EPA Sponsors Free Integrated Pest Management (Pest Control) Training for Multi-family Housing to be held September 12 in Philadelphia, Pa.

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Press release:


EPA Sponsors Free Integrated Pest Management (Pest Control) Training for Multi-family Housing to be held September 12 in Philadelphia, Pa.
PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 13, 2012) - - Attention multi-family property owners, property managers and maintenance staff, pest control operators and residents.
The free Integrated Pest Management training for multi-family housing is a one-day training course that is sponsored and taught by the National Center for Healthy Housing and supported by EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection.
The training will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Mid-Atlantic Region office located at 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa.
The course will cover:

• ·         Using the least toxic and most effective measures for pest control
• ·         How to manage pests within a housing community using strategies that pose no risk or minimum risk of pesticide exposure to vulnerable, sensitive, and disabled populations, including infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chemical sensitivities.
• ·         The major health risks posed by common pests, including the connection between asthma, cockroach, and mouse allergens.
• ·         The biology, behavior, and at least two least-toxic control measures for each of the pests covered in the training.
• ·         Contacts and solutions when pest control problems develop.

Integrated pest management is an approach to pest control that is superior to conventional extermination and monthly spraying strategies. It emphasizes eliminating nesting places as well as sources of food and water for the pests and banishing the pests from the property. It uses the safest pesticide in the safest manner only when necessary. Studies by Purdue University and Virginia Tech show that this approach is more effective, and when the pests are under control, is cost effective. Programs at Boston Housing Authority, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and in Salinas, California highlight the promise of IPM.
The class is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You must pre-register for the training because of building security. No walk-ins will be allowed into the building. And a photo ID is required.

To register, please go to:

http://www.nchh.org/Training/HealthyHomesTrainingCenter/TrainingPartners/PennState.aspx

For more information, contact Dion Lerman at dlerman@psu.edu or 215-264-0582.

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for Final Phase of Cleanup At Diaz Chemical Superfund Site

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Press release:


EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for Final Phase of Cleanup At Diaz Chemical Superfund Site
Contact: John Martin (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov 
(New York, NY – August 13, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a plan to clean up contaminated soil and ground water at the Diaz Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Holley, New York. The soil and ground water are contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, which can cause serious damage to people’s health. The EPA’s proposed plan calls for the use of a technology to treat six areas of soil and ground water that continue to cause contamination of ground water in a broader area.
The EPA will hold a public meeting on September 5, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 5 Wright Street, Holley, NY to explain the proposed plan and to answer questions. Comments will be accepted until September 12, 2012.
Diaz Chemical Corporation purchased the site in 1974 and began manufacturing specialty chemicals for the agricultural, pharmaceutical, photographic, color and dye and personal care products industries at the site.
In January 2002, a safety valve at the facility ruptured, causing a release of a chemical mixture into the neighboring residential area. Area residents experienced sore throats, headaches, eye irritation, nosebleeds and skin rashes and some residents voluntarily relocated to temporary housing with assistance from Diaz Chemical.
In May 2002, after Diaz Chemical said that it could not continue to pay the costs of housing residents who remained relocated after the incident, the EPA assumed responsibility for the housing expenses. The EPA then initiated an assessment of the affected neighborhood and sampled air, soil, interior surfaces and household items for contamination. In June 2003, Diaz Chemical filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the facility, leaving behind large volumes of chemicals in drums and tanks. The EPA began providing 24-hour security at the site and operating a ground water treatment system previously installed by Diaz Chemical. In addition, the EPA:
·         shipped approximately 8,600 drums and over 112,000 gallons of bulk waste from tanks and containment areas off-site for re-use or disposal
·         emptied, decontaminated and disposed of 105 reactor vessels and 34 tanks
·         dismantled and removed 51,280 linear feet of facility piping
·         recovered approximately 800 gallons of waste from within the pipes
·         removed and recycled 767 tons of structural steel, motors and scrap steel
·         removed and disposed of 5,750 tons of concrete, of which 500 tons were recycled
·         removed and disposed of 9 PCB-containing transformers
·         removed and disposed of 175 cubic yards of lead-contaminated wood and 20 cubic yards of asbestos debris
·         decontaminated a warehouse

• dismantled all of the production buildings and tank containment areas, another warehouse and boiler room, electrical room, laboratory and an oil tank storage area. 

