EPA Sets First National Limits to Reduce Mercury and Other Toxic Emissions from Cement Plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final rules that will protect Americans’ health by cutting emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing, the third-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States . The rules are expected to yield $7 to $19 in public health benefits for every dollar in costs. Mercury can damage children’s developing brains, and particle pollution is linked to a wide variety of serious health effects, including aggravated asthma, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks, and premature death in people with heart and lung disease.

“Americans throughout the country are suffering from the effects of pollutants in our air, especially our children who are more vulnerable to these chemicals,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “This administration is committed to reducing pollution that is hurting the health of our communities.  With this historic step, we are going a long way in accomplishing that goal. By reducing harmful pollutants in the air we breathe, we cut the risk of asthma attacks and save lives.”

This action sets the nation’s first limits on mercury air emissions from existing cement kilns, strengthens the limits for new kilns, and sets emission limits that will reduce acid gases. This final action also limits particle pollution from new and existing kilns, and sets new-kiln limits for particle and smog-forming nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

When fully implemented in 2013, EPA estimates the annual emissions will be reduced:

•          Mercury – 16,600 pounds or 92 percent
•          Total hydrocarbons – 10,600 tons or 83 percent
•          Particulate Matter – 11,500 tons or 92 percent
•          Acid gases – (measured as hydrochloric acid): 5,800 tons or 97 percent
•          Sulfur dioxide (SO2)– 110,000 tons or 78 percent
•          Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – 6,600 tons or 5 percent

Mercury in the air eventually deposits into water, where it changes into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish.  People are primarily exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. Because the developing fetus is the most sensitive to the toxic effects of methylmercury, women of childbearing age and children are regarded as the populations of greatest concern.

EPA estimates that the rules will yield $6.7 billion to $18 billion in health and environmental benefits, with costs estimated at $926 million to $950 million annually in 2013. Another EPA analysis estimates emission reductions and costs will be lower, with costs projected to be $350 million annually.

More information:  http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html

EPA Orders Four Municipalities in South Central Pennsylvania to Improve Stormwater Management

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has sent orders to four south central Pennsylvania municipalities requiring improvements to their respective Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) programs. Orders went to Silver Spring Township of Lancaster County; Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County , and Wyomissing Borough and West Reading Borough in Berks County . EPA issued similar orders last April to 79 other municipalities in this south central part of the state, an area that drains to the Chesapeake Bay.

The orders require the cited municipalities to correct problems with their respective.MS4 programs and come into compliance with their Clean Water Act permit. In order to comply with their permit, municipalities are required to develop stormwater management programs to control pollutants from entering their drainage systems, which include storm drains, pipes, and ditches, designed to collect and convey stormwater runoff.

Related video of interest: Part1 -A Wastewater 101, the film takes the viewers on a journey following the wastewater flow in San Francisco from homes and street drains, to treatment plants See part 2 below

“These orders are needed because improperly managed stormwater can wash harmful pollutants into local streams and rivers,” said Shawn M. Garvin, Regional Administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region. “EPA is committed to bringing these municipalities into compliance for the health of local waterways in Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay .”

“Urbanized areas contain large portions of impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops and parking lots that channel stormwater directly into local streams, rivers, and other water bodies. Improperly managed stormwater runoff from urbanized areas can damage streams, cause significant erosion, and carry excessive nutrients, sediment, toxic metals, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants downstream.

EPA continues to perform on-the-ground MS4 inspections of municipalities throughout Pennsylvania and other mid-Atlantic states for compliance with existing permit provisions. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is in the process of completing a 5-year renewal of the MS4 general permit which is scheduled to be completed in the latter half of 2011.

Video part 2

Computer Model Helps Minimize Water Pollution

Roads, shopping centers and housing developments are generally seen as enhancing a community’s quality of life. But they can also disrupt the delicate water cycle that provides food, recreation and hydration to communities.

When rain and melting snows flow over a city’s streets, parking lots and sidewalks, that runoff picks up all kinds of pollutants such as residues of petroleum and pesticides, soaps and solvents, as well as pet and wildlife waste.

Too often, the run-off spills directly into local waterways. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, lists stormwater as the primary cause of water pollution in the United States, and encourages local communities to develop management plans to treat run-off before it pollutes their rivers, lakes or streams.

Easy to use computer model

Bill Hunt, a professor of Biology and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University, has developed an easy-to-use computer model to predict how landscape impacts water pollution.

“There are different ways of evaluating how well stormwater practices clean water … things like ponds and wetlands and permeable pavement.”

The program asks users – developers or state regulators, for example – to enter a description of the local land types, such as parking lots, rooftops, roads, grasses or woods, along with any water treatment areas.

“This model essentially assesses how well (stormwater practices) work in a new way. And it’s a break from the way states have done it previously.”

Communities across the U.S. have become more aware of the dangers of untreated stormwater. Hunt’s computer program gives them a useful new tool for addressing the problem.

The model works by using a relatively new understanding of the water filtration process. Engineers have found that wetlands, grassy fields and soil or sand filters can take in stormwater with different levels of pollution and release water with a relatively constant cleanliness. One important factor affecting the water quality is the area’s temperature and rainfall, and Hunt’s model is set up for the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. However, Hunt says the principles can easily be applied to other temperate climates.

Nitrogen and phosphorous

To encourage widespread use among land design firms and regulators, Hunt kept his computer model simple. It uses average yearly data in its computations, and focuses on only two major pollutants – nitrogen and phosphorous.

