State
Action Report: Landowner wants to know if the MDEQ is doing its job
WLOX
SAUCIER, MS (WLOX) -Bobby Tubre is the grandson of Don Williams, who owns
property located next to the Lakeview RV Park off Highway 15.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27796762/action-report-landowner-wants-to-know-if-the-mdeq-is-doing-its-job
Pascagoula awarded grant for Whitehead Lake improvements at IG Levy Park
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
January 08, 2015 at 10:56 AM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The city of Pascagoula has been awarded $25,000
from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Five Star and
Urban Waters Restoration Program to help fund $50,000 in improvements
around Whitehead Lake.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/01/pascagoula_awarded_grant_for_w.html
State revenue up $88 million
Clarion Ledger
With state revenue running $88 million above estimate and another
$112.7 million available to be spent, the House Appropriations chair
predicts that for the first time in many years there will be heated
debate and a fight this year on how to spend state revenue.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/01/08/state-revenue-million/21455511/
Oil Spill
Restoring Alabama: Green groups collaborate on 'once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity' for conservation funding after oil spill
Press-Register
Dennis Pillion
January 08, 2015 at 6:56 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- While the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill represented
an unprecedented environmental crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, the influx of
funding earmarked for coastal restoration projects now represents a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make lasting impacts on the region
impacted by the spill.
http://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2015/01/restoring_alabama_green_groups.html
Commission to consider Restore Act spending for coastal projects
Tampa Bay Times
NEW PORT RICHEY — The first payout to Pasco County from the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill five years ago could mean better boating, cleaner water
and shorter lines at the beach restroom.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/commission-to-consider-restore-act-spending-for-coastal-projects/2212950
Regional
Environmental group files lawsuit to obtain information on fracking in the
Gulf of Mexico
The Associated Press
January 08, 2015 at 1:26 PM
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — An environmental advocacy group is suing the Obama
administration in federal court for refusing to release documents detailing
the extent of fracking in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/01/environmental_group_files_laws.html#incart_river
National
Iowa Water Utility Backs Suing Counties Over Farm Runoff
Some Question Whether Lawsuit Is Right Approach in Heavy Farm State
Wall Street Journal
Iowa's largest water utility plans to take its rural neighbors to court to
protect drinking-water supplies, bringing a national fight over farm runoff
to the heart of the U.S. corn belt.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/iowa-water-utility-weighs-suing-counties-over-agricultural-runoff-1420759990?autologin=y
Press Releases
Reuse of Spent Foundry Sands Yields Environmental Benefits
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ohio State
University, today released a risk assessment concluding that silica-based
spent foundry sands from iron, steel and aluminum foundries, when used in
certain soil-related applications, are protective of human health and the
environment, and yield environmental benefits.
"There is potential for substantial growth in the recycling of silica-based
spent foundry sands," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "Our risk assessment
concludes that the evaluated reuses are environmentally appropriate.
Advancing the environmentally sound, beneficial use of industrial
materials, such as spent foundry sands, provides substantial opportunities
for addressing climate change and air quality, enhancing state, tribal and
local partnerships, reducing costs, and working toward a sustainable
future."
Based on the results of the assessment, the EPA and the USDA support the
beneficial use of silica-based spent foundry sands in manufactured soils,
soil-less potting media, and as a foundation layer in road construction.
EPA's risk assessment of the evaluated uses concluded that they are
environmentally appropriate because the constituent concentrations in the
sands are below the agency's health and environmental benchmarks.
EPA estimates the environmental benefits from using silica-based spent
foundry sands in the specific applications studied, at the current use
rate, results in the following savings in one year:
· The energy savings equivalent to theannualelectricity consumption of
800 homes;
· CO2 emissions reductions equivalent to removing 840 cars from the
road; and,
· Water savings of 7.8 million gallons.
Foundries purchase virgin sand to create metal casting molds and cores. The
sand is reused numerous times within the foundry operation itself. However,
over time the sands become unusable and are referred to as spent foundry
sands. The spent foundry sands are then reused in a number of ways,
including as an ingredient in potting soil and as a foundation layer in
roadway construction.
The risk assessment results are specific to silica-based spent foundry
sands from iron, steel and aluminum foundry operations. Spent foundry sands
from leaded and non-leaded brass and bronze foundries, and spent foundry
sands containing olivine sand, are not included in this assessment.
The EPA encourages foundries and foundry sand recyclers to consult state
regulations to ensure planned uses are consistent with state beneficial use
and waste management programs and that the chemical and physical properties
of the sand meet applicable state environmental limits, engineering
performance criteria, and other state requirements. This report provides
states, tribes and other interested parties with key information to support
their foundry sand beneficial use decisions.
More information on the risk assessment:
http://epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/imr/foundry/index.htm
This risk assessment supports EPA's ongoing efforts to advance sustainable
materials management: http://www.epa.gov/smm
EPA Proposes Rule to Protect Consumers from Harmful Chemicals Found in
Homes and Schools
WASHINGTON – Today, EPA is taking action to protect consumers from new uses
and imports of the harmful chemicals Toluene Diisocyanates (TDI).
These chemicals are currently widely used in residual amounts in the
production of polyurethanes and consumer products, such as coatings,
elastomers, adhesives, and sealants and can be found in products used in
and around homes or schools. Diisocyanates are well known dermal and
inhalation sensitizers in the workplace and can cause asthma, lung damage,
and in severe cases, death.
The proposed decision would give EPA the opportunity to evaluate the use
of, and if necessary, to take action to prohibit or limit all products
containing over 0.1 percent of the chemical including imported products
that make their way into the United States.
EPA's proposed action, a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA), would require manufacturers (including
importers) to notify EPA at least 90 days before starting or resuming new
uses of these chemicals in consumer products at levels above 0.1 percent by
weight. EPA would then have the opportunity to evaluate the intended use
of the chemicals and, if necessary, take action to prohibit or limit the
activity.
Additional information on the proposed SNUR on TDI and related compounds
and how to provide comments can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/tdi.html
