public meetings becomes available. The dates of any public meetings, as well as when the public comment period will close, will be published in future Federal Register notices at <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEwLjMyOTQyMTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMC4zMjk0MjEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ2MjE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.federalregister.gov/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.federalregister.gov</a>.<br /><br />For more information:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">• Draft advice on fish consumption, and supplemental questions and answers about the draft advice: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEwLjMyOTQyMTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMC4zMjk0MjEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ2MjE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm393070.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">•Federal Register Notice of Availability: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEwLjMyOTQyMTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMC4zMjk0MjEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ2MjE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/11/2014-13584/advice-about-eating-fish-draft-update" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Advice About Eating Fish; Draft Update</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">•<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEwLjMyOTQyMTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMC4zMjk0MjEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ2MjE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&105&&&http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-79682376945759043562014-07-01T16:56:00.001-04:002014-07-01T16:56:50.937-04:00EPA Requires Ford to Correct Fuel Economy for Six Vehicle Models<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">WASHINGTON -</span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that Ford Motor Company (Ford) is revising the fuel economy (mpg) estimates for six vehicle models</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> to correct errors found in an internal Ford audit. Ford is required to correct fuel economy labels on affected vehicles within 15 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EPA oversaw Ford’s re-testing program and conducted independent tests to confirm the corrected results as soon as it was notified by Ford of the potential errors. <span style="color: black;">Ford has agreed to implement enhanced validation tests for future vehicles under EPA oversight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“This issue highlights the need for continued strong oversight of the fuel economy labeling program,” said Chris Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “Consumers need to trust that fuel economy window stickers are giving consumers </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">reliable and fair estimates of real world fuel economy.</span><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cars currently in dealer lots will be re-labeled with new window stickers reflecting the corrected mileage estimates. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ford will re-label four versions of the Ford Fiesta, the Hybrid and Energi versions of the Ford Fusion, the C-Max Hybrid and Energi, and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Most labels will change between 1-5 miles per gallon (mpg). The largest change is for the Lincoln MKZ hybrid whose combined city and highway fuel economy value has been reduced by 7 mpg. <span style="color: #151515;">EPA and DOE have updated their joint fuel economy site, </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEyLjMzMDI4NDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMi4zMzAyODQwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ4MDQ4JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.fueleconomy.gov" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.fueleconomy.gov</a><span style="color: #151515;">, to reflect the corrected numbers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., conducts fuel economy testing on a number of vehicles each year to ensure that their performance matches the mileage and emissions data submitted to EPA by automakers. These “spot-checks” are part of the oversight program that helps verify that vehicles on the road meet tailpipe emission standards to protect public health and the environment and that all carmakers follow the same procedures for calculating mileage estimates.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More information on fuel economy:<span style="color: #151515;"> </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjEyLjMzMDI4NDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMi4zMzAyODQwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ4MDQ4JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/updates.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>fueleconomy/updates.htm</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-77558289422332203202014-07-01T16:55:00.003-04:002014-07-01T16:55:59.344-04:00EPA Selects Six Universities to Help Find New Uses for Toxics Data<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><br />WASHINGTON – </strong>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today its selection of academic partners for the 2014 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) University Challenge, a project designed to find innovative ways to increase public awareness of industrial releases of toxic chemicals in communities and around the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />“For more than 25 years, EPA has gathered critical environmental data to provide communities with information that empowers them to protect their air, water, and land,” said Renee P. Wynn, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Environmental Information. “Through the 2014 TRI University Challenge, we hope to raise student awareness of environmental data and programs while improving research on our environmental challenges to further our work to protect human health and the environment.”<br /><br />TRI provides communities with information about toxic chemical releases to the air, water, and land, as well as what industries are doing to reduce and prevent these releases. TRI helps industry, government, non-governmental organizations, and the public make more informed decisions to protect their health and environment.<br /><br />The TRI University Challenge is open to anyone affiliated with an accredited college or university. The selected projects for 2014 were proposed by faculty and students from Drew University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Tennessee State University, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of South Carolina.<br /><br />Through these partnerships, EPA will work with six diverse academic institutions to develop practical and replicable projects focused on data visualization and analytics for improving the presentation and understanding of TRI data.<br /><br />The 2014 TRI University Challenge follows the successful 2013-2014 Challenge, in which eight academic partners collaborated with EPA on projects related to environmental education, pollution prevention, stakeholder engagement, and data mash-ups.<br /><br />While there is no financial award for this Challenge, academic partners will receive support from TRI Program staff and national recognition by being featured on the TRI University Challenge website. In addition, partners will be encouraged to pursue opportunities to speak at relevant conferences and events.<br /><br />The selected projects will begin in the fall of 2014 and are expected to conclude at the end of the academic year in the summer of 2015.<br /><br />More information on the TRI University Challenge: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjE3LjMzMTYyMzYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxNy4zMzE2MjM2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODUwNTI1JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.epa.gov/tri/university" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.epa.gov/tri/university</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjE3LjMzMTYyMzYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxNy4zMzE2MjM2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODUwNTI1JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.epa.gov/tri/university" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><br /><span style="color: black;">More information about TRI: </span></a><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjE3LjMzMTYyMzYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxNy4zMzE2MjM2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODUwNTI1JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.epa.gov/tri" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.epa.gov/tri</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-3090659747626015432014-07-01T16:55:00.001-04:002014-07-01T16:55:15.463-04:00EPA Proposes Updates to Reduce Methane, Other Harmful Pollution from New Landfills<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Agency also seeks public input on potential updates to guidelines for existing landfills</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">WASHINGTON</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> – As part of the President’s Climate Action Plan – Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing updates to its air standards for new municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. These updates would require certain landfills to capture additional landfill gas, which would reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and help further reduce pollution that harms public health. The agency also is seeking broad public feedback on how and whether to update guidelines for existing landfills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Non-hazardous waste from homes, business and institutions ends up in municipal solid waste landfills, where it decomposes and breaks down to form landfill gas, which includes carbon dioxide, a number of air toxics and methane. Methane has a global warming potential 25 times that of carbon dioxide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Reducing methane emissions is a powerful way to take action on climate change,” said Administrator Gina McCarthy. “This latest step from the President’s methane strategy builds on our progress to date and takes steps to cut emissions from landfills through common-sense standards.