The EPA added the Diaz Chemical site to the Superfund list of the most contaminated hazardous waste sites in 2004. In 2005, the EPA reached a decision, following a public comment period, to purchase eight vacated homes and provided the owners financial assistance to permanently relocate. The agency also provided assistance to two tenants in relocating to new rental properties. The proposed plan announced today calls for the sale or transfer of the properties.
The proposed plan calls for a method of treating the soil and ground water in six areas using electrodes that will heat the soil and ground water, causing the contaminants to evaporate and turn into vapor and steam. The vapor and steam would then be collected and treated. For contaminated ground water outside of the six sources of contamination, the EPA is proposing to rely on natural processes that allow the contaminants to disperse, dilute and degrade to ground water cleanup levels.
Superfund is the federal cleanup program established by Congress in 1980 to investigate and clean up the country’s hazardous waste sites. The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs on to taxpayers. Cleanups are only funded by taxpayer dollars when those responsible for the contamination cannot be found or are not financially viable. In this instance, the EPA has spent approximately $12 million to-date to clean up the Diaz Chemical site. The estimated total cost of the EPA’s proposed plan is $14.5 million.
Written comments may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to:
John DiMartinoRemedial Project ManagerCentral New York Remediation SectionU.S. Environmental Protection Agency290 Broadway, 20^th FloorNew York, NY 10007-1866phone: (212) 637-4270fax: (212) 637-3966email: dimartino.john@epa.gov
For more information on the Diaz Chemical Corporation Superfund site and to view EPA’s Proposed Plan, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/diazchemical.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2, visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.
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EPA Announces Summary of Enforcement Actions for Spring 2012

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Press release:


EPA Announces Summary of Enforcement Actions for Spring 2012Contact Information: Cyndi Grafe, EPA Public Affairs, (208) 378-5771, grafe.cyndi@epa.gov Kim Ogle, EPA Compliance and Enforcement, (206) 553-0995, ogle.kim@epa.gov
(Seattle – August 10, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed 38 enforcement actions from April 1 through June 30, 2012 to ensure individuals, businesses, and governments comply with the nation’s laws that protect public health and the environment.
Before taking enforcement actions, the EPA offers compliance assistance to help regulated industries and individuals understand and comply with federal environmental laws. When these laws are broken, it puts people’s health and the environment at risk. Those who don’t comply with the laws also gain an unfair business advantage over those who have invested in pollution controls and comply with the law.
Below is a summary table of EPA’s enforcement actions from April - June 2012. In some cases penalties are issued to help ensure a level playing field for and to deter future violations. Penalty amounts may vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the number and magnitude of violations, how quickly the violations are corrected, whether there is a history of violations, and the ability of the respondent to pay. Compliance Orders direct the violator to bring their activities back into compliance with environmental laws, and do not include penalties.
April 1 - June 30, 2012

