Oil Spill
Study: Dispersants may have hurt Gulf food chain
AP
NEW ORLEANS — A study on possible effects of the 2010 BP oil spill
indicates dispersants may have killed plankton - some of the ocean's
tiniest plants and creatures - and disrupted the food chain in the Gulf of
Mexico, one of the nation's richest seafood grounds.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20120801/NEWS/208010328/Study-Dispersants-may-hurt-Gulf-food-chain
Tulane Researchers Want Long-Term Funding To Study BP Oil Effects On
Migrating Birds
WWNO
Researchers at Tulane University are calling for long-term studies on how
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill two years ago is affecting migratory birds.
Traces of BP's oil spilled in the Gulf is being spread far inland by the
birds.
http://www.wwno.org/post/tulane-researchers-want-long-term-funding-study-bp-oil-effects-migrating-birds
Ken Feinberg: "I overpromised" to victims of Gulf oil spill (George Talbot)
Press Register
Wednesday, August 01, 2012, 7:54 AM
By George Talbot
In his new book "Who Gets What," renowned lawyer Kenneth Feinberg confesses
a cardinal sin in his handling of the claims process for the 2010 Gulf oil
spill.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/08/ken_feinberg_i_overpromised_to.html
State News
MS high court denies Mississippi Power petition
AP
The state Supreme Court says Mississippi Power Co. can't raise its rates
while appealing the denial of the price increase by the Public Service
Commission.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19161448/miss-high-court-denies-miss-power-petition
State and Local Officials are trying to Figure out What to do With
Abandoned Properties
MPB
PUBLISHED BY LAWAYNE CHILDREY ON 31 JUL 2012 07:24PM
Thousands of abandoned properties across Mississippi may be demolished
because their owners failed to pay property taxes. MPB's Lawayne Childrey
reports how state and local officials are combining efforts to rid
communities of these so called eyesores especially those near local
schools.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/state_and_local_officials_are_trying_to_figure_out_what_to_do_with_abandone
National News
Shrimpers battling over turtle rules
By CAIN BURDEAU — Associated Press
LAFITTE, LA. — Efforts to protect endangered sea turtles in the Gulf of
Mexico have prompted strenuous complaints from the dwindling fleet of
shrimpers blamed for drowning them in their nets, who say their own
livelihoods are threatened.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/08/01/4096485/shrimpers-battling-over-turtle.html
US judge strikes down EPA water rules for mines
AP
By JOHN RABY
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency overstepped
its powers by setting up water-quality criteria for coal mining operations
in Appalachia, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIDzexScdh13pxWpdTRzbbiHmcnQ?docId=306f3ffb96d64b529474d90266f09c69
Climate change on back burner
Politico
By: Darren Goode
July 31, 2012 11:36 PM EDT
The planet may be getting hotter, but Washington's debate on climate change
isn't heating up.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/79239.html?hp=r5
Opinion
Want to cut drug spending? Air pollution rules could help.
Washington Post
By Brad Plumer , Updated: July 31, 2012
As environmentalists and industry groups bicker over the costs and benefits
of pollution rules, a new study finds that we may actually be
underestimating the value of clean air in at least one respect: Cutting
pollution can allow people to spend less on prescription drugs.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/31/want-to-cut-drug-spending-air-pollution-rules-could-help/
Amid a drought, does it still make sense to use corn for fuel?
Washington Post
By Brad Plumer , Updated: July 31, 2012
The biggest U.S. drought in half a century is devastating farms across the
Midwest. Crops are wilting. Food prices are on the rise. Under the
circumstances, then, does it still make sense for the government to divert
a hefty portion of the nation's corn output into making fuel?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/31/amid-a-severe-drought-does-it-still-make-sense-to-use-corn-for-fuel/
Press Releases
EPA and USDA Announce First-Ever Microbial Risk Assessment Guidance /
Guideline will help better determine health risks from food and waterborne
pathogens
Release Date: 07/31/2012
Contact Information: Latisha Petteway (News Media Only),
petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the USDA's Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced the first-ever
Microbial Risk Assessment (MRA) Guideline. This new MRA Guideline lays out
an overarching approach to conducting meaningful assessments of the risks
to Americans posed by pathogens in food and water. Pathogens ingested in
food and water can result in acute gastrointestinal-related illnesses; some
gastrointestinal-related illnesses can result in long-term and permanent
health effects as well as premature death. This new guideline will improve
the quality of the data collected by public health scientists charged with
protecting Americans from pathogen-related risks in food and water.
