Jump to main content.

 

Audio Announcements

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recorded audio versions of news announcements to provide this information in a broadcast format. To listen to an audio file, just click the file name. To download to your computer, right-click on the name and select Save... or Save Target As....

Audio File Index

October 2008

September 2008

August 2008

July 2008

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008

March 2008 -

February 2008 -
January 2008 -

December 2007 -

November 2007 -

Return to home page

October 2008

Rio Grande Electric Cooperative partners with EPA (2:28 min., 2.26 MB, MP3)

Power provider to offer drop-off locations for recycling of compact fluorescent bulbs

The Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with the Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC) to reduce pollution from compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

As a member of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP), the cooperative will provide drop-off locations at its headquarters and regional offices for recycling CFLs, which contain a small amount of mercury that if improperly disposed of can present a hazard to the environment.

"Protecting public health and the environment is a team effort,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “EPA is honored to have the Rio Grande Electric Cooperative join us and our other partners in preventing pollution and creating healthier communities.”

The NPEP program works with 175 partners across the country to promote the voluntary reduction of 31 priority chemicals. NPEP members include both public and private organizations that identify activities that will reduce the use of these chemicals, preventing their ability to accumulate in the environment and cause harm to humans and the ecosystem. In addition, the Mercury Challenge is a specially focused program within NPEP that promotes the voluntary, systematic elimination of mercury-containing equipment.

RGEC is a customer-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Brackettville, Texas, that provides electric energy to residents of South and West Texas and southern New Mexico. With service to 20 counties, RGEC provides power over a larger service area than any other cooperative in the contiguous United States. However, much of their service area is rural, where access to CFL recycling centers can be difficult for many residents. With their partnership with EPA, RGEC hopes to further promote the power-saving benefits of CFLs while also providing environmentally responsible disposal locations to their customers.

“Rio Grande Electric Co-op strives to promote sustainable rural development, and, especially in these tenuous economic times, responsible energy usage,” said RGEC’s General Manager/CEO Dan Laws. “To this end, the Co-op recommends the use of compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. We would be remiss, however, if we were to succeed in saving energy and carbon emissions through the use of CFLs, without providing responsible disposal outlets. The territory we serve is diverse, rugged, and, for the most part, uniquely pristine. We are pleased to join with EPA in promoting this partnership, and encourage others to do likewise to preserve our natural resources.”

Go to top

San Benito completes model solar project (1:35 min., 1.45 MB, MP3)

System to show potential of renewable energy along US-Mexico border.

The City of San Benito, Texas, marked the completion of a $325,000 solar-powered array for its new water treatment plant with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at the facility. Funding for the photovoltaic system came from the Environmental Protection Agency through a grant to the Texas General Land Office and its Renewable Energy Program.

“Solar power pays off,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “These types of projects cut energy costs, save demand on the electricity grid, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases going into the environment.”

The San Benito plant will filter up to six million gallons of water a day, with the photovoltaic system providing about 10 percent of the power used to filter water at the plant. The 45 kilowatt project is the largest of its kind on the Texas-Mexico border, and officials hope it will inspire more solar-powered projects throughout the border region.

EPA works with the Border Environment Cooperation Commission and the North American Development Bank to fund sustainable infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. Interest in renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, continues to grow as more communities attempt to balance the need to cut pollution and greenhouse gases with increased demands and costs for energy. Both the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy make it attractive and practical for areas with sunny climates. Officials hope to use the San Benito facility to showcase the potential of solar power as a viable energy source.

Additional information on EPA’s renewable energy programs is available at http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/

Go to top

September 2008

Partnership Promotes Environmental Careers to American Indians (2:03 min, 1.87Mb, MP3)

A diverse workforce with increased ability to meet future needs is the goal of an agreement signed today by the Environmental Protection Agency, Haskell Indian Nations University, and the University of North Texas (UNT).

EPA and the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pledging to work together on programs that support American Indian students pursuing careers in environmental fields. The agreement was signed by EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene, Haskell President Dr. Linda Sue Warner, and UNT President Dr. Gretchen M. Bataille.

“EPA recognizes the importance of working with colleges and universities to spur interest in environmental careers,” Greene said.  “The students of today are the environmental stewards of tomorrow. With today’s agreement, we are helping ensure our health and the environment will be in good hands.”

Under the agreement, EPA will work with the universities to establish a direct track for Haskell graduates to continue environmental studies at UNT. The agreement also focuses on student employment and volunteer programs, research participation, lectures and seminars on environmental issues, and community outreach.

EPA has partnered with several academic institutions to address the shortage of students pursuing degrees in environmental sciences and to encourage the development of a diverse workforce. The purpose of today’s MOU is to reinforce the working relationship between Haskell, UNT and EPA in support of educational, research, and outreach activities with the American Indian community. It will also assist EPA in its mission of protecting human health and the environment by increasing the number of professionals in the fields of environmental research, policy and program development.

The agreement is one of many initiatives organized by EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs, which exists to enhance relationships with environmental justice communities and American Indian Nations. 

Go to top

Meeting highlights US-Mexico efforts to ‘green’ border (1:11 min, 2.71 Mb, MP3)

Officials from the United States and Mexico will meet to discuss environmental issues along the border, recognize environmental accomplishments to date, and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the La Paz Agreement on September 3 through 5 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

The fifth Border 2012 National Coordinators Meeting will be hosted by Mexico’s Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and participation of the 10 border states, county and local governments, representatives from U.S. tribes and Mexico indigenous communities, and a broad array of non-governmental organizations.

“As neighbors and partners, we continue to work together to create solutions for the environmental issues of our shared border,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “Our efforts have led to significant progress in improving the environment and quality of life for the people of the region, and we look forward to even greater successes in the future.”

Border 2012 supports projects that reduce air pollution, provide safe drinking water, and improve emergency preparedness, among others.  The program is the current embodiment of the environmental partnership that began between the United States and Mexico in 1983 with the signing of the La Paz Agreement. 

Under La Paz, the United States and Mexico agreed to protect, conserve and improve the environment of the border region.  The agreement created a framework for the two governments to resolve environmental issues along the border and led to the creation of the Border XXI initiative.  Border XXI was the predecessor of the Border 2012 program.

Since its start in 2003, the Border 2012 program has worked with its partners on a broad range of pollution prevention efforts in the region. Recent program successes include:

To strengthen collaborative relationships along the border even further, SEMARNAT Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada will join EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in signing the revised U.S.-Mexico Joint Contingency Plan during the meeting.  EPA has formed several strategic partnerships over the past two years to strengthen emergency preparedness in the region. 

These partnerships include tribal nations, the Border Governors Emergency Management Worktable, and the U.S. Northern Command.  With these partnerships, EPA is achieving the key Border 2012 objective of providing certified, standardized capacity building to border first responders.

Go to top

August 2008

Oklahoma tribe receives EPA grant for environmental management (:22 sec, 246 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $130,000 to the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma to provide continuing support to manage environmental programs. The projects will include developing programs for recycling, identifying drinking water sources, and demonstrating alternative uses for recycled material.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $500,000 to New Mexico Environment Department for Public Water System Supervision (:28 sec, 448 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $553,500 to the New Mexico Environment Department to continue its Public Water System Supervision program to enforce the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and ensure that water systems comply with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. The New Mexico Environment Department also ensures that public water systems meet drinking water requirements.

Go to top

Air Quality Information In Your In-box: Louisiana Joins EnviroFlash (:57 sec, 891Kb, MP3)

Residents of Louisiana’s three largest cities can get air quality information in a flash through a free service provided by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency.

