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Accor North America has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce mercury throughout its properties in the United States and Canada.

As part of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP), the company will replace the fluorescent bulbs it currently uses in its hotels with low-mercury bulbs. It will also recycle the mercury from the bulbs it replaces.

“Protecting public health and the environment is a team effort,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “The efforts of partners such as Accor North America are helping EPA improve our environment while inspiring others to do the same.”

Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, Accor North America operates more than 1,000 properties including nationwide economy leaders Motel 6 and Studio 6, Sofitel Luxury Hotels and upscale Novotel locations in the U.S. and Canada.

“Our commitment to environmental awareness and the green initiatives we have implemented throughout our organization are an important part of our business model, and they contribute significantly to our success,” said Oliver Poirot, CEO for Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. “We are proud to join the EPA National Partnership for Environmental Priorities, and we’ll continue to work together to make our world a cleaner, healthier place to live, play and do business.”

NPEP is a voluntary program with more than 240 members from private and public organizations nationwide. The goal of the program is the reduction, reuse or recycling of 31 priority chemicals. Priority chemicals are long-lasting substances that can build up in the food chain and cause harm to humans and the environment.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized McCoy’s Building Supply for the company’s assistance in preventing childhood lead poisoning.

Since January 2005, McCoy’s has been a partner with EPA Region 6 in preventing childhood lead poisoning in vulnerable populations living in Texas. McCoy’s has assisted in the distribution of environmental information such as “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,” “The Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Education Rule,” and “The Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Regulation.” Over the past four years McCoy’s has distributed over 16,000 pieces of literature through its stores.

“EPA thanks McCoy’s for its assistance in this important right-to-know program,” said EPA Region 6 Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division Director Carl Edlund. “There is no more serious environmental concern than America’s older homes with lead-based paint. Our young children are the most at risk and must be protected from lead poisoning.”

Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have lead-based paint. Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health problems if not taken care of properly. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from brain and nervous system damage, behavior and learning problems, and slowed growth. Lead is also harmful to adults and can cause reproductive problems, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, and memory and concentration problems.

“As one of the largest family-owned businesses in the building supply industry, we know that we have a responsibility to promote environmentally-responsible building practices,” said McCoy’s Vice President of Marketing Dan Stauffer. “We work hard to bring our customers information about green building procedures, sustainable building techniques and healthier building supplies, so they can make better choices for their families. Our Building Science Library at mccoys.com lets consumers learn about environmental building standards, and they can get breaking environmental news on our blog.”

Since the opening of their first store in Houston, Texas, in 1923, McCoy’s has been a family-owned building supplies retailer with 83 stores located in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. This includes 43 stores located in areas defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program as high risk areas for lead poisoning. Unlike larger home improvement chain stores, McCoy’s stores are mostly located in or in close proximity to neighborhoods with predominantly pre-1978 built housing.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Murphy Products Inc. and the Oklahoma National Stock Yards Company, both of Oklahoma City, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The order specifically addresses a compost facility which is operated by Murphy Products on property owned by the National Stock Yards. The facility is located southeast of the intersection of I-40 and I-44 in Oklahoma City and includes a composting system which incorporates animal manure from the stock yards. On June 22 and 23, 2009, inspectors from EPA and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF), observed the potential for unauthorized discharges from the compost facility directly into the Oklahoma River.

“EPA will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s environmental laws through effective compliance assistance and a strong enforcement program,” said EPA Region 6 Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division Director John Blevins. “Environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility.”

“On July 1, 2009, ODAFF issued an Emergency Cease and Desist Order to Murphy Products to stop all conditions which may lead to a discharge of pollutants to the waters of the State, including the Oklahoma River. ODAFF is pleased to work with EPA in joint enforcement actions such as this to stop potential pollution from agricultural sources in Oklahoma,” said Terry Peach, Oklahoma’s Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture.

Based on these findings, Murphy Products, Inc. and the Oklahoma National Stock Yards Company have been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the compost system, and within 30 days submit to EPA and ODAFF a plan and schedule of actions that will ensure that all run-off from the compost facility does not discharge to the Oklahoma River.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an administrative order to Mike McClure Farms in Hopkins County, Texas, for violating the federal Clean Water Act.

The facility is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) and falls under the regulatory authority of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.

