This page provides access to a listing of some of the recent additions and new materials made available on the EPA Web site within the past six weeks.

November 18, 2009

• Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Information Security Management Act Report: Status of EPA’s Computer Security Program (PDF) - The Office of Inspector General’s (OIG’s) Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Reporting Template, as prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A 23 pp, 237K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.

• Publication: Report on the Environmental Indicators: An Uncertainty and Scaling Pilot Study (Final Report) - EPA is announcing the release of the Report on the Environmental Indicators: An Uncertainty and Scaling Pilot Study. This final report provides an analysis of uncertainty and scaling for seven of the Report on the Environment (ROE) indicators. The purpose of the ROE is to provide a reliable set of indicators for year-to-year comparisons and to inform Agency planning and decision-making, making the treatment of uncertainty critical (National Center for Environmental Assessment).

• New from the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance:

  • Enforcement Discretion Guidance Regarding the Applicability of the Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Definition in CERCLA Section 101(40) to Tenants: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) - Question and answers related to the January 2009 guidance on the applicability of the bona fide prospective purchaser (BFPP) definition to tenants. A 4 pp, 46.9K, Adobe Acrobat PDF document.

  • Environmentally Responsible Redevelopment and Reuse (ER3) (PDF) - Fact sheet describes the ER3 initiative, pilot projects, partnerships and incentives to promote sustainable development and responsible redevelopment and reuse of contaminated properties. A 2 pp, 380.6K, Adobe Acrobat PDF document.

  • Promoting Responsible Redevelopment at the American Barrell Site (PDF) - Fact sheet highlights responsible redevelopment and reuse at the American Barrell Company Superfund site. A 2 pp, 176.4K, Adobe Acrobat PDF document.

• Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends Report released - This report provides data on the fuel economy, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and technology characteristics of new light-duty vehicles (cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks) for model years 1975 through 2009 (Office of Transportation and Air Quality).

• Addendum to the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for Xylene - The addendum to the RED for Xylene is available (Office of Pesticide Programs).

November 17, 2009

• Audit of EPA’s Fiscal 2009 and 2008 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements (PDF) - We performed this audit in accordance with the Government Management Reform Act, which requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prepare, and the Office of Inspector General to audit, the Agency’s financial statements each year. A 145 pp, 630K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.

November 16, 2009

• EPA Signs Proposed Rule for 2010 Critical Uses of Methyl Bromide - Each year, EPA solicits applications for CUEs from methyl bromide users. The U.S. Government, after reviewing the applications, seeks authorization for those uses from the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Once the Parties authorize critical uses and an amount of methyl bromide for those critical uses, EPA publishes a rule allowing for the production of critical use methyl bromide (Stratospheric Protection Division).

November 13, 2009

• Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) - Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) system access, user guides and training information are available. ICIS is a web-based system providing information for the federal enforcement and compliance and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs (Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance).

• National Lake Fish Study Final Report - This study is a national screening-level survey of chemical residues in fish tissue from lakes and reservoirs in the conterminous United States (lower 48 states), excluding the Laurentian Great Lakes and Great Salt Lake. It is unique among national assessments of fish contamination in lakes because the sampling sites were selected according to a statistical (random) design. Study results allow EPA to estimate the percentage of lakes and reservoirs in the United States with chemical concentrations in fish tissue that are above levels of potential concern for humans or for wildlife that eat fish (Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water).

November 12, 2009

• New from the Office of Inspector General:

  • EPA Needs to Comply with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and Improve Its Oversight of Exported Never-Registered Pesticides (PDF) - We initiated this review to evaluate whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has properly implemented Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 17(a) with respect to the Foreign Purchaser Acknowledgement Statements (FPASs), and whether controls are in place to ensure the safety of imported foods. A 36 pp, 399K Adobe Acrobat PDF document.

  • Congressionally Requested Inquiry into EPA’s Response to a Report of a Leaking Well in North Carolina and the National Response Center Hotline (PDF) - Representative Heath Shuler requested that we investigate the events surrounding a response to an April 25, 2009, telephone report of a leaking well in Skyland, North Carolina. We conducted this review to determine whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) receipt and disposition of that telephone call followed applicable policies and procedures. A 15 pp, 124K Adobe Acrobat PDF document.
• New publication - Developing and Implementing an Airport Recycling Program (PDF) - Airports throughout the United States are “greening” their operations. They are installing solar panels and energy efficient light fixtures, using low-emission vehicles in their fleets and changing their waste management programs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed this guide to help airport managers who want to create a more environmentally-friendly waste operation. The EPA hierarchy of waste management prioritizes source reduction, then reuse, recycling and finally disposal in landfills. However, this guide focuses on recycling as a positive first step for airports to take as they conquer their waste issues. A 42 pp, 1.4MB Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.