"This guidance contributes significantly to improving the quality and
consistency of microbial risk assessments, and provides greater
transparency to stakeholders and other interested parties in how federal
agencies approach and conduct their microbial risk assessments," said Dr.
Glenn Paulson, EPA Science Advisor. "Based on the success of this project,
we are seeking further opportunities to combine our technical expertise in
our continuing efforts to protect the Americans' health."
"The microbial risk assessment guideline developed by FSIS, the EPA and our
other public health partners will help protect consumers by allowing us to
uniformly assess and reduce health risks from pathogens," USDA Under
Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said. "We're proud to have
worked with our partners on this guideline that will provide our risk
assessors with a transparent and scientifically rigorous document to use in
protecting public health."
Formal risk assessments for food, water, and environmentally-relevant
chemicals have been undertaken for decades. However, an overarching
microbial risk assessment guideline has not been available until now. The
guideline announced today meets this need by providing comprehensive, yet
specific and descriptive information for developing assessments of
microbial risk in food and water.
More information on the guideline: http://www.epa.gov/raf/microbial.htm
###
EPA, HUD, and DOT Partner with States to Meet Growth, Development Goals
Release Date: 07/31/2012
Contact Information: Latisha Petteway (News Media Only),
petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) announced today they will partner with the
Governors' Institute on Community Design to provide enhanced technical
guidance to governors seeking to tackle housing, transportation,
environmental, and health challenges facing their states.
The partnership, a part of the Federal Partnership for Sustainable
Communities, is designed for states seeking to spur economic growth and
development while addressing these issues.
"The Governors' Institute on Community Design helps states address local
challenges in ways that are cheaper and more effective, making it an
important part of the Obama Administration's commitment to communities,"
said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The EPA has been proud to be a
part of the program since it was created in 2005. We look forward to
working with our colleagues at HUD and DOT as well as Smart Growth America
to continue supporting the Institute's workshops, and help states achieve
their economic, environmental and public health goals."
"With this effort, our three agencies are providing the cutting-edge
technical assistance states need to create healthier, more livable
communities," says HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Just as importantly, we
are demonstrating once again that the key to more affordable housing,
transportation and access to jobs is providing partnership at the federal
level that supports innovation at the local level."
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood adds, "By working with HUD and EPA over the last
three years, we've made significant progress to help communities across the
country become safer, healthier, and better connected." "We're excited to
expand our collaboration by working directly with the Governors' Institute
to increase state transportation options."
Established in 2005, the Governors' Institute brings together leading
practitioners and academics in government, design, development, and
regional economics to help governors and their state executive teams make
informed choices about growth and development in their states. At the
request of a governor, the Governors' Institute conducts a workshop that
pairs the governor and his or her cabinet with planning experts to identify
strategies that spur development and help communities achieve their
economic, public health, and environmental goals. Governors also receive
follow-up assistance on technical issues.
The Governors' Institute is coordinated by Smart Growth America and is led
by former Governor Parris N. Glendening of Maryland and former Governor
Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey. Tom Ridge, former governor of
Pennsylvania; Chet Culver, former governor of Iowa; and James Lee Witt,
former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, serve as advisors.
In June, EPA awarded Smart Growth America a five-year cooperative agreement
to administer the institute. This funding builds upon support provided
previously by the National Endowment for the Arts, which brought to the
fore issues of community design and art in public places.
The partnership, which celebrated its third anniversary in June, works to
provide communities with faster, more streamlined access to federal
programs and resources, and works closely with other federal agencies,
states, and local governments to ensure that partnership programs use
federal resources as efficiently as possible.