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Today’s proposal would require new MSW landfills subject to the rule to begin controlling landfill gas at a lower emissions threshold than currently required. Under the proposal, landfills would capture two-thirds of their methane and air toxics emissions by 2023 – 13 percent more than required under current rules. EPA estimates the net nationwide annual costs of complying with the additional requirements in the proposed rule would be $471,000 in 2023.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Today, methane accounts for nearly 9 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane in the country, accounting for 18 percent of methane emissions in 2012. Regulatory and voluntary programs, including the agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program, have helped reduce emissions from landfills by 30 percent from 1990 to 2012. However, without additional actions, methane emissions are projected to increase through 2030.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Also today, EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking broad public input on whether and how to update current emissions guidelines for existing landfills to further reduce their emissions, including methane. The agency is considering updating those guidelines based on a several factors, including significant changes that have occurred in the landfill industry since the original guidelines were issued in 1996. Nearly 1,000 MSW landfills in the U.S. currently are subject to either the 1996 emission guidelines for existing landfills or the 1996 NSPS for new landfills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EPA will take public comment on the proposed performance standards updates and the ANPR for 60 days after they are published in the Federal Register. If a hearing is requested, it will be held on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1853392495" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">August 12, 2014</span></span> in Washington, D.C.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More information: </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzAxLjMzNTk3NDgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDcwMS4zMzU5NzQ4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODU4NDQ4JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/landfill/landflpg.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/<wbr></wbr>landfill/landflpg.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Information on the Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions: </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzAxLjMzNTk3NDgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDcwMS4zMzU5NzQ4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODU4NDQ4JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/03/28/strategy-cut-methane-emissions" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.whitehouse.gov/<wbr></wbr>blog/2014/03/28/strategy-cut-<wbr></wbr>methane-emissions</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;">Information on the Climate Action Plan: </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzAxLjMzNTk3NDgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDcwMS4zMzU5NzQ4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODU4NDQ4JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;">http://www.whitehouse.gov/<wbr></wbr>climate-change</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;"></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-34303465986681399312014-06-11T20:20:00.001-04:002014-06-11T20:20:57.782-04:00CSB Draft Report Finds Deepwater Horizon Blowout Preventer Failed Due to Unrecognized Pipe Buckling Phenomenon During Emergency Well-Control Efforts on April 20, 2010, Leading to Environmental Disaster in Gulf of Mexico <div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.000001907348633px; line-height: 18px;">
<strong>Report Says Similar Accident Could Still Occur, Calls for Better Management of Safety-Critical Elements by Offshore Industry, Regulators </strong></div>
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Houston, Texas, June 5, 2014— The blowout preventer (BOP) that was intended to shut off the flow of high-pressure oil and gas from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico during the disaster on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20, 2010, failed to seal the well because drill pipe buckled for reasons the offshore drilling industry remains largely unaware of, according to a new two-volume draft investigation report released today by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB).</div>
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<a href="http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=1&d=86&mid=390524&m=1409" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE to access Overview</strong></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=2&d=86&mid=390524&m=1409" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE to access Volume 1</strong></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=3&d=86&mid=390524&m=1409" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE to access Volume 2</strong></a></div>
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The blowout caused explosions and a fire on the Deepwater Horizon rig, leading to the deaths of 11 personnel onboard and serious injuries to 17 others. Nearly 100 others escaped from the burning rig, which sank two days later, leaving the Macondo well spewing oil and gas into Gulf waters for a total of 87 days. By that time the resulting oil spill was the largest in offshore history. The failure of the BOP directly led to the oil spill and contributed to the severity of the incident on the rig.</div>
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The draft report will be considered for approval by the Board at a public meeting scheduled for <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534284" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4 p.m. CDT</span></span> at the Hilton Americas Hotel, 1600 Lamar St., Houston, TX 77010. The meeting will include a detailed staff presentation, Board questions, and public comments, and will be webcast at:</div>
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<a href="http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=4&d=86&mid=390524&m=1409" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.csb.gov/<wbr></wbr>investigations/webcast/</a>.</div>
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The CSB report concluded that the pipe buckling likely occurred during the first minutes of the blowout, as crews desperately sought to regain control of oil and gas surging up from the Macondo well. Although other investigations had previously noted that the Macondo drill pipe was found in a bent or buckled state, this was assumed to have occurred days later, after the blowout was well underway.</div>
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After testing individual components of the blowout preventer (BOP) and analyzing all the data from post-accident examinations, the CSB draft report concluded that the BOP’s blind shear ram – an emergency hydraulic device with two sharp cutting blades, intended to seal an out-of-control well – likely did activate on the night of the accident, days earlier than other investigations found. However, the pipe buckling that likely occurred on the night of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534285" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">April 20</span></span> prevented the blind shear ram from functioning properly. Instead of cleanly cutting and sealing the well’s drill pipe, the shear ram actually punctured the buckled, off-center pipe, sending huge additional volumes of oil and gas surging toward the surface and initiating the 87-day-long oil and gas release into the Gulf that defied multiple efforts to bring it under control.</div>
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The identification of the new buckling mechanism for the drill pipe – called “effective compression” – was a central technical finding of the draft report. The report concludes that under certain conditions, the “effective compression” phenomenon could compromise the proper functioning of other blowout preventers still deployed around the world at offshore wells. The complete BOP failure scenario is detailed in a new 11-minute computer video animation the CSB developed and released along with the draft report.</div>
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The CSB draft report also revealed for the first time that there were two instances of miswiring and two backup battery failures affecting the electronic and hydraulic controls for the BOP’s blind shear ram. One miswiring, which led to a battery failure, disabled the BOP’s “blue pod” – a control system designed to activate the blind shear ram in an emergency. The BOP’s “yellow pod” – an identical, redundant system that could also activate the blind shear ram – had a different miswiring and a different battery failure. In the case of the yellow pod, however, the two failures fortuitously cancelled each other out, and the pod was likely able to operate the blind shear ram on the night of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534286" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">April 20</span></span>.</div>
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“Although both regulators and the industry itself have made significant progress since the 2010 calamity, more must be done to ensure the correct functioning of blowout preventers and other safety-critical elements that protect workers and the environment from major offshore accidents,” said Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso, the CSB chairperson. “The two-volume report we are releasing today makes clear why the current offshore safety framework needs to be further strengthened.”</div>