November 4, 2009

• Response to EPA Administrator's Request for Investigation into Allegations of a Cover-up in the Risk Assessment for the Coal Ash Rulemaking (PDF) - Based on the request, OIG reviewed EPA activities pertaining to the draft risk assessment supporting the rulemaking process for the disposal of coal ash in landfills and surface impoundments. While EPA has been involved in a wide range of coal ash-related activities, the scope of this review was restricted to the landfill and surface impoundment rulemaking and does not include activities related to minefilling or beneficial use. A 10 pp, 77K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.

• Publication: IRIS Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (External Review Draft) - EPA announces the release of the draft Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (TCE) for a 90-day public review and comment period. Additionally, as per the new IRIS process, all comments received from federal agencies and White House offices on draft IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments and the interagency draft of the trichloroethylene IRIS assessment have also been released (Integrated Risk Information System Program).

• Pesticide Spray and Dust Drift - EPA is issuing proposed guidance for new pesticide labeling to reduce off-target spray and dust drift (Office of Pesticide Programs).

October 29, 2009

• New from the Office of Inspector General:

  • EPA Recovery Act Recipient Reporting and Data Review Process (PDF) - The Recovery Act awarded $7.2 billion to EPA. We conducted this review to determine whether EPA established a process to perform limited data quality reviews intended to identify material omissions and/or significant reporting errors, and to notify the recipients of the need to make appropriate and timely changes. An 8 pp, 166K Adobe Acrobat PDF document.

  • Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations as of September 30, 2009 (PDF) - The purpose of this Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations is to highlight for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) management significant recommendations that have remained unimplemented past the due date agreed upon by EPA and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). A 45 pp, 277K Adobe Acrobat PDF document.
  • EPA Needs to Improve Continuity of Operations Planning (PDF) - The objective of this evaluation was to determine how well the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can accomplish its mission essential functions in the event of a pandemic influenza or equivalent national emergency that necessitates Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. A 19 pp, 153K Adobe Acrobat PDF document.

• Publication: Highlights of the Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook (Final Report) - EPA is announcing the release of the final report, Highlights of the Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook. This highlights document provides some introductory information about the handbook and presents a summary of the recommendations presented in the Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook (National Center for Environmental Assessment).

• Registration Review Final Work Plan for Boric Acid - The Final Registration Review Work Plan for Boric acid and Sodium Borate Salts is available (Office of Pesticide Programs).

• New Brochure on Laboratory Waste (PDF) - A new EPA brochure on "Managing Laboratory Hazardous Waste" is now available (Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery).

October 26, 2009

• EPA responded to a stakeholder petition on lead, and agreed to revisit the current lead dust hazards standard and to work with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to modify the definition of lead-based paint in its regulations. EPA is also proposing to expand coverage of its 2008 Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule as part of its ongoing commitment to eliminate lead poisoning. The proposed rule would eliminate an exemption from the RRP rule (Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics).

October 22, 2009

• Tracking Air Pollution to Improve Your Health - This summer, scientists in EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory began sampling air across Cleveland, Ohio, to better understand the links between sources of air pollution and adverse health effects. The research will be used to develop new tools and models for air quality managers to reduce and control air pollutants at their source (National Exposure Research Laboratory).

• New from the Integrated Risk Information System Program:

  • Publication: External Peer Review Comments available on the Toxicological Review of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) - On April 25, 2008, the Toxicological Review of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) was released for external review. Comments from the first and second rounds of this review were consolidated and reports are now available.

  • Publication: External Peer Review Comments available on the Toxicological Review of Pentachlorophenol - On August 4, 2009, an external peer review panel workshop was hosted by an independent contractor on the Toxicological Review of Pentachlorophenol (External Review Draft). Completing this review, a final report of the comments from the workshop were collected and is now available.