EnviroFlash sends air quality information, such as forecasts and action day notifications, to subscribers via e-mail and is now available for Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport.

Based on Air Quality Index forecasts, EnviroFlash messages let subscribers know when air quality is good – or when it’s time to take steps to reduce their exposure to pollution. Subscribers can choose to get forecasts every day or only when air quality is poor.

More than 190 cities in 34 states currently use the service through EPA partnerships with state and local governments. In Louisiana, EnviroFlash messages and ozone air quality forecasts are provided by LDEQ.

Residents can sign up for EnviroFlash by visiting http://www.enviroflash.info/ and entering their name, e-mail address and zip code.

Go to top

EPA awards TCEQ $310,000 to conduct air monitoring (:33 sec., 523Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $310,000 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in a cooperative agreement to participate in a national air toxics monitoring trends network. The funding will support TCEQ operation and maintenance of air monitoring sites in Karnack and Deer Park, Texas, as part of an ongoing effort to determine national urban and rural trends in air toxics concentrations.

Go to top

Workshop to provide information on chat sales (1:03 min., 999Kb, MP3)

Chat owners and buyers can learn more about buying, selling and using chat from the Tar Creek area at a workshop scheduled for August 19, from 5-8 p.m. at the Miami Convention Center, in Miami, Oklahoma.

The intent of the workshop is to ensure chat sales from the Tar Creek Superfund site continue and comply with the federal Chat Rule. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior and the Quapaw Tribe will present information at the workshop. 

EPA has established that chat from the Tar Creek area can be used safely as an aggregate in asphalt and cement road surfaces. Chat also has beneficial uses in non-transportation, non-residential concrete and cement projects, such as commercial foundations, side walks, and parking areas. Chat sales are a significant part of EPA cleanup plans for Tar Creek. Ottawa County, Oklahoma, contains more than 50 million tons of chat.

Go to top

EPA Awards $200,000 to the Camden Port Authority (:29 sec., 454Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $200,000 brownfields cleanup grant to the Camden Port Authority in Camden, Arkansas. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Moore/Buck site at 739 Adams Avenue, which is contaminated with benzene, toluene and other petroleum products. The site was formerly used as a stave mill and an auto repair center. Grant funds will also be used for cleanup planning and to remove and dispose of underground storage tanks.

Go to top

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality awarded more than $13 million for water improvement projects (:29 sec., 457 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $13,151,000 in federal funds to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to improve public water systems. The funds awarded to the agency will allow the State of Oklahoma to continue implementing a revolving fund that will provide loan assistance to community drinking water systems for infrastructure projects.

Go to top

Absentee Shawnee Tribe awarded $200,000 for EPA Brownfields job training (:33 sec., 530Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $200,000 to the Oklahoma Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians in a cooperative agreement to assist, develop, and implement Brownfields job training. In accordance with the Brownsfields Revitalization Act of 2002 and EPA Brownfields Program National Guidance, EPA personnel will work closely with tribal members to monitor and ensure a successful training process on a variety of environmental issues.

Go to top

EPA orders Ray Hoffman, Jr. Dairy to cease and desist unauthorized discharges (1:34 min., 144Mb, MP3)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Ray Hoffman, Jr. Dairy in Windthorst, Texas, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The dairy, an unpermitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, is located about five miles west of Windthorst, off Highway 25, about one-half mile south on Munchrath Road, in Archer County, Texas. 

The facility has been ordered to immediately stop all discharges of pollutants from its lagoon to waters of the United States. The dairy has been given 45 days to provide to EPA documentation that the facility has adequate lagoon capacity to contain all waste and process-generated wastewater plus storm water runoff during a 25-year, 24-hour storm event. 

The facility has also been given 45 days to develop and implement a pollution prevention plan that will include procedures for the proper utilization of nutrients generated by the dairy, proper disposal of dead animals and the proper maintenance of records, especially records documenting wastewater levels in the lagoon to minimize lagoon overflows.

In April 2008, EPA inspected the facility and determined that it did not have CAFO permit coverage. The inspection also revealed an unauthorized discharge from the dairy that entered an unnamed creek that traveled about one mile before entering Little Onion Creek. Little Onion Creek flows about three miles before it enters Onion Creek, which discharges into the Little Wichita River. The Little Wichita River flows about seven-and-one-half miles before discharging into Lake Arrowhead.

Based on these findings, the owner and operator of the dairy has been ordered to immediately take action to bring the facility into compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Go to top

EPA orders Mark Allen and Vernon Feeders to stop discharge of pollutants (1:29 min., 136Mb, MP3)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Mark Allen and Vernon Feeders in Vernon, Texas, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The cattle feeding operation, a non-permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), is located in Vernon, off Highway 287, in Wilbarger County, Texas. The facility has been ordered to immediately stop all discharges of pollutants in storm water runoff from its animal confinement areas to Paradise Creek. 

The cattle feeding operation has been given 45 days to provide to EPA documentation that it has adequate capacity to contain all waste and process-generated wastewater plus storm water generated during a 25-year, 24-hour storm event. The facility has also been given 45 days to develop and implement a pollution prevention plan that includes procedures specifically designed to minimize the discharge of pollutants from its animal confinement areas.

In June 2008, EPA conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility. The inspection revealed that this facility is not properly designed, constructed, and operated to contain all waste and process-generated wastewater plus storm water runoff. The inspection also revealed an unauthorized discharge to Paradise Creek, a tributary of the Pease River. Paradise Creek flows about half-a-mile before it discharges to Pease River, which eventually discharges to the Red River.

Based on these findings, the owner and operator of the cattle feeding operation has been ordered to immediately take action to bring the facility into compliance with the Clean Water Act. 

Go to top

EPA awards $100,000 to LDEQ for Water Quality Management Planning (:35 sec., 548 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $100,000 to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to provide assistance to the State of Louisiana with water quality management planning activities in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. These funds are awarded under the authority of Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. The funding will assist the State with measures for maintaining water quality standards and determining the cause of water quality problems through the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The State will also update and revise existing TMDL models.

Go to top

Alamo Area COG receives EPA Ggant to improve local Independent School Districts (:47 sec., 735 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $157,259 to the San Antonio-based Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) to improve ambient air quality in four local independent school districts.  Edgewood ISD, Hunt ISD, Boerne ISD, and Harlandale ISD will participate in a project intended to reduce harmful air emissions from a fleet of older model school buses.  The project consists of two emission-reducing activities for these buses which include incorporating retrofitting technologies and replacing existing diesel operated buses. With support from the EPA, the council is committed to reducing diesel exhaust emissions to protect the health of school-aged children, educating the general public on environmental issues, and conducting outreach programs.

Go to top

July 2008

EPA Orders Mark Allen and Vernon Feeders to Stop Discharge of Pollutants (1:29 min., 1.36 MB, MP3)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Mark Allen and Vernon Feeders in Vernon, Texas, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The cattle feeding operation, a non-permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), is located in Vernon, off Highway 287, in Wilbarger County, Texas. The facility has been ordered to immediately stop all discharges of pollutants in storm water runoff from its animal confinement areas to Paradise Creek. The cattle feeding operation has been given 45 days to provide to EPA documentation that it has adequate capacity to contain all waste and process-generated wastewater plus storm water generated during a 25-year, 24-hour storm event. The facility has also been given 45 days to develop and implement a pollution prevention plan that includes procedures specifically designed to minimize the discharge of pollutants from its animal confinement areas.

In June 2008, EPA conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility.  he inspection revealed that this facility is not properly designed, constructed, and operated to contain all waste and process-generated wastewater plus storm water runoff. The inspection also revealed an unauthorized discharge to Paradise Creek, a tributary of the Pease River. Paradise Creek flows about half-a-mile before it discharges to Pease River, which eventually discharges to the Red River.

Based on these findings, the owner and operator of the cattle feeding operation has been ordered to immediately take action to bring the facility into compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Go to top

Texas builders working to prevent storm water pollution (2:14 min., 2.05Mb, MP3)
Association signs first-of-its-kind agreement in nation with EPA and TCEQ

Keeping Texas waterways free of storm water pollution is the goal behind an agreement signed today by the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Environmental Protection Agency.

The agreement is a national first and commits Texas home building companies to work together with the state and federal agencies to take steps to prevent storm water pollution.

“Small changes in the way builders do business can make a big difference when it comes to keeping pollution out of storm water,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  “This project is another great example of how innovative partnerships between EPA, states, and businesses can lead to better ways to protect one of our most valuable liquid assets.”

Under the agreement, the three partners will work together on a pilot program to more fully educate, inform, and assist home builders with meeting federal and state storm water regulations.
Building new homes requires moving a lot of dirt, often tons.  When it rains, dirt and other pollutants from construction sites can get swept into storm drains.  This runoff generally flows untreated to the nearest waterway, which can lead to water quality problems and harm to fish and plants.  Education and assistance with storm water controls can help home builders reduce storm water pollution.

“It is gratifying to see government and industry working together voluntarily to protect the environment,” said TCEQ Chairman Buddy Garcia.  “This agreement will mean better compliance, and that means better protection of our precious water resources.”

Today’s agreement is expected to be another successful collaboration between the three agencies. Previously, more than 1,300 Texas builders received storm water compliance training through initiatives developed by TAB, TCEQ and EPA in 2005 and 2007.  TAB members that complete training and a self-assessment checklist will be able to display the “Storm Water Self-Certified” sticker on construction permits as part of the agreement.  Sites that display the certification sticker would be a lower priority for routine inspections.

“Our membership has worked diligently to comply with state and federal storm water regulations, and we are honored that our successful training partnership with the EPA and TCEQ has resulted in this historic agreement,” said Ron Connally, Texas Association of Builders first vice president.  “TAB is committed to providing continuing education to Texas builders to help further reduce storm water runoff and protect the environment.”

Go to top

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Receives $480,000 for River and Stream Analysis (:37 sec., 588 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $480,000 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to perform a survey of Texas’ rivers and streams as part of a comprehensive national survey. Functioning as a follow-up to the 2004 Wadeable Streams Assessment, the analysis will allow TCEQ to manage water quality by assessing river and stream conditions, building state capacity for monitoring and assessment, and promoting collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries. Working with EPA, TCEQ’s analysis will also help establish a national baseline for future environmental evaluations.

Go to top

EPA Awards More Than $20 Million to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources for Whiskey Island Restoration (:52 sec., 819 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $20,678,580 to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) to restore and protect the marshes at Whiskey Island in Terrebonne Parish. The Whiskey Island Back Barrier Marsh Creation, TE-50 project will serve several functions including the creation of a back barrier platform on which the island can migrate approximately 300 acres of coastal habitat, a minimum of three one-acre tidal ponds, 5,800 feet of tidal creeks, approximately 13,000 feet of dune, and vegetation of the completed project with smooth cordgrass.  Under the guidelines of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act and in partnership with EPA Region 6, LDNR will implement projects that create, protect, restore and enhance wetlands in coastal Louisiana.

Go to top

EPA Awards More Than $21 Million to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (:42 sec., 669 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $21,375,446 to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) to implement a project to restore and protect Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.  The goal of the Mississippi River Sediment Delivery System project is to rebuild 493 acres of emergent marsh and help demonstrate the feasibility of using Mississippi River sediment as a resource in the restoration of marsh communities and transporting the sediment by pipeline. Under the guidelines of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act and in partnership with EPA Region 6, LDNR will implement projects that create, protect, restore and enhance wetlands in coastal Louisiana.

Go to top

EPA Awards More Than $370,000 to the Texas General Land Office (:44 sec., 687 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $379,140 to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to monitor enterococcus bacteria levels in waters along the Texas Coast.  Enterococcus bacteria, which thrive in waters contaminated by storm or sewage runoff, will be monitored by GLO’s Texas Beach Watch program.  Utilizing grants appropriated by Congress in the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000, the Texas Beach Watch program will work in conjunction with EPA to monitor pathogen indicators at all high use beaches in the state. The program will also be required to notify the public in the event these pathogen indicators are in excess of EPA recommended criteria.

Go to top

EPA and LDEQ Celebrate Cleanup of Ruston Foundry Superfund Site (1:35 min., 1.45Mb, MP3)

Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) will join local public officials and members of the community today to celebrate the completion of the cleanup at the Ruston Foundry Superfund site in Alexandria, Louisiana.

EPA and LDEQ have completed cleanup activities at the site and determined that no further cleanup action is needed to protect public health and the environment.

Getting property back into productive use is one of our highest priorities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  “Encouraging redevelopment, strengthening communities and energizing growth creates a proud legacy for everyone."

The Ruston Foundry site was an abandoned metal foundry that operated from 1908 until 1985 and is located in an urban area with mixed development within the city limits of Alexandria.  Initial site operations began with clearing activities to open up the area for cleanup. Cleanup consisted of the demolition of old site buildings and foundations, as well as the removal of an underground storage tank and closure of onsite wells. Additional cleanup included the removal of asbestos-containing material and contaminated soil.

“This is a monumental occasion,” said DEQ Secretary Harold Leggett, Ph.D. “A one-time Superfund site that is now available to be put back into commerce.  This is a great day for the state’s environment and for the business community of Alexandria. The completion of such a large project is an example of local, state and federal agencies teaming up to work for the betterment of the state.”

Now that the site has been cleaned for industrial use, Alexandria and the community may move forward with plans for redevelopment of the site and surrounding areas.

Go to top

EPA Awards Brownfields Grant to City of Alexandria (1:28 min., 1.34 Mb, MP3)
City of Alexandria to Receive $200,000 to Support Revitalization Efforts

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented the City of Alexandria, Louisiana, with a $200,000 ceremonial check for a community-wide Brownfields Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant. Funds from this grant will be used to set up a geographic information system inventory of sites in Alexandria, conduct environmental site assessments and support community outreach activities.

“EPA continues to use the brownfields program to stimulate environmental and economic success in our communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “This program is a great example of how federal and local groups can work together to turn contaminated properties into viable developments.”

Brownfields are vacant, abandoned or under-used properties with redevelopment potential that suffer from known or perceived environmental contamination.

Since its beginning in 1995, EPA’s brownfields program has grown into a proven, results-oriented program that has changed the way contaminated property is perceived, addressed and managed. EPA’s brownfields program is designed to empower states, communities and others involved in economic redevelopment to work together to assess, clean up and reuse brownfields. EPA’s brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.  Nationally, brownfields assistance has attracted more than $11.3 billion in private investment, helped create more than 48,000 jobs and resulted in the assessment and cleanup of nearly 12,000 properties.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $600,000 to the City of Houston for Air Toxics Monitoring Project (1:12 min., 1.1 Mb. MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $643,112 to the City of Houston for measurement and analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) air toxics emissions in the Houston Ship Channel area using DIAL (Differenntial Absorption LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)) technology.

DIAL uses laser light in conjunction with the unique chemical properties of ambient air pollutants to identify and quantify specific VOC concentrations through large air masses with a working range of over one kilometer. DIAL has the ability to identify and measure multiple air contaminants in a single measurement.

