State
Mississippi Senate tells EPA to 'back off'
Clarion Ledger
Senators on Tuesday passed a resolution by 36-10 urging the
Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its controversial Clean
Power Plan.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/politicalledger/2015/03/24/miss-senate-epa-back-off/70375344/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Today's special, shark with a side order of mercury, brought to you by the
Mississippi state Senate
Sun Herald Crawdaddy Blog
A resolution passed Tuesday by the Mississippi state Senate puts us on the
wrong side of the Clean Air fight. It asks the EPA to delay, yet again, its
rules that would require coal-fired poower plants to reduce pollution.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/25/6141739/todays-special-shark-with-a-side.html
Harrison County Utility Authority ditch pushes sediment onto Coastal
Preserve
BY PAUL HAMPTON
Sun Herald
BILOXI -- Turns out that stormwater ditch flowing from the Shorecrest Road
sewer plant is draining stormwater and silt onto a Coast Preserve along the
Biloxi River.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/24/6140283/harrison-county-utility-authority.html
Biloxi water advisory lifted; 1 left
Sun Herald
HARRISON COUNTY -- The state Department of Environmental Quality has lifted
a water-contact advisory issued March 13 in Biloxi.
Biloxi will clean up with Earth Day sale
BILOXI -- The city is hosting an Earth Day sale April 18 on the Biloxi Town
Green to encourage residents to reuse, recycle and resell.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/24/6141320_around-south-mississippi-briefs.html?rh=1
New beach fencing along US 90 in South Mississippi will help protect
dwindling bird species
New beach fencing along US 90 will help protect dwindling bird species
Sun Herald
BY WESLEY MULLER
GULFPORT -- The least terns will find some newly protected nesting areas
just in time for their annual trip to the Mississippi Coast, thanks to
Harrison County officials.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/24/6140282/new-beach-fencing-along-us-90.html
Legislature may have more money after budget meeting
Clarion Ledger
The state Joint Legislative Budget Committee, a group of House and
Senate leaders, is expected to meet Wednesday and consider a new
revenue estimate as lawmakers prepare to finalize a $6 billion
fiscal 2016 state budget this weekend.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/politicalledger/2015/03/24/state-budget-estimate/70396280/
National
Justices to hear arguments over EPA mercury limits
By MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court is taking up a challenge by industry
groups and Republican-led states that want to roll back Obama
administration environmental rules aimed at reducing power plant emissions
of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants that contribute to
respiratory illnesses, birth defects and developmental problems in
children.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_EPA_EMISSIONS?SITE=SCAND&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
GOP amendment would let the states opt out of EPA climate rule
The Hill
Senate Republicans are proposing a budget amendment that would let states
opt out of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) controversial
climate rule for power plants.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236779-gop-amendment-would-let-states-opt-out-of-epa-rule
Rutledge knocks EPA water plan
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
WASHINGTON -- Confusion about which waters are regulated by the
Environmental Protection Agency under a proposed rule would have
"devastating" effects on farmers in eastern and southern Arkansas, state
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said Tuesday.
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/mar/25/rutledge-knocks-epa-water-plan-20150325/?f=news-arkansas
EPA call for comments raises questions over biofuel standards delay
Reuters
NEW YORK • A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request on Tuesday
for comments from cellulosic biofuels makers raised speculation among
industry analysts of further delays in the release of government-mandated
renewable fuels volumes.
The agency, which oversees the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, has
asked for public comments before submitting a request to Office of
Management and Budget regarding volume projections on cellulosic fuel
production, according to a notice published on Tuesday in the Federal
Register.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/epa-call-for-comments-raises-questions-over-biofuel-standards-delay/article_e62eb504-64f5-5ed6-8cf2-6ac805de9adc.html
Environmental concerns dip in US
The Hill
Concern over climate change and a handful of other environmental issues has
fallen from last year after generally increasing the previous several
years, according to a new poll.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236876-environmental-concerns-dip-in-us
Senators push bipartisan bill to build nuclear waste dump
The Hill
A bipartisan team of senators introduced a bill Tuesday aimed at breaking
the decades-long standoff over the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236790-senators-push-bipartisan-bill-to-build-nuclear-waste-dump
Press Releases
EPA Adds Two, Proposes Six Hazardous Waste Sites to Superfund's National
Priorities List
Cleaning up hazardous waste sites protects human health, raises property
value, and facilitates the economic restoration of communities
Release Date: 03/24/2015 Contact Information: George Hull (News Media
Only), hull.george@epa.gov, 202-564-0790
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
adding two hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the
environment to the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites,
reducing health impacts, including protecting infant health, and
encouraging economic revitalization of a formerly toxic site. In addition,
the agency is proposing to add six additional sites to the list.