“If you have an imbalance, or literally too much nitrogen and too much phosphorous getting into those systems, you can essentially deplete the oxygen in that water. Which, in the end, without oxygen you have fish kills, and the like.”

Phosphorous from detergents often contaminates urban stormwater, while nitrogen comes primarily from fertilizer use in agricultural areas. According to Ben Urbonas, president of the Urban Watersheds Research Institute, these nutrient contaminants tend to be more of a problem in closed water systems, like lakes, where concentrations can build up.

Wastewater first, then stormwater

In developing countries, the main source of water pollution is not stormwater, but waste water. Urbonas says communities there must focus first on developing a proper wastewater treatment system, using more complex models to plan collection and treatment.

“I think the priorities are totally skewed when people start looking at stormwater when in reality they need to be looking at what is the primary biggest culprit in what their receiving waters are being degraded by.”

While many developing-world communities might not be ready for Hunt’s runoff management model, Urbonas believes it is important for them to be aware of the pollutants present in stormwater even as they learn to manage their community’s waste water.

A small community of design firms and regulators in North Carolina is currently testing the model, and after this trial period, it will be available free to the public on Bill Hunt’s university faculty webpage.

Source: VOA

Study Shows Air Pollution Poses Greater Link to Heart Attack, Stroke

Medical researchers are finding out more about the health risks of air pollution. They say the world’s dependence on fossil fuels is largely responsible for increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Doctors warn patients with lung and heart disease to stay indoors during hot weather. Dr. Kausalya Pendyal tells her patients in Richmond, Virginia before they go outside to check the Air Quality Index – a U.S. government assessment of pollutants in the air.

“Avoid outdoor activities if you can, especially in the late afternoons and the evenings,” she said.

Medical science, bolstered by research from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, shows a strong link between air pollution and heart disease and stroke.

“Because cardiovascular death is the number one cause of death in the world, not just in developed countries, but throughout the world, the role that air pollutants play on this has a tremendous effect on overall world mortality,” said Dr. Robert Brook, a specialist in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Brook says just one to two hours of breathing automobile exhaust in traffic can be deadly.

“And that short, few-hour exposure is able to trigger a heart attack where they might not have had it for days or months, or never,” he said.  

The long term effects of breathing polluted air are even more alarming.

“Over a few years of exposure, the increase for your risk of developing cardiovascular disease…heart attacks, strokes, heart failure…increases probably five to 10 times greater than it does over just a few hours of exposure,” said Dr. Brook, who chaired group that produced a scientific statement on air pollution and cardiovascular disease for the American Heart Association.

He also led a study that showed that airborne particles produced by automobile exhaust, industry and coal or oil fired power plants can cause blood pressure to rise to dangerous levels.

The study shows the risk is greater for the elderly, people with existing heart disease, and people, generally in poor neighborhoods, who live along major roads and highways.

The American Heart Association recommends reducing time spent in heavy traffic or jogging during rush hour, or near busy roadways and better treatment for cardiovascular risk factors.

Source: VOA

Eight Drinking Water Systems in Alaska are in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act

Eight Alaskan drinking water systems are being ordered to conduct water sampling required to protect human health, or face potential fines for violations of federal drinking water laws, according to compliance orders issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The systems violated the Safe Drinking Water Act and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. These systems did not complete required sampling and/or did not submit a summary report to the EPA that was due on July 1.

“These systems are tasked with delivering safe, clean water to the customers they serve,” said Marie Jennings, manager of the Drinking Water Program for EPA’s Region 10. “EPA’s goal is for these systems to get up to speed to ensure their water is safe.”

EPA has ordered the systems to conduct the required sampling and complete their report. The sampling will identify locations in the distribution system where disinfection byproducts are the highest, and the report will establish these locations as regular monitoring sites.

Chlorine disinfection byproducts can form in drinking water distribution systems. At high levels, they can harm human health. As required by federal laws, these eight systems already conduct regular monitoring for disinfection byproducts. However, the current monitoring locations may no longer be where the highest levels of disinfection byproducts are found. If this is the case, customers in some parts of the distribution system could be unknowingly drinking water that contains harmful levels of disinfection byproducts. This sampling will help ensure that future monitoring efforts will be effective at detecting any unsafe levels of disinfection byproducts in the system.

Video of Interest Chlorine Water Test

EPA issued compliance orders to the following systems:

• Alakanuk Water System, serving approximately 570 customers
• Bethel – City S/D Water System, serving approximately 700 customers
• Bethel Heights Water System, serving approximately 1,270 customers
• Craig Public Works, serving approximately 1,475 customers
• Emmonak Water System, serving approximately 820 customers
• Klawock, serving approximately 904 customers
• Kotlik Water System, serving approximately 591 customers
•  YK Delta Regional Hospital, serving approximately 510 customers

These systems have violated EPA’s Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule. The State of Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for implementing and enforcing most of the drinking water rules for public water systems in Alaska, however they have not yet adopted this rule.

For additional information about this rule visit: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/stage2/

D.C. Makes Top 20 List of Local Government Green Power Purchasers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the District of Columbia for the first time appears as No. 3 on EPA’s Top 20 Local Government list of the largest green power purchasers.

“The District is to be congratulated for demonstrating by example the importance of utilizing green power,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Their successful participation in EPA’s Green Power Partnership program is helping to reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use nationwide.”

The District of Columbia is purchasing more than 244 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 50 percent of the organization’s electricity use. The District is buying a utility green power product from Washington Gas Energy Services. This demonstrates a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.