Mike McClure Farms is a poultry broiler facility located approximately 18 miles east of Sulphur Springs, situated on the north side of County Road 3310, in Hopkins County. On May 19 and 29, and June 12, 2009, EPA inspectors observed an unauthorized discharge of chicken litter from the farm’s poultry litter staging area. The unauthorized discharge of pollutants was observed at the eastern end of the northern poultry house which is used for staging litter that is removed from the barns during cleanout. The staging area drains northwest approximately 340 yards to a wetland that is directly connected to Stouts Creek.

Based on these findings and within 45 days, Mike McClure Farms has been ordered to submit to EPA a schedule for construction of a covered shed under which to stage and store poultry litter and prevent future unauthorized discharges of pollutants to Stouts Creek.

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Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made available comprehensive reports and data on water enforcement in all 50 states as part of a larger effort by Administrator Lisa Jackson to enhance transparency and to promote the public’s right to know about water quality and EPA’s actions to protect it.

EPA has posted detailed information on the current state of clean water compliance and enforcement and copies of the latest clean water enforcement and compliance performance reports for each state. This information is available at www.epa.gov.

In addition, EPA has made available new web-based tools to help the public search, assess, and analyze the data that EPA used to help prepare those reports.

Today’s action is one of several aggressive steps taken by Administrator Jackson to improve the nation’s water quality by increasing the transparency and effectiveness of its national Clean Water Act enforcement program.

In a memorandum issued today, Jackson directed Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, to develop an action plan to enhance public transparency regarding clean water enforcement performance at federal and state levels, to strengthen that performance, and to transform EPA’s water quality and compliance information systems.

The Administrator’s memo directed Giles to take several actions, including the following:

• Improve and enhance the information available on the EPA Web site on compliance and enforcement activities in each state, showing connections where possible to local water quality;
• Provide information in a user-friendly, easily understood format;
• Raise the bar for clean water enforcement performance and ensure enforcement is taken against serious violations that threaten water quality; and
• Improve EPA’s enforcement performance in states where EPA directly implements the clean water program.

Jackson directed Giles to work with EPA’s Office of Water and to consult closely with EPA’s 10 regional offices and the states on the action plan. After obtaining input from other stakeholders, Giles will report back to Jackson in 90 days with recommendations.

The Administrator issued the directive after learning that despite the many successes achieved over the years, too many of our streams, lakes and rivers do not meet water quality standards.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to the Johnson & Ernst Operating Company of Wichita Falls, Texas, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

A June 9, 2009, EPA inspection of the company’s oil field production facility in Wilbarger County, Texas, found an unauthorized discharge of oil field brine generated by production activities into Camp Creek. The inspection also revealed that water located at the discharge point of entry into the creek was contaminated from brine discharges and salts.

Based on these findings, the Johnson & Ernst Operating Company has been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the facility, remove all brine from its on-site pit, and remove all brine from the flow path located between the facility and the discharge point of entry into Camp Creek. The company has also been ordered to remove all brine from Camp Creek itself, and within 30 days provide written certification to EPA that these activities have been completed.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Hunter Energy, Inc. of Mineral Wells, Texas, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

A June 15, 2009, EPA inspection of the company’s oil field production facility in Palo Pinto County, Texas, found an unauthorized discharge of oil field brine generated by production activities into a tributary of Lake Creek. The inspection also revealed that water located at the discharge point of entry into the creek was contaminated from brine discharges and salts.

Based on these findings, Hunter Energy Inc. has been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the facility, remove all brine and contaminated soils from the facility, and remove all brine from the flow path located between the facility and the discharge point of entry into the tributary of Lake Creek. The company has also been ordered to remove all brine from the tributary of Lake Creek, remove all dead vegetation from the tributary, and within 30 days provide written certification to EPA that these activities have been completed.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to the Cantrell Energy Corporation of Ada, Oklahoma, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

A June 11, 2009, EPA inspection of the company’s oil field production facility in Carter County, Oklahoma, found an unauthorized discharge of oil field brine generated by production activities into a tributary of Spring Branch Creek. The inspection also revealed that water located at the discharge point of entry into the tributary was contaminated from brine discharges and salts.

Based on these findings, the Cantrell Energy Corporation has been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the facility, remove all brine and contaminated soils from the flow path located between the facility and the tributary of Spring Branch Creek, and within 30 days provide written certification to EPA that these activities have been completed.