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Significant Developments and Activities Report
LAND AND CHEMICALS DIVISION
Weekly Significant Developments and Activities Report
August 22, 2008
Addressing and Managing Illegal Dumps’ Training, St. Paul, MN
MMB staff participated in the ‘Addressing and Managing Illegal Dumps’ training in St. Paul, MN August 12-14, 2008 hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program. MMB staff assisted ITEP in instructing some of the course content. The focus of the training was to enable tribal environmental departments to better prevent and clean up illegal dumps, and manage a successful solid waste program. Lessons were conducted on laws and regulations pertaining to illegal dumps both federal and tribal, prevention and public outreach strategy, compliance and enforcement practices, and on clean-up and tracking efforts. Follow-up group activities were held on behavior changing strategies and costs associated with illegal dump management. In addition to MMB staff, approximately 20 environmental staff from tribes (eight from Region 5) was represented. The training succeeded in introducing tribal staff to the concerns of managing a successful solid waste program and preventing illegal dumps, fostering communication and cooperation between tribal environmental staff, U.S. EPA and other federal agencies, emphasizing collaboration between tribal environmental staff, tribal residents, and local government, and furthering understanding of tribal issues by MMB staff.
Contacts: Dolly Tong, 312-886-1019; Rebecca Geyer, 312-353-8314
Indiana Harbor and Shipping Canal Dredging Project Annual Technology Public Meeting
On August 13, 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted their Annual Technology Meeting in East Chicago, Indiana. The purpose of the public meeting was to provide a status report of the technical aspects of the Indiana Harbor and Shipping Canal (IHSC) dredging project and operation of the confined disposal facility (CDF) in East Chicago. The agenda consisted of two presentations; the first on the past-to-present air monitoring program at the CDF, including the recommendation to modify the frequency of samples from 6 to 12-days. The second was a presentation by a USACE Contractor regarding the future plan for air & water monitoring while the CDF is in operation - i.e. the dredge/disposal phase beginning in 2010. As a cooperating agency, the Region has reviewed, provided comments and participated in discussions on these two issues, much of which relates to the recent supplemental human health risk assessment conducted by the Region. Those in attendance were Laura Lodisio (LCD) and Motria Caudill (ARD)
Contact: Laura Lodisio, 312-886-7090
U.S. EPA, Region 5 Denies Entry of Two Pesticide Products into the United States
The U.S. EPA, Region 5, Pesticides and Toxics Compliance Section (PTCS) have denied the importation of two pesticide products into the United States. At the request of a PTCS enforcement officer, the Michigan Department of Agriculture performed an import inspection at the Port of Detroit concerning two pesticide products, "Enviro Solutions 256 Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner," EPA Reg. No. 6836-205-68138, and "Enviro Solutions 512 Sanitizer," EPA Reg. No. 1839-86-68138. The labels of both of these pesticide products were found to be in violation of FIFRA and the implementing Regulations, and therefore these products were misbranded. The importer, BGreen, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan was instructed to return the two products to Canada, the country of origin.
Contacts: Joseph Lukascyk, 312-886-6233; David Star, 312-886-6009