"By updating the NPL, we continue to fulfill our mission to protect public
health and the environment by cleaning up contaminated land and returning
formerly toxic sites to communities for productive use," said Mathy
Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response. "Superfund cleanups help advance the economic
well-being of communities by turning contaminated properties into
productive community resources that can enhance property values, create
jobs and broaden tax bases."
Recent academic research contributes more evidence that Superfund cleanups
help protect public health. An academic study, Superfund Cleanups and
Infant Health, demonstrated that investment in Superfund cleanups reduces
the incidence of congenital abnormalities for those living within 5,000
meters (or 5,468 yards) of a site.
Today, more than 800 Superfund sites across the nation support some type of
continued use, active reuse or planned reuse activities. EPA found at 450
of the 800 sites, at the end of fiscal year 2014, there were ongoing
operations of approximately 3,400 businesses, generating annual sales of
more than $65 billion and employing more than 89,000 people. Another
study conducted by researchers at Duke and Pittsburgh Universities,
concluded that making a site final on the NPL may increase housing prices
by signaling that a site will be cleaned up. Furthermore, the study found
that once a site has all cleanup remedies in place, nearby properties have
a significant increase in property values as compared to pre-NPL proposal
values. The following two sites have been added to the NPL:
· Indiana - Kokomo Contaminated Ground Water Plume (ground water plume)
in Kokomo, Ind.
· Michigan - DSC McLouth Steel Gibraltar Plant (steel finishing
operation) in Gibraltar, Mich.
The following six sites have been proposed for addition to the NPL:
· Illinois - Estech General Chemical Company (pesticide manufacturer)
in Calumet City, Ill.
· Louisiana - Colonial Creosote (wood treatment plant) in Bogalusa, La.
· Massachusetts - BJAT LLC (various industrial operations) in Franklin,
Mass.
· Montana - Anaconda Aluminum Company Columbia Falls Reduction Plant
(aluminum smelter) in Columbia Falls, Mont.
· Texas - Main Street Ground Water Plume (ground water plume) in
Burnet, Tex.
· Washington - Grain Handling Facility at Freeman (grain handling
facility) in Freeman, Wash.
The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980,
investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned
hazardous waste sites in the country and converts them into productive
community resources by eliminating or reducing public health risks and
environmental contamination associated with hazardous waste sites.
The sites announced today have characteristics and conditions that vary in
terms of size, complexity and contamination. As with all NPL sites, EPA
first works to identify the parties responsible for the contamination at a
site, and requires them to conduct or pay for the cleanup. For the newly
added sites without viable potentially responsible parties, EPA will
investigate the full extent of the contamination before starting
substantial cleanup at the site.
Past and current uses of the sites announced today include pesticide
manufacturing, aluminum smelting, grain handling, wood treatment and steel
finishing operations. Improper hazardous waste management associated with
these activities, led to the release of numerous site contaminants into the
environment, including lead, mercury, zinc and other metals;
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and chlorinated solvents, such as vinyl
chloride. Contamination affects surface water, ground water, soil and
wetlands.
The Kokomo Contaminated Ground Water Plume is in an area with facilities
that handle chlorinated solvents, however no source has been identified.
The plume is approximately 294 acres and encompasses several municipal
wells in the city. Approximately 55,000 Kokomo residents rely on drinking
water from the affected well field.
The DSC McLouth Steel Gibraltar Plant Area site is a former steel
processing facility which ceased operations in the mid- 1990's where
mismanaged leachate control systems have resulted in contamination to
adjacent creeks and drains leading to the Detroit River.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Comprehensive
Environmental, Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the law
establishing the Superfund program. Superfund's passage was a giant step
forward in cleaning up industrial waste sites to help ensure human health
and environmental protection. The Superfund law gives EPA the authority to
clean up releases of hazardous substances and directs EPA to update the NPL
at least annually. The NPL contains the nation's most serious uncontrolled
or abandoned hazardous waste sites. The list serves as the basis for
prioritizing both enforcement actions and long-term EPA Superfund cleanup
funding; only sites on the NPL are eligible for such funding.
Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the final and
proposed sites: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm
Information about how a site is listed on the NPL:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/npl_hrs.htm
Superfund sites in local communities:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm
More information about the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the law establishing the Superfund
program, can be found at: http://epa.gov/superfund/policy/cercla.htm
MTU America Inc., Agrees to Conduct Proper Testing to Ensure Engines Meet
Air Pollution Standards
WASHINGTON – MTU America Inc. (MTU), a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power
Systems AG, will implement an auditing program to ensure proper emissions
testing and compliance with federal emission standards for its heavy-duty
diesel non-road engines as part of a settlement to resolve alleged Clean
Air Act violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Department of Justice and announced today.
The complaint filed with the settlement alleges that MTU violated the Clean
Air Act by selling 895 non-road, heavy-duty diesel engines, which are used
in mining, marine and power generation vehicles and equipment, without
valid certificates of conformity. EPA voided the certificates of conformity
purporting to cover the engines based on improper emissions testing by MTU
employees. Under the settlement, MTU will pay a $1.2 million penalty and
perform annual audits of its engine emission testing and certification
activities for three years. The audits will be conducted by an
EPA-approved, third-party auditor that will monitor and evaluate compliance
with Clean Air Act requirements for testing, certification, record-keeping
and reporting. MTU is also required to initiate corrective actions if the
audit reveals non-compliance.
"Engines that aren't properly certified can emit toxic pollution that
aggravates asthma and other respiratory illnesses," said Assistant
Administrator Cynthia Giles of EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "This agreement requires that MTU take important steps to comply
with the law, protect the public and reduce smog in our air."
"Certificates of conformity are a critical part of EPA's program to ensure
that vehicles and engines meet Clean Air Act emissions standards," said
Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden of the Department of Justice's
Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Companies that skirt the rules
in their certification testing hurt the public and their competitors.
Today's settlement ensures that the company will adequately monitor the
activities of employees involved in the certification process to prevent
this kind of conduct from recurring."
Every engine sold in or imported into the U.S. must be covered by a valid
EPA-issued certificate of conformity. When applying for a certificate of
conformity, an applicant must certify to EPA that it followed appropriate
testing, certification, record-keeping and reporting requirements to ensure
its products will meet applicable federal emission standards to control air
pollution. Engines operating without proper emissions controls can emit
excess carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, which can cause
respiratory illness, aggravate asthma and contribute to the formation of
ground-level ozone or smog.
Through information disclosed by the company, EPA discovered that MTU had
obtained EPA certificates of conformity without conducting valid testing.
EPA learned that MTU had installed a catalytic converter onto its prototype
engine during testing to reduce emissions of pollutants. MTU had also
performed maintenance during durability testing on the same engine, but had
not reported this to EPA, a violation of testing regulations.
Selling or importing engines that are not covered by valid certificates of
conformity is a violation of the Clean Air Act. Based on MTU's disclosures,
EPA voided the certificates of conformity covering these engines on Feb.
23, 2015. MTU violated the Clean Air Act by selling and importing the
engines, which, because of the voiding, were not covered by a valid
certificate of conformity as required by law. MTU has worked with EPA to
take steps to prevent these violations from occurring in the future.
This settlement is part of an ongoing effort by EPA to ensure that all
vehicles and engines meet federal emission limits for harmful pollution.
The Clean Air Act requires that all vehicles have EPA-issued certificates
of conformity prior to being imported or sold in the U.S. to demonstrate
that they meet federal emission standards.
MTU America Inc. based in Novi, Michigan, and formerly known as Tognum
America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG,
a German corporation. MTU manufactures non-road, off-highway engines for
the North American market for locomotive, marine, construction and defense
uses.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the
federal court. The consent decree can be viewed at:
www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html
More information on the settlement:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/mtu-america-inc-clean-air-act-settlement
For a list of certificates of conformity voided by the EPA:
http://epa.gov/otaq/motor-void.htm