• Superfund 104(e) Information Request Collection of Questions - EPA uses many approaches to gather information and locate evidence to determine liability, including the use of "information request letters." The collection of questions, divided into 36 categories, is intended to assist the Regions in tailoring specific information requests based on the type of potentially responsible party and their involvement at a site (Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance).

• Insect Repellents: Use and Effectiveness - EPA has launched a new Web page containing product information on certain skin-applied insect repellents (Office of Pesticide Programs).

October 20, 2009

• Publication: IRIS Toxicological Review of Cerium Oxide and Cerium Compounds (Interagency Review Draft) - EPA has released the draft documents and comments from the Interagency Science Discussion of the Toxicological Review of Cerium Oxide and Cerium Compounds. As per the new IRIS process, all comments received from federal agencies and White House offices on draft IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments and the interagency draft of the Cerium Oxide and Cerium Compounds IRIS assessment have now been posted on the EPA Web site (Integrated Risk Information System Program).

• New Fuel Economy Guide available - EPA releases Fuel Economy Guide for new 2010 vehicles (Office of Transportation and Air Quality).

• EPA Signs Proposed Rule for HFO-1234yf as an Automotive Refrigerant - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program implements section 612 of the amended Clean Air Act of 1990, which requires EPA to evaluate substitutes for the ozone-depleting substances to reduce overall risk to human health and the environment. Through these evaluations, SNAP generates lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes for each of the major industrial use sectors. The intended effect of the SNAP program is to promote a safe, smooth transition away from ozone depleting compounds to the available substitutes (Significant New Alternatives Policy Program).

October 15, 2009

• Sophisticated NASA Radar Aids EPA Ecosystem Services Research - EPA scientists recently initiated research to test the effectiveness of a new, advanced radar system’s ability to gather data to help EPA understand how wetlands control reactive nitrogen — a significant environmental stressor on the nation’s water quality (National Exposure Research Laboratory).

• New publications from the Integrated Risk Information System Program:

  • IRIS Toxicological Review of Trichloroacetic Acid (Interagency Review Draft) - EPA has released the draft documents and comments from the Interagency Science Discussion of the Toxicological Review of Trichloroacetic Acid. As per the new IRIS process, all comments received from federal agencies and White House offices on draft IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments and the interagency draft of the Trichloroacetic Acid IRIS assessment have now been posted on the EPA Web site.

  • IRIS Toxicological Review of Chlordecone (Interagency Review Draft) - EPA has released the draft documents and comments from the Interagency Science Discussion of the Toxicological Review of Chlordecone. As per the new IRIS process, all comments received from federal agencies and White House offices on draft IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments and the interagency draft of the Chlordecone IRIS assessment have now been posted on the EPA Web site.

  • IRIS Toxicological Review of 2-Hexanone (Interagency Review Draft) - EPA has released the draft documents and comments from the Interagency Science Discussion of the Toxicological Review of 2-Hexanone. As per the new IRIS process, all comments received from federal agencies and White House offices on draft IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments and the interagency draft of the 2-Hexanone IRIS assessment have now been posted on the EPA Web site.

  • IRIS Toxicological Review of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (Interagency Review Draft) - EPA has released the draft documents and comments from the Interagency Science Discussion of the Toxicological Review of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane. As per the new IRIS process, all comments received from federal agencies and White House offices on draft IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments and the interagency draft of the 1,2,3-Trichloropropane IRIS assessment have now been posted on the EPA Web site.

October 8, 2009

• Review of Hotline Complaint on Employee Granted Full-Time Work-at-Home Privilege (PDF) - We conducted this review in response to an anonymous Hotline complaint. The complaint alleged that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inappropriately granted full-time work-at-home status to an employee so that employee could move outside of the Washington, DC, area. A 17 pp, 205K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.

• Interim Policy on Managing the Duration of Remedial Design/Remedial Action Negotiations (PDF) - Memorandum sets forth revised, interim procedures for managing the duration of remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) negotiations. A 9 pp, 697K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

• Optimization Model for Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Automobiles (OMEGA) - This model, which estimates the technology cost for automobile manufacturers to achieve variable fleet-wide levels of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, is now available (Office of Transportation and Air Quality).

• New EPA Watershed Academy Online Module Posted - The new module is called "The Effect of Climate Change on Water Resources and Programs" (Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds).