Recent Additions

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

July 3, 2008

EPA Can Improve the Awarding of Noncompetitive Contracts (PDF) - We performed this review to determine if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) award of noncompetitive contracts was appropriate. Specifically, we determined if these contracts were awarded according to federal regulations and EPA policy. A 21 pp, 539K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.
EPA is also seeking comment on the Draft Technical Guidance Manual for the Proposed Aircraft Drinking Water Rule - The primary purpose of the proposed Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) is to ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to aircraft passengers and crew. This entails providing air carriers with a feasible way to comply with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Water provided onboard aircraft through lavatory and galley faucets must meet standards for human consumption, which includes uses such as washing face or hands; brushing teeth; consuming coffee, tea, or other beverages made with onboard water; and drinking the water from galley or lavatory water taps. Thus, even if passengers and crew are provided bottled water for drinking, water from aircraft lavatory taps must still meet drinking water standards (Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water).
New and Updated IRIS Assessments Available from the Integrated Risk Information System Program:
- A new Summary for 2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) and accompanying Toxicological Review (PDF) (85 pp, 443K) have been added to the IRIS Web site.
- A new Summary for 2,2',4,4',5-Pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99) and accompanying Toxicological Review (PDF) (128 pp, 948K) have been added to the IRIS Web site.
- A new Summary for 2,2',4,4',5,5'-Hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153) and accompanying Toxicological Review (PDF) (66 pp, 300K) have been added to the IRIS Web site.
- An updated Summary for 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and accompanying Toxicological Review (PDF) (126 pp, 830K) have been added to the IRIS Web site.

June 24, 2008

2008 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winners Announced - Five leading researchers have received awards for chemical technology innovations that promote cleaner, cheaper, and smarter chemistry. Developing safer, environmentally friendly chemicals and processes results in reduced waste, safer products, and reduced use of energy and resources. Over the past 13 years, collectively, award-winning technologies have eliminated more than 1.1 billion pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents, saved over 21 billion gallons of water, and eliminated nearly 400 million pounds of carbon dioxide releases to air (Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics).

June 20, 2008

Publication: Preliminary Review of Adaption Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources (SAP 4.4) (Final Report) - EPA, working with the CCSP, have released the final report, Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4: Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources. This Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4 (SAP 4.4) analyzes information on the state of knowledge of adaptation options for key, representative ecosystems and resources that may be sensitive to climate variability and change (National Center for Environmental Assessment).
Final Registration Review Work Plan for the chemical Quinclorac is available - May 2008 - The Registration Review Final Work Plan for quinclorac in available for review (Office of Pesticide Programs).
A Collection of Solid Waste Resources: 2008 Edition - EPA has released its 2008 Edition of "A Collection of Solid Waste Resources" CD ROM. It contains more than 300 publications on hazardous and nonhazardous waste. The documents are searchable, listed alphabetically by topic, and many are available in Spanish (Office of Solid Waste).
The Climate Ready Estuaries Program announces six NEP pilots - To build capacity in the National Estuary Programs (NEPs) for local leadership and expertise to adapt to the effects of climate change through a joint effort with the NEPs and EPA (National Estuary Program).

June 17, 2008

Biofuels Compendium posted - This Web-based compendium provides underground storage tank (UST) stakeholders with information regarding storing ethanol and biodiesel fuels (Office of Underground Storage Tanks).

June 11, 2008

EPA publishes revised Servicing Tail Report for HCFCs in the U.S. A/C and refrigeration sector - This report presents estimates of the projected quantity of HCFC-22 (also recognized by the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) designation, R-22) needed to service airconditioning and refrigeration equipment and the anticipated installed base of such equipment beyond 2010 in the United States. The objective of this analysis is to provide a resource to assist in the allocation of future HCFC consumption allowances (Stratospheric Protection Division).
Frequently Asked Questions on the Container and Containment Labeling Requirements - A Frequent Questions Fact Sheet for Pesticide Container and Containment Rule has been published (Office of Pesticide Programs).
UST And LUST Program Performance Measures - EPA collects data from states and territories regarding UST and LUST program performance measures. This includes information such as the number of active and closed tanks, releases reported, cleanups initiated and completed, inspections, and facilities in compliance with UST requirements. The reports below provide data in table format for all states and territories, by region, and by reporting period indicated (Office of Underground Storage Tanks).

June 9, 2008

New Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Stormwater Web Page Released - Throughout the U.S. there are thousands of waters listed for impairments from stormwater sources. The most common pollutants coming from stormwater sources include sediment, pathogens, nutrients, and metals. These impaired waters need a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which identifies the total pollutant loading that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and specifies a pollutant allocation to specific point and nonpoint sources. The TMDL is implemented via the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permitting system. States and EPA Regions have used a variety of methods to develop stormwater-source TMDLs during the past decade. With the expansion of NDPES Stormwater regulations to smaller municipalities and smaller construction activities, there has been increasing demand for more detailed quantification of stormwater allocations in TMDLs that are more useful for implementation in NDPES permits (Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds).

