Region 1: EPA New England

Greenbytes: August 25, 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.

Editor’s Note:

Summertime often seems like a quiet time in many offices. Warm weather in New England is here for only a short while, and families try to enjoy quality time together vacationing in our beautiful region. However, at EPA we still have compelling accomplishments to discuss, typified by some very notable work in Rhode Island by EPA regional staff. This resulted in a prominent enforcement case yielding clean air projects in overburdened urban neighborhoods in four states that will eliminate 235 tons of air pollution.

Feature: Enforcement Action in Rhode Island Reaps Dividends Across Nation

Cosmed Group, Inc., a national contract sterilization company headquartered in Jamestown, R.I., has agreed to pay $500,000 in penalties and spend an additional $1 million on clean air projects in four densely-populated urban areas throughout the U.S., resolving EPA claims that the company violated emission standards for ethylene oxide, a probable human carcinogen that also contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, or “smog.”

The alleged violations occurred between about 1998 and 2003 at six of Cosmed’s eight facilities, nationwide - including Baltimore, MD, Grand Prairie, TX, San Diego, CA, Coventry, RI, South Plainfield, NJ, and Waukegan, IL. EPA discovered the most serious problems at the Rhode Island, New Jersey and Illinois locations. The violations are thought to have resulted in over 30 tons of excess emissions of ethylene oxide.

The clean air projects that Cosmed is implementing as part of the settlement will significantly reduce air pollution and deliver important public health benefits to large populations in areas near current or former Cosmed plants. These mostly urban neighborhoods typically bear a disproportionate environmental burden.

Projects in Camden, NJ, Lake County, IL and San Diego, CA will reduce pollution from diesel vehicles and equipment through the use of advanced pollution controls and cleaner diesel fuel. A project in Dallas, TX will convert gasoline-powered school buses to run on propane, a cleaner burning fuel. In the first three years, these projects will eliminate approximately 235 tons of air pollution, including some toxic air pollutants that pose serious health concerns.

Ethylene oxide is a probable human carcinogen, and may cause serious reproductive harm, irritate the lungs, and damage the liver and kidneys. In addition, as a volatile organic compound, ethylene oxide also contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone can irritate people’s respiratory systems, causing coughing and throat irritation. More seriously, exposure to ground level ozone can aggravate asthma and damage lung cells, and may cause permanent lung damage. These effects can be worse in children and people with respiratory ailments such as asthma.

For More information:

The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. For more information about the settlement, see: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/cosmed.html .

National EPA Press Release

New England regional EPA Press Release

More information on EPA New England enforcement is at: http://www.epa.gov/region01/enforcementandassistance/index.html .

Brief Bytes

Report Shows Progress Reducing Air Pollution in Eastern U.S.
Decreases in emissions of ozone forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) during 2004 signal that ozone air quality throughout the eastern US is improving. According to a new report, EPA's "Nox SIP Call," has yielded reductions to improve air quality for more than 100 million people. The NOx SIP Call directs 21 eastern states and the District of Columbia to reduce emissions of NOx during the summer months. Modeled on EPA's Acid Rain Program, the NOx Budget Trading Program has achieved important reductions in power industry summertime NOx emissions in 2004. Total ozone season NOx emissions from power plants and other large combustion sources were 30 percent lower than in 2003, and 50 percent lower than in 2000. When combined with other control programs, NOx ozone season emissions from sources in 19 eastern states and the District of Columbia have been reduced by 70 percent below 1990 levels. The new report, "Evaluating Ozone Control Programs in the Eastern United States: Focus on the NOx Budget Trading Program, 2004" is available at: http://www.epa.gov/airtrends . Information and background on the NOx SIP Call is available at: http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/fednox .