DIAL sampling is expected to take place from January to April 2009, with a final project report expected in June 2009. The results of the DIAL measurements will be used to identify previously unknown or underestimated emissions sources, validate emissions estimates and help prioritize potential emissions reduction opportunities.

EPA had previously awarded a $500,000 grant to Houston for a mobile ambient air monitoring laboratory which is currently in use. The grant for the DIAL project further demonstrates EPA';s support for data which Houston area stakeholders can consider in making decisions to achieve improved local air quality.

Additional information on EPA grants at http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm
More about activities in EPA Region 6 at /www.epa.gov/region6">http://www.epa.gov/region6

Go to top

EPA Awards $100,000 to Texas A&M for Environmental Studies (:36 sec., 575 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $100,000 to the Texas A&M College of Agriculture Life and Sciences to develop a database and real-time monitoring system in an attempt to control the cotton bollworm. The web-based, information delivery system will monitor and analyze the effectiveness of a pyrethroid insecticide when used on the cotton bollworm.  Pyrethroid insecticides function as a toxin which paralyzes the insect.  The project will allow landowners to decide if incorporating pyrethroid insecticides is beneficial to controlling these insects while protecting the environment.

Go to top

Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Air Plan (:20 sec., 327 Kb, MP3)

Today EPA announced its proposed approval of the Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan. Combined with reductions from previous plans, this plan will improve the area's air quality by 55 percent over 1999 levels by reducing ozone pollution by a total of 409 tons per day. Dallas-Fort Worth's plan is the nation's first to gain proposed approval and meet the 8-hour federal health-based standards for ozone by 2010.

Go to top


Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan first in country proposed for EPA approval (3:23 min., 3.1 Mb, MP3)

Additional 40 tons of pollution cuts move plan across goal line.

EPA gathered local and state partners to announce its proposed approval of the Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan today. Also, EPA announced that the area achieved the previous 1-hour ozone standard through the success of earlier plans.

Under the proposed plan, ozone forming pollutants will be reduced by 88 tons per day – about 40 tons more than the plan had first proposed.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Chairman Buddy Garcia and Regional Administrator Richard Greene joined with community leaders and businesses within the nine county non-attainment area to strengthen the original plan.

The clean air plan will improve air quality by more than 55% over 1999 levels. The plan in combination with previous plans is resulting in a total of 409 tons per day of ozone pollution reduction. Dallas-Fort Worth is the first community with a clean air plan that has been proposed for approval that meets the 8-hour federal health-based standard for ozone by 2010. The plan could not have come about without the all-out efforts of local and state partners.

Of note is the North Texas effort to capture more dollars from the popular Texas Emission Reduction Plan, known as TERP, last spring. In the last six months, the DFW area beat out all other areas, two to one, with a record setting $84 million in applications from the $110 million grant budget. Another funding opportunity is planned for this fall and North Texas is well positioned to repeat its success. As much as 14 tons per day of pollution could be cut through the replacement and retrofit of old diesel engines.

AirCheckTexas brought another $21 million to North Texas to repair and replace older vehicles which typically produce more emissions than newer models. This fall, another $21 million will be available to the DFW area from AirCheckTexas.

AirCheckTexas sponsors Senator Kip Averitt and Representative Dennis Bonnen knew the program would work. North Texas' success will help guarantee this program is available in the upcoming years.

Working with the NCTCOG, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and Love Field joined the campaign for clean air by refining estimates of their operations' pollution emissions. New accurate information allowed EPA and Texas air quality modeling experts to certify pollution reductions totaling almost 10 tons per day.

North Texas is also leading the nation to reduce pollution from power plants in the nine county non-attainment area. All are subject to the strictest air pollution controls required for either commercial or municipal power plants in the country. Texas also committed to restrict the amount of pollution credits, technically referred to as Discrete Emission Reduction Credits or DERCs, cutting pollution by 17 tons a day.

New regulations on back-up generators used by business and industry provided for some air quality improvements, about one ton per day. Other measures improved information used by EPA modeling experts in evaluating the plan. Better inventories of gas compressors showed their wide-spread use and resulted in an increase of three tons per day. New regulations adopted to control emissions from gas compressor engines will further improve air quality in the region.

The Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan, referred to as the State Implementation Plan (SIP), will be published in the Federal Register for public review and comment. EPA will consider all relevant information submitted during the 30-day comment period and may modify its decision to approve the plan based on new information.

EPA';s proposed approval is conditional. Texas must finalize regulations to formally reduce the amount of discrete emission credits available in the nine county non-attainment area.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area currently does not meet the federal air quality standard for ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant. Ozone forms when emissions from sources such as vehicles and industry mix with sunlight. On-road and off-road vehicles and equipment make up about 70 percent of the ozone sources in the DFW area.

The AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine Program is designed to help car owners comply with ozone emissions standards. It targets the highest polluting vehicles by offering financial incentives to repair or remove them from roadways, and allows citizens to contribute to the regional air quality solution.

The Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) provides financial assistance to offset the incremental costs associated with reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from heavy-duty diesel engines. NOx are one of the primary components of ground-level ozone, or smog. TERP serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines and is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Go to top

June 2008

EPA Awards Over $600,000 to the City of Houston for Air Toxics Monitoring Project (1:12 min., 1.1 Mb. MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $643,112 to the City of Houston for measurement and analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) air toxics emissions in the Houston Ship Channel area using DIAL (Differenntial Absorption LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)) technology. DIAL uses laser light in conjunction with the unique chemical properties of ambient air pollutants to identify and quantify specific VOC concentrations through large air masses with a working range of over one kilometer. DIAL has the ability to identify and measure multiple air contaminants in a single measurement. DIAL sampling is expected to take place from January to April 2009, with a final project report expected in June 2009. The results of the DIAL measurements will be used to identify previously unknown or underestimated emissions sources, validate emissions estimates and help prioritize potential emissions reduction opportunities.  EPA had previously awarded a $500,000 grant to Houston for a mobile ambient air monitoring laboratory which is currently in use.  The grant for the DIAL project further demonstrates EPA’s support for data which Houston area stakeholders can consider in making decisions to achieve improved local air quality.

Additional information on EPA grants:  http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm

More about activities in EPA Region 6:  http://www.epa.gov/region6

Go to top

Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Air Plan (:20 sec., 327 Kb, MP3)

Today EPA announced its proposed approval of the Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan. Combined with reductions from previous plans, this plan will improve the area’s air quality by 55 percent over 1999 levels by reducing ozone pollution by a total of 409 tons per day. Dallas-Fort Worth’s plan is the nation’s first to gain proposed approval and meet the 8-hour federal health-based standards for ozone by 2010.

Go to top

Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan first in country proposed for EPA approval (3:23 min., 3.1 Mb, MP3)

Additional 40 tons of pollution cuts move plan across goal line

EPA gathered local and state partners to announce its proposed approval of the Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan today. Also, EPA announced that the area achieved the previous 1-hour ozone standard through the success of earlier plans.

Under the proposed plan, ozone forming pollutants will be reduced by 88 tons per day – about 40 tons more than the plan had first proposed.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Chairman Buddy Garcia and Regional Administrator Richard Greene joined with community leaders and businesses within the nine county non-attainment area to strengthen the original plan.

The clean air plan will improve air quality by more than 55% over 1999 levels. The plan in combination with previous plans is resulting in a total of 409 tons per day of ozone pollution reduction. Dallas-Fort Worth is the first community with a clean air plan that has been proposed for approval that meets the 8-hour federal health-based standard for ozone by 2010. The plan could not have come about without the all-out efforts of local and state partners.

Of note is the North Texas effort to capture more dollars from the popular Texas Emission Reduction Plan, known as TERP, last spring. In the last six months, the DFW area beat out all other areas, two to one, with a record setting $84 million in applications from the $110 million grant budget. Another funding opportunity is planned for this fall and North Texas is well positioned to repeat its success. As much as 14 tons per day of pollution could be cut through the replacement and retrofit of old diesel engines.

AirCheckTexas brought another $21 million to North Texas to repair and replace older vehicles which typically produce more emissions than newer models. This fall, another $21 million will be available to the DFW area from AirCheckTexas.

AirCheckTexas sponsors Senator Kip Averitt and Representative Dennis Bonnen knew the program would work. North Texas’ success will help guarantee this program is available in the upcoming years.

Working with the NCTCOG, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and Love Field joined the campaign for clean air by refining estimates of their operations’ pollution emissions. New accurate information allowed EPA and Texas air quality modeling experts to certify pollution reductions totaling almost 10 tons per day.

North Texas is also leading the nation to reduce pollution from power plants in the nine county non-attainment area. All are subject to the strictest air pollution controls required for either commercial or municipal power plants in the country. Texas also committed to restrict the amount of pollution credits, technically referred to as Discrete Emission Reduction Credits or DERCs, cutting pollution by 17 tons a day.
New regulations on back-up generators used by business and industry provided for some air quality improvements, about one ton per day. Other measures improved information used by EPA modeling experts in evaluating the plan. Better inventories of gas compressors showed their wide-spread use and resulted in an increase of three tons per day. New regulations adopted to control emissions from gas compressor engines will further improve air quality in the region.

The Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan, referred to as the State Implementation Plan (SIP), will be published in the Federal Register for public review and comment. EPA will consider all relevant information submitted during the 30-day comment period and may modify its decision to approve the plan based on new information.

EPA’s proposed approval is conditional. Texas must finalize regulations to formally reduce the amount of discrete emission credits available in the nine county non-attainment area.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area currently does not meet the federal air quality standard for ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant. Ozone forms when emissions from sources such as vehicles and industry mix with sunlight. On-road and off-road vehicles and equipment make up about 70 percent of the ozone sources in the DFW area.

The AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine Program is designed to help car owners comply with ozone emissions standards. It targets the highest polluting vehicles by offering financial incentives to repair or remove them from roadways, and allows citizens to contribute to the regional air quality solution.

The Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) provides financial assistance to offset the incremental costs associated with reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from heavy-duty diesel engines. NOx are one of the primary components of ground-level ozone, or smog. TERP serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines and is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $3.7 Million to the State of Arkansas (:36 sec., 565 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $3,797,688 to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC).  This grant will assist the state in implementing ANRC’s non-point source management program.  The funds provided will allow the state to implement eight projects which will address a variety of non-point sources of water pollution including urban run-off, sediment and nutrients, as well as funding demonstrations of best management practices.  ANRC will also use the funds for monitoring, education and outreach activities.

Go to top

EPA to conduct disaster debris reduction pilot project (:51 sec., 798 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development and EPA Region 6 are conducting a pilot project to evaluate alternative methods for reducing large volumes of debris from Hurricane Katrina.

The project will study the use of a thermal treatment process, known as an air curtain burner, as an option to expedite debris removal in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. Vegetative debris and construction and demolition debris that does not contain asbestos material will be combusted during this pilot project.

The vegetative portion of the test is scheduled to occur on June 24-25. The construction and demolition debris portion is scheduled for June 26-27, weather permitting. 

Safety precautions will be taken to ensure that the project is protective of public health. The test site is located at 5022 Paris Road, Chalmette, Louisiana.

More about activities in EPA Region 6:  http://www.epa.gov/region6
EPA audio file is available at: http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio.htm#audio062008_pilotproject

Go to top

May 2008

EPA Awards $50,000 to the Cherokee Nation (:17 sec., 275 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $50,000 to the Cherokee Nation. The tribe will use the funds to collect water samples and perform a baseline pesticides assessment of Saline Creek.  The tribe’s goal is to determine the levels of pesticides, if any, in the stream.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $150,000 to the State of Arkansas (:32 sec., 507 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $152,940 to the Arkansas State Plant Board (ASPB). Under a cooperative agreement with EPA, the ASPB will ensure that pesticides are used according to label directions and that they are produced and/or distributed in Arkansas in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The ASPB will also use the funds to enhance pesticide worker safety programs, the endangered species program, and ground water protection.

Go to top

Use less gasoline this summer (1 min., 951 Kb, MP3)

With the kids at home and vacations to plan, most Americans can’t avoid driving more during the summer. Here are some tips to improve your fuel economy and help you save money, at any time of year:

Drive more efficiently
Avoid aggressive stops and starts. Observe the speed limit: driving 70 mph instead of 60 is like paying an extra 40 cents a gallon. Also, don’t let your car become a closet. Lugging around sports equipment and other incidentals weighs your car down, making it use more gas to reach the same speed.

Keep your car in shape
Taking care of little details can really help a car’s fuel economy, so make sure your car is properly tuned, check and replace air filters regularly, and keep your tires properly inflated.

Plan and combine trips
If possible, run errands during off-peak traffic hours so you won’t waste time and fuel sitting in traffic. Combine errands to avoid cold-start trips, since a warm engine uses far less gas during start-up.

For more tips on saving fuel, and to compare fuel efficiency on different vehicles, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $130,000 to the East Baton Rouge Housing Authority (:39 sec., 613 Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $139,300 to the East Baton Rouge Housing Authority to clean up 1705 Highland Road in Baton Rouge.  This Brownfields property once operated as an auto maintenance shop, tire shop, and vehicle detailing shop.  Brownfields are vacant, abandoned or under-used properties where redevelopment may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.  This cleanup grant will support petroleum cleanup activities and community outreach activities.  Redevelopment of the property is expected to improve the aesthetics of the neighborhood as well as public health and safety.

Go to top

North Texas power company to issue vouchers for electric lawn mowers (2 min., 1.83 Mb, MP3)

Texas Municipal Power Agency to complete project as part of settlement with EPA

Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) will pay a $26,250 penalty and issue $78,750 in vouchers for electric lawn mowers to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

The violations involve operations at the power provider’s Gibbons Creek Steam Electric Station in Grimes County. TMPA has since corrected the infractions and is in compliance with the Clean Air Act.

“It is imperative that business and industry do their part to help protect human health and the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “EPA will continue to ensure that companies make every effort to follow environmental laws, so that our communities have cleaner, healthier air to breathe.”

TMPA is a municipal power company serving the cities of Bryan, Denton, Garland and Greenville. The company violated the Clean Air Act by exceeding opacity emissions limits at its facility, failing to report in writing that its continuous opacity monitoring system was out of service for 397 hours, and not submitting required emissions reports to EPA.

Under a settlement with EPA, the company will pay a civil penalty and complete a supplemental environmental project that involves issuing vouchers worth $150.00 each to designated retailers in its service area. TMPA customers and city residents can use the vouchers to purchase electric lawn mowers.  

The project is aimed at helping reduce air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which currently does not meet federal requirements for ozone. Ground-level ozone, or smog, is created when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. Traditional lawn mowers emit carbon monoxide, VOCs and nitrogen oxides, while electric lawn mowers produce essentially no pollution. 

The TMPA vouchers are expected to help replace 525 gasoline-powered lawn mowers, which has the potential to reduce 37 tons of greenhouse gases and other pollutants per year, or the equivalent emissions of more than 22,500 new cars, each being driven 12,000 miles.

To learn more about enforcement activities in EPA Region 6, please visit http://www.epa.gov/region6.

