Region 1: EPA New England

Greenbytes: July 15, 2005 Edition

Greetings from EPA New England. We hope you find this edition of Greenbytes useful and we encourage you to give us feedback. For information on subscribing or unsubscribing see the section at the end of this message.

Feature: Simple Steps Can Help Vacationing Families Conserve Gas, Save Money and Reduce Auto Emissions

There is nothing quite like enjoying another spectacular summer in New England.

Daylight lingers with warm, pleasant temperatures. Evenings are comfortable. The fireworks of Independence Day dazzled us, kids are on their annual hiatus from school, and we eagerly await the ripening of locally grown corn and tomatoes. And, the highlight for many families across our region is to enjoy a vacation with family and friends.

Over the next several weeks, many of us will use our cars to visit one of New England's world renowned beaches, or a lake nestled in the interior mountain areas, or an historic town to relax for a summer vacation. Especially in this time of high gas prices, New Englanders should know that there are easy steps that help to maximize the mileage our cars get, and help to reduce emissions.

To get the most out of each gallon of gas and reduce tailpipe emissions, EPA encourages the following steps:

Drive Wisely - Fuel is wasted by sudden starts and stops, by driving at excessive speeds, by carrying extra weight in the trunk and by unnecessary idling. Waiting through a long drive-through line is not only frustrating, but wastes fuel and creates unnecessary pollution.

While on the highway, using cruise control at the speed limit (traffic conditions permitting) helps maintain a constant speed and can help you to save gas. At lower speeds, using overdrive gears will slow the engine speed, save gas and reduce engine wear.

Regular Maintenance - Routine car maintenance not only can extend a car's life and increase its resale value, but it can help improve gas mileage. Properly inflated and aligned tires, a tuned engine and regularly changed oil and air filters are a few simple steps that help ensure maximum fuel efficiency.

Advanced Trip-Planning - Planning your routes, avoiding peak traffic periods, combining errands and eliminating backtracking will help you to save gas, prevent wear and tear and save time.

Smart Refueling - Did you know that topping off the tank creates harmful emissions and wastes money? Gasoline vapors not only smell bad, but they are harmful to breathe, contribute to ground-level ozone formation and are a source of toxic air pollutants such as benzene. Evaporation from the spillage of gas from overfilling can occur, contributing to the air pollution problem.

When you make your checklist of things to do before leaving for the shore or the mountains, remember to think about your car's tire pressure, wheel alignment and whether you are overdue for an oil change.

In the longer term, all of us can play important parts helping to protect the air we breathe and minimize trips to the fuel pump. New cars have more choices than ever when it comes to fuel economy and protecting the environment. EPA encourages consumers to consider fuel economy when purchasing a new vehicle.

Here in New England we are lucky to have such an abundance of truly spectacular summer getaway destinations within easy driving distance. By taking a few simple steps to maximize fuel efficiency, we can all reduce the impact a long trip may have on both the environment and our travel budget.

 

Brief Bytes

Staff Paper Recommends Stronger Particle Pollution Standards

A key document in EPA's review of national air quality standards for particle pollution recommends the administrator consider strengthening and refining current standards to better protect public health and visibility. Based on the latest science, the "final staff paper" does not change current air quality standards. It does, however, contain EPA staff recommendations for the administrator to consider in upcoming decisions about revising the agency's national standards for fine (PM2.5) and coarse particles (PM10).

EPA periodically reviews air quality standards to ensure they provide adequate health and environmental protection and to update those standards if necessary. While acknowledging remaining uncertainties, the staff paper concludes that the latest scientific, health and technical information about particle pollution supports strengthening EPA's current health-based standards for fine particles. The staff paper recommends that EPA continue to regulate but revise the current PM10 standards with a new health-based standard for particles known as "thoracic coarse" particles -- particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometers in diameter that can be deeply inhaled. Staff recommends that such a standard apply to more toxic urban coarse particles.

More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html .

Ecological Risk Assessment for Organophosphate DDVP Available for Comment

EPA has released a revised ecological risk assessment for the organophosphate pesticide dichlorvos, also known as DDVP. Most uses of the insecticide are indoors, thus the ecological risk assessment only addresses outdoor uses (primarily liquid sprays for turf and dry granular bait formulations applied around animal premise areas). EPA has identified potential ecological risks of concern from various DDVP use scenarios. Acute and chronic risks were identified for birds and mammals from turf, flying insect, and bait applications.

The revised DDVP ecological risk assessment and supporting documents are posted on EPA's Pesticide Docket Web site (http://www.epa.gov/edockets) under docket number OPP-2002-0302. Additional information on the review of DDVP is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/ddvp.htm .

