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Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending August 8, 2008
EPA CLARIFIES POLICY ON BLENDING FUEL WITH ETHANOL AT GASOLINE STATIONS
EPA has clarified the Clean Air Act requirements for ethanol blending of fuels at retail gasoline stations to reduce the risk to public health from their emissions. EPA cautions retail stations that they should take precautions to prevent misfueling of higher ethanol blends into gasoline-only vehicles since it may damage certain emissions control devices and increase emissions from these vehicles. By law, retail stations are prohibited from selling gasoline that is blended with more than 10 percent ethanol for use in gasoline-only vehicles and engines. However, gasoline that contains up to 85 percent ethanol may be sold for use in flexible-fueled vehicles or engines.
WORKSHOPS OFFER HELP IN APPLYING FOR BROWNFIELDS GRANTS
EPA sponsored a workshop in Roanoke, Va., on Aug. 6 to help local governments and nonprofit organizations apply for EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund grants. Participants learned about the different types of brownfields grants, eligibility requirements, the grant application process, and tips on how to prepare a good grant application. Four additional workshops are planned – one in Bethlehem, Pa., on Sept. 3, another at Huntington, W.Va., on Sept. 11 and two webinars for northeast states on Sept. 17 and 18. Information on the program and other workshop sessions is available at http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/whatsnew/pdfs/R3_Mid_Atlantic_Flyer_071708_w_photo.pdf
SUMMER MINORITY UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM CONCENTRATES ON MARYLAND BLUE CRAB CONSERVATION
High School minority students participated in the Upward Bound University of Maryland Eastern Shore program this summer as they continued their concentration on blue crab conservation. Students presented their "Blue Crab Apprentice" social marketing campaigns, designed clever and creative posters, jingles, and TV commercial skits aimed at protecting the blue crab’s habitat by encouraging others to properly dispose of litter and pet waste, and keeping cars well-maintained. They learned how to identify local plant, animal, and insect species and how the blue crab population decline is affecting the livelihood of watermen and crab-pickers in the Delmarva Peninsula and its surrounding waters.
EPA EMPLOYEE CONDUCTS YEARLY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LECTURE AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY, GLENSIDE, PA
An EPA Region 3 employee will be presenting his yearly lecture to an environmental science class at Arcadia University, in Glenside, Pa. as a regional community outreach. The topic will be on Pennsylvania Superfund sites such as the Palmerton Zinc Pile (Carbon County, Pa.), the Tranguch Gasoline Spill (Hazleton, Pa.,) and the Price Battery Superfund site (Berks County, Pa.). This environmental education presentation has been given to students at the university for the past five years and makes up part of the material the students are tested on.
EPA FUNDS DELAWARE ESTUARY CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTS
EPA Region 3's Climate Change Division is working with Region 2 on a $75,000 project to develop and implement a methodology to describe the ecological and economic impacts of sea level rise on selected ecosystem services in the New Jersey portion of the Delaware Estuary to help coastal communities more effectively plan and adapt to climate change. The project will provide information for Partnership for the Delaware Estuary's Regional Restoration Initiative and to the "Climate Ready Estuaries" $50,000 pilot project which will be awarded to the PDE through a Region 3 Fiscal Year 2009 National Estuary Program Grant. For information on the Climate Ready Estuaries pilot program, go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/cre.html
RESEARCH DIVES IN THE DELAWARE BAY TURN UP SURPRISES
EPA Region 3's Dive Team and other scientists aboard the EPA vessel RV Lear were conducting scientific studies at hard bottom habitats of the Delaware Bay near Slaughter Beach, Del. when they discovered colonies of as yet unidentified species of sponge and worm colonies in biological “hot spot” areas of the bay. Now, EPA scientists plan to conduct biological and chemical assessments of these finds to fill in data gaps and to contribute to the chemical, physical, and biological knowledge of the Delaware Bay.
EPA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS TO RESPOND TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN WATER
EPA is seeking comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that will be used in a detailed study of unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals. EPA's four-pronged approach for pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water aims at strengthening scientific knowledge; improving public understanding; building partnerships for stewardship; and taking regulatory action when appropriate. EPA will accept public comments on the Health Care Industry ICR for 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Comments must be received on or before November 10. To read the Federal Register notice, go to http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2008/August/Day-12/w18606.pdf For more information on PPCPs, go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/
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