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Significant Developments and Activities Report
LAND AND CHEMICALS DIVISION
Weekly Significant
Developments and Activities Report
June 5, 2009
Pesticides Aquatic Benchmark Meeting
On May 27, 2009, Region 5 hosted a meeting between individuals representing pesticide registrants, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Office of Water, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, non-governmental organizations and Region 5 to identify key issues related to the development of community-level aquatic plant benchmarks.
In 2007, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture received a project grant from U.S. EPA Region 5 supporting an AAPCO/SFIREG initiative to investigate and derive aquatic life benchmarks for a variety of pesticides detected in surface waters. The methodology that was used to develop these aquatic life benchmarks was that detailed in the EPA Office of Water 1985 Guidelines and the Great Lakes Initiative.
Phase 1 of this project involved the collection of the relevant information on each selected pesticide, followed by the calculation of these benchmarks, if possible, using the above-mentioned methodologies. As noted in the methodologies, the derivation of the aquatic animal benchmark values is quite sophisticated and prescriptive. However, the derivation of the aquatic plant benchmark value is less prescriptive because of the lack of plant based studies.
The second phase of this project was therefore designed to identify key issues related to the development of community-level aquatic plant benchmarks and to collect as much scientific information related to these issues as possible. The one-day technical meeting on May 27, 2009 was the primary meeting to discuss information needed and issues related to the derivation of aquatic plant benchmarks.
At this meeting, the registrants expressed a number of concerns regarding the second phase of the project. The first concern was the use of NOEC (No Observed Effect Concentration) values for benchmarks instead of EC50 (Effect Concentration) values which are required by OPP for registration of pesticides. Minnesota will list both values along with LOEC (Low Observed Effect Concentration) values in the final report as a solution to this concern. Another concern was the use of the project benchmarks by states for development of water quality standards. The fear is that states will adopt the benchmarks generated by the project without further refinement because of the lack of resources. Finally, the registrants feel that the benchmarks generated by the project will be used by the public to misrepresent the environmental toxicity of their products.
Minnesota plans on submitting a final project report soon after the end of the project period (September 30, 2009). A 60-day public comment period will precede finalization of the report.
Contact: Bruce Wilkinson, (312) 886-6002, Chemicals Management Branch
Review of "Lead (Pb) Renovator" Training Applications Begins
With the first phase of implementation under EPA's Lead-based paint (Pb) Renovation, Repair & Painting (RRP) Program Rule now underway, training organizations were able to apply for accreditation to offer the new "Certified Renovator"1-day training course and the new "Certified Dust Sampling Technician" 1-day training course beginning April 22, 2009. In the ensuing weeks, EPA has received 61 training applications nationwide, and 18 of these, or roughly 30%, are from commercial and not-for-profit providers located here in Region 5, where this Region will be responsible for processing the applications. A workgroup has been established in LCD to perform these tasks, and is currently meeting twice each week to expedite handling. A large number of training organizations will need to be approved by the U.S. EPA fairly quickly in order to meet the projected demand for properly trained and certified renovation contractors. EPA has forecast that more than 200,000 contractors will need to complete this training before April 22, 2010, when the work practice requirements of the RRP will become enforceable. A temporary delegation of authority has recently been put in place to allow the Regions to grant these accreditation approvals, and Region 5 has initiated its internal redelegation procedure. The earliest training accreditations may begin in June.
Philip King, (312) 353-9062, Chemicals Management Branch
TRI Compliance Assistance Workshops
Fourteen TRI Compliance Assistance workshops were conducted in Region 5 - seven advanced classes and seven basic classes. The TRI compliance assistance workshops promote the understanding of the complicated reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act Section 313. The understanding of the requirements of TRI by the regulated community results in better data. The workshops were well-attended. Walk-ins (those who did not pre-register for the workshops) were common in all workshops. Evaluations received by Region 5 indicated the attendees gained increased understanding of the TRI reporting requirements. Attendees indicated their appreciation that Region 5 offered the workshops. The workshop process is a year-long, resource intensive process. It starts with the acquisition of the mailing database and the making of the flyers and culminating in the holding of the workshops. The LCD TRI staff collaborates with HQs and the R5 States thereby promoting cost and FTE efficiencies. For example, several States provided free workshop venues.