In addition to its listing on the Top 20 Local Government list, the District of Columbia also ranks No. 14 on the National Top 50 list.  

This purchase also qualifies the District of Columbia for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements.  Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase 10 times the partnership’s minimum requirement organization-wide.

According to the EPA, the District’s green power purchase of more than 244 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 34,000 passenger vehicles per year or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 21,000 average American homes annually.

EPA released its entire list of top 50 Green Power Partners today. EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,200 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall, EPA’s Green Power Partners are using more than 17 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from electricity use of more than 1.5 million average American homes.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower.  Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies and produce no net increase to greenhouse gas emissions.  Purchases of green power also help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

More information on the national top 50 list is available at: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.htm  and more information on EP EPA’s Green Power Partnership, visit  http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/ .

EPA Announces Nation’s Top 50 Green Power Organizations

 

Video: EPA’s GreenPower Partnership Described

The top 10 on the list are Intel Corporation, Kohl’s Department Stores, Whole Foods Market, City of Houston , Dell Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Cisco Systems, Inc., commonwealth of Pennsylvania , U.S. Air Force, and the city of Dallas . 

 

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies and produce no net increase to greenhouse gas emissions. Purchases of green power also help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

 

Intel Corporation remains the partnership’s largest single purchaser of green power, using more than 1.4 billion kWh, equivalent to the CO₂ emissions from the electricity use of nearly 125,000 average American homes. Washington, D.C. (No. 14), TD Bank, N.A. (No. 15), the state of Illinois (No. 23), Pearson, Inc. (No. 27), Chicago Public Schools (No. 35), and Harris N.A. (No. 42), are all making first-time appearances on the national list. BD (No. 19), a global medical technology company, and the Port of Portland (No. 49), both rose in the rankings by nearly doubling their green power purchases. Nearly a quarter of the top 50 partners have increased their green power purchases since April.

 

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,200 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall, EPA’s green power partners are using more than 17 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to the CO₂ emissions from electricity use of more than 1.5 million average American homes.

 

More information on the national top 50 list: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.htm

 

Information on EPA’s Green Power Partnership: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/

 

 

 

EPA Releases Second Phase of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants

The US Environmental Protection Agency today released peer reviewed results from the second phase of its independent toxicity testing on mixtures of eight oil dispersants with Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil. EPA conducted the tests as part of an effort to ensure that EPA decisions remain grounded in the best available science and data.

EPA’s results indicate that the eight dispersants tested have similar toxicities to one another when mixed with Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil. These results confirm that the dispersant used in response to the oil spill in the gulf, Corexit 9500A, when mixed with oil, is generally no more or less toxic than mixtures with the other available alternatives. The results also indicate that dispersant-oil mixtures are generally no more toxic to the aquatic test species than oil alone.

“EPA has committed to following the science at every stage of this response – that’s why we required BP to launch a rigorous dispersant monitoring program, why we directed BP to analyze potential alternatives and why EPA undertook this independent analysis of dispersant products,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We have said all along that the use of dispersant presents environmental tradeoffs, which is why we took steps to ensure other response efforts were prioritized above dispersant use and to dramatically cut dispersant use. Dispersant use virtually ended when the cap was placed on the well and its use dropped 72 percent from peak volumes following the joint EPA-U.S. Coast Guard directive to BP in late May.”

The standard acute toxicity tests were conducted on juvenile shrimp and small fish that are found in the gulf and are commonly used in toxicity testing. The tests were conducted on mixtures of Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil and eight different dispersant products found on the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule – Dispersit SPC 1000, Nokomis 3-F4, Nokomis 3-AA, ZI-400, SAFRON Gold, Sea Brat #4, Corexit 9500 A and JD 2000. The same eight dispersants were used during EPA’s first round of independent toxicity testing.

All eight dispersants were found to be less toxic than the dispersant-oil mixture to both test species. Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil was more toxic to mysid shrimp than the eight dispersants when tested alone. Oil alone had similar toxicity to mysid shrimp as the dispersant-oil mixtures, with exception of the mixture of Nokomis 3-AA and oil, which was found to be more toxic than oil.

While there has been virtually no dispersant use since the well was capped on July 15 – only 200 gallons total applied on July 19 – EPA’s environmental monitoring continues.

EPA required rigorous, ongoing monitoring as a condition of authorizing BP’s use of dispersant in the gulf. Dispersants prevent some oil from impacting sensitive areas along the gulf coast. EPA’s position has been that BP should use as little dispersant as necessary and, on May 23, Administrator Jackson and then-federal on-scene coordinator Rear Admiral Mary Landry directed BP to reduce dispersant usage by 75 percent from peak usage. EPA and the Coast Guard formalized that order in a directive to BP on May 26.

Before directing BP to ramp down dispersant use, EPA directed BP to analyze potential alternative dispersants for toxicity and effectiveness. BP reported to EPA that they were unable to find a dispersant that is less toxic than Corexit 9500, the product then in use. Following that, EPA began its own scientific testing of eight dispersant products.

EPA released the first round of data – on the dispersant products alone – on June 30. Today’s results represent the second and final stage of the independent acute toxicity tests.

View the toxicity test results: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

EPA Report: 22 Million Cataract Cases Will Be Prevented by Stronger Ozone Layer Protection

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marked the beginning of Cataract Awareness Month by announcing a new peer-reviewed report predicting that more than 22 million additional cataract cases will be avoided for Americans born between 1985 and 2100 due to the Montreal Protocol. The environmental treaty, signed by 196 countries, was designed to reduce and eventually eliminate ozone depleting substances. Too much UV radiation not only increases the risk for skin cancer, but also increases the risk for cataracts — a clouding of the eye’s lens that affects more than 20 million Americans age 40 and older. 

