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Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending June 27, 2008
PA COMPANY ENROLLS IN EPA PROGRAM; DISCONTINUES USE OF PRIORITY CHEMICAL
Reilly Finishing Technologies, of Nanticoke, Pa., was recognized by Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh for pledging to eliminate cadmium in their electroless nickel plating process. The president of the company accepted the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) enrollment plaque at the June 18 National Small Business Environmental Assistance and Small Business Ombudsman Conference in Harrisburg, Pa. The NPEP is a voluntary partnership program led by EPA to encourage public and private companies to reduce the use or release of 31 Priority Chemicals. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/npep/
EPA EVALUATES HEALTH RISKS FROM FORMALDEHYDE
Pursuant to a citizens’ petition submitted by environmental organizations and private citizens, EPA plans to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in fall 2008 to evaluate and gain scientific understanding of the potential health effects of emissions from composite wood products. The petition states that EPA adopt a recently enacted California regulation to control formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products and to extend the rule to composite wood products in manufactured homes. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/petitions.htm
DELAWARE ESTUARY SELECTED FOR FEDERAL CLIMATE STUDY
EPA selected the Delaware Estuary as one of six national estuaries in a pilot study designed to promote local action to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems and economies from the potential effects of climate change. Under the new Climate Ready Estuaries program, EPA will train the nation’s estuary managers to work with their coastal communities and adapt their programs to prepare for climate change. Delaware Estuary managers will focus on drinking water supplies, wetlands and shellfish. For more information on the Climate Ready Estuaries program, go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/cre.html . For information on the issue of climate change, go to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNUAL AMMONIA SAFETY DAY
Regional EPA Oil and Prevention Branch personnel participated in panel discussions at the first annual Baltimore/Washington Ammonia Safety Day on June 18. The seminar brought private industry, state, local and federal government agencies together to discuss the safe use of ammonia in industrial processes and how to prevent ammonia release incidents, the effects of ammonia, initial incident response, shelter and evacuation plans, the downwind and downstream effects of ammonia, fire/Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and coordinating with emergency responders.
OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH PROTECTION UPDATES INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE
The EPA Office of Children’s Health Protection has posted new emergency information to protect children and the aging:
Extreme Heat: Effects on Children and Pregnant Women -
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/heat.htm
Children's Health and the Aftermath of Floods -
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/flood.htm.
PEHSU/AAP link - Health Risks of Wildfires for Children: Acute Phase -
http://www.coeh.uci.edu/pehsu/Wildfires%20-%20Acute%20Phase.pdf.
PEHSU/AAP link - Environmental Hazards for Children in the Aftermath of Wildfires -
http://www.coeh.uci.edu/pehsu/Wildfires%20-%20Recovery%20Phase.pdf
The Aging Initiative: Avoiding Environmental Health Hazards during Post-flood Cleanup
http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/after-the-flood.htm
The Aging Intiative - new information on extreme heat
http://epa.gov/aging/resources/planning-for-extreme-heat.htm
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