Contact: Thelma Codina, (312) 886-7899, Chemicals Management Branch
EPA Meeting with Gas Pipeline Associations (AGA and INGAA)
On May 28, 2009, EPA's Region 5 and Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) offices hosted a meeting with AGA (American Gas Association - representing the distributors) and INGAA (Interstate Natural Gas Association of America - representing the transmission companies) to discuss PCB contamination issues within natural gas transmission and distribution lines. There was an extensive discussion on the current state of PCB contamination remaining in the gas pipelines and EPA's concern of the PCBs reaching any end-users. The discussion also covered some steps the gas industry is doing to manage the contamination and the possibility of developing and implementing voluntary best management practices to further identify and control the PCBs in the pipelines. The gas associations both agreed to submit information to EPA on the steps its members (the gas companies) are currently taking to address PCBs in their systems.
Bradley Grams, (312) 886-7747, Chemicals Management Branch
Transforming, Educating, and Empowering Children and Humanity (TEECH) - Pesticide Outreach
On May 26, 2009, Steve Morgan, Pesticides Section gave a presentation to 27 individuals from the TEECH Foundation pilot program. This training helps prospective janitors learn of environmentally safe and green custodial cleaning products and services. The training took place at the Garden Park Baptist Church, 6600 South King Drive, Chicago, IL. The attendees first learned about U.S. EPA's mission and mandate as it relates to the environment, received and discussed the EPA brochure “Why Read Labels"?. We discussed the meaning of signal words such as (Caution, Warning, and Danger) when using a pesticide and the difference between a cleaning product and a sanitizing/deodorizing product. Additionally, the fact sheet “Understanding Pesticides” regarding safety while using cleaning and pesticides products was also discussed. We distributed EPA give-a-ways, including three EPA public health brochures. The workshop concluded with a question and answer session.
Contact: Steven Morgan, (312) 353-1524, Land and Chemical Division.
Focus on Large Scale Composting and E-Waste Legislation at Annual Michigan Recycling Coalition Meeting
The Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC) hosted its annual meeting May 19-21, 2009 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The meeting was attended by Robert Harris and Rebecca Geyer from LCD. Meeting highlights include: discussion of infrastructure development for large scale composting, and examination and discussion of Michigan’s new e-waste legislation including a roundtable of local e-waste recyclers. The meeting succeeded in fostering relationships and strengthening communication between the Materials Management Branch (MMB) and Programs Services Branch (PSB) staff and employees from the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG), as well as familiarizing MMB and PSB staff and state environmental employees with industry and local government concerns and rising issues. Well over 100 attendees were present at the meeting including representatives from MDEQ, Michigan Department of Energy, DELEG, a variety of recycling and waste hauling industry representatives, participants from many county and local level government environmental departments, as well as attendees from the environmental non-profit sector.
Contact: Rebecca Geyer, (312) 353-8314, Materials Management Branch
Possible Donation Outlets Identified for Chicago Public School Materials
MMB staff, along with Chicago Public School's Asset Disposition Consultant, visited Dulles, Johnson, and the Nia/Foundations/Best Practices Creiger Complex to identify reusable or recyclable materials that these schools will no longer want after they are renovated, consolidated, or closed. After visiting numerous schools, the team identified old textbooks and furniture as the most voluminous unwanted assets. Given the short turnaround time to remove these items before renovations and other actions begin on June 15, 2009, the team will concentrate on finding donation outlets for these two categories. Possible program options include donating used textbooks to China and donating used furniture to Haiti.