Go to top

Facilities go for the ‘green’ as part of EPA Performance Track (2 min., 1.84 Mb, MP3)

Six facilities from Arkansas and Texas will be recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for exemplary environmental programs that reduce pollution at the 2008 National Environmental Partnership Summit in Baltimore on May 21.

The facilities are part of EPA's National Environmental Performance Track, and they include the following: Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions of Garland, Texas; Eaton Hydraulics Operation of Searcy, Arkansas; Firestone Building Products of Corsicana, Texas; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Fort Worth, Texas; Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas; and Standard Aero, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas.

“Businesses that partner with the national Performance Track are leading the way when it comes to environmental stewardship,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “We are pleased to recognize these six facilities and hope they will be joined by many more.”

Members of Performance Track come into the program with strong environmental compliance records and then go beyond regulatory requirements to create superior environmental management programs. This year's national summit brings together Performance Track participants and environmental professionals to
discuss best practices and to develop successful strategies that are good for both business and the environment.

Performance Track facilities work to improve their efforts in a variety of environmental activities – such as water and energy use, land and habitat protection, air emissions, and waste reduction – throughout the product lifecycle, rather than focusing on just one specific pollutant or environmental issue. The program encourages continuous improvement through environmental management systems, community outreach, and measurable results.

Since its inception in 2000, Performance Track membership has grown to 533 members – ranging from major corporations to small businesses and representing a variety of industries across 49 states and Puerto Rico. To date, Performance Track members have collectively saved enough energy to power 46,000 homes for one year, enough greenhouse gases to offset the annual emissions of 57,000 cars, and prevented solid waste equivalent to that produced by 553,000 households yearly.

National Environmental Performance Track program: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/

Go to top

Mars snack food plant to get power from Waco landfill

Candy manufacturer part of EPA program that turns waste to energy (2:22 min., 216Mb, MP3)

Business at the Mars Snackfood U.S. plant in Waco has never been sweeter. Today, members of the company were joined by officials from the Environmental Protection Agency to flip the switch on its first landfill gas project, a venture that will cut the company’s energy costs and the release of greenhouse gases into the environment. 

The project will use methane gas piped in from the city landfill to power two furnaces that create steam for the plant’s candy-making operations.

“Turning waste into energy is a smart strategy for business and the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “EPA is pleased to be working with partners like the Mars Snackfood on innovative projects like this one that deliver clean, renewable sources of energy.”

In addition to saving the company $600,000 a year in energy costs, the project will also reduce more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which has the equivalent environmental impact of avoiding the emissions of 1,900 cars. Methane, a primary component of landfill gas, is a greenhouse gas over 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.  

"More than being a decision about the bottom line, this project is about taking responsibility for the future – for our business, for our Associates and their children, for our community, and definitely for our environment. And the story today is not simply about Mars alone. It is a story of deep commitment and concern by multiple partners at every level in government in Texas. Again, I congratulate our partners in government, especially the City of Waco, the County of McLennan and the EPA, for their visionary leadership and dedication to a sustainable future for all,” said MARS Snackfood US President Todd Lachman.

Mars Snackfood joins a growing list of companies to complete landfill gas energy projects as part of EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP). There are currently 21 operational projects in Texas and a total of 34 throughout the five-state area that makes up EPA Region 6. 

LMOP is a voluntary technical assistance and partnership program that helps businesses and communities reduce methane emissions from landfills by encouraging the recovery and use of landfill gas as a renewable energy source. The program also assists countries throughout the world in developing landfill methane reduction projects through the international Methane to Markets Partnership. Since 1994, LMOP has assisted in developing more than 330 landfill gas projects in the United States, reducing methane emissions by over 24 million metric tons of carbon equivalent.

Go to top

EPA Awards Nearly $30,000 to the State of Oklahoma  (:28 sec., 438Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $29,480 to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to protect underground sources of drinking water.  The federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulates the underground disposal of hazardous wastes through deep injection wells. OCC will use the funds to issue permits, monitor the construction and operation of injection wells throughout the state and conduct field surveillance, inspections, investigations and enforcement activities. 

Go to top

April 2008

EPA Awards Over $46,000 to the State of Texas  (:28 sec., 451Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $46,068 to the Texas Railroad Commission (TX RRC) to protect underground sources of drinking water. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulates the underground disposal of hazardous wastes through deep injection wells. The Commission will use the funds to issue permits, monitor the construction and operation of injection wells throughout the state and conduct field surveillance, inspections, investigations and enforcement activities.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $350,000 to the City of El Paso  (:26 sec., 406Kb, MP3)

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $350,001 to the City of El Paso. The city will use the funds to enforce federal, state and local air pollution regulations. By implementing a year round fuels program and maintaining the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez air monitoring network, the city will carry out its objective of continuing to meet federal air quality standards in El Paso.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $45,000 to the State of Louisiana  (:31 sec., 488Kb, MP3)

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $45,520 to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) to protect underground sources of drinking water. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulates the underground disposal of hazardous wastes through deep injection wells. LDNR will use the funds to issue permits, monitor the construction and operation of injection wells throughout the state and conduct field surveillance, inspections, investigations and enforcement activities. 

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $6 Million to the State of Louisiana (34 sec.,532Kb, MP3)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $6,555,550 to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to administer the state's base water quality program under their Performance Partnership Grant.  LDEQ’s program aims to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution through standard-setting, monitoring, permitting and enforcement activities. The funding will also assist in administering the state's environmental management programs which monitor, abate, and control hazardous and solid waste, and air pollution.

Go to top

Convention to focus on hazardous waste cleanup  (1:22 min., 1.26Mb, MP3)

EPA to host 2008 National Corrective Action Conference June 3-4 in New Orleans

The Environmental Protection Agency will host the 2008 National Corrective Action Conference June 3 and 4 in New Orleans.

The event brings together hazardous waste regulators and managers, as well as other stakeholders involved with cleanups to provide a forum for open and frank discussion on corrective action issues and for exchange of information and experiences in streamlining the corrective action process. 

“Strategies for Meeting the 2020 Corrective Action Goals” is the theme of this year’s conference. The conference will include 18 concurrent breakout sessions, with topics that include Corrective Action 101 (a basic introduction to the Corrective Action Program); a session on Vapor Intrusion and polychlorinated biphenyls; two sessions on Green Revitalization; Performance-based approaches to remedy selection; Risk-based cleanups/institutional controls; and more. Conference registration is $120.00.

For questions about the conference, contact Nick Stone at 214-665-7226 or stone.nick@epa.gov, or Karen Tomimatsu at 703-605-0698 or tomimatsu.karen@epa.gov.

More on the conference and registration: http://www.epacaconf.com/

Go to top

EPA Region 6 Announces Healthy Indoor Environments Funding Opportunity (1:41 min., 1.54Mb, MP3)
Reducing Human Health Risks posed by Contaminants in Indoor Environments

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 6 office is accepting applications for eligible entities to conduct projects in the following areas:

EPA Region 6 will award grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to up to five projects in fiscal year 2008 with a total of approximately $150,000 available for all awards. Eligible applicants include states, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and the possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit institutions. Proposals must be intended to serve state, local, or tribal communities in EPA Region 6 states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas.

The closing date for applications is May 30, 2008, 11:00 p.m. CDT.

Eligible entities may submit applications by mail to:
Mr. Stacy Murphy (6PD-T)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733

or apply electronically through www.grants.gov

Go to top

J.C. Penney Company’s Home Office Recognized with Energy Star Award (1:41 min., 2.34Mb, MP3)

Company’s Efforts Are Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Today the Environmental Protection Agency presented the J.C. Penney Company, Inc. with its Energy Star award.  At a ceremony unveiling the Energy Star award plaque, the company’s Home Office was certified in the Existing Office Building category.  The Plano, Texas, based retailer was recently showcased in a report released by EPA for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. 

