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Significant Developments and Activities Report
LAND AND CHEMICALS DIVISION
Weekly Significant
Developments and Activities Report
March 13, 2009
Ohio Lead Grant Review and Lead Advisory Meeting
Marlyse Wiebenga, Toxics Program Section lead (Pb) staff traveled to Columbus, Ohio to conduct the end of year site visit and grant review for the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) Lead Certification and Accreditation Program. Ohio’s Pb program is successfully fulfilling its goals to run an authorized Pb certification, accreditation and enforcement program. During this visit, EPA and ODH staff discussed the possibility of Ohio implementing an EPA authorized Renovation, Repair and Painting certification and accreditation program. ODH informed EPA at this time that they would not be pursuing this program.
Ms. Wiebenga also attended Ohio’s quarterly Pb Advisory Council meeting. This committee is charged with moving Ohio toward the goal of eliminating lead poisoning in Ohio by 2010. This meeting was attended primarily by health department staff. During this meeting, a representative of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio spoke about their filter paper blood lead kits that they provide free of charge throughout Ohio. These have shown a very high accuracy rate. A small blood sample is taken from the finger, placed on filter paper and the filter papers are then sent to a lab contracted with the hospital in Columbus. This procedure is less invasive and more convenient and may contribute to more children being tested for lead poisoning. In addition, a representative of ODH's Pb program gave a presentation on Essential Maintenance Practices during renovation and repair work that they give to property owners. It was also announced that the date for Ohio's Pb Awareness week has been changed to June 7-13.
Contact: Marlyse Wiebenga, 312-886-4437, Chemicals Management Branch
IPM Scout Training for Michigan Blueberries
On March 6-7, 2009 under the Strategic Agricultural Initiative, CMB staff participated in the annual training program for blueberry "scouts" presented by the Michigan State University Extension in Fennville, Michigan. Scouting is one of the foremost tools in Integrated Pest Management; students learn to recognize and monitor the environmental and biological features of their crop, including weeds, plant diseases and key pests. The class had 29 students from all over the state, including several Hispanic farmers.
CMB staff prepared a presentation on FIFRA and FQPA regulations, and the transition to less hazardous pesticides. In particular, blueberry growers are concerned about the phase-out of azinphos methyl (AZM), for which all uses end in 2012. Alternatives with comparable effectiveness are not yet widely available or recommended; other specialty crops, including cherries and apples, are further along in the development and implementation of effective AZM alternatives against their respective pests. Michigan grows almost one-third of the nation's blueberries--110 million pounds on 18,600 acres--with a market value last year of $124 million.
Contact: Seth Dibblee, 312-886-5992, Chemicals Management Branch
30th Annual West Michigan Home & Garden Show
US EPA Region 5's Lead Team, partnered with the Michigan Department of Community Health's Lead and Healthy Homes Section, to staff a display at the Home & Garden Show held at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, MI on March 5-8, 2009. The display featured using "Lead Safe Work Practices" to reduce the incidence of lead poisoning among young children in Western Michigan. During the four days, over 270 remodeling professionals, parents and caregivers stopped to ask questions and to pick up materials. Visitors were particularly interested in the new Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. A number of contractors were aware of the rule and expressed interest in becoming Certified Renovators.
Contact: John Wsol, 312-353-5685, Chemicals Management Branch
Materials Management Branch Hosts Webinar for the Composting Industry on the Compost Based Stormwater Best Management Practices
On March 10, 2009 the Materials Management Branch hosted a webinar to promote the use of the compost based stormwater best management practices. Compost used in this application is able to reduce and improve the quality of stormwater run-off, increase stormwater infiltration, promote growth of vegetative covers, and build the market for compost that use organic wastes. Composting reduces the need to dispose of organic wastes, such as landscape waste, food wastes, manures, and biosolids in landfills thus reducing the amount of the greenhouse gas methane produced in them. This webinar, an on-line conference where speakers present information and interact with the audience via voice or chat features, was one in a series of calls promoting these BMPs. This call was marketed to the composting industry and featured the experiences of a composter, information on the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance program, as well as details on the compost BMPs and the experiences of someone that has used the BMPs in the past. Over 120 people attended the call from across the country, and from a variety of industries and government. From responses to questions about attendee’s opinion of the call, the information presented increased 75% of the respondent’s knowledge about how compost can be used in this application, and motivated 65% of the respondents to try using the BMPs this year. Also 53% of the respondents would not have been able to travel to a call on this topic. Funding for this project was provided by the Innovations Working Group. Presentations from the webinar can be viewed at: http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/solidwaste/recycle/compost/webinars.html.
Contact: Christopher Newman, 312-353-8402, Materials Management Branch
Two Groundbreaking SC3 Agreements for Region 5
The Region 5 SC3 Team, Janet Haff and Maryann Suero, negotiated the first partnership agreement with a Tribal College in the nation with the Menominee Tribal College in addition to the first partnership agreement in the nation with a State Department of Education, the Wisconsin Department of Education. These two organizations, in partnership with the Region 5 SC3 team will be holding training for teachers from Wisconsin tribal area schools. An additional training will be held for facility personnel. These trainings will take place the week of March 9, 2009 in Keshena, Wisconsin and are being funded by the Region 5 CARE Program.
Contact: Janet Haff, 312-353-7923, Materials Management Branch
Green Cleaning Presentation for Custodian Trainees
Phil Kaplan and Steve Morgan made a presentation to a class for custodian trainees sponsored by the Transforming, Educating and Empowering Children and Humanity (TEECH) Foundation. The 1½ hour session focused on green cleaning products as well as requirements to read the label for disinfectant cleaners. Amy Mysz (CMB) provided great assistance in preparation for the presentation on the appropriate use of EPA registered disinfectants. We reviewed the recognition programs for green cleaners including the EPA Design for Environment (DfE) Formulator program, Green Seal and EcoLogo. We pointed to resources and publications available through EPA on environmentally preferable purchasing, the Indoor Air Quality program and the concepts reduce, reuse, and recycle. The session was very well received.
Contact: Phil Kaplan, 312-353-4669, Materials Management Branch
Mallard Lake Corrective Action Plan Finalized
U.S. EPA provided final comments on the Mallard Lake Corrective Action Plan Report. The CAP summarizes the corrective action activities on-site at the facility and off-site in the residential neighborhood (removing sub-surface methane gas and destroying it in mobile combustion units). The CAP also establishes the off-site methane clean-up levels and the monitoring plan to verify they have been met. The off-site gas removal has begun and has reduced the sub-surface methane concentrations in certain areas under the residences. The gas removal will continue until the clean-up levels are achieved. Once the clean-up levels are achieved the facility will continue monitoring off-site and on the site perimeter for a year to verify the clean-up levels are not exceeded. These activities will fulfill the requirements of the RCRA 7003 Administrative Order on Consent, which was issued in December, 2007.
A second investigation is occurring northeast of the Mallard Lake Landfill. Sub-surface methane was detected last summer near a school. The goals of the second investigation are to determine the nature and extent of sub-surface methane contamination and to ascertain the source of the methane. The source of the contamination could be the Mallard Lake Landfill and/or the closer Mallard North Landfill, which is an older landfill. Mallard North Landfill is not covered under the RCRA 7003 AOC.
Contact: Donna Twickler, 312-886-6184, Materials Management Branch
MMB Engages Elkhart County Companies in LCD Programs
On March 5, 2009, Janet Haff met with six Elkhart County companies and the Community Development Planner from Elkhart County as part of a partnership between the U.S. EPA Brownfields Program, Elkhart County and the Materials Management Branch (MMB). The meetings were to discuss the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities program and the WasteWise program. Companies were provided information on the two programs and detailed discussions were held on how these companies might join either or both programs. MMB staff will be following up with these companies on both programs.
Contact: Janet Haff, 312-353-7923, Materials Management Branch
Priority Chemical/NPEP Pilot Project Kicks Off First Facility Visit
The Materials Management Branch (MMB) and the RCRA Branch (RB) conducted the first of five facility visits covered by the Resource Conservation Challenge Pilot Project on recruiting facilities for the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) program. On March 4, 2009, staff from both MMB and RB conducted a joint visit to a facility located in Michigan. Staff from MDEQ also participated in the site visit. There were discussions specifically dealing with the lead generation at the facility. Additional information will be made available upon completion of the review.
Contact: Janet Haff, 312-353-7923, Materials Management Branch
Multi-Unit Recycling Event at 3660 N. Lake Shore Drive
On March 10, 2009 representatives from Region 5 and the City of Chicago’s Department of the Environment hosted an outreach event at one of the 20 multi-unit buildings in the City’s 46th Ward participating in the “Chicago Multi-Unit Recycling Study Project.” The purpose of the project is to pilot an effort to develop effective recycling programs and policies for high-density residential buildings. The project is partially supported by a solid waste management assistance grant from Region 5. The New York Private Residences (NYPR) is the second largest of the pilot project buildings with 594 units, and is one of five buildings in the pilot selected for a series of three comprehensive waste and recycling audits. The audits have been completed. The final report for the overall project is being finalized. Its results and findings will be of interest to EPA headquarters, the other regions, and other big urban areas that have followed this project since its inception – recycling in multi-unit buildings has proven to be problematic for many recycling programs. Meanwhile, by way of thanking the buildings which participated in this pilot, the City purchased bags made out of recycled-content materials to be distributed to building residents for their use in collecting recyclables in their units and toting to central recycling areas in their buildings. The bags are especially handy for residents of apartments and condominiums where storage space is often at a premium (making recycling bins and other similar containers unworkable, and thus helping to contribute to the difficulties in implementing recycling in multi-unit residences). For the "price" of signing a card pledging to recycle and to promote recycling to their neighbors, 155 NYPR residents received bags at the outreach event. The building's condo board committed to continuing this outreach effort to those residents who were not able to make the March 10 event, and the building management was given 110 additional bags for that purpose. The event was met with much enthusiasm by those who participated in the event. Residents had lots of questions about the City's current recycling program and how it is evolving, thereby reinforcing the importance of education and outreach when new programs and policies are being introduced.
