Region 8

Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations

Fine particulate nonattainment areas for Utah and Montana
8/19-- EPA has identified several Utah counties and the community of Libby, Montana as areas that do not meet new air quality standards for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). This is a preliminary step towards the designation of final nonattainment area boundaries and the development of specific plans to reduce PM 2.5 pollution. States now have the opportunity to comment on EPA's proposed boundaries and to provide new information and analyses to EPA. EPA will also provide a 30-day public comment opportunity. Detailed information can be found on EPA's PM 2.5 designations page.
Utah press release and Fact sheet (PDF) / Montana press release.

"Back to school" with clean school buses in Pueblo
8/6 -- A collaborative effort between EPA, the State of Colorado, Better Pueblo, the Sierra Club, Xcel Energy and others has completed clean diesel retrofits on more than 125 school buses in Pueblo, Colo. These retrofitted buses are reducing pollution, saving gasoline, and reducing in-cabin concentrations of air toxics by more than 50%. State of Colorado press release.

EPA, Bureau of Reclamation begin pumping and treating water from Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel
6/24-- EPA has begun pumping and transporting water from blocked mine workings in Lake County, Colo. to a treatment plant operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Water is currently being pumped at a rate of approximately 1,000 gallons per minute and is being sent to the plant via a 4,700-foot long pipeline. The water, which contains elevated concentrations of dissolved metals, is being safely treated before being sent to the Arkansas River. Press release / More on Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel.

Coloradoan receives President's Volunteer Service Award for watershed protection efforts
6/19 -- EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson presented Hamilton Wright with the President’s Volunteer Service Award today. Mr. Wright, a 78-year-old retired businessman, devotes many hours volunteering to protect water quality in Vallecito Lake and the Pine River watershed near Durango, Colo. Press release.

EPA and Health and Human Services launch $8 million effort to study Libby, Montana Asbestos exposure
6/11 -- A 5-year research initiative, funded by HHS’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and EPA, will focus on determining whether exposure to lower levels of Libby asbestos is associated with increased risk of lung disease, cancer, chronic illnesses, auto-immune diseases or other adverse health outcomes. It is currently known that long-term exposure to high levels of asbestos is associated with lung cancer, serious lung disease and upper respiratory health conditions. Press release. / Fact sheet.

More Press Releases

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September 7-11, 2008
3rd Annual National Summit of Mining Communities
Butte, Montana

October 1-3, 2008
Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference
Vail, Colorado

October 2-3, 2008
EPA/ NGWA Remediation of Abandoned Mine Lands Conference
Denver, Colorado

November 11-14, 2008
North American Lake Management Society, 28th International Symposium - Lake Management in a Changing Environment.
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

December 1-2, 2008
Energy Star Summit 2008
Denver, Colorado

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