“Since the 1970s, we have prevented millions of skin cancer cases and deaths through our work protecting the ozone layer,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “I am excited to kick off Cataract Awareness Month by announcing that the science has now enabled us to estimate our impact on cataracts.” 

Due to the success of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is predicted to recover to pre-1980 levels after 2065. In the meantime, under a compromised ozone layer, more ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaches the Earth’s surface. While treatment for cataracts is widely available in the U.S. , the costs are high, with direct medical costs estimated to be $6.8 billion per year. 

The theroy here is that given:

Stratospheric ozone protects the biosphere from potentially damaging doses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Depletion of stratospheric ozone, caused by the release of man-made ozone-depleting substances (ODS)—such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, methyl bromide, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)—could lead to significant increases in UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, which could in turn lead to adverse human and animal health effects, as well as ecosystem impacts.

Then:

The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) is a landmark international agreement designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and substantially amended in 1990, 1992, and 1997. The Montreal Protocol stipulates phaseout schedules for the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere.

Related video: Everyone knows to wear sun block and a hat to protect against UV rays. But most overlook the importance sunglasses play in protecting their eyes against UV damage

 

For the first time, EPA is able to include data on cataract risk by gender and skin type in the report. However, all people, regardless of gender and skin type, are at risk for cataracts. This is why it is important for adults and children to use eyewear that absorbs UV rays and to wear a wide-brimmed hat. 

The following changes in vision may be signs of cataracts:

• Blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, the sense of a “film” over the eyes
• Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or feeling “dazzled” by strong light
• Changing eyeglass prescriptions often, and the change does not seem to help.

 

Information on the report:

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects/index.html. 

More information on eye damage: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/eyedamage.pdf

LA area polystyrene manufacturer Lifoam Industries pays $450,000 over violations of federal, state clean-air laws

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced that Lifoam Industries, Inc. will pay $450,000 in fines, claiming the company violated the federal Clean Air Act and state air quality laws at its polystyrene manufacturing facility at 2340 E. 52 Street in Vernon, Calif.

Under the terms of a settlement entered today in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Lifoam Industries is required to pay a $450,000 penalty and must vent all of its manufacturing emissions through an air pollution control device.
“The effects of illegal air pollution in the Los Angeles basin are insidious, and local residents suffer a disproportionate impact,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “To protect public health and the environment, we will vigilantly track down violators and bring them into compliance.”

“Since Southern California has the worst air pollution in the nation, for the sake of public health we must ensure that all businesses are operating in compliance with air quality regulations and doing their part to help improve our air,” said Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The city of Vernon is one of several densely populated communities closest to the I-710 Freeway, where the effects of pollution are disproportionately higher than in other areas of Los Angeles County. Approximately 1 million people, about 70% of whom are minority and low-income households, are severely impacted by pollution from industrial activities in the area and goods movement along the freeway.

Related Video:Every year, more than 6,000 Southern Californians die prematurely due to air pollution. This years smog season has not been as severe as previous years. However, the region still has the worst overall air quality in the nation. AQMDs Joe Cassmassi reports on this years smog season.

Federal, state and local regulatory agencies have formed an Enforcement Collaborative to focus resources over a multi-year effort to ensure that businesses and industries in this area are complying with environmental laws.U.S. EPA is joining forces with Cal/EPA, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Air Resources Board in the Enforcement Collaborative, which is partnering with other local government and non-profit organizations to improve environmental and public health conditions in these communities. Lifoam Industries manufactures expanded polystyrene foam products that contain pentane, a volatile organic compound that contributes to ozone pollution, or smog.

According to EPA, Lifoam Industries failed to ensure that the volatile organic compound emissions were less than 2.4 pounds of volatile organic compounds per 100 pounds of raw materials, a violation of the Clean Air Act. The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which oversees air regulations in the Los Angeles Air Basin, allows polystyrene foam product manufacturers to meet this federally-enforceable emissions limit by using raw materials that release less volatile organic compounds or through the use of an adequate air pollution control device.

Both federal regulators and the South Coast Air Quality Management District also assert that Lifoam installed and operated air-pollution-emitting equipment without obtaining the necessary permits and that the facility did not properly vent volatile organic compounds to air pollution control equipment.

Volatile organic compounds react with other pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and, in the presence of sunlight, can form ozone, or smog. Smog can cause respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.

Republicans at it Again: Today The U.S. EPA Rejects Claims of Flawed Climate Science

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that climate change is real, is occurring due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, and threatens human health and the environment. Do I really need to provide supporting evidence that Republicans are behind this?  I can hear Sara Palin now:” It’s just God wrapping His arms around the earth, making it warmer”– that nut job did say this! or perhaps whacker job # 2- Michele Bachmann:” Gangsta Government” Conspiracy!

Video: In response to a request from Congress, the National Academies have launched America’s Climate Choices, a suite of studies designed to inform and guide responses to climate change across the nation. For further information about the study, go to http://americasclimatechoices.org. The National Academies are comprised of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council.

The petitions to reconsider EPA’s Endangerment Finding claim that climate science cannot be trusted, and assert a conspiracy that invalidates the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

After months of serious consideration of the petitions and of the state of climate change science, EPA finds no evidence to support these claims. In contrast, EPA’s review shows that climate science is credible, compelling, and growing stronger.

