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Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending June 13, 2008
PHARMACEUTICAL DISPOSAL SUMMIT A SUCCESS
EPA Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh opened the Pharmaceutical Disposal Summit in Philadelphia with excelleRx (a Philadelphia-based hospice medication provider). As pharmaceuticals have been detected in the nation's drinking water systems and are of national concern, EPA and companies like excelleRx, Inc. are finding ways to ensure the environmentally safe disposal of unwanted medications to prevent them from contaminating the environment and human health. EPA's strategy is to bring better understanding of the issue by building partnerships, using regulatory tools, and strengthening science. For more information, go to www.epa.gov/ppcp/faq.html
HOME BUILDERS SETTLE STORM WATER VIOLATIONS BENEFITTING MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA
EPA announced that four of the nation's largest home builders (active in Maryland and Virginia in Region 3) have agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $4.3 million to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The companies agreed to implement company-wide compliance programs exceeding current regulatory requirements and will keep 1.2 billion pounds of sediment from polluting the nation's waterways each year. "Sediment runoff from irresponsible development impairs waterways, destroys aquatic life, and threatens the health of the Chesapeake Bay." said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator of EPA's mid-Atlantic region. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
EPA AWARDS GOLD MEDALS TO CLEAN AIR ACT SETTLEMENT LITIGATION TEAM
EPA's Richard Killian, Donna Mastro and Doug Snyder received gold medals from EPA Headquarters at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on May 20, for their nearly ten year effort in the investigation, litigation and settlement of the largest environmental case in history. The outcome of the case against American Electric Power significantly reduced the level of air pollution in many states, (including Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia). Eight states, a dozen environmental groups and the EPA brought the lawsuit against AEP in 1999, accusing the energy company of rebuilding coal-fired power plants without installing pollution controls as required under the Clean Air Act.
COMCAST CENTER OPENS, CONTRIBUTES TO PHILADELPHIA'S GREENING
A reception was held on June 6 in Philadelphia to celebrate the opening of the 58-story, 975-foot high Comcast Center, the tallest building in Philadelphia and the nation, and one constructed with sustainable design. The use of recycled materials in carpeting, low energy consumption in heating and air conditioning; and non-volatile organic compound emitting paints were used throughout the building. At the reception, attending EPA staff noted that the building is aiming for a higher LEED Silver certification, rather than its original target of certified, now that it includes 3 green roofs, and water runoff is captured in an underground cistern used for watering. Visit EPA's Web site for more information on green building .
EPA GRANT CONTINUES TO FUND PAPER RECYCLING EFFORTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA SCHOOLS
EPA's $10,000 Solid Waste Program grant to the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority in late 2006 continues to fund paper recycling programs in Central Virginia schools and prevent waste paper from being sent to landfills. In the latest report, the Authority reported to EPA that the 13 schools in the program recycled 50,197 pounds (or 25.1 tons of paper) from Sept. 2007-May 2008. The program's success is ensuring it will become a model for other school systems to follow. For more information, go to http://www.cvwma.com/education_and_outreach/education_resources/school_recycling/pilot_program.wbp 
BIOLOGY STUDENTS LEARN TO TEST WATER QUALITY FROM EPA SCIENTISTS
Students from a local community college summer biology course visited the EPA freshwater biology team in Wheeling, W.Va. and toured its bioassessment and bioassay laboratories. They learned how biological indicators (such as macroinvertebrates and fish) are used to evaluate the health of streams and rivers; how bioassay tests are used to evaluate stream health and NPDES discharges (a permit system that regulates water discharge pollution limits); and how the Clean Water Act has improved the health of the Ohio River and its biological communities.
EPA GRANT PROVIDES CLEAN WATER TO PHILIPPI, W. VA.
EPA awarded a $794,600 Clean Water grant to the city of Philippi in W. Va. to replace its antiquated water treatment system. The 9,866 residents utilizing the City's drinking water system will benefit from the improved drinking water quality that now meets Safe Drinking Water regulations, as well as disinfection byproducts and cryptosporidium and giardia reduction requirements. Construction is projected to start in December 2009.
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