State	City of violation	Date issued/ filed	Respondent	Description of Alleged Violation	Penalty amount
AK	Cordova	04/05/12	Shoreside Petroleum, Inc.	Failure to sample discharges according to Clean Water Act (CWA)* permit for tank farms.	$70,000
AK	Haines	04/20/12	Robert and Nancy Loomis	Clean Water Act (CWA)* violations for unauthorized filling into wetlands and construction stormwater discharges without a permit.	$22,500
AK	N/A	05/11/12	Ocean Peace, Inc.	Violating Clean Water Act (CWA)* discharge permit on fishing vessel “Ocean Peace.”	$98,000
AK	Unalaska	06/08/12	Alyeska Seafoods, Inc.	Violations of Risk Management Program (RMP)* requirements at seafood processing plant.	$43,373
AK	Offshore	06/21/12	Akulurak, LLC	Fishing Vessel M/V Courageous failed to report and monitor discharges according to the (CWA)* Offshore Seafood Processors General Permit.	$1,500
ID	Buhl	03/25/12	Fish Breeders of Idaho, Inc.	Catfish aquaculture facility exceeded its phosphorus discharge limits and submitted reports late under a (CWA)* permit.	$15,000
ID	Idaho County	04/05/12	City Service Valcon	Tanker truck spilled 950 gallons of fuel, in violation of (CWA)* oil and hazardous substances liability requirements.	$3,000
ID	Caldwell	04/27/12	Rhodes International	Failure to properly report the storage of ammonia at Caldwell, ID facility. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)	$84,484
ID	Cottonwood	05/18/12	Idaho Department of Corrections	Exceeding (CWA)* permit requirements for ammonia, E. coli, biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and pH; at the North Idaho Correctional Institution	$51,000
ID	Rupert	05/21/12	Brewster West LLC	Violations of Risk Management Program (RMP)* requirements for anhydrous ammonia (CAA)* at cheese factory.	$4,260
ID	Ahsahka	05/25/12	Ahsahka Water and Sewer District	Wastewater treatment plant violations of (CWA)* permit for discharge of E. coli, total suspended solids, total residual chlorine, and pH.	$694
ID	Culdesac	05/25/12	City of Culdesac	Wastewater treatment plant violations of (CWA)* permit for discharge of E. coli, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total residual chlorine, and pH.	$1,000
ID	Caldwell	06/13/12	City of Caldwell	Wastewater treatment plant violations of (CWA)* permit for discharge of total suspended solids and total ammonia.	$11,000
ID	Wilder	06/13/12	City of Wilder	Wastewater treatment plant violations of (CWA)* permit for discharge of E. coli,   biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and total residual chlorine.	$3,100
OR	Pendleton	04/16/12	Joe McDonald	Agricultural burning on the Umatilla Indian Reserbation during a “no-burn day” in violation of the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR)*.	$1,300
OR	Portland	04/16/12	BNSF Railway Co.	Removing contaminated soil from under a Superfund cleanup cap without identifying the hazardous waste (RCRA)*	$37,500
OR	Portland	04/16/12	Kanto Corporation	Failure to submit timely Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI)* Reporting Forms for ammonia, hydrogen fluoride, and nitric acid. (EPCRA)*	$58,200
OR	White City	04/24/12	Thermo Fluids, Inc.	Deficient Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC)* plan and inadequate secondary containment measures.	$1,400
OR	Portland	04/25/12	Columbia Sportswear	Sale and distribution of misbranded pesticide infused clothing products. (FIFRA)*	$22,880Stop Sale Order
OR	Boardman	04/27/12	Columbia River Processing, Inc.	Released 2,400 pounds of anhydrous ammonia at a cheese producing facility and failed to notify federal, state and local authorities in violation of (EPCRA)* and (CERCLA)*.	$42,435
OR	Portland	05/25/12	American Property Management	Failed to notify tenants of possible presence of lead in residences before signing lease housing contracts. (TSCA)*	$10,000
OR	Nehalem	05/30/12	Dila Dairy, Inc.	Discharged pollutants from Confined Animal Feeding Operation in violation of (CWA)* permit.	$10,000
OR	Klamath Falls	06/29/12	Curtis O. Baney Marital Trust	Failed to notify tenants of possible presence of lead in residences before signing lease housing contracts. (TSCA)*	$24,600
OR	Vale	06/29/12	Farmers Supply Cooperative, Inc.	Produced pesticides in an unregistered facility. (FIFRA)*	$2,080
WA	Wapato	04/26/12	Pace International LLC	Sale and distribution of misbranded pesticide products. (FIFRA)*	$6,000Stop Sale Order
WA	Bellingham	05/11/12	Robert Kerr	Failed to notify tenants of possible presence of lead in residences before signing lease housing contracts. (TSCA)*	$21,800
WA	Seattle	05/15/12	Machinists (DSR), Inc.	Failure to submit timely Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI)* Reporting Forms for xylene. (EPCRA)*	$8,500
WA	Whatcom County	05/15/12	Nielsen Brothers, Inc.	Truck spilled 120 gallons of diesel, in violation of (CWA)* oil and hazardous substances liability requirements.	$11,000
WA	Toppenish	06/19/12	Green Acre Farms, Inc.	EPA’s Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR)* resulting from burning prohibited materials and open burning during burn bans.	$3,500

*List of acronyms:CAA – Clean Air ActCERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and LiabilityCWA – Clean Water ActEPCRA – Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know ActFARR – Federal Air Rules for ReservationsFIFRA – Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide ActRCRA – Resource Conservation and Recovery ActRMP – Risk Management ProgramSDWA – Safe Drinking Water ActTRI – Toxic Release InventoryUST – Underground Storage TankTSCA - Toxic Substances Control Act