“The endangerment finding is based on years of science from the U.S. and around the world. These petitions — based as they are on selectively edited, out-of-context data and a manufactured controversy — provide no evidence to undermine our determination. Excess greenhouse gases are a threat to our health and welfare,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Defenders of the status quo will try to slow our efforts to get America running on clean energy. A better solution would be to join the vast majority of the American people who want to see more green jobs, more clean energy innovation and an end to the oil addiction that pollutes our planet and jeopardizes our national security.”

The basic assertions by the petitioners and EPA responses follow.

 

Claim: Petitioners say that emails disclosed from the University of East Anglia ’s Climatic Research Unit provide evidence of a conspiracy to manipulate global temperature data. 

Response: EPA reviewed every e-mail and found this was simply a candid discussion of scientists working through issues that arise in compiling and presenting large complex data sets.  Four other independent reviews came to similar conclusions.

 

Claim: Petitioners say that errors in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report call the entire body of work into question. 

Response: Of the alleged errors, EPA confirmed only two in a 3,000 page report. The first pertains to the rate of Himalayan glacier melt and second to the percentage of the Netherlands below sea level. IPCC issued correction statements for both of these errors. The errors have no bearing on Administrator Jackson’s decision. None of the errors undermines the basic facts that the climate is changing in ways that threaten our health and welfare.

 

Claim: Petitioners say that because certain studies were not included in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IPCC itself is biased and cannot be trusted as a source of reliable information. 

Response: These claims are incorrect. In fact, the studies in question were included in the IPCC report, which provided a comprehensive and balanced discussion of climate science.

 

Claim: Petitioners say that new scientific studies refute evidence supporting the Endangerment Finding.  

Response:  Petitioners misinterpreted the results of these studies. Contrary to their claims, many of the papers they submit as evidence are consistent with EPA’s Finding. Other studies submitted by the petitioners were based on unsound methodologies. Detailed discussion of these issues may be found in volume one of the response to petition documents, on EPA’s website. 

 

Climate change is already happening, and human activity is a contributor. The global warming trend over the past 100 years is confirmed by three separate records of surface temperature, all of which are confirmed by satellite data. Beyond this, evidence of climate change is seen in melting ice in the Arctic, melting glaciers around the world, increasing ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, shifting precipitation patterns, and changing ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

 

“America’s Climate Choices,” a report from the National Academy of Sciences and the most recent assessment of the full body of scientific literature on climate change, along with the recently released “State of the Climate” report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration both fully support the conclusion that climate change is real and poses significant risk to human and natural systems. The consistency among these and previously issued assessments only serves to strengthen EPA’s conclusion. 

 

Information on EPA’s findings and the petitions: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/petitions.html 

 

More information on climate change: http://epa.gov/climatechange

 

Review America ’s Climate Choices report: http://americasclimatechoices.org/

 

Review State of the Climate report:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100728_stateoftheclimate.html

 

 

Review information on Indicators of Climate Change: http://epa.gov/climatechange/indicators.html

EPA Releases Rulemaking Guidance on Environmental Justice

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing an interim guidance document to help agency staff incorporate environmental justice into the agency’s rulemaking process.  The rulemaking guidance is an important and positive step toward meeting EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priority to work for environmental justice and protect the health and safety of communities who have been disproportionally impacted by pollution. “Historically, the low-income and minority communities that carry the greatest environmental burdens haven’t had a voice in our policy development or rulemaking.  We want to expand the conversation to the places where EPA’s work can make a real difference for health and the economy,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.”This plan is part of my ongoing commitment to give all communities a seat at the decision-making table. Making environmental justice a consideration in our rulemaking changes both the perception and practice of how we work with overburdened communities, and opens this conversation up to new voices.”

The document, Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of an Action,seeks to advance environmental justice for low-income, minority and indigenous communities and tribal governments who have been historically underrepresented in the regulatory decision-making process. The guidance also outlines the multiple steps that every EPA program office can take to incorporate the needs of overburdened neighborhoods into the agency’s decision-making, scientific analysis, and rule development. EPA staff is encouraged to become familiar with environmental justice concepts and the many ways they should inform agency decision-making. EPA is seeking public feedback on how to best implement and improve the guide for agency staff to further advance efforts toward environmental justice. To view the interim guidance and submit feedback: ” http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/policy/ej-rulemaking.html

More information on environmental justice: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/

EPA Changes to Kentucky Coal Mine Permit Protect Water Quality and the Environment

 Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Clean Water Act (CWA) permit to Czar Coal Corporation for the Scaffold Lick Branch Coarse Refuse Storage Site project in eastern Kentucky .  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Czar Coal Corporation resulted in significant protections against environmental impacts that are consistent with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and recent EPA regulations and policy.  These changes are expected to reduce existing water quality problems associated with previous coal mining in the watershed, improve restoration of the site during construction, and enhance mitigation to offset unavoidable mining impacts.  The permit includes new water quality monitoring to assess stream health during and following mining activities at the site.  These steps are consistent with the agencies’ Clean Water Act regulations and recent mining policy issued by EPA in April 2010. 

 

Key changes and special permit conditions sought by EPA to protect water quality include:

 

·      Restoring areas affected by previous mining that are a significant source of pollution in Martin County ’s Middle Fork Rockcastle Creek.  Middle Fork Rockcastle Creek is listed on the Commonwealth of Kentucky ’s 303(d) list for aquatic life use impairment caused by sediment and siltation, sulfates, and total dissolved solids from coal mining sources.