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“Our investigation has produced several important findings that were not identified in earlier examinations of the blowout preventer failure,” said CSB Investigator Cheryl MacKenzie, who led the investigative team. “The CSB team performed a comprehensive examination of the full set of BOP testing data, which were not available to other investigative organizations when their various reports were completed. From this analysis, we were able to draw new conclusions about how the drill pipe buckled and moved off-center within the BOP, preventing the well from being sealed in an emergency.”</div>
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The April 2010 blowout in the Gulf of Mexico occurred during operations to “temporarily abandon” the Macondo oil well, located in approximately 5,000-foot-deep waters some 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Mineral rights to the area were leased to oil major BP, which contracted with Transocean and other companies to drill the exploratory Macondo well under BP’s oversight, using Transocean’s football-field-size Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.</div>
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The blowout followed a failure of the cementing job to temporarily seal the well, while a series of pressure tests were misinterpreted to indicate that the well was in fact properly sealed. The final set of failures on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534287" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">April 20</span></span> involved the Deepwater Horizon’s blowout preventer (BOP), a large and complex device on the sea floor that was connected to the rig nearly a mile above on the sea surface.</div>
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Effective compression, as described in the draft report, occurs when there is a large pressure difference between the inside and outside of a pipe. That condition likely occurred during emergency response actions by the Deepwater Horizon crew to the blowout occurring on the night of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534288" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">April 20</span></span>, when operators closed BOP pipe rams at the wellhead, temporarily sealing the well. This unfortunately established a large pressure differential that buckled the steel drill pipe inside the BOP, bending it outside the effective reach of the BOP’s last-resort safety device, the blind shear ram.</div>
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“The CSB’s model differs from other buckling theories that have been presented over the years but for which insufficient supporting evidence has been produced,” according to CSB Investigator Dr. Mary Beth Mulcahy, who oversaw the technical analysis. “The CSB’s conclusions are based on real-time pressure data from the Deepwater Horizon and calculations about the behavior of the drill pipe under extreme conditions. The findings reveal that pipe buckling could occur even when a well is shut-in and apparently in a safe and stable condition. The pipe buckling – unlikely to be detected by the drilling crew – could render the BOP inoperable in an emergency. This hazard could impact even the best offshore companies, those who are maintaining their blowout preventers and other equipment to a high standard. However, there are straightforward methods to avoid pipe buckling if you recognize it as a hazard.”</div>
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The CSB investigation found that while Deepwater Horizon personnel performed regular tests and inspections of those BOP components that were necessary for day-to-day drilling operations, neither Transocean nor BP had performed regular inspections or testing to identify latent failures of the BOP’s emergency systems. As a result, the safety-critical BOP systems responsible for shearing drill pipe in emergency situations – and safely sealing an out-of-control well – were compromised before the BOP was even deployed to the Macondo wellhead. The CSB report pointed to the multiple miswirings and battery failures within the BOP’s subsea control equipment as evidence of the need for more rigorous identification, testing, and management of critical safety devices. The report also noted that the BOP lacked the capacity to reliably cut and seal the 6-5/8 inch drill pipe that was used during most of the drilling at the Macondo well prior to <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534289" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">April 20</span></span>– even if the pipe had been properly centered in the blind shear ram’s blades.</div>
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Despite the multiple maintenance problems found in the Deepwater Horizon BOP, which could have been detected prior to the accident, CSB investigators ultimately concluded the blind shear ram likely did close on the night of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534290" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">April 20</span></span>, and the drill pipe could have been successfully sealed but for the buckling of the pipe. </div>
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“Although there have been regulatory improvements since the accident, the effective management of safety critical elements has yet to be established,” Investigator MacKenzie said. “This results in potential safety gaps in U.S. offshore operations and leaves open the possibility of another similar catastrophic accident.”</div>
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The draft report, subject to Board approval, makes a number of recommendations to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the federal organization established following the Macondo accident to oversee U.S. offshore safety. These recommendations call on BSEE to require drilling operators to effectively manage technical, operational, and organizational safety-critical elements in order to reduce major accident risk to an acceptably low level, known as “as low as reasonably practicable.”</div>
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“Although blowout preventers are just one of the important barriers for avoiding a major offshore accident, the specific findings from the investigation about this BOP’s unreliability illustrate how the current system of regulations and standards can be improved to make offshore operations safer,” Investigator MacKenzie said. “Ultimately the barriers against a blowout or other offshore disaster include not only equipment like the BOP, but also operational and organizational factors. And all of these need to be rigorously defined, actively monitored, and verified through an effective management system if safety is to be assured.” Companies should be required to identify these safety-critical elements in advance, define their performance requirements, and prove to the regulator and outside auditors that these elements will perform reliably when called upon, according to the draft report.</div>
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The report also proposes recommendations to the American Petroleum Institute (API), the U.S. trade association for both upstream and downstream petroleum industry. The first recommendation is to revise API Standard 53, <em>Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells,</em> calling for critical testing of the redundant control systems within BOP’s, and another for new guidance for the effective management of safety-critical elements in general.</div>
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CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said, “Drilling continues to extend to new depths, and operations in increasingly challenging environments, such as the Arctic, are being planned. The CSB report and its key findings and recommendations are intended to put the United States in a leading role for improving well-control procedures and practices. To maintain a leadership position, the U.S. should adopt rigorous management methods that go beyond current industry best practices.”</div>
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Two forthcoming volumes of the CSB’s Macondo investigation report are planned to address additional regulatory matters as well as organizational and human factors safety issues raised by the accident.</div>
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The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.</div>
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The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, <a href="http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=5&d=86&mid=390524&m=1409" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.csb.gov</a>.</div>
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For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-1658278488476281122014-06-11T20:19:00.001-04:002014-06-11T20:19:10.530-04:00TOMORROW: US EPA Administrator to Deliver Keynote Address on Energy Efficiency at the US Energy Association<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800002098083496px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> – <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534280" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tomorrow</span></span>, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy will deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Energy Association’s 2014 Energy Efficiency Forum at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534281" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:30 p.m.