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Greenbytes: May 30, 2006 Edition

In this Issue

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: Wetlands to the Rescue

Talk about extreme weather! First, rain-swollen rivers flooded dozens of New England towns last October.  Then, in the past several weeks, one of the driest spring seasons in decades transformed into two weeks of heavy rainfall, causing major flooding in northeastern Mass. and portions of southern New Hampshire and Maine.  Can our natural environment keep pace with such extremes? The answer may be "yes," so long as we keep wetlands around to help mitigate the effects of extreme weather.

This story begins in the upper reaches of every watershed in New England. Nestled there are small, sometimes almost imperceptible, wet pockets and tiny rivulets - referred to by scientists as headwater wetlands. It seems a somewhat grandiose name for such a modest little resource, especially given their history of being unnamed, under-mapped, and generally overlooked. But as we all know, appearances can be deceiving, and these little ecosystems often provide a value disproportionate to their size.  

Consider for a moment how critical the natural processes of small headwater wetlands are to the healthy functioning of downstream rivers and lakes, including the ability to provide natural flood control. When headwater wetlands are left in their natural state, they store enormous amounts of rainwater, runoff and snow melt.

During particularly severe storm events, headwater areas and wetlands adjacent to the river’s edge detain storm runoff, temporarily storing floodwaters and slowly releasing them downstream. Dense wetland vegetation also provides enough friction to slow the flow of water entering an already-swollen riverway. The combined action of storing and slowing of floodwater lowers flood heights, reduces velocity, and minimizes damage to downstream communities. 

Conversely, the water-storing ability of these headwater wetlands during times of high flows can also help quench the thirst of water-starved streams during drought. Water in streams and rivers comes from several sources: water held in the soil, runoff from precipitation, and ground water.

During particularly dry seasons, as much as 95 percent of a stream’s flow may come from ground water. Here’s where headwater wetlands come in handy:  these small, yet numerous, upstream wetlands have the largest surface area of soil in contact with available surface water, thereby providing the greatest opportunity for water to soak into the ground and recharge ground water supplies. As water levels in streams and rivers begin to drop during the summer months, water stored in adjacent headwater wetlands is released slowly into the stream and river system, maintaining healthier flow levels for fish and boaters alike. 

Wetlands provide these valuable ecosystem services to society, offer key habitat to myriad wildlife, enhance our landscape with their natural good looks - and they do it all at no cost to taxpayers. Of course, wetlands can only do so much without our cooperation.

As we continue to develop our landscape, increasing the extent of impermeable surfaces such as roads and parking lots, we also increase the amount of precipitation that runs off into streams rather than soaks into the ground, thereby short-circuiting the ground water recharge process. This increased volume of water flows rapidly downstream, which can set the stage for more intense and frequent flooding conditions.

Why not take advantage of the free flood protection afforded by wetlands rather than continue to spend millions of dollars on restoring flood-damaged properties and lives? Let’s protect our remaining wetlands in New England so they may continue to protect us.

More information on wetlands in New England

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Brief Bytes
Brownfields 2006 Conference - Revolution in Redevelopment and Revitalization
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Nov. 13-15, 2006

EPA and International City/County Managers Association will jointly host the 11th annual Brownfields Conference in Boston at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on November 13-15, 2006.  The conference, "Brownfields2006: Revolution in Redevelopment and Revitalization," promises exceptional educational sessions and workshops, as well as mobile workshops and walking tours, networking opportunities, 200 plus exhibitors, a Brownfields transaction forum, receptions, film series, and career events.  Educational sessions will cover community and economic development, financing and investment, real estate and deal making, greening of redevelopment and more. Attending this conference will bring you together with over 5,000 participants interested in Brownfields redevelopment, remediation and reuse.

Registration is open now, and best of all, the conference is FREE. For more information on the 2006 Brownfields Conference, see: www.Brownfields2006.org .

Conference organizers are now soliciting ideas for presentations at the conference.  If you have a suggestion, or your group would like to develop a presentation, this is your opportunity to play a role in outlining what is sure to be a useful and memorable national conference.

To submit presentation suggestions

Proposed Regulations to Limit Emissions from Stationary Engines

Proposed regulations for engines used to generate electricity and to power pumps and compressors would reduce emissions of ozone- and particle pollution-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx). The proposed regulations include two rules: New Source Performance Standards that would apply to new stationary spark-ignition internal combustion engines; and a technology-based air toxics standard that would apply to certain existing, new and reconstructed stationary reciprocating internal combustion. The rules are expected to reduce NOx emissions by 66,000 tons per year by 2015. Both rules also would limit emissions of carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons and air toxics.

EPA will accept public comment on the proposed rules for 90 days after they are published in the Federal Register. EPA must issue a final rule by Dec. 20, 2007.

More information about the proposed regulations

New Partnership to help Ensure Water Infrastructure Sustainability

EPA joined six leading water and wastewater utility organizations to announce a statement of intent to ensure the long-term viability of our nation's water systems to promote effective utility management.  The formal partnership will focus on improved water and wastewater utility performance through education, management tools and performance measures. Over the next 12 months, EPA and the associations will work with utilities to identify the key attributes of sustainable management and develop measures to use in gauging utility effectiveness, and develop a strategy to promote widespread adoption of sustainable management practices across the water sector. 