Consent Agreements to Study Incineration and PFOA

EPA has entered into two enforceable consent agreements for laboratory-scale incineration testing on fluoropolymers and fluorotelomers. This research will generate data that will help determine whether the end-of-life incineration of fluoropolymers and fluorotelomer-treated products may be a source of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the environment.

PFOA is a man-made chemical that persists in the environment and has shown adverse effects in animal testing. PFOA has been found at very low levels in the blood of the general U.S. population, and the chemical remains in the human body for years. EPA is investigating PFOA to learn whether it may present risks to human health and the environment. PFOA is used in the manufacture of fluoropolymers, and may be a breakdown product of some fluorotelomers. Fluoropolymers are used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products, including non-stick cookware, chemical and fire-resistant cables and tubing, and waterproof, breathable clothing. Fluorotelomers are used as surface application treatments on carpets, textiles, paper, leather, and construction materials to provide water, stain, grease, and soil resistance properties, and may be used as surfactants in cleaning and coating products. The new research will help determine whether the chemicals used in these items may break down to release PFOA if they are disposed of in municipal incinerators.

More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/ .

Canada Joins International Effort to Cut Methane Emissions

Canada recently joined 15 other nations to cut emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas, methane, by using it to generate heat and power rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. On July 14, Canada became the 16th member of EPA's Methane to Markets Partnership, an international initiative that promotes the recovery and use of methane, prevents greenhouse gas emissions, and provides valuable sources of clean energy to communities, businesses and industry.

The Methane to Markets Partnership currently targets three major sources of methane -- landfills, underground coal mines, and natural gas and oil systems. By 2015, the Partnership has the potential to deliver annual reductions in methane emissions of up to 50 million metric tons of "carbon equivalent," possibly stabilizing or reducing global atmospheric concentrations of methane. This would be equivalent to cutting the greenhouse gas emissions of 33 million cars, planting 55 million acres of trees, or eliminating emissions from 50 500 megawatt coal-fired power plants; or providing enough energy to heat approximately 7.2 million households for one year.

More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/ .

Press Releases

Automatically receive all EPA New England news releases: http://www.epa.gov/region1/pr/pr-ne-subscribe.html

Electronics recycling project successful

New Bedford, MA - McCoy Field comment period extended to July 29

Clean marine engines in New England

Troy, NH - 30-day comment period on cleanup plan for Troy Mills

Readsboro, VT - Mass. oil company pays fine for violations

Braintree, MA - Firm cited for environmental violations

Maine - Community college system to pay fine for RCRA violations

Chelsea River (MA) - Final NPDES permits

Aquidneck Island, RI - Selected for assistance with Smart Growth planning

Middleboro, MA - Company cited for violation of emergency preparedness rules

New Hampshire - Request to designate coastal waters as "no discharge"

New Bedford, MA - Underwater capping pilot study underway

Acton, MA - Cleanup plan for W.R. Grace Superfund site

Saco, ME - Five year review of Saco Landfill cleanup effort

Durham, CT - 30-day comment period on cleanup plan for Durham Meadows Superfund site

Portland ME - College fined for RCRA violations

Exeter, NH - Glass & ceramic company fined for violating air, emergency response laws

Meetings & Conferences

W.R. Grace proposed cleanup informational meeting (Acton, MA)
Tues. July 19, 2005

Troy Mills proposed cleanup informational meeting (Troy, NH)
Wed. July 20, 2005

NETC restoration advisory board (Newport, RI)
Wed. July 20

Index of July meetings

What's New on the Web

Regional

Pesticide grant opportunity

Car-free in New England - updated

Chelsea Creek NPDES permits

Flagship beaches - updated

Composting - updated info

CWA Public Notices - new 2004 archive feature

Center for Environmental Industry & Technology (CEIT) - updated info

Questions about your community

Beede NH Superfund site - new technical documents

Industri-plex Superfund site - updated info

W.R. Grace Superfund site - proposed cleanup plan

Keefe NH Superfund site - new documents

Groveland MA Superfund site - 5 year review

Durham Meadows CT Superfund site - new documents

Atlas Tack Fairhaven MA Superfund site - weekly updates

Troy Mills NH Superfund site - proposed cleanup plan

In The News Daily Email Service

"In The News" is a free daily service that provides links to today's top newspaper stories about the New England environment and links to related EPA New England information.

In The News Email Service: As soon as today's edition of "In The News" has been posted we will inform you via email.