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Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative developed by the Irrigation Association designed to educate the public about the benefits of water-saving practices, products, and services. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for roughly one-third of all residential water use. Smart irrigation practices use less water and can promote healthy lawns and reduced water bills.

To guide water usage, EPA recommends following these important tips: water only as needed; detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems; use soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems; install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems; and hire a certified professional to install and maintain any irrigation systems.

The Irrigation Association designated July as Smart Irrigation Month because it is a peak water use month in the majority of states across the country. It presents a great opportunity to update irrigation systems, learn more about the importance of water conservation, and to consider hiring a WaterSense irrigation partner to properly install or maintain an irrigation system. These certified professionals can be found on EPA’s WaterSense Web site at www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/irrprof.htm.

EPA launched WaterSense in 2006 to promote water efficiency and enhance the market for water-efficient technologies by helping customers easily identify products and services that meet EPA’s criteria for performance and efficiency. WaterSense promotes water-efficient irrigation practices by partnering with irrigation professionals who have been certified through a WaterSense labeled certification program, thereby demonstrating a knowledge of plant/water relationships, appropriate landscape design and scheduling for water efficiency, and other issues related to water budget and use.

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

On June 4, 2009, an EPA inspection of the company’s oil field production facility in Osage County, Oklahoma, found an unauthorized discharge of oil field brine generated by production activities into a tributary of Hominy Creek and Hominy Creek itself. The inspection revealed that water located at the discharge point of entry into the tributary of Hominy Creek and into Hominy Creek was contaminated from brine discharges and salt.

Based on these findings, Linn Energy, LLC has been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the facility, remove all brine from the flow path located between the facility and Hominy Creek, 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 Williford Resources, LLC of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

On June 20, 2009, an 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 Demijohn Creek. The inspection revealed that water located at the discharge point of entry into Demijohn Creek was contaminated from brine discharges and salt.

Based on these findings, Williford Resources, LLC has been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the facility, remove all brine from the flow path located between the facility and Demijohn Creek, 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 fined Oakland Petroleum Operating Company, Inc. $1,300 for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act. A federal inspection of an oil production facility located on Highway 99 and Turkey Creek Road, Bowring, Osage County, Oklahoma, on April 6, 2009, found the facility’s field drainage system, oil traps, sumps and skimmers were not regularly inspected and oil not properly removed. The inspection also revealed excessive vegetation which affects the integrity and/or walls of containment systems were slightly eroded and had low areas, and visual inspection of containers, foundation and supports were not conducted periodically for deterioration and maintenance needs. Above ground valves and pipelines as well as brine and saltwater disposal facilities were not examined periodically for general condition. As part of an Expedited Settlement Agreement with EPA, the facility has provided certification that all identified deficiencies have been corrected.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined Robinowitz Oil Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma, $3,300 for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act. A federal inspection of the company’s Big Eagle oil production facility located in Osage County, Oklahoma, on February 17, 2009, revealed the company had failed to inspect and provide documentation of required inspections of tanks, piping, valves, supports and other facility equipment as required by SPCC regulations. The inspection also found the company had failed to provide required training and discharge prevention procedures for oil handling personnel and failed to adequately describe the physical layout of the facility, also required by SPCC regulations. The EPA proposed and the company agreed to a $3,300 fine.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued cease and desist administrative orders to the Allrounder I and II Dairies in Hopkins County, Texas, for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

On May 19, 2009, an EPA inspection of the Allrounder I Dairy, located about 18 miles east of Sulphur Springs and on the south side of County Road 3310, found solid manure build-up accumulating on the surface suggesting its manure lagoon lacks adequate capacity for the number of animals currently allowed by their permit. The inspection also revealed the mortality management area was improperly located, operated and maintained. The area is located in a wetland area and drains to Stouts Creek. Numerous carcasses were observed floating, uncovered and partially exposed and in various stages of decomposition.

On May 18 and 19, 2009, an EPA inspection of the Allrounder II Dairy, located about 19 miles east of Sulphur Springs and southwest of the intersection of County Roads 3378 and 3385, found discharges of manure and contaminated water in several locations along the west berm of the facility’s lagoon and into a tributary of Stouts Creek. The inspection also revealed the mortality management area was improperly located, operated and maintained similar to conditions observed at the Allrounder I Dairy.

Silage piles at the dairies are located outside designated drainage areas of the lagoons and are considered feedstock material. Runoff from the piles is required to be collected in the lagoons but was observed discharging to Stouts Creek.

Based on these findings, the dairies have been ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants, and within 30 days remove stockpiled manure from drainage areas and land apply or relocate the piles to an area that will ensure runoff is captured in an approved lagoon.

The dairies have also been ordered to excavate and relocate their mortality management areas to an approved location that is not in a wetland and does not discharge to a wetland or waterway, and provide to EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) current certification of no hydrologic connection for the lagoons.

Within 90 days, the dairies must provide to EPA and TCEQ a plan and schedule of actions that will ensure all runoff from the production areas drain to an approved lagoon and ensure than all runon and runoff from silage storage piles are collected and stored in an approved lagoon.

The dairies have been given 120 days to submit to EPA and TCEQ a certified summary of all completed items and photographs to document completed work.

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As part of a groundbreaking first between the United States and Mexican governments, personal protective suits, multi-gas meters, and related hazardous materials response equipment for Cuidad Juárez first responders have been transferred to Mexico’s Dirección de Protección Civil (Civil Protection Agency) through a collaborative agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Northern Command under the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Program.

The primary goal of this partnership is to strengthen border hazardous material response capabilities by building capacity in Mexico to respond to environmental pollution incidents that impact or threaten to impact the environment and public health within the border region.

“The training and transfer of response equipment for our colleagues from Mexico are important steps to achieve effective response along the border,” said EPA Region 6 Superfund Division Director Sam Coleman. “EPA is pleased to have the U.S. Northern Command as a partner in making our border a safer place to live.”

“The coordinated efforts involving all levels of government of both sides of the border would allow us to deal with any environmental contingency that could put at risk the health and well being of citizens within our border communities,” said Mexico’s Border 2012 Federal Chair and Delegate for SEMARNAT in the State of Chihuahua, Ing. Jose Ignacio Legarreta.

In addition to the hazardous materials response equipment, Mexican personnel are undergoing specialized training to enhance bi-national responses to chemical accidents and spills and natural disasters. These hazardous materials training courses and development programs are being provided to Mexican first responders from Protección Civil with funds obtained through the Border 2012 partnership between EPA and U.S. Northern Command.

U.S. Northern Command was established October 1, 2002, to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities in defending, protecting and securing the United States and its interests.

The Border 2012 U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program works to protect the environment and public health for ten states on both sides of the 2,000-mile border, including 26 U.S. tribes and seven groups of Mexican indigenous people. The bi-national Border 2012 approach seeks to reduce pollution in water, air, and on land, enhance joint readiness for environmental response and improve environmental stewardship along the U.S.-Mexico border. EPA is the National Coordinator for Border 2012's program areas in the U.S. and the Procuraduria Federal de Protección al Ambienta (PROFEPA) and Protección Civil are the National Coordinators for corresponding areas in Mexico. Other EPA focus areas within the Border 2012 Program include the facilitation of bi-monthly meetings and planning initiatives between adjacent U.S. and Mexican cities (“Sister Cities”), training and exercises, and grants programs designed to build long-term readiness capability and strengthen cross-border response coordination.