“We applaud JCPenney for preserving our environment and our energy resources,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  “Whether you are running a business, a school, or a household, improving our nation’s environmental and energy outlook just makes sense.”

JCPenney is one of America’s leading retailers with 1,073 stores.  At its 1.9 million-square-foot Home Office in Plano, the company has implemented more than 40 energy-saving initiatives over the past five years to reduce consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Energy Star for our Home Office reflects the foresight that went into the design of the facility when it opened in 1992, as well as our associates’ ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and conservation,” said Michael Theilman, executive vice president, chief human resources and administration officer for JCPenney.  “The Energy Star plaque serves as both a sign of our achievements and a reminder that we are continuing to find ways to do more.”

JCPenney’s energy management program has focused on continuous improvement and refining of systems and processes to increase effectiveness.  It was the first retailer to earn the Energy Star label for a retail store upon the release of EPA’s energy performance rating for retail in October 2007.  The company also is a two-time recipient of Energy Star Partner of the Year recognition.

JCPenney has been particularly successful in helping its staff be part of the solution.  Striving to make energy conservation direct, simple, and fun for the company’s 155,000 employees, the company designed an “Energy Captain” Web portal to supplement its online Energy Center.  The portal is a one-stop shop for energy reports and support materials, as well as a forum to share ideas. 

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency.  Today, in partnership with the Department of Energy, Energy Star offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy and money, and to help protect the environment for future generations.  More than 12,000 organizations are Energy Star partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses.

Go to top

Gaylord Texan partners with EPA to reduce pollution (1:25 min., 1.3 Mb, MP3)

Resort will cut mercury as part of national environmental priorities program

The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center will be recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for reducing mercury throughout its facility.

As part of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP), the resort will replace the fluorescent light bulbs it currently uses in its 400,000 square feet of hotel and convention space with low-mercury bulbs.  It will also recycle the mercury from the bulbs it replaces.

"Protecting public health and the environment is a team effort," said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. "EPA is pleased to have the Gaylord Texan join us in making a positive environmental impact by cutting pollution."

Located in Grapevine, the Gaylord Texan is the first hotel in the region’s five-state area to join the NPEP program. EPA will mark the hotel’s entry into the program on April 18 during Earth Day and EarthFest 2008 activities in downtown Dallas.

"Gaylord Texan is proud to be participating in the Environmental Protection Agency's NPEP program," said John Imaizumi, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. "Our team is strongly committed to being an environmental leader in our community."

NPEP is a voluntary program with more than 150 members from private and public organizations nationwide. The goal of the program is the reduction, reuse or recycling of 31 priority chemicals. These priority chemicals have been targeted for reduction by EPA because of their ability to build up in the food chain and cause harm to humans and the ecosystem.

Go to top

"Green" teen wins presidential award (1:54 min., 1.75 Mb, MP3)

Teaching others about the environment has earned a Texas teen presidential recognition. Bianca Locke of Pasadena will be honored by President Bush today during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Locke is part of an elite group of students from across the nation to be presented with the President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA), which recognizes youth who help protect local environments and promote environmental awareness.

"Bianca and this year’s other PEYA winners show that environmental champions come in all ages," said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. "It is inspiring to see such talented young people taking an active interest in the world around them and doing good things to protect its natural resources."

PEYAs are presented each year to commend young people who become an environmental force, individually or collectively, within their community.

Locke became a recognized environmental leader in her community in May 2006 when her water conservation campaign at the city’s environmental fair won first prize for the "most educational booth." She went on to develop an entire environmental education program that includes books on stormwater and recycling, presentations, activities and posters. Her presentations were designed to reach audiences of all ages and backgrounds and incorporated skits, pictures, scale models and even mascots with costumes to get her messages across. She also recruited other students and city staff to help with her work. 

Locke has taken her education program to more than 30 schools, community events and environmental workshops, just to name a few. The high school senior has spoken to groups ranging in size from 5 to 150 people. She plans on continuing her work in the environmental field after college.

The PEYA program is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. Awards have been presented annually since 1971 to honor students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Nomination applications for the regional award program can be submitted through October 31 of each year. Additional information on the President’s Environmental Youth Award and the 2008 winners is available at http://www.epa.gov/peya

Go to top

Guapo Skateboards joins EPA pollution reduction program - Company will cut mercury as part of National Partnership for Environmental Priorities

Guapo Skateboards, LLC, is one of the newest companies to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s national program for reducing priority chemicals.

The Dallas-based company will replace fluorescent bulbs in its warehouse and skateboard park with low-mercury bulbs as part of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP).

“Each new partner that joins the effort to reduce pollution is helping create a cleaner, healthier environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “By joining this program, Guapo Skateboards is helping change our environment for the better, while also inspiring other companies to do the same.”

Guapo Skateboards is the first skateboard company in the country to join the NPEP program. EPA will recognize the company’s efforts to reduce pollution on April 18 during Earth Day and EarthFest 2008 activities in downtown Dallas.

“Guapo Skateboard Company is committed to reducing our environmental impact,” said Al Coker, CEO and owner of Guapo. Our goal is to give back to the community and to enhance skate boarding’s image. We are committed to enhancing our ‘green’ involvement on all levels and to promoting a safe and healthy environment. It is important to our customers and the community.”

The NPEP program promotes the voluntary reduction of 31 priority chemicals. Through work with EPA, both public and private organizations identify activities that will reduce the use of these chemicals, preventing their ability to accumulate in the environment and cause harm to humans and the ecosystem.

More than 150 organizations nationwide have joined the NPEP program, which has set a goal of reducing the use or release of four million pounds of priority chemicals by 2011.

Go to top

Groups can apply for environmental justice grants  (53 sec., 828 Kb, MP3)

Groups working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues can apply for grants from the Environmental Protection Agency and its Environmental Justice Small Grants program.

Nonprofits, cities, counties and federally recognized tribes can submit grant proposals until June 30, 2008.

The EJSG program provides funding for eligible applicants working on or planning a project that addresses an environmental and public health issue within an affected community. Projects should increase understanding of issues, identify ways to address these issues at the local level, and educate and empower the community. Grant recipients can receive up to $20,000 to help with their projects.

Interested applicants can get more information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and how to apply for grants by contacting Shirley Quinones at (214) 665-2713 or visiting http://www.epa.gov

Go to top

Last Call for Emissions Reduction Grants is April 11 at 5 p.m. (1:51 min., 1.7 Mb, MP3)

Armed with the most money ever appropriated for emissions reduction grants, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is calling on all applicants to submit their application packages no later than Friday, April 11, at 5  p.m.

The Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP) is offering $110 million in grants to offset the incremental costs associated with reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) from heavy-duty diesel engines.  NOx is one of the primary components of ground-level ozone, or smog. The grant amounts vary, depending on the amount of NOx reductions each project can achieve.

EPA challenged local leaders to use the TERP financial incentive to clean up approximately 4,500 heavy-duty diesel engines operating in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which could reduce ozone-forming pollution by 14 tons of NOx per day.  Local businesses have already received over $9 million in first-come first-served rebates and helped reduce a total of 931 tons of NOx over the next seven years. Since 2001, the TCEQ has awarded $506.2 million in TERP grants and rebates, covering 7,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment, for a total NOx reduction of over 125,000 tons.

TERP applications must be submitted to the TCEQ no later than 5 p.m. CDT, April 11, 2008. Applications submitted on April 11 should be dropped off at the TCEQ, Room 2202, second floor of building F, at 12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.