A comprehensive toolkit is also a product of this project and was introduced to the participants in the pilot for them to use and test out the effectiveness of the information. The toolkit can be found at http://www.chicagorecycles.org (then click on "Residential Recycling" then "Multi-Unit Buildings").
Contact: Julie Gevrenov, 312-886-6832, Materials Management Branch; Mary Setnicar, 312-886-0976, RCRA Branch
Informational Meeting with Gary Sanitary District
On March 10, 2009, Mike Mikulka, LCD, Mark Koller, ORC and Marc Tuchman and Dave Cowgill from GLNPO met with representatives and consultants for Gary Sanitary District (GSD) to share information about the GSD Ralston Street Lagoon Project and the Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA). A preliminary discussion was held regarding the project's eligibility for funding as a source control project under GLLA. A decision by EPA regarding selection of the final remedy for the site is pending.
Contact: Mike Mikulka, 312-886-6760, Remediation and Reuse Branch
AK Steel, Middlletown, OH Meeting on Corrective Action Held
On March 6, 2009, Mike Mikulka of EPA met with staff and consultants from AK Steel to discuss revision of the design documents for the planned construction of several interim measures required by the Consent Decree entered with EPA, the State of Ohio and the Sierra Club in May 2006. In December 2008, AK Steel submitted a draft design package to EPA for the planned construction of its floodplain and sediment remedy for Monroe Ditch and Reach 1 of Dicks Creek, as well as an interim treatment measure to abate the discharge of PCB-contaminated non-aqueous phase liquids to Monroe Ditch. AK Steel has since selected the construction contractor for the project and presented tentative design revisions to EPA, Ohio EPA and Sierra Club (intervenors) for discussion. A revised submission to EPA, which addresses comments made by the regulatory agencies and Sierra Club, is planned for March 31, 2009. The construction is planned to commence in May of 2009 and be completed in November 2009. Phase 2, dealing with Reach 2 of Dicks Creek, is planned for 2010.
Contact: Mike Mikulka, 312-886-6760, Remediation and Reuse Branch
Meeting with Ohio EPA and Illinois EPA on the Corrective Action Program
On March 4, 2009, Hak Cho met with Ohio EPA staff and managers in Columbus, Ohio regarding the OEPA’s FY2009 workplan and the 2011 GPRA goals of the RCRA corrective action program. A presentation was provided by OEPA on the current 2009 corrective action activities with the specific commitments for the GPRA measures and also projections for 2010 and 2011 goals. The meeting was to discuss the National goals for 2014, as well as a draft Region 5 - 2020 strategy. The Region is very pleased to learn that OEPA has made a very significant progress in meeting FY2009 commitments. Overall, the meeting was very productive, and both agencies agreed to follow-up the progress closely to make sure the 2011 goals can be accomplished.
Also, Hak Cho has a schedule to meet with Illinois EPA staff and managers on March 12, 2009 in Springfield, Illinois regarding IEPA’s 2011 and 2014 GPRA goals of the RCRA corrective action program.
Contact: Hak Cho, 312-886-0988, Remediation and Reuse Branch
Tower Automotive, LLC Presents PCB Cleanup Proposal to EPA
On March 3, 2009 Tower Automotive, LLC (Tower) met with LCD staff in Region 5 to discuss their proposed actions to remediate PCB contamination in soils at their Elkton, MI, facility. The facility, which is located approximately 10 miles from Lake Huron, manufactures structural stampings and assemblies, including full frames and cradles, for the automotive industry. Most of the PCB contamination in the surface soils is attributed to historic leaks from PCB transformers that have since been taken out of service, and an oil-water separator that may have backed up. Tower plans to submit a workplan for additional investigation, which will provide more insight into the contamination and help to finalize the remediation plans.
Contact: Christine McConaghy, 312-353-2013, Remediation and Reuse Branch