10.23.2013
State
Greenville aircraft painting firm fined $19,000 over environmental records
and permit problems
AP
GREENVILLE, Mississippi — A Greenville aircraft painting firm is paying a
$19,000 civil fine for failing to maintain records and renew its
environmental permit on time
Leading Edge Aviation Services agreed in September to pay the fine to the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/d78ede1f300d481d8fc8e99ce99ed0de/MS--Leading-Edge-Aviation-Fine/#.UmfDsvkqjzY
KiOR secures funding to increase biofuels production
by Associated Press
Published: October 22,2013
COLUMBUS — A Texas-based company has secured funding to proceed with plans
to double the production capacity at its biofuels production facility in
Columbus.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/10/22/kior-secures-funding-increase-biofuels-production/
National
House water bill debate steers clear of EPA battle
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 10/23/13 07:59 AM ET
House debate on a big water infrastructure bill won't include votes on
various amendments to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency's
powers under the Clean Water Act.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/330053-house-water-bill-debate-steers-clear-of-epa-battle
Chemical safety groups push for action ahead of agency recommendations
The Hill
By Ben Goad - 10/22/13 12:16 PM ET
Health, safety and environmental organizations called Tuesday upon
supporters to press the White House to impose new chemical regulations in
the wake of April's deadly fertilizer plant explosion in Texas.
http://thehill.com/video/campaign/329847-chemical-safety-groups-push-for-action-ahead-of-agency-recommendations
Press releases
EPA Honors Freight Industry Leaders for Environmental Achievements / EPA
SmartWay Program Has Saved 65 Million Barrels of Oil since 2004
Release Date: 10/22/2013
Contact Information: CONTACT: Julia P. Valentine, valentine.julia@epa.gov,
202-564-0496, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON -- EPA is honoring 55 companies as industry leaders in supply
chain environmental and energy efficiency with its 2013 SmartWay Excellence
Awards. These awards go to companies that have demonstrated outstanding
achievements in reducing carbon pollution and other harmful emissions as
they move goods across the U.S. more efficiently.
"This year's SmartWay Excellence Award recipients show that reducing carbon
pollution is good for business and good for the environment," said Gina
McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "They're
showing how SmartWay business leaders can outcompete the rest of the world
while reducing costs and improving the fuel and freight efficiency of their
transportation operations."
The annual SmartWay Excellence Award honors top truck, intermodal and rail
carrier partners that are setting efficiency benchmarks in how they move
products and supplies. Shipping and logistics partners also are recognized
for superior efficiency and additional actions to reduce freight emissions
through effective collaboration, advanced technology and operational
practices, a robust system for validating and reporting their SmartWay data
and communications and public outreach. SmartWay Excellence Award
recipients were recognized at the annual conference of the Council of
Supply Chain Management Professionals in Denver, Colorado.
EPA launched the SmartWay partnership program in 2004 to help the freight
industry improve environmental performance. Since then, SmartWay Partners
have saved 65 million barrels of oil. This is equivalent to taking over 5
million cars off the road for an entire year. SmartWay's clean air
achievements (28 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 478,000 tons
nitrogen oxides, and 22,000 tons of particulate matter reduced) help to
protect the health and well-being of citizens and provide for a more
competitive business environment.
More information on SmartWay: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/
List of Excellence Award recipients:
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/partner-resources/awards.htm
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U.S. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Goes Global
Release Date: 10/22/2013
Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn (News Media Only)
Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849 202-564-4355; EN ESPAÑOL: Lina Younes
younes.lina@epa.gov 202-564-9924 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), are partnering with the Global Alliance to
Eliminate Lead Paint, to announce the Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of
Action. This is the first time National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will
be recognized internationally. More than 35 countries from across the world
will take action and hold public awareness activities during this week.
"This year's theme, 'Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,' underscores the
importance of testing your home for lead and understanding how to prevent
harmful exposures. Given that lead impacts children around the world, we
are pleased to help National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week go global this
year," said Jim Jones, EPA's assistant administrator for the Office of
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "Joining with other countries to
raise awareness about protecting children from the harmful exposure to lead
will have a long-term positive effect on the health of children worldwide."
This year, the partners will work to raise awareness about lead paint
poisoning worldwide and the need to eliminate lead in paint. The goal
during this International Week of Action is to reduce lead exposure and
raise public awareness through activities that will take place in more than
35 countries. EPA translated educational materials on the hazards of lead
poisoning and provided customized materials for international activities
and events.
Examples of international activities include:
· national outreach campaigns conducted by the Georgian and South African
governments;
· a medical professionals' conference in India,
· the release of a report on the lead content of household paints offered
for sale in the Philippines; and,
· outreach by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health
Organization.
In the United States, paint containing lead was effectively banned for
residential use in 1978. However, sources of children's exposure to lead
from paint can still be found in some older buildings. Despite the
continued presence of lead in the environment, lead poisoning is entirely
preventable. Here are some simple tips to help protect your children:
· If you live in a home built before 1978, have your home inspected for
lead.
· Get your child tested. Even if your young children seem healthy, ask your
doctor to test them for lead exposure.
· Get the facts. Visit: http://www2.epa.gov/lead or 1-800-424-LEAD.
For more information about the U.S. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
and a map of Lead Week Activities occurring in the United States and around
the world, visit:
http://www2.epa.gov/lead/lead-poisoning-prevention-week
For more information about the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint
visit:
http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Home/tabid/197/hazardoussubstances/LeadCadmium
###