TERP serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.

Go to top

$9 Million for Cleaner Skies (1:30 min.,1.38 Mb, MP3)

Cleaner skies are coming to North Texas thanks to the robust participation of local businesses in the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP).

TERP has awarded over $9 million in rebates to upgrade or replace 113 of the dirtiest heavy-duty diesel engines and diesel-powered equipment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The participation of a wide array of individuals and businesses from the agricultural, construction, hauling, trucking and related sectors will make it possible for North Texans to breathe cleaner air by preventing 931 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

“North Texas is currently not meeting federal air quality standards, so every diesel engine or diesel- powered equipment that operates cleaner can make a difference to anyone who suffers from respiratory problems such as asthma,” said Leslie Rauscher, EPA Project Manager. “The state is making this financial opportunity available and local businesses are responding, which is very encouraging.” So far Texas has awarded $30 million in rebates state-wide, and is making another $110 million available in grants, but time to apply is running out.

TERP applications must be submitted by April 11, 2008.  Individual application assistance will be available until April 10 at Community Help Desks in Dallas and Denton. For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.

TERP is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and serves as a national model for replacing or retrofitting older diesel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Go to top

Farming Businesses Reaping Clean Air Benefits (1:40 min.,1.53 Mb, MP3)

North Texas farms and agricultural businesses are reaping the economic and environmental benefits of greening their hauling fleets, thanks to the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP).

Wright Farms of Farmersville received over $106,000 to replace an old haul truck with a cleaner, more efficient model that will reduce 10.6 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution. Melissa-based Stoney Point AgriCorp will also replace a haul truck with more than $107,000 in rebates and prevent 10.7 tons of NOx emissions. By upgrading to a cleaner model, Mitchell & Bourland of Terrell will reduce 11 tons of pollutants with a rebate of nearly $111,000. The combined benefits add up to over $324,000 in financial assistance and 32 tons of pollution prevented.

There are only three days remaining to apply for TERP grants. Applications must be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) no later than 5:00 p.m. CDT, April 11, 2008.  Applications submitted on April 11 should be dropped off at the TCEQ, Room 2202, second floor of building F at 12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.

Individual application assistance is still available at Community Help Desks in Arlington, Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth until April 10 to help applicants with questions. For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.

TERP is managed by the TCEQ and serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Go to top

EPA approves Tulsa ozone flex agreement (2:11 min., 2 Mb, MP3)

Today the Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, announced that it has approved a new air quality plan for the Tulsa area under its 8-hour Ozone Flex program.
The ozone flex program allows communities that are currently meeting the national standard for ozone to implement proactive, voluntary measures that will reduce emissions of ozone-causing pollutants to improve air quality and stay within federal requirements. 

“EPA and the 8-hour Ozone Flex program are helping communities achieve cleaner air sooner,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “We are pleased to have cities like Tulsa working with EPA, state and industry groups to develop better solutions for a better environment.”

Tulsa’s ozone flex agreement will involve implementing five projects over the next year, including a Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority Clean Diesel Retrofit Project. The clean diesel project will retrofit 26 buses and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by about 4.5 tons per year.  Nitrogen oxide combines with volatile organic compounds and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, or smog.

In addition to the clean diesel project, Terra Nitrogen, a manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizer products northeast of Tulsa, will voluntarily install ultra-low nitrogen oxide burners on one of its ammonia reformers. The $2 million project is planned for 2009 and is expected to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 425 tons per year.  Numerous other measures, including a City of Tulsa energy conservation project, will provide additional reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

The Tulsa metro area has been an ozone attainment area since 1990 and currently has an ozone design value of 0.080 ppm.  EPA approved a more protective 8-hour ozone standard of 0.075 parts per million (ppm) on March 12.  The 8-O3Flex plan will remain in effect until 2013, unless the area is reclassified under the new ozone standard.  
Oklahoma will recommend which areas should be classified as in nonattainment of the new standard in 2009, and EPA will finalize those designations in 2010.  The 8-O3Flex agreement will not prevent the region from being designated as a nonattainment area under the new standard.  However, the plan is expected to help the area reduce ozone and reach the revised standard sooner.

Additional information on the 8-hour ozone flex program is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6pd/air/pd-l/index.htm

To learn more about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit http://www.epa.gov/region6

Go to top

EPA Awards $75,000 to Texas A&M University (37 sec., 584 Kb, MP3)

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $75,000 to the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. The institute will use this grant to study the impact of emissions from older light duty vehicles imported into Mexico. The study will be performed at the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez border in partnership with the city of Juarez and Instituto Municipal De Investigacion Y Planeacion. Study activities include quantifying the number and types of vehicles crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on a daily basis, estimating their emissions, and quantifying their emissions impact. 

Go to top

Construction Blooming Green in North Texas (1:13 min., 1.12 Mb, MP3)        

The construction industry is turning a shade of green this spring thanks to the participation of local companies in the state’s Texas Emissions Reduction Program, or TERP. This is good news for Dallas-Fort Worth, which is the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country.

David Copeland Sand & Gravel was awarded $253,000 in rebates to reduce 26.3 tons of pollution from their hauling and dumping operations. Other recipients include Plano-based Chavez Construction and Southlake’s Tri Dal, Ltd., with a combined award of over $128,000 and a pollution reduction of 12.8 tons.

Businesses interested in greening their fleets still have time to apply for TERP grants by the April 11, 2008, deadline.  Individual application assistance is available at Community Help Desks in Arlington, Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth until April 10 to help applicants with questions. For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.

TERP is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Go to top


Forklifts Become “Vehicles” for Clean Air (:44 sec., 691 Kb, MP3)

They have been the muscle behind manufacturing and warehousing for decades, and now forklifts are powering North Texas efforts to clean the air.

Deford Lumber, Ltd., of Dallas is one of several companies helping forklifts become the newest “vehicles” for clean air as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP).  The company received more than $130,000 from the state-run program to replace the aging diesel engines in four of its forklifts and two haul trucks with cleaner, less-polluting models. In doing so, Deford will prevent more than 13 tons of nitrogen oxide from polluting North Texas air.

Other grant recipients from the Dallas-Fort Worth area include Land Lumber Co., Inc.; Mitchell and Bourland; Pam Heart; Neal Gay; James O. Worley; Robert Boyer; Bret Sapp; and Wayne Carroll. Together, their individual grants total more than $718,000 towards new engines for haul, cement, and dump trucks. They will also prevent the release of more than 71 tons of nitrogen oxide, one of the main contributors to ground-level ozone, or smog.   

Businesses interested in greening their fleets still have time to apply for TERP grants by the April 11, 2008, deadline. Individual application assistance is available at Community Help Desks in Arlington, Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth until April 10 to help applicants with questions.  For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.

TERP is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Go to top

EPA Awards Over $160,000 to the Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (:44 sec., 691 Kb, MP3)

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $163,076 to the Inter-Tribal Environmental Council for its Superfund program in Oklahoma.  This award of $163,076 is the first award for fiscal year 2008 and consists of $97,850 for the Preliminary Assessment /Site Investigation program and $65,226 for the Core program.  The PA/SI program includes pre-Superfund screening, preliminary assessments, site inspections, and preparation of National Priority List ranking packages.  The Core program involves administrative and non-site specific activities.  All activities supported by this grant are aimed at remediating hazardous waste sites and restoring land to safe and productive use.

Go to top

Haul Trucks in Dallas Cleaning the Air (1:13 min., 1.12 Mb, MP3)

Seven small businesses based in Dallas will soon be operating newer haul trucks to help clear the air of 69 tons of