June 6, 2008

EPA issues essential use allowances for 2008 - Each year EPA publishes a notice requesting applications from companies who seek allowances to produce or import CFCs for use as propellant in metered-dose inhalers, which is considered an essential use. The notice is published over a year in advance of when the actual allocations are made, in order to allow time for the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to review the U.S. nomination. Once the Parties have reviewed the U.S. nomination and approved a particular year’s allocations, EPA allocates essential use allowances to individual companies through its notice-and-comment rulemaking process. The total allocation for a particular year may not exceed the amount the Parties have authorized for that year. The allowances permit companies to produce or import newly manufactured CFCs specifically for the essential uses designated in the final rule (Stratospheric Protection Division).
Water Quality Trading Funding: Proposals due September 9, 2008 - EPA is now accepting proposals for water quality trading or other market-based projects through its Targeted Watersheds Grants Program. Projects must address reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, or other pollutant loadings that cause low oxygen levels in local waters and which enter the Mississippi River system. Projects must be located in one of the three Mississippi River sub-basins with the highest nutrient loads contributing to hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: the Ohio River, the Upper Mississippi River, or the Lower Mississippi River. Proposals must be nominated by the governor of the state in which the project resides. EPA will award up to $4.2 million to support approximately 15 to 25 outstanding proposals. Nominated proposals are due September 9, 2008 (Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds).

June 5, 2008

Notice for the Toxicological Review of Beryllium: Listening Session - EPA announces a listening session to be hosted on June 27, 2008, for the draft document entitled, "Toxicological Review of Beryllium: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)" (Integrated Risk Information System Program).
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Accomplishments Report; FY 2007 (PDF) - This report highlights the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) key initiatives, results, and enforcement cases for fiscal year (FY) 2007. A 40 pp, 3.61MB Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

June 4, 2008

More Action Needed to Protect Public from Indoor Radon Risks (PDF) - Indoor radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Surgeon General. We conducted this evaluation to determine how EPA measures indoor radon program results, and whether changes at the federal level could improve program effectiveness. We also identified challenges to implementing changes. A 44 pp, 1016K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.
New Safe Drinking Water Act analytical methods and laboratory certification Web site posted - Public water systems must demonstrate that their water meets health based standards by periodically monitoring for the presence of specific contaminants. Approved analytical methods must be used when analyzing water samples to meet federal monitoring requirements or to demonstrate compliance with drinking water regulations. EPA reviews and approves methods that can be used. Laboratories that analyze these compliance samples must be certified by EPA or the State. EPA carries out a program to ensure that laboratories are certified as qualified to conduct analyses on drinking water samples (Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water).
Notice for the Toxicological Review of Cerium Oxide: Listening Session - EPA announces the first "listening session" (per the new IRIS Process 2008 Update) to be hosted on June 25, 2008, for the draft document entitled, "Toxicological Review of Cerium Oxide and Cerium Compounds: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)" (Integrated Risk Information System Program).

June 3, 2008

Report - Improved Controls Would Reduce Superfund Backlogs (PDF) - The Office of Management and Budget requested us to evaluate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) management of the backlog of Superfund sites. Our objective was todetermine why somehazardous waste sites in the Superfund program that existed prior to October 1986 have not yet had remedial construction completed. We also reviewed the impacts resulting from sites not yet achieving construction completion. A 40 pp, 583K Adobe Acrobat PDF document from the Office of Inspector General.

June 2, 2008

Controlling Rodents - Information about preventing, identifying, and treating rodent infestations. It also addresses regulation of rodent-control products and safe pesticide use (Office of Pesticide Programs).

May 30, 2008

A Conceptual Framework for U.S. EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory (draft) (PDF) (draft document, 34 pp, 1.2MB, About PDF) (National Exposure Research Laboratory).
Publication: Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Sulfur Oxides - Health Criterial (Second External Review Draft) - EPA is announcing the release of the draft document, Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides - Health Criteria and the Annexes (Second External Review Draft) for public review and comment as described in the May 30, 2008 Federal Register Notice. The deadline for submitting comments is July 25, 2008. The Second External Draft ISA for Sulfur Oxides -- Health Criteria will be made available for review on Monday, June 2 (National Center for Environmental Assessment).
Final Risk Mitigation Decision for Ten Rodenticides - New Web page with updates to associated Rodenticide Web pages in Pesticide Reregistration (Office of Pesticide Programs).
New from the Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water:
- Beach Sanitary Survey Tools now available - A sanitary survey is a method of investigating the sources of fecal contamination to a water body. Sanitary surveys are typically used for drinking water, shellfish, and watershed protection programs. They can also be used at beaches that do not meet water quality standards. Sanitary surveys help state and local beach program managers and public health officials identify sources of beach water pollution, assess the magnitude of pollution, and identify priority locations for water testing.
- National Summary: 2007 Swimming Season Update - To further its commitment to reducing the risk of exposure to disease-causing bacteria at recreational beaches, EPA is posting its latest data about beach closings and advisories for the 2007 swimming season. Congress passed the BEACH Act of 2000 (BEACH Act), requiring that coastal and Great Lakes states and territories report to EPA on beach monitoring and notification data for their coastal recreation waters. To help protect the public, the BEACH Act also requires EPA to maintain an electronic monitoring and notification database of that data.

May 27, 2008

Notice of the release of Toxicological Review of Carbon Tetrachloride - EPA's IRIS Program is announcing a public comment period to review the draft document titled, 'Toxicological Review of Carbon Tetrachloride (External Review Draft)' (Integrated Risk Information System Program).
From Gray Funnels to Green Sponges -An audio interview - A discussion with experts on how to manage rainwater and snow melt where it falls; in ways that can make great places, preserve water quality and restore our nation's waterways (Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds).

What Was New on the EPA Internet Site

Local Navigation