More information on asset management

Model is a Resource for States to Cut Truck Fuel Use

To help facilitate more consistent, effective state truck idling laws, EPA has developed a model that states can consider adopting to help strengthen idling reduction efforts, reduce fuel consumption and improve industry compliance.  Reducing idling conserves energy, helps the environment and saves industry money.  Each year, truck idling consumes over one billion gallons of diesel fuel, resulting in the emission of 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, over 180,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, as well as emission of fine particulate matter and other air toxics.  The model is based on input from workshops EPA held across the country last year with the trucking industry, states, and environmental and health groups.

Information on the model

Regulatory Changes Requested on Pest Strip and other DDVP Products

As a result of EPA's evaluation to ensure that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards, the manufacturer of insect pest strips containing the organophosphate pesticide DDVP (or dichlorvos) has asked EPA to remove certain uses and further restrict where the pest strips can be used in homes. As part of the standard regulatory process, EPA will publish the proposed changes and its revised risk assessment for DDVP for public comment before issuing a final decision. The larger strips could not be used in homes except in garages, attics, crawl spaces, and sheds that are occupied for less than four hours per day. For the smaller pest strips, use in the home would be limited to closets, wardrobes, and cupboards. During the transition to the more restrictive labeling, existing products can continue to be used until the phase-out is complete. included in the organophosphate cumulative risk assessment, which will be issued this summer. 

More information on DDVP

Report: Drinking Water Fund Tops $9 Billion for Infrastructure Improvements

EPA, all 50 states and Puerto Rico have invested almost $9.5 billion in drinking water improvements since 1996, according to the just-released Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) 2005 annual report. The first of its kind, the report focuses on nearly 4,400 projects that have ranged from treatment, transmission and distribution, and rehabilitation of wells to developing new sources of water, upgrading storage facilities, and consolidating water systems.  Since 1997, the fund programs have improved public health protection for 100 million people. In recent years, the program has averaged more than $1.3 billion in annual assistance to drinking water systems. State DWSRF programs advance public health protection in two ways: they provide an accessible and affordable source of financing for infrastructure improvements, and they improve a system's ability to provide safe and reliable drinking water - now and into the future.

More information on the DWSRF annual report

Report Details Innovative Technology Programs

A new report evaluates EPA's stimulation, facilitation, and use of innovative technology programs to further the agency's mission to protect public health and the environment. The report, EPA Technology Programs and Intra-Agency Coordination, seeks to answer the question of how to optimize environmental technology programs in promoting the research, development, commercialization and implementation of sustainable private-sector technologies. In addition, the report lists recommendations for other programs and activities to promote this goal.  

EPA Technology Programs and Intra-Agency Coordination report

Innovative Asthma Programs Improve Health

Creating "safe sleeping zones" for kids and providing one-on-one consultations with pharmacists are some of the effective approaches that help improve the health and quality of life of asthma sufferers. EPA is highlighting approaches like these with the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management.  Approximately 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, and more than six million are children. The disease remains one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and school absenteeism for children. Although there is no known cure for asthma, there are ways to reduce the number of attacks.  

More information: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/leadership_award_winners.html

Aldicarb Risk Assessment Available for Public Comment

As part of the continuing effort to reassess existing pesticides to ensure that older products conform to current health and safety standards, EPA has issued for public comment the preliminary human health risk assessment for the carbamate pesticide aldicarb.  The Agency is seeking public comment and any additional information that will allow the Agency to better understand the potential risks and benefits associated with aldicarb. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the potential human health and ecological risks that have been identified.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/aldicarb/

 
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Press Releases

Bookmark for EPA New England News: http://www.epa.gov/region1/pr/press.html

May 24 Free Air Quality Forecasts and Alerts Available from EPA as Summer Smog Season Begins
  Children at 10 Rhode Island Schools Win Awards for Environmental Art
May 23 Public Meeting and Hearing in Corinna, ME will Discuss Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site Cleanup Plan
May 19 Rhode Island Residents Reminded About Woonasquatucket River "Do's and Don'ts"
May 17 EPA Urges Caution When Working in Areas Exposed to Contaminated Flood Water - Website Available with Flooding Information
  EPA Seeks Proposals to Fund New Clean Diesel Projects
May 16

Wentworth N.H Sawmill Cited for Clean Water Violations
 

Holyoke, Mass. Fined and Will Take Actions to Address Wastewater Discharges

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

 

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Meetings & Conferences

Index of June meetings

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What's New on the Web

NPDES - Final State Permits – Conn., Maine, Mass.

NPDES – Construction Dewatering

NPDES – Draft Permit - N.H.

Greater Boston Breathes Better - Updated info

New England Marine No Discharge Zones

Performance Track Program - updated

GE - Housatonic site - new data and reports

Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund site – updated info

RSS Now Available for EPA New England info:

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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.

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