Region 7

Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations

Federal and State Agencies to Continue Investigation of Tannery Sludge Distribution to Northwest Missouri Farms

(Kansas City, Kan., July 1, 2009) - Results from the initial phase of a federal and state investigation into the use of leather tannery sludge as agricultural fertilizer on northwest Missouri farms do not appear to indicate any health risks posed by the levels of hexavalent chromium found in a limited number of farm soil samples, but further investigation to include more soil testing at other farms will begin early this month, agency representatives announced today. News Release | More Information

American Laboratories Incorporated of Omaha, Neb., Agrees to Settlement of Alleged Violations of Federal Clean Air Act

(Kansas City, Kan., June 16, 2009) - An Omaha, Neb., company that processes animal byproduct materials into pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements has agreed to pay $440,000 in civil penalties, has certified that it no longer uses hazardous air pollutants in the production of its pharmaceutical products, and has already installed new pollution-reducing process controls at one of its two Omaha facilities, all as parts of a legal settlement with EPA Region 7 and the City of Omaha. News Release

Iowa Receives $535,800 in Economic Recovery Funds to Improve Water Quality, Create Jobs

(Kansas City, Kan., June 12, 2009) - In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $535,800 to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of almost $40 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants. News Release

Missouri Receives More Than $1 Million in Economic Recovery Funds to Improve Water Quality, Create Jobs

(Kansas City, Kan., June 12, 2009) - In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1,097,400 to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of almost $40 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants. News Release

Region 7 