More information on the Governors' Institute: http://www.govinstitute.org
More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities:
http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov
###
EPA Identifies Substitutes for Toxic Flame Retardant Chemical
Release Date: 07/30/2012
Contact Information: Latisha Petteway (News media only),
petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355 Dale Kemery (News
media only), kemery.dale@epa.gov, 202-564-7839, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON - In its quest to identify possible substitutes for a toxic
flame retardant chemical known as decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft report on
alternatives. This comprehensive assessment, developed with public
participation under EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program,
profiles the environmental and human health hazards on 30 alternatives to
decaBDE, which will be phased out of production by December 2013.
DecaBDE is a common flame retardant used in electronics, vehicles, and
building materials. It can cause adverse developmental effects, can persist
in the environment and can bioaccumulate in people and animals. This
technical assessment can help manufacturers identify alternatives to
decaBDE. In addition, EPA will continue to work with manufacturers to
investigate both chemical and non-chemical alternatives for flame
retardants.
"EPA is using all of its tools to reduce the use of hazardous flame
retardant chemicals like decaBDE and identify safer, functional substitutes
to protect people's health and the environment," said Jim Jones, acting
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention (OCSPP). "Virtually everyone agrees that EPA needs updated
authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to more effectively
assess and regulate potentially harmful chemicals like flame retardants. As
EPA continues to stress the need for comprehensive legislative reform to
TSCA, we are also targeting actions on a broader group of flame retardants
to reduce human and environmental risks."
Today's draft report is the latest in a series of actions the agency is
taking to address flame retardants made with bromine. Other actions
include:
On June 1, 2012, EPA released a TSCA work plan of 18 chemicals which the
agency intends to review and use to develop risk assessments in 2013 and
2014, including three flame retardant chemicals. EPA is currently
developing a strategy, scheduled for completion by the end of this year
that will address these three and a broader set of flame retardant
chemicals. This effort will aid the agency in focusing risk assessments on
those flame retardant chemicals that pose the greatest potential concerns.
EPA anticipates initiating the risk assessments on this category of
chemicals in 2013.
On April 2, 2012, EPA proposed actions under TSCA that will require
manufacturers, importers, and processors of polybrominated diphenyl ether
(PBDE) flame retardants to submit information to the agency for review
before initiating any new uses of PBDEs after Dec 31, 2013. Those who
continue to manufacture, import, or process after December 31, 2013, would
be subject to a testing requirement under TSCA. EPA is accepting comments
on this proposal until July 31, 2012.
In 2009, EPA developed action plans on PBDEs (including pentaBDE, octaBDE,
and decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) that summarized available
hazard, exposure and use information; outlined potential risks; and
identified the specific steps the agency is pursuing under the TSCA. The
alternatives analysis for decaBDE was included in the action plan.
The alternatives to decaBDE characterized in the report are already on the
market and will be used increasingly as decaBDE is phased out. The
alternatives have differing hazard characteristics and are associated with
trade-offs. For example, some alternatives that appear to have a relatively
positive human health profile may be more persistent in the environment.
Some alternatives appear to be less toxic than decaBDE. Preliminary data
suggests that these flame retardants may have a lower potential for
bioaccumulation in people and the environment. It is important to
understand that these health and environmental profiles are largely based
on computer-model generated estimates, and that the models are limited in
their ability to predict concern. Laboratory testing and ongoing
environmental monitoring is necessary to fully understand the potential for
concern associated with these chemicals.
EPA's Design for the Environment Alternatives Assessment Program helps
industries choose safer chemicals and offers a basis for informed
decision-making by providing a detailed comparison of the potential public
health and environmental impacts of chemical alternatives. Throughout the
partnership, stakeholders, including chemical suppliers, product
manufacturers, and non-government organizations have provided valuable
information to support the development of these draft reports. EPA is
seeking stakeholder and public input on this draft report for 60 days.
More information on the DfE Alternatives Assessment Program and the draft
report: http://www.epa.gov/dfe
More information on other actions on brominated flame retardants:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/workplans.html#2013
###