·      Requiring the use and reporting of BMPs to prevent further degradation of water quality during construction;

·      Monitoring to assess construction BMP effectiveness, with a threshold to trigger an adaptive management plan using a watershed approach to address historic impacts;

·      Requiring chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing to complement monitoring required under the Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit; and

·      Mitigating stream and wetland impacts through the payment of an in-lieu fee to the Kentucky Stream and Wetland Mitigation Fund.

 

Appalachian coal mining has buried an estimated 2,000 miles of streams in states including Kentucky .  Scientific studies have increasingly identified significant water quality problems below these surface coal mining operations that are expected to contaminate surface waters for hundreds of years.  Data from coalfield communities also indicate that coal mining is responsible for contaminating water supplies, causing fish kills, and contributing to significant public health problems.  EPA has committed to use its Clean Water Act regulatory authorities to improve protection for the public by reducing environmental and water quality impacts associated with coal mining.  Approval of this permit demonstrates once again that the health, waters and environment of coalfield communities can be protected while also preserving the jobs and economic benefits. EPA will continue to coordinate with the mining community, the public, and other state and federal partners in the review of proposed surface coal mines in West Virginia , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Virginia , Kentucky , and Tennessee .

New Toolkit to Help Local Governments with Green Building Practices

The Toolkit is designed to assist local governments in identifying and removing permitting barriers to sustainable design and green building practices

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)nRegion 4 announced the release of the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (Toolkit) .The Toolkit was developed collaboratively by the Agency’s Regional Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Division and Water Protection Division and Pollution Prevention Office, with support from the EPA Green Building and Smart Growth Programs, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response’s Innovations Workgroup, and many external partners. The Toolkit is designed to assist local governments in identifying and removing permitting barriers to sustainable design and green building practices. It provides a resource for communities interested in conducting their own internal evaluation of how local codes/ordinances either facilitate or impede a sustainable built environment, including the design, construction, renovation, and operation and maintenance of a building and its immediate site.

The Toolkit contains an Assessment Tool, a Resource Guide, and an Action Plan for implementing changes to the permitting process. The Assessment Tool is designed for local governments to review their permitting process and identify barriers or resistance to sustainable design practices.The Assessment offers a green/yellow/red progress indicator for the user. Green indicates that the community is doing well in encouraging sustainable design through its codes and ordinances. Yellow indicates that there is room for improvement within the existing permitting process. Red indicates that the community may want to identify the cause of the barrier(s) and remove it from the process.

The Resource Guide contains links to existing organizations and documents that will help communities learn more about each category in the Assessment Tool. Additionally, the Resource Guide provides users with information that can aid in making codes and ordinances more compatible or supportive of sustainable design and green building. If green tools or techniques are not permitted or encouraged, this information can help local governments implement changes to allow these techniquies.

The Action Plan section will help communities develop their own tailored approach for implementing the necessary regulatory and permitting changes to allow for more sustainable design and green building practices. www.epa.gov/region4/recycle/green-building-toolkit.pdf

EPA responders answer state and county calls for help to investigate thousands of leaky containers near Rexburg, Idaho

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at the request of local, county and state authorities, is conducting a hazardous waste assessment and investigation near Rexburg in Madison County, Idaho.

A series of complaint-driven property visits by members of the (Madison) County Planning and Zoning Commission, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison Fire Department, all prompted a call to the EPA requesting assistance.

On Friday, July 9, EPA obtained a civil warrant authorizing EPA to enter the property. Andy Smith, EPA On-Scene Coordinator, entered the property on Saturday, July 10, and determined that it was littered with dozens of non-operational cars and other vehicles, unattended solid waste, and hundreds of containers in various sizes from drums to buckets. Some containers were clearly leaking.

“This is one of the most challenging sites I’ve seen,“ said EPA’s Smith. “We’ve had to move inoperable vehicles and clear a lot of brush just to see what we’ve got here. Because we’re so close to a drinking water well head and irrigation ditch, we’re being especially careful to not make this problem worse.”

The Agency expects to have a better idea of the size and scope of the cleanup once more of the assessment phase is completed later in the week. EPA continues to work closely with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in addressing this situation.

For more about EPA’s Emergency Response Program, visit: here 

City of Tacoma settles for nearly $525,000 for release of ozone-depleting gases

Related video: How chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer

 

The city of Tacoma will pay nearly $225,000 in penalties for the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) stemming from its refrigerated appliance disposal service, according to a consent decree lodged by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The city will alsopay nearly $300,000 for new pollution-reduction projects in Tacoma. 
From October 2004 to August 2007, The City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management Division processed more than 14,600 appliances to recover refrigerants. Due to a flawed purging process, an estimated 4,600 pounds of refrigerant was released to the environment, according to the consent decree. The CFCs released in this case are equivalent to 32,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, or approximately 530,000 roundtrip commutes between Tacoma and Seattle.

The releases were a violation of the federal Clean Air Act, which prohibits the release of CFCs to the environment. CFC refrigerants are leading cause of ozone depletion, which contributes to climate change and has negative human health impacts, such as increasing  the risk of skin cancer.

“Every pound of CFCs that enters the environment is a blow to the Earth’s protective ozone layer and a setback in controlling climate change,” said Dennis McLerran, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 10. “We expect any facilities that handle refrigerants to have sound practices for recovery.”
The city has agreed to take corrective action and conduct additional monitoring beyond the regulations to ensure that it is recovering a maximum amount of refrigerant from the disposal process.

In addition to the penalty, the city will fund several projects worth nearly $300,000 to reduce air pollution in the Tacoma area. These projects will reduce green house gas emissions and particulate matter in the Tacoma area, which faces air quality challenges.

