Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter

EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending October 31, 2008

EVENT LAUNCHES MARYLAND CORPORATE WETLANDS RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP

Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh joined EPA Assistant Administrator Benjamin Grumbles on Oct. 24 at the Queenstown Harbor Golf Course to mark the inception of the Maryland chapter of the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP) and the proposed restoration of environmental habitats in Maryland, including the eroding shoreline of the Chester River. The CWRP is a national private-public initiative aimed at preserving, restoring, and protecting aquatic habitats and since its inception has preserved, restored, enhanced and protected more than 20,000 acres of wetlands and 7,000 stream miles nationwide. To learn more about the partnership, go to http://www.coastalamerica.gov/text/cwrp.html To learn more about the new Maryland chapter, go to http://www.chesapeakebay.net/news_wetlandrest08.aspx?menuitem=32294

EPA INTRODUCES INITIATIVE AT ASTHMA SYMPOSIUM

Asthma coalition representatives across the country attended the 10th Annual American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) annual Community Asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Coalitions Symposium on Oct. 29-30 in Philadelphia, Pa. EPA staff presented its Communities in Action for Asthma Friendly Environments initiative to improve health outcomes for people with asthma. Highlights included: Asthma in American Cities project; Environmental Tobacco Smoke: How to Reduce Exposure; and Developing State Plans and Coalitions for COPD.
For information on the forum, go to http://www.epaasthmaforum.com/About.aspx
To learn about the EPA asthma program, go to http://www.epa.gov/asthma/programs.html
To learn about the symposium, go to http://www.chestnet.org/CHEST/program/asthmaCoalition.php

TWO GROUPS IN REGION 3 EARN GREEN POWER LEADERSHIP AWARDS

The EPA-sponsored Green Power Leadership Awards honored two regional winners out of 16 national ones for buying green power and helping advance the nation's green power market. The Philadelphia Phillies and the University of Pennsylvania were awarded a Green Power Purchasing award and a Green Power Partner of the Year award, respectively. Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro-electric power. The Green Power Partners purchased nearly 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually (equivalent to the amount of electricity needed to power more than 460,000 average American homes). The purchases will avoid the same amount of CO2 emissions that 640,000 vehicles would produce in one year. For more information on the Green Power Award winners, go to epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm For more information on the partnership, go to Information on EPA's Green Power Partnership: epa.gov/greenpower

EPA BLOG QUESTION OF THE WEEK: CHECKING YOUR HOME FOR ENERGY VAMPIRES

Each week, there is a chance to tell EPA what you think on an environmental topic via the EPA blog, Greenversations. EPA asks: What are your energy vampires? Energy vampires are the electronics, adapters, and appliances, sucking power from outlets even when apparently not in use or "off." For example, a TV always uses a little power so it can always receive the "on" signal from the remote control. Adapters, too, use power even when not plugged into their device. This is an unnecessary waste of energy, costing Americans almost $10 billion a year (almost 11 percent of all U.S. energy use). Are vampires sucking energy from your home? Check your home using your power meter. Share your answer at http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2008/10/27/qotw-what-are-your-energy-vampires/ To get email when we post a new question, go to http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USAEPA_345

ENERGY STAR-LABELED TELEVISIONS UPGRADED FOR NEW MARKET

Starting on Nov. 1, televisions will be available in electronic stores nationwide that meet the new more comprehensive Energy Star energy efficiency specification and are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional models. If all televisions sold in the United States met the new Energy Star requirements, the savings in energy costs would grow to be about $1 billion annually and greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by the equivalent of about 1 million cars.
An up-to-date list of models that meet the new specification can be found at http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/prod_lists/tv_vcr_prod_list.pdf.
For more information about the newly qualified Energy Star televisions and the Energy Star program in general, go to http://www.energystar.gov

EPA ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2009 GREEN CHEMISTRY AWARDS

EPA is accepting nominations for the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards to recognize chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use, and have broad applications in industry. Nominated technologies should reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances from a chemical product or process. Any individual, group or organization (both nonprofit and for-profit), including academia and industry, may place a nomination for these awards including self-nominations. Awards are typically given in five categories: Greener Synthetic Pathways; Greener Reaction Conditions; Designing Greener Chemicals. To be eligible for the 2009 awards, nominations must be sent no later than Dec. 31 for presentation on June 22, 2009.
To enter a nomination, go to http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/howto.html

NEW GUIDELINES ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING OF ELECTRONICS
EPA has developed a new guide for electronics recyclers on how to run environmentally safe recycling operations. EPA's “Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers” promotes better environmental, worker safety, and public health practices for electronics recyclers. The R2 guide lists 13 principles to help electronics recyclers ensure potentially toxic material is handled safely and legally in the nation and abroad. Properly reusing and recycling used electronics helps the environment, saves energy and conserves natural resources. However, when improperly managed or dismantled, used electronics can release materials that harm the environment and public health. For more information about the guidelines, go to http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/r2practices.htm

EPA PROPOSES TO REDUCE AIR TOXICS FROM PETROLEUM REFINERIES BY 2,250 TONS PER YEAR

EPA is seeking comment on additional options for reducing emissions of air toxic pollutants from petroleum refineries based on a 2007 proposal. Included in this proposal are options for controlling air toxics emissions from storage tanks located at petroleum refineries and revisions to the maximum achievable control technology work practice standards for cooling towers. In addition to reducing 2,250 tons of air toxics each year, EPA proposes to slash nearly 19,000 tons of volatile organic compounds with a $3.8 million savings nationwide. EPA will accept public comment on this proposal for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3fs.html

EPA FINALIZES RULE TO CONTROL MANURE WASTEWATER FROM CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS

EPA has finalized a rule to help protect the nation's water quality by requiring concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to safely manage manure. This is the first time EPA has required a nutrient management plan (NMP) for manure to be submitted as part of a CAFO's Clean Water Act permit application. EPA estimates CAFO regulations will prevent 56 million pounds of phosphorus, 110 million pounds of nitrogen, and 2 billion pounds of sediment from entering streams, lakes, and other waters annually. Manure contains the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which, when not properly managed on agricultural land can pollute nearby streams, lakes, and other waters. The deadline for newly defined facilities to apply for permits is Feb. 27, 2009. Information on the CAFO rule is provided at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/caforule

2008 GREEN BUILDING DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

EPA announced the winners of the Second Annual Green Building Design award competition at the WasteWise/National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Conference in Washington, D.C. Two Region 3 awardees were selected for innovative green ideas that reduce the environmental and energy impacts of buildings and assist the building industry in the reuse (and saving from landfills) of millions of tons of construction and demolition debris. They are: The Tripod Project: A Plug and Play Housing System by Brian Kish of Pittsburgh, Pa., - a modular zero energy house which allows homeowners to change their homes by adding or subtracting pods to suit their needs. Also from Region 3 is the Loblolly House project by Roderick Bates of Philadelphia, Pa. which represents a novel approach to pre-fabricated and modular housing embodying energy and carbon footprint analysis. For a full list of the winners, go to http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org/2008/winners.php.

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