Lowell Youth Participate in Summer Job Program and Learn Environmental Skills

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News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
August 14, 2012Contact: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017
Lowell Youth Participate in Summer Job Program and Learn Environmental Skills
(Boston, Mass. – August 14, 2012) – With assistance from EPA, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) oversees a program at the Lowell, Mass. Regional Wastewater Utility to introduce economically disadvantaged inner city youth to career opportunities in the environmental field in New England.   
Since its inception in 1990, EPA’s Youth and the Environment Program has focused on helping disadvantaged youth to learn environmental job skills that can be applied as they enter the workforce.  The program, which has been taking place for 21 out of the past 23 summers, promotes environmental education and provides high school students with increased awareness of protecting the environment and water quality within their own communities.
“EPA’s Youth and Environment Program is an important way to promote the importance of water quality and environmental protection to future generations, by having water and wastewater professionals help educate and interact with interested high school students in the community,” noted Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.  “EPA has been fortunate to work with NEIWPCC, the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility, and the Career Center of Lowell to have summer job programs related to protecting our environment targeting economically disadvantaged youth.”
At the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility this summer, five local high school students work at several “stations” (e.g. laboratory, pretreatment, maintenance, process control, etc.) on a rotational basis so that they are exposed to some of the many facets involved with the proper operation of a wastewater treatment plant on an everyday basis.  The program has provided the students with an understanding of chemical risks, public health threats, and proper safety procedures for worker safety at a wastewater treatment plant and out in the collection system.  Students have become familiar with potential hazards as they relate to environmental management, treatment and pumping, and water quality monitoring.  The students also participated in field trips related to science and water quality, along with college career counseling.  The efforts of Mark Young, Executive Director of the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility and his entire staff, Mayor Patrick Murphy, City Manager Bernie Lynch, and the staff at the Lowell Career Center have been unwavering as they continue to devote a significant amount of time and effort to work with these students and support this valuable program.
A ceremony recognizing the efforts of these students and their mentors will be held at the Lowell City Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room) on August 15, 2012 at 9:00 AM.
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Superfund Efforts to Clean Waterways Come With a Risk

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The following isan excerpt from an article in 


The New York Times
Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Superfund Efforts to Clean Waterways Come With a Risk

By ANTHONY DePALMA

LYNDHURST, N.J. — This is not what a Superfund site is supposed to look like. There are no rusting barrels, no antifreeze-green slime oozing up from the ground. There’s just a deep bend in the serpentine Passaic River, a gaggle of pushy Canada geese and a lone rower in a single scull making good time on the calm, dark waters.

Yet Mile Marker 10.9 on the Passaic is most definitely a toxic hot spot. Testing late last year showed that five acres of shallow mud flats in the river here were highly contaminated with mercury, toxic chemical compounds called PCBs and dioxin, which is known to cause cancer. The discovery has sent environmental officials and a small army of corporations scrambling to remove thousands of cubic yards of sediment with plans to seal the rest beneath a permanent cap, all within the coming year.

That the hidden dioxin deposit was detected at all and the remediation put on such a fast track are results of an ambitious effort by the Environmental Protection Agency, which runs the federal Superfund program, to zero in on toxic targets that had been passed over for decades because they were too big, too costly and just too difficult to tackle.

More than three decades after the program was established by Congress to clean up the most heavily polluted sites in the country, either by forcing those responsible to pay or by covering the cost with money from a special fund, the agency is now taking on the most expensive and most technically complex cleanups ever attempted — large stretches of urban waterways where the pollution is out of sight.

But there are lingering doubts about the best ways to handle such immense cleanups. “The public wants this stuff picked up and hauled away,” said Michael A. Barbara, the technical consultant for the businesses that are being held responsible for cleaning up the Passaic. “But the reality is that sometimes the process of stirring up this stuff does more harm than leaving it in place.”

Even the most notorious hazardous-waste dumps on land pale beside the prospect of cleaning up miles of riverbed — in which the slightest movement can stir up long-buried wastes that tides, floods, even motorboat traffic can spread upstream and down. Trying to predict how everything will work is so complicated that preliminary planning alone can cost more than an entire land-based cleanup.

But after years of study and some smaller pilot projects that met with varying degrees of success — and failure — the E.P.A. is finally tackling some of the most heavily polluted waterways. Many are in the New York-New Jersey area, which, since the beginning of Superfund, has had the greatest number of polluted sites.

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.