  These projects include:

• Replacement of one diesel waste collection truck from the city’s fleet of 50 with a truck powered by a hybrid technology that improves fuel efficiency
• Replacement of one terminal tractor at the city’s landfill facility with a hybrid-electric terminal tractor to reduce diesel emissions
• Retrofitting ten long haul diesel tractors with diesel particulate filters, which remove harmful particulate matter from diesel exhaust

McWane Inc. Agrees to Resolve Environmental Violations at Manufacturing Facilities in 14 States

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Justice Department, and the states of Alabama and Iowa announced that McWane Inc., a national cast iron pipe manufacturer headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve more than 400 violations of federal and state environmental laws. The settlement, filed in federal court today, covers 28 of McWane’s manufacturing facilities in 14 states and also requires the company to perform seven environmental projects valued at $9.1 million.  

“In addition to meeting its environmental obligations and taking corrective measures, McWane will go beyond compliance and take action to protect communities that are at the greatest risk for air and water pollution,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.  “The additional environmental projects included in the settlement will protect children, pregnant mothers, local residents and workers from harmful pollution and are an example of securing public health and environmental benefits in addition to those achieved by compliance with our nation’s environmental laws.”

Related video: while this video doesn’t explore industrial pollution, it provides a good overview of watersheds and our daily impact on this ecosystem, or non-point source pollution

 “This is a comprehensive settlement that brings McWane into full environmental compliance at twenty eight facilities nationwide, and imposes a penalty on the company for its civil environmental violations at those facilities over the past decade,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “As a result of this agreement, McWane has completely re-engineered its environmental management systems to ensure that it remains in compliance, and has committed over $9 million to environmental projects that will remove significant amounts of pollutants from the environment and benefit the surrounding communities.”                                    

The $4 million civil penalty will be divided among the United States , Alabama and Iowa .  The environmental projects McWane will perform will address storm water contamination at numerous locations; reduce mercury emissions in Provo , Utah and Tyler , Texas ; reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions in Bedford , Ind. and Anniston , Ala. ; and enhance air quality in Coshocton , Ohio .  Additionally, McWane has already undertaken corrective measures to resolve the violations, at a cost of more than $7.6 million. 

The settlement resolves civil violations over the past decade of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as alleged by the United States, Alabama, and Iowa in the complaint.

As part of the settlement, the United States also required McWane to develop and implement a corporate-wide environmental management system (EMS) to promote environmental compliance, achieve pollution prevention and enhance overall environmental performance.  The EMS was implemented prior to today’s filing and is now complete. The agreement now requires McWane to conduct an audit of the EMS to evaluate the adequacy of the system.  In addition, McWane has modified its corporate-wide stormwater pollution prevention plan and will develop or upgrade facility-specific plans as part of the agreement.

At its Coshocton , Ohio iron foundry, McWane will operate a cupola furnace, which is a particulate emissions source, in accordance with its newly revised Clean Air Act Title V permit.  The consent decree further establishes operating conditions and emission limits for the furnace, and is separately enforceable by EPA. 

McWane manufactures cast iron pipes, valves, fittings, fire hydrants, propane and compressed air tanks and other similar products. As a result of its manufacturing processes, McWane emits pollutants, such as particulate matter, VOCs and mercury at various facilities. Mercury is a known neurotoxin and exposure to it has been linked to adverse human health effects, particularly neurological disorders.  VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.  Particulate matter can aggravate lung diseases, cause asthma attacks and may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.  The environmental projects included in the settlement will result in reduction of more than four million pounds of pollutants annually.  The corrective measures and supplemental environmental projects included in the McWane settlement will benefit communities in North Birmingham and Anniston with environmental justice concerns. 

In the past, multiple McWane divisions and facilities have been the subject of criminal investigations that have resulted in five federal prosecutions.  As a result, the company has paid more than $25 million in criminal fines and penalties and spent approximately $5 million on environmental projects.  Company executives have been sentenced to prison terms of up to 70 months and the company and certain executives have been placed on probation.

The proposed settlement agreement, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Birmingham Division, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.

More information on the settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/mm/mcwane-infosht.html

The top 50 purchases of green power in the United States amount to 11.6 TWh

The Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership works with companies, governments and a growing number of universities and colleges, to encourage the purchase of electricity generated from qualified renewable energy facilities. EPA releases regular updates of its Top Partner Rankings to highlight the progress in the annual purchases of green power.

The latest leading company is Intel Corp, which buys 1.4 TWh a year to meet 51% of its electricity demand. It buys biogas, biomass, geothermal, small-hydro, solar and wind energy from Sterling Planet and PNM, as well as some on-site generation.

Second on the list is Kohl’s Department Stores (1.3 TWh) and Whole Foods Market (817 GWh) in third spot, followed by the city of Houston (438 GWh), Dell (431 GWh), Johnson & Johnson (416 GWh), Cisco Systems (400 GWh), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (400 GWh), US Air Force (339 GWh) and the city of Dallas (333 GWh) in the top 10 places.

Renewable energy helps environment and industry

The purchase of green power helps to reduce the environmental impacts of electricity generation and support the development of new renewable generation capacity in the USA, explains the EPA Partnership. Purchase amounts reflect US operations only and are sourced from US-based green power resources.

Organizations can meet EPA purchase requirements using any combination of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC), on-site generation or utility green power products.