</span></span> Administrator McCarthy will discuss the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjExLjMyOTkyMTcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYxMS4zMjk5MjE3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQ3MzI1JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Clean Power Plan</a> proposal, a vital piece of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which for the first time cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants, the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>WHO: </strong>U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>WHAT: </strong>Remarks at U.S. Energy Association’s 2014 Energy Efficiency Forum</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>WHEN:</strong> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534282" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday, June 12, 2014</span></span>; <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_279534283" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:30 p.m. EDT</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>WHERE: </strong>National Press Club</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> 529 14th St. NW</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Washington, D.C. 20045</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">R151</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-81312949195959826172014-06-08T00:46:00.001-04:002014-06-08T00:46:08.364-04:00I have recently moved to North Carolina from NYC and it has been a 180 but in a very good way. Exploring the wildlife of Durham and most recently the Smoky Mountains alone has opened my eyes to one of the most diverse places I have ever visited (and this is a big state!). For hikers, bird watchers, mountain bikers, photographers, joggers, painters, and wanderers of the wilderness NC is a great place to be and settle. I have many more photos to share in the coming weeks and months...stay tuned! <br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"> <b> </b></span><span style="background-color: lime; color: white;"><b>Our planet is beautiful! </b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-20623486793497048802014-06-06T11:27:00.001-04:002014-06-06T11:27:13.323-04:00Environmental Disaster in the Golf, a New Animation of Deepwater Horizon <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/t44OfhWZZ9I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The CSB released </span><a href="http://www.idevmail.net/link.aspx?l=1&d=86&mid=390524&m=1414" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a narrated computer animation</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> recreating the Deepwater Horizon blowout on April 20, 2010. The video depicts how high-pressure oil and gas from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico caused an explosion on the drilling rig that killed 11 workers and seriously injured 17 others. The rig burned for two days, eventually sinking and triggering the largest oil spill in U.S. history.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-1307380230433693802014-06-02T14:09:00.002-04:002014-06-02T14:09:46.437-04:00Our Clean Power Plan Will Spur Innovation and Strengthen the Economy<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
t's an important day. Today, at the direction of President Obama and after an unprecedented outreach effort, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the Clean Power Plan proposal, which for the first time cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants, the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States. <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjAyLjMyNzEwNDExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwMi4zMjcxMDQxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQxNzUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Today’s proposal</a>will protect public health, move the United States toward a cleaner environment and fight climate change while supplying Americans with reliable and affordable power.<br /><br />By leveraging cleaner energy sources and cutting energy waste, this plan will clean the air we breathe while helping slow climate change so we can leave a safe and healthy future for our kids. And we don't have to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy environment--our action will sharpen America’s competitive edge, spur innovation, and create jobs.<br /><br />Here are the top four things to know about the proposed plan. The Clean Power Plan:<br />1) Fights climate change: Our climate is changing, and we're feeling the dangerous and costly effects today.<br />2) Protects public health: Power plants are the largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S. Although there are limits for other pollutants like arsenic and mercury, there are currently no national limits on carbon. Americans will see significant public health and climate benefits now and for future generations.<br />3) States leading with proven approaches: States and businesses have already charted a course toward cleaner, more efficient power. Our plan doesn't prescribe, it propels ongoing progress<br />4) Key is flexibility and putting states in the driver's seat: With EPA's flexible proposal, states choose the ways we cut carbon pollution, so we can still have affordable, reliable power to grow our economy.<br /><br />Watch a video from <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjAyLjMyNzEwNDExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwMi4zMjcxMDQxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQxNzUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://youtu.be/GCSQqzfy6TA" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Administrator McCarthy on the Clean Power Plan</a>:</div>
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<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjAyLjMyNzEwNDExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwMi4zMjcxMDQxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQxNzUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCSQqzfy6TA" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><img alt="Administrator McCarthy on the Clean Power Plan" height="133" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/u-Iy59vFUajpnl9KnPM5gd2S-LFJL1V1seBR3v0PiShYGZjBNuLmRdhE08591Z0N6m4OkYID6B_qxh4q2FHOy3mqY7g4Bm8sq7LyXLtey7ua_u2xFpzk-lj8034yDjOIaRn924qpE_eVeCjCv_M5RqcpADLebdU-=s0-d-e1-ft#http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USAEPA/2014/06/305574/ginacpp_original.jpg" title="Administrator McCarthy on the Clean Power Plan" width="239" /></a></div>
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Power plants account for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. While there are limits in place for the level of arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution that power plants can emit, there are currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels.</div>
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With the Clean Power Plan, EPA is proposing guidelines that build on trends already underway in states and the power sector to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants, making them more efficient and less polluting. This proposal follows through on the common-sense steps laid out in <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjAyLjMyNzEwNDExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwMi4zMjcxMDQxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQxNzUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">President Obama’s Climate Action Plan</a> and the June 2013 Presidential Memorandum.<br /><br />Interested in more detailed information on the benefits of the rule? View the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjAyLjMyNzEwNDExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwMi4zMjcxMDQxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODQxNzUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://youtu.be/AcNTGX_d8mY" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">whiteboard video by Joe Goffman, EPA Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-24324045022438136972014-06-02T14:08:00.001-04:002014-06-02T14:08:10.846-04:00EPA Adds Clothes Dryers to Energy Star Program, Increasing Energy Efficiency of New Appliances<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>WASHINGTON –</strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the first-ever </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI3LjMyNTQxODkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyNy4zMjU0MTg5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM4MTk3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.energystar.gov/products/specs/node/117" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Energy Star</span></span></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> label for clothes dryers. If all residential clothes dryers sold in the U.S. meet these new requirements, the utility cost savings will grow to more than $1.5 billion each year and more than 22 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented. Informed by extensive input from manufacturers, retailers, the U.S. Department of Energy and environmental groups, the new specifications will recognize a selection of highly efficient electric, gas, and compact dryers that will use approximately 20% less energy than what is required by the minimum efficiency standards effective in 2015. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those of 38 million homes.<br /><br />“The addition of clothes dryers expands the range of Energy Star products to include one of the most energy-intensive home appliance not yet covered by the program,” said<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #151515;"> U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy</span>. “Working with industry on innovative approaches to address our changing climate, we are helping consumers select more energy efficient appliances, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.“<br /><br />Over 80% of U.S. homes have a clothes dryer, and these appliances account for approximately six percent of residential electricity consumption. Dryer models that meet the new Energy Star requirements are likely to have improved auto termination sensors, which help reduce energy use by more effectively ending the drying cycle once clothes are dry. Among the more efficient gas and electric dryers that will earn the Energy Star, consumers should expect to encounter a promising new technology.<strong> </strong>Heat pump dryers recapture the hot air used by the dryer and pump it back into the drum to dry more clothes. By re-using most of the heat, it creates a heat pump dryer that is more efficient and avoids the need for ducts leading heat out of the laundry room.<br /><br />This new Energy Star specification also establishes optional “connected” criteria for residential clothes dryers. Energy Star dryers with connected functionality will offer consumers convenience and energy-savings features, such as an alert indicating there is a performance issue or feedback to consumers on the energy-efficiency of different cycle selections. These products will also be “smart grid” ready, meaning they will give consumers the option to connect their dryer with their local utility to save money on their energy bills, where those services are offered, and also facilitate broader electric power system efficiency.