Contact: Dolly Tong, (312) 886-1019, Materials Management Branch
Healthcare Sustainability Pilot Project
On May 26, 2009, MMB staff met with the co-directors of the international organization Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), the Chicago Department of Environment (DOE) Commissioner, and the Chicago Director of the Clinton Foundation, to begin planning the first municipally-based sustainable healthcare pilot project with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. EPA is supporting the project through the technical assistance and tools available in the WasteWise, Combined Heat and Power, WaterSense and Energy Star Programs, as well as connecting the group with state and local contacts such as the Illinois Hospital Association. Chicago DOE will be coordinating with other government organizations such as the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, not-for-profits organizations such as Center for Neighborhood Technology, and utilities such as ComEd to determine resources available for the project. HCWH will be recruiting hospital systems to participate in project and healthcare foundations to support the pilot project. The Clinton Foundation will be working on financial support for the project and retrofit options for the pilot facilities. The U.S. Department of Energy has also committed to participate in and provide support for the pilot project. The goal is to initiate the pilot at a number of healthcare systems this fall.
Contact: Donna Twickler, (312) 886-6184, Materials Management Branch
U.S. EPA Exhibit at CleanMed Conference
U.S. EPA developed an exhibit/poster for the CleanMed Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago from May 18-20, 2009. CleanMed is the annual international conference promoting sustainability for the healthcare sector. The exhibit, entitled "U.S. EPA Voluntary Programs Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions" promoted the WasteWise, Combined Heat and Power and Energy Star Programs. Along with environmental benefits of each of the programs, case studies were provided which quantified waste reductions (converted to avoided GHG emissions by the Waste Reduction Model) and energy conserved (in kilowatt-hours) from healthcare facilities. U.S. EPA also input the energy conserved into the Environmental Impact Calculator, developed by Practice Greenhealth using U.S. EPA data, to determine the health benefits associated with the conserved energy. The exhibit/poster was well receive. It will be used again at an upcoming joint Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Hospital Association Meeting, to promote the EPA voluntary programs and sustainable practices to Wisconsin hospitals. The development of the exhibit was a joint effort between LCD (Donna Twickler), ARD (Alexis Cain and Audrie Washington) and OPA (Belinda Robinson).
Contact: Donna Twickler, (312) 886-6184, Materials Management Branch
EPA Settles a National Case with General Motors, Inc., for RCRA Violations
On May 26, 2009, EPA filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) with the Regional Hearing Clerk under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) concluding a 2003 enforcement action brought against three GM assembly plants in Region 5. Furthermore, this CAFO commenced and concluded an action against one additional GM assembly plant in Region 5 that was not part of the original action. Finally, this CAFO also commenced and concluded actions within Region 3 (1 plant), Region 4 (1 plant) and Region 7 (2 plants). Broadly, GM has agreed to comply with certain hazardous waste management requirements specific to its management of hazardous waste in tanks systems as specified. The signing of this CAFO settles the above violations with a $48,260 penalty
Contact: Duncan Campbell, (312) 886-4555, RCRA Branch
Lake Michigan Pilot of National Water Quality Monitoring Network for Coastal Waters Presented at IAGLR
On May 21, 2009, LCD staff gave a presentation on the Lake Michigan Pilot of the "National Water Quality Monitoring Network for Coastal Waters and Their Tributaries" ("NMN") at the 52nd Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research. The presentation identified the gaps in ambient environmental monitoring of Lake Michigan's coasts and tributaries relative to the NMN design for Great Lakes coasts. The NMN focus on water quality includes monitoring of biota, air, sediments, and water in tributaries as well as the nearshore and offshore waters. The year 2010 is as an opportunity for researchers to fill monitoring gaps in the same year as monitoring for the national coastal condition report, in all Great Lakes, and intensive Lake Michigan sampling by the Great Lakes National Program Office. According to the OMB website, the President's 2010 budget
includes a $475 million multi-agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect and clean up the largest fresh water system in the world through contaminated sediment cleanup, invasive species control, non-point source pollution mitigation and critical habitat protection. Monitoring could be part of the multi-agency initiative.
Contact: Sue Brauer, (312) 353-6134, RCRA Branch