 

Data Sought for 26 Drinking Water Contaminants
Twenty-six unregulated contaminants will be monitored by many U.S. drinking water suppliers under a new rule proposed by EPA. This second cycle of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 2) also proposes the use of nine analytical methods to detect the contaminants. The rule encompasses some contaminants that are not regulated under existing law. All public water systems serving more than 10,000 people, and a sample of 800 systems serving 10,000 people or fewer, will monitor those contaminants on the assessment list for 12 months during July 2007 through June 2010. Additionally, 322 systems serving more than 100,000 people, and 800 serving 100,000 or fewer, will conduct the screening surveys during a 12-month period from July 2007 through June 2009. The data collected will help EPA determine whether to regulate the contaminants, their occurrence in drinking water, the potential population exposed to each, and the levels of exposure. For general information on UCMR 2, visit the EPA Safewater website at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2 .

 

Pesticide Fate Database Now Available on the Web
You can now access via the internet a database that provides information about what happens to pesticides after they are used in the environment. The database contains summary information on the physical and chemical properties and the environmental fate and transport of pesticides found in products registered in the United States. It also contains information on the degradates, or breakdown products, of these registered pesticides. This information about pesticides can be used for assessing pesticide exposure for ecological risk assessments and drinking water exposure assessments. The database is currently populated with about 188 pesticide active ingredients and will be expanded to include more chemicals in the future. The Pesticide Fate Database and instructions for using this database can be found at the following address: http://cfpub.epa.gov/pfate/index.cfm .

 

Discarded Equipment Containing Mercury Now Managed as Universal Waste
A final rule that classifies mercury-containing equipment as universal waste will help eliminate mercury in the environment and encourage mercury recovery as well as improved, safe management of mercury waste. Previously, most households and some small businesses were not required to manage used mercury-containing equipment as a hazardous waste, resulting in some mercury waste getting thrown in the trash. Under this rule, used mercury-containing equipment will be readily collected for recycling or disposal at a properly permitted facility. Mercury-containing equipment includes various types of instruments that are commonly used in industry, hospitals and households, such as thermometers, barometers and mercury switches. Other items already managed as universal waste include batteries, thermostats and fluorescent lamps. For more information, see: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/electron/crt.htm .

 

2005 Fuel Economy Trends Report Available
EPA recently released the annual report fuel economy report, "Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2005." The report provides data on the fuel economy and performance characteristics of light-duty vehicles (cars, vans, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and pickup trucks) for model years 1975 through 2005. Since 1997 fuel economy has been relatively constant, ranging from 20.6 to 21.0 miles per gallon (mpg). Model year 2005 vehicles are estimated to average 21.0 mpg. This is 0.2 mpg higher than 2004, but five percent below the fleet-average fuel economy peak value of 22.1 mpg achieved in 1987. Recent technology developments, such as hybrid-electric vehicles, clean diesel technology and variable displacement engines hold promise for the near-term future. The report is available at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm .

 

New Deputy Administrator for EPA
Marcus Peacock was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 28. Peacock comes to EPA from the Office of Management and Budget where he served as associate director for Natural Resources, Energy, and Science. In that position he and staff were responsible for reviewing the budget and policies of the natural resources, energy, and science agencies of the federal government, including EPA. He also has served as the government-wide leader for the Budget and Performance Integration initiative of the president's Management Agenda.

Press Releases

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

Baldwinville, MA - Soil excavation completed at 48 properties near Temple Stuart site

Wilmington, MA - Manufacturer Fined for Violating Hazardous Waste Laws

Attleboro, MA - Cleanup nears finish at Apco Mossberg Superfund site

Merrimack, NH - Cleanup continues at N.H. Plating Superfund site

 

Meetings & Conferences

Energy Efficiency for Bay State businesses
Tues. Aug. 30

GE - Housatonic Citizens Coordinating Council Meeting
Wed. Sept. 7

Index of August meetings

What's New on the Web

CWA State Revolving Fund -updated summary

NPDES permits (MA) - updated

Diesel retrofits & cleaner fuels - updated

CWA Public Notices - N. Attleborough MA

Schools in New England - new resources

Earth Artists - new student artwork

Brownfields What’s New - updated

Raymark site - updated

GE/Housatonic - Silver Lake Sediment documents

GE/Housatonic - Monthly reports

Norwood site - Administrative Record

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.