<br /><br />To earn the Energy Star label, products must be certified by an EPA-recognized third party, based on testing in an EPA-recognized laboratory. In addition, manufacturers of the products must participate in verification testing programs operated by recognized certification bodies.<br /><br />Products, homes and buildings that earn the Energy Star label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. From the first Energy Star qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.5 billion sold over the past 20 years. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 office buildings, schools and hospitals have earned the Energy Star label.<br /><br />Learn more: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI3LjMyNTQxODkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyNy4zMjU0MTg5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM4MTk3JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.energystar.gov/products/specs/node/117" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.energystar.gov/<wbr></wbr>products/specs/node/117</span></span></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /><br />R133</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-61753552215693699342014-06-02T14:07:00.001-04:002014-06-02T14:07:08.624-04:00EPA Funds University Research on Cleaner Fuel Burning to Improve Air Quality<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<em><span style="background-color: lime; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The World Health Organization estimates that cookstove smoke accounts for over 4 million premature deaths annually </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">WASHINGTON –</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new funding for six universities to research cleaner technologies and fuels for cooking, lighting, and heating homes that will help improve air quality and protect the health of Alaska Natives and people across the developing world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> “Health and environmental impacts of air pollution and climate expand beyond the borders of any one country,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “This research funding seeks to provide new tools to reduce health risks for the nearly three billion people around the world who are exposed to household air pollution from crude stoves.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Researchers at universities in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois and Minnesota will receive $9 million in grant funding. Researchers are evaluating the climate benefits of cleaner cooking methods. Traditional cookstoves are a major source of black carbon, an air pollutant that not only has serious human health impacts, but also affects climate, including increased temperatures, accelerated ice and snow melt and changes in the pattern and intensity of precipitation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> This Science to Achieve Results (STAR) funded research will focus on measuring and communicating the benefits of adopting cleaner cooking, heating, and lighting practices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Grants were awarded to the following universities:</span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> $1,495,454 to University of California, Berkeley, Calif. - will explore the relationship between household and village-scale pollution to understand the effectiveness of cookstove interventions.</span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">$1,500,000 to University of Colorado Boulder, Colo. will use small, inexpensive sensors to better monitor human exposure to residential burning pollution. They will also collect data through health assessments and outdoor air quality measurements in Ghana.</span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">$1,500,000 to Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. – will use cookstove interventions in China, India, Kenya, and Honduras to explore the emissions, chemistry, and movement of indoor cookstove smoke, as well as conduct health assessments and model exposures to improve understanding of climatic impacts of stove interventions.</span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">$1,499,998 to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ill. – will investigate how local resources affect community acceptance of heating stove interventions, and how measurements will help understand air quality and climatic benefits of cookstove interventions in Alaska, Nepal, Mongolia, and China.</span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">$1,489,388 to University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. - will measure changes in air quality and health outcomes from cleaner cooking and heating technologies and will conduct modeling to assess regional weather, air quality impacts, human exposure and health impacts of a rural cookstove intervention in China.</span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">$1,499,985 to Yale University, New Haven, Conn. – will use socioeconomic analyses, emissions and pollution measurements, and global climate modeling to investigate the impacts of cookstove interventions in India.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The announcement was made by Administrator Gina McCarthy at the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves reception, an initiative led by the United Nations Foundation. As a founding member of the Alliance, EPA plays an important role in the organization’s activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EPA is a leader in cleaner cookstove research, helping to support the development of international cookstove standards, conducting research on emissions and performance of cleaner cookstoves and improving our knowledge of the health effects from exposure to cookstove emissions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Alliance is a public-private partnership that seeks to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and protect the environment by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. Its goal: 100 million homes adopting clean cooking solutions by 2020. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More Information on EPA’s grants:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI4LjMyNTc3MjIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyOC4zMjU3NzIyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM4ODkwJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfa/rfa_id/563" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_<wbr></wbr>abstracts/index.cfm/<wbr></wbr>fuseaction/display.rfa/rfa_id/<wbr></wbr>563</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> More information on the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI4LjMyNTc3MjIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyOC4zMjU3NzIyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM4ODkwJmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.cleancookstoves.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.cleancookstoves.<wbr></wbr>org/</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-25730397266574352432014-06-02T14:05:00.001-04:002014-06-02T14:05:54.700-04:00EPA Report Shows Impact of Changing Climate on Americans’ Health and Environment<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">WASHINGTON</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> –</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the third edition of a report, </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI4LjMyNTgxMTAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyOC4zMjU4MTEwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM5MDI0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><span style="color: blue;">Climate Change Indicators in the United States</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><u><span style="color: blue;">. </span></u></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">The report pulls together observed data on key measures of our environment, including U.S. and global temperature and precipitation, ocean heat and ocean acidity, sea level, length of growing season, and many others. With 30 indicators that include over 80 maps and graphs showing long-term trends, the report demonstrates that climate change is already affecting our environment and our society. </span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><br /></span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">“These indicators make it clear that climate change is a serious problem and is happening now here in the U.S. and around the world,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “Everything we do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the changes that are already underway will help us safeguard our children’s future.”<br /><span style="color: #151515;"><br /></span>The third edition of the Indicators report, which was last published in 2012, adds additional years of data and <span style="color: #151515;">four new indicators: Lyme disease, heating and cooling degree days, wildfires, and water level and temperature in the Great Lakes. In addition, the report adds four new features that connect observed data records to local communities and areas of interest, including cherry blossom bloom dates in Washington D.C., timing of ice breakup in two Alaskan rivers, temperature and drought in the Southwest, and land loss along the mid-Atlantic coast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Consistent with the recently released National Climate Assessment, this report presents clear evidence that the impacts of climate change are already occurring across the United States. The report shows evidence that: </span><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Average temperatures have risen across the contiguous 48 states since 1901, with an increased rate of warming over the past 30 years. Seven of the top 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1998.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico has increased during the past 20 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Along the U.S. coastline, sea level has risen the most along the Mid-Atlantic coast and parts of the Gulf Coast, where some stations registered increases of more than 8 inches between 1960 and 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Glaciers have been melting at an accelerated rate over the past decade. The resulting loss of ice has contributed to the observed rise in sea level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Every part of the Southwest experienced higher average temperatures between 2000 and 2013 than the long-term average dating back to 1895. Some areas were nearly 2 degrees F warmer than average.