The balance of the top 50 purchasers are:

• HSBC North America
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• Wal-Mart Stores (California and Texas facilities)
• Starbucks
• BNY Mellon
• City of Chicago
• Kimberly-Clark
• University of Pennsylvania
• US Department of Energy
• DuPont
• Wells Fargo
• Montgomery County Clean Energy Buyers Group
• Deutsche Bank
• Bloomberg
• Staples
• Motorola
• The World Bank Group
• Lowe’s
• Mohawk Fine Papers
• US Department of Veterans Affairs
• State of Connecticut
• Hilton Worldwide
• BD
• Dannon Company
• Lockheed Martin
• WhiteWave Foods
• Safeway
• State of Wisconsin
• Sprint Nextel
• Carnegie Mellon University
• ING
• Pennsylvania State University
• Sony DADC
• US General Services Administration
• Herman Miller
• Advanced Micro Devices
• Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
• City of San Diego
• Citi
• Oregon State University

EPA to announce nearly $30 million in grants to restore and protect Puget Sound

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing nearly $30 million dollars in federal grants today to help protect and restore Puget Sound. The funds are the latest infusion of federal dollars in an ongoing effort to address decades of industrial contamination, urban pollution and habitat alteration in Puget Sound. 

The grants are geared towards tribal projects; watershed projects and outreach and education initiatives. EPA is announcing the grants in Suquamish, Washington at the Suquamish Tribe Long House. Click here to find out if there is a project in your community. 

Congressman Norm Dicks joins EPA in announcing and rolling out the 36 grants. Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman and Martha Kongsgaard, Vice Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership council, are also speaking. 

 “Puget Sound is our region’s icon,” said Dennis McLerran, Regional Administrator for the EPA. “Every grant dollar we’re announcing today directly supports the goal of a healthy Puget Sound by 2020. We have a strong team working for progress we can all be proud of.” 

EPA received over 100 grant applications for this round of grants. The grants cover a wide range of projects including: 

• Removing invasive species from watersheds
• Improving salmon migration and increasing fish population
• Protecting watersheds from the impacts of urban growth
• Reopening shellfish beds
• Purchasing and preserving critical habitat and watershed lands
• Funding research to track progress
• Protecting shorelines
• Educating communities, homeowners and students about reducing impacts to Puget Sound

The grant recipients include Washington State, Tribes and local governments, many of which will work directly with communities and homeowners on projects to restore and protect Puget Sound. 

The Suquamish Tribe is receiving a grant worth nearly $600,000 for a project that will restore the Chico Creek estuary, which will result in improved fish passage and water quality in shellfish growing areas. 

The State and grantees are together matching dollar for dollar the $30 million announced today. 

Every year, millions of pounds of toxic pollution enter Puget Sound. Since 2006, EPA has dedicated $58.4 million dollars to protecting and restoring Puget Sound. 

Link to interactive map of grants: http://www.epa.gov/region10/map/funding/pugetsound_funding_map.html 

For more information about EPA grants for Puget Sound, visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ecocomm.nsf/puget+sound/funding

EPA Proposal Cuts Pollution from Power Plants in 31 States and D.C.

Rule would reduce smog- and soot-forming emissions contributing to unhealthy air

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing regulations to cut air pollution that impairs air quality and harms the health of people living downwind. The regulation will target power plant pollution that drifts across the borders of 31 eastern states and the District of Columbia . Air pollution is linked to thousands of asthma cases and heart attacks, and almost 2 million lost school or work days. Along with local and state air pollution controls, the new proposal, called the transport rule, is designed to help areas in the eastern United States meet existing national air quality health standards. 

“This rule is designed to cut pollution that spreads hundreds of miles and has enormous negative impacts on millions of Americans,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re working to limit pollution at its source, rather than waiting for it to move across the country.  The reductions we’re proposing will save billions in health costs, help increase American educational and economic productivity, and — most importantly — save lives.” 

The transport rule would reduce power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) to meet state-by-state emission reductions. By 2014, the rule and other state and EPA actions would reduce SO₂ emissions by 71 percent over 2005 levels. NO_x emissions would drop by 52 percent. 

EPA is using the “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act to reduce interstate transport, which is the upwind state emissions that contribute to air quality problems in downwind states.  The proposed rule sets in place a new approach that can and will be applied again as further pollution reductions are needed to help areas meet air quality health standards. 

SO₂ and NO_x react in the atmosphere to form fine particle pollution and ground-level ozone (smog), which are linked to widespread illnesses and premature deaths. These pollutants are carried on the wind to other states, contributing to health problems for their residents and interfering with states’ ability to meet air quality standards. 

Today’s action would yield more than $120 billion in annual health benefits in 2014, including avoiding an estimated 14,000 to 36,000 premature deaths, 23,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 21,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 240,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 1.9 million days when people miss school or work due to ozone- and particle pollution-related symptoms. These benefits would far outweigh the annual cost of compliance with the proposed rule, which EPA estimates at $2.8 billion in 2014. 

EPA expects that the emission reductions will be accomplished by proven and readily available pollution control technologies already in place at many power plants across the country. 

The transport rule also would help improve visibility in state and national parks and would increase protection for ecosystems that are sensitive to pollution, including streams in the Appalachians, lakes in the Adirondacks , estuaries and coastal waters, and red maple forests. 

The proposal would replace and improve upon the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered EPA to revise in 2008. The court allowed CAIR to remain in place temporarily while EPA works to finalize the replacement rule proposed today. 

EPA will take public comment on the proposal for 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. The agency also will hold public hearings.  Dates and locations for the hearings will be announced shortly. 

More information: HTTP://www.epa.gov/airtransport

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