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Since 1983, the United States has had an average of 72,000 recorded wildfires per year. Of the 10 years with the largest acreage burned, nine have occurred since 2000, with many of the largest increases occurring in western states.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Water levels in most of the Great Lakes have declined in the last few decades.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">The report also looks at some of the ways that climate change may affect human health and society using key indicators related to Lyme disease incidence, heat-related deaths, and ragweed pollen season. For example, unusually hot summer temperatures have become more common which can lead to increased risk of heat-related deaths and illness. Warmer temperatures and later fall frosts also allow ragweed plants to produce pollen later into the year, potentially prolonging allergy season for millions of people.<br /></span><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">EPA compiles decades of observed data in cooperation with a range of federal government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and other institutions</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">. The Indicators report focuses on long-term trends for key measures of our environment for which high-quality data exist. Each indicator and the report itself were peer-reviewed by independent experts, and extensive technical documentation accompanies the report.<br /><br />Information about the Climate Change Indicators<span style="color: #151515;"> report: </span></span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI4LjMyNTgxMTAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyOC4zMjU4MTEwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM5MDI0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/indicators.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>climatechange/indicators.html</span></span></a><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> </span><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><br /></span></u><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Information about climate change: </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNTI4LjMyNTgxMTAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDUyOC4zMjU4MTEwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODM5MDI0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bWFybHluLmR1YXJ0ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1hcmx5bi5kdWFydGVAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.epa.gov/climatechange" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>climatechange</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"><br /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-33759836560620984832014-05-12T15:28:00.003-04:002014-05-12T15:30:06.508-04:00EPA Announces $3.6 Million in Environmental Job Training Grants to Provide Unemployed Residents with Job Opportunities Cleaning Up and Reducing Pollution Nationwide<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">WASHINGTON</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> –U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today, on a press call with Joe Carbone, President of the Workplace, Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn., and Jason Wimmer, City of Durham, N.C., announced the selection of 18 grantees for the award of approximately $3.6 million through the Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training (EWDJT) program. The grants fund training programs in local nonprofit organizations, community colleges, cities, states, tribes, and counties that provide unemployed and under-employed, including veterans, minority, and predominately low income individuals with the comprehensive skills and certifications needed to enter full-time careers in the environmental field. The funding also supports job placement and recruitment activities. These green jobs give hope to individuals to overcome significant barriers to employment and help protect public health and the environment by providing a skilled job force to clean up contamination and build more sustainable futures for local communities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“A key aspect of the success of the program is the partnership between grantees and the private sector to design curricula based on local markets with an eye toward hiring graduates, which is why there is a 71percent placement rate,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. “We link our investment in communities with brownfields to enable residents from lower income communities that surround many of these sites with training opportunities.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Graduates of the program develop a comprehensive set of skills to secure full-time, sustainable employment in many areas of the environmental field and average an hourly starting wage of $14.00. This has resulted in an excellent cumulative job placement rate. Program graduates obtain employment within their own communities, <span style="color: black;">areas often historically affected by blight, economic disinvestment, and sites contaminated with solid and hazardous wastes. </span>Rather than filling local environmental jobs with professionals outside of these communities, these grants help provide an opportunity for local residents to secure careers that make a visible impact cleaning up their neighborhoods, creating a locally skilled workforce.<span style="color: black;"> Graduates obtain employment in fields such as: recycling, brownfields assessment and cleanup, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, emergency response, oil spill cleanup, solar installation, and Superfund site remediation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The 18 grantees are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hunters Point Family; San Francisco, Calif.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: white;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">City of Durham, N.C.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Memphis Bioworks, Tenn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">City of Milwaukee, Wis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Calif.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cypress Mandela Training Center; Oakland, Calif.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">St. Nicks Alliance; Brooklyn, N.Y.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Civic Works; Baltimore, Md.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Community Development Corporation of Tampa, Fla.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Limitless Vistas; New Orleans, La.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">City of Camden, Ark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Energy Coordinating Agency; Philadelphia, Penn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lewis and Clark County, Mont.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Alaska Forum</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Northstar Center for Human Development; Hartford, Conn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">City of Detroit, Mich.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Workplace, Inc.; Bridgeport, Conn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Mo-Kan Regional Council; St. Joseph, Mo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Since the EWDJT program’s inception in 1998, the EPA has funded 239 job training grants totaling more than $50 million. More than 12,800 individuals have completed training, and of those, more than 9,100 have secured employment in the environmental field.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More information on environmental workforce development and job training grants: </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pilot_grants.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>brownfields/pilot_grants.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More information on EPA’s brownfields Program </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>brownfields/</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-30453100796373148202014-04-21T15:08:00.001-04:002014-04-21T15:09:09.836-04:00EPA U.S. EPA Administrator Kicking Off Earth Week Tour on Climate Action Plan<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">McCarthy traveling to New York, Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta and Memphis</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: lime;"><span style="background-color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To learn more about Earth Day and how you can make a difference at </span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/earthday" target="_blank">www.epa.gov/earthday</a></span></span><span style="background-color: #38761d; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> – In recognition of Earth Week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy is taking to the road to ask Americans to act on climate change through simple actions to reduce carbon pollution in their daily lives.<br /><br />Administrator McCarthy will participate in various events to promote President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and will focus on responsible steps to cut carbon pollution to slow the effects of climate change and leave a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations. She will also explain how the plan seeks to decrease the threats to public health and anticipate challenges from severe weather associated with a changing climate, while encouraging clean energy innovation and growth in green jobs.<br /><br />Details about the events will be made available next week.<br /><br /><strong>MONDAY, APRIL 21, NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.</strong><br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429443" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11 PM EDT</span></span>: Administrator McCarthy will be a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to talk about President Obama’s Climate Action Plan.<br /><br /><strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429444" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">TUESDAY, APRIL 22</span></span>, BOSTON, MASS.</strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429445" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12 Noon EDT</span></span>: Administrator McCarthy will participate in an event at the New England Aquarium with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Aquarium President & CEO Bud Ris, the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and teens from the Aquarium’s three youth programs to discuss action on climate change.<br /><br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429446" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7 PM EDT</span></span>: Administrator McCarthy and Secretary Moniz will throw the first pitch at the Red Sox vs. Yankees Game at Fenway Park.<br /><br /><strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429447" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23</span></span>, CLEVELAND, OHIO</strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429448" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:35 AM EDT</span></span>: Administrator McCarthy will join the American Lung Association and public health partners for a press conference on health impacts of air pollution at the Cleveland Clinic.<br /><br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429449" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:30 AM EDT</span></span>: Administrator will deliver the keynote address at the Climate and Energy Funders Group Annual Meeting.<br /><br /><strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429450" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">THURSDAY, APRIL 24</span></span>, ATLANTA, GA.</strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429451" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:30 PM EDT</span></span>: Administrator McCarthy will join the Hip Hop Caucus “Act on Climate Tour” to speak about the disproportionate impacts and the costs of climate change.<br /><br /><strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429452" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">FRIDAY, APRIL 25</span></span>, MEMPHIS, TENN.</strong>Time TBA: Administrator McCarthy will participate in a media tour of the Partnership for Sustainability’s investments in Memphis with HUD Secretary Donovan and DOT Secretary Foxx. The tour will highlight the impact of Partnership investments in the community.<br /><br />To learn more about Earth Day and how you can make a difference at </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/earthday" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.epa.gov/earthday</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-6426732465311558862014-04-21T15:05:00.005-04:002014-04-21T15:05:53.293-04:00MEDIA ADVISORY: EPA Holding Events across the Country to Celebrate Earth Week<span style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;"><em><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.53333282470703px;">Agency Encouraging all Americans to take Action on Climate Change</span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.53333282470703px;"><i><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b></i></span></span>
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;">For more information on Earth Day at EPA: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/earthday/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;">http://www.epa.gov/earthday/<wbr></wbr>index.html</span></a></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.53333282470703px;"><i><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">WASHINGTON</span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"> – This </span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">Earth</span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"> Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is empowering Americans across the country to act on climate change through simple actions to reduce carbon pollution in their daily lives.<br /><br />Across the country, EPA will be holding events to talk about common-sense action to reduce carbon pollution and promote a cleaner energy economy while ensuring that all Americans have the information they need to act on climate change.<br /><br />By taking simple actions such as changing a light bulb, powering down electronics, using less water and recycling, we can all reduce carbon pollution. </span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.53333282470703px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">For information about specific Earth Week events, please contact regional offices.<br /><br /><strong>Regional Activities Include:<br /><br />Region 1:<br /></strong>On <strong>April 22<sup>nd </sup></strong>Region 1 Administrator Curt Spalding will join</span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"> Administrator McCarthy for an Earth Day event at the New England Aquarium with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Aquarium President & CEO Bud Ris, the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and teens from the Aquarium’s three youth programs.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong>, Region 1 staff will honor individuals and groups for their environmental work at the </span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">annual Environmental Merit Awards at Faneuil Hall in Boston.<br /></span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Region 2:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong>, Region 2 Administrator Judith A. Enck will join Brooklyn, New York Borough President Eric Adams and Emily Maxwell of The Nature Conservancy to promote the EPA Earth Day #natureselfie photo project in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. </span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 23<sup>rd</sup></strong>, Region 2 Administrator Judith A. Enck will host the recipients of the region’s Environmental Quality Awards, presented annually to individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to protecting the environment during the past year. The region will also recognize the winner of the President’s Environmental Youth Award. </span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Region 3:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 3 Administrator Shawn Garvin will speak at a press conference with state and local officials to highlight climate change issues and the proposed Waters of the United States rule in Wilmington, DE.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 3 Administrator Shawn Garvin will give opening remarks for an Earth Day panel discussion on Smart Cities at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Region 4:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 4 Administrator Heather McTeer Toney and staff will celebrate Earth Day with participating in a cleanup effort at the Proctor Creek in Atlanta, GA from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429426" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.</span></span></span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong>, EPA’s Office of Research and Development staff will host the 4<sup>th</sup> annual Earth Day Science Day at Bethesda Elementary, Nurham, NC.<strong><br /></strong><strong>Region 5:<br /></strong>On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong>, Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman will participate in an Earth Day event to honor Kimberly Wasserman of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization with the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.<strong><br /></strong></span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />Region 6:</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 6 Administrator Ron Curry and EPA staff will co-host an Earth Day webcast with NASA’s Digital Learning Network from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429430" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CST</span></span>. This year’s theme is Climate Change and will feature interactive data from satellites on a high-definition Climate Simulation hyperwall. </span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong>, EPA’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory will host the 10<sup>th</sup> Annual Earth Day Waterfest at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. From <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429432" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST</span></span>, 4<sup>th</sup> through 6<sup>th</sup> grade students will visit and learn about water quality.<br /><strong><br /></strong><strong>Region 7:<br /></strong>On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks will present the Waste Wise Award to Sprint executives at Overland Park, KS. </span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Region 8:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 8 Administrator Shawn McGrath will deliver remarks at the National Center for Atmospheric Research reception. He will speak about scientific integrity, climate adaptation and resilience, and the National Drought Resilience Partnership, as a front-door for communities in need of help.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 8 staff will host Earth Day Denver 2014 from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429436" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. MDT</span></span> at the Wellington Webb building in Denver, CO</span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">.</span><u><span style="color: #0563c1;"><br /></span></u></span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Region 9:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong>, Region 9 Administrator Jared Blumenfeld and EPA staff will hold an event with Congressman George Miller (CA-11) to announce the awarding of nearly $5 million to five projects aimed at restoring water quality and wetlands throughout the San Francisco Bay watershed. The event will specifically highlight work at Breuner Marsh in Richmond, CA.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">On<strong> April 22<sup>nd</sup>, </strong></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Region 9 will issue a press release announcing the opening of the nomination period for Region 9’s annual environmental awards, which recognize environmental heroes in the Pacific Southwest. Past winners have included scientists, citizen activists, students, universities, tribes, cities, non-profits and businesses. Approximately 6 to 9 winners will be announced this fall</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;">.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Region 10:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 10 Administrator Dennis McLerran and EPA staff are partnering with the Seattle chapter of Surfrider Foundation and Seattle Parks & Recreation to clean up Golden Gardens Beach & Park in the Ballard area of Seattle.</span><strong style="color: #151515;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">On <strong>April 22<sup>nd</sup></strong></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;">, Region 10 staff from EPA’s Alaska Operations Office will volunteer at the Alaska Botanical Gardens at<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_348429441" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:00 p.m. UTC</span></span> to help get the garden beds ready.<br /></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #151515; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-24715417939040873892014-04-17T15:01:00.001-04:002014-04-17T15:01:26.253-04:00EPA Publishes 19th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 19th annual report of overall U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today, showing a 3.4 percent decrease in 2012 from 2011. </span><a href="http://epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/usinventoryreport.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks</span></em></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, which is submitted annually to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.<br /><br />The major contributors to the decrease in emissions from 2011-2012 were the decrease in energy consumption across all sectors in the U.S. economy, and the decrease in carbon intensity for electricity generation due to fuel switching from coal to natural gas. Other factors included a decrease in transportation sector emissions attributed to an increase in fuel efficiency across different transportation modes and limited new demand for passenger transportation.<br /><br />Greenhouse gases are the primary driver of climate change, leading to increased heat-related illnesses and deaths; worsening the air pollution that can cause asthma attacks and other respiratory problems; and expanding the ranges of disease-spreading insects. Climate change is also affecting the frequency and intensity of heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events.<br /><br />Under President Obama’s </span><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-climate-action-plan" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Climate Action Plan</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, EPA is taking steps to address carbon pollution from the power and transportation sectors, and to improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses and factories. This includes increasing fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks for model years 2012-2025 that, over the lifetime of these vehicles, will save Americans more than $1.7 trillion. In addition, we are increasing energy efficiency through the </span><a href="http://www.energystar.gov/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Energy Star</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> program that saved Americans more than $26 billion in utility bills in 2012.<br /><br />According to the report, GHG emissions in 2012 showed a 10 percent drop below 2005 levels. Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2012 were equivalent to 6,526 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.<br /><br />EPA prepares the annual report in collaboration with other federal agencies and after gathering comments from stakeholders across the country. In addition to tracking U.S. GHG emissions, the inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere through the uptake of carbon in forests, vegetation, soils, and other natural processes (called carbon “sinks”).<br /><br />More on the greenhouse gas inventory report:</span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.epa.gov/<wbr></wbr>climatechange/emissions/<wbr></wbr>usinventoryreport.html</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958094112969038816.post-673186266244660932014-04-17T14:58:00.001-04:002014-04-17T14:58:20.260-04:00Corporate-wide Settlement with Lowe’s Protects Public from Lead Pollution During Home Renovations<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> – Lowe’s Home Centers, one of the nation’s largest home improvement retailers, has agreed to implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide compliance program at its over 1,700 stores nationwide to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the federal Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. The company will also pay a $500,000 civil penalty, which is the largest ever for violations of the RRP Rule.<br /><br />The settlement stems from violations, discovered by EPA inspectors, of the RRP Rule’s recordkeeping and work practice standards at private homes that had been renovated by Lowe’s contractors. EPA enforces the RRP and other lead rules to protect children and others who are vulnerable to exposure to lead dust that can cause lead poisoning.<br /><br />“Today’s settlement sends a clear message to all contractors and the firms they hire: Get lead certified and comply with the law to protect children from exposure to dangerous lead dust,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Lowe's is taking responsibility for the actions of the firms it hires, and EPA expects other contractors to do the same.”<br /><br />“Today’s settlement requires Lowe’s to institute a robust, nationwide program at over 1,700 of its stores to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform renovation projects, like window and door installation, are properly certified and adhere to practices that help prevent lead contamination in customers’ homes,” said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This action, the first of its kind to address lead safe work practices on a system-wide basis, will help prevent children’s exposure to lead in communities across the nation by raising home improvement contractors’ awareness of EPA’s lead safety regulations and contributing to a culture of compliance.”<br /><br />EPA discovered the violations through a review of records from projects performed by renovators working under contract for the following Lowe’s stores: Alton, Ill.; Kent and Trotwood, Ohio; Bedford, N.H.; Southington, Conn.; South Burlington, Vt.; Rochester, N.Y.; Savannah and Lebanon, Tenn.; Boise, Idaho Falls, and Nampa, Idaho; and Muldoon, Ark.<br /><br />The government complaint alleged that Lowe’s failed to provide documentation showing that specific contractors had been certified by EPA, had been properly trained, had used lead-safe work practices, or had correctly used EPA-approved lead test kits at renovation sites. Additionally, EPA’s investigation found that Lowe’s had also failed to ensure that work areas had been properly contained and cleaned during renovations at three homes. EPA’s investigation was prompted by tips and complaints submitted by the public.<br /><br />In addition to the civil penalty, Lowe’s must implement a comprehensive compliance program to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work for its customers comply with the RRP Rule during renovations of any child-occupied facilities, such as day-care centers and pre-schools, and any housing that was built before 1978. For these projects, Lowe’s must contract with only EPA-certified renovators, ensure they maintain certification, and ensure they use lead safe work practices checklists during renovations. In addition, Lowe’s must suspend anyone that is not operating in compliance with the rule, investigate all reports of potential noncompliance, and ensure that any violations are corrected.<br /><br />The RRP Rule, which implements the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, is intended to ensure that owners and occupants of housing built before 1978, as well as any child-occupied facilities, receive information on lead-based paint hazards before renovations begin, that individuals performing such renovations are properly trained and certified by EPA, and follow specific work practices to reduce the potential for lead-based paint exposure. Home improvement companies such as Lowe’s that contract with renovators to perform renovation work for their customers must ensure that those contractors comply with all of the requirements of the RRP Rule.<br /><br />Lead-based paint was banned in 1978 but still remains in many homes and apartments across the country. Lead dust hazards can occur when lead paint deteriorates or is disrupted during home renovation and remodeling activities. Lead exposure can cause a range of health problems, from behavioral disorders and learning disabilities to seizures and death, putting young children at the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing.<br /><br />In February 2014, EPA announced enforcement actions that require 35 renovation firms and training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the RRP Rule. Those settlements generated a total of $274,000 in civil penalties.<br /><br />Renovators that are certified under EPA’s RRP Rule are encouraged to display EPA’s “Lead-Safe” logo on worker’s uniforms, signs, websites, and other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by looking for the logo before hiring a home renovator.<br /><br />Lowe’s operates over 1,700 stores throughout the U.S., with over 120 additional stores located in Canada and Mexico. Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, formerly known as Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. and Lowe’s HIW, Inc., is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.<br /><br />The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Notice of the lodging of the consent decree will appear in the Federal Register allowing for a 30-day public comment period before the consent decree can be entered by the court as final judgment. To view the consent decree: </span><a href="http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_<wbr></wbr>Decrees.html</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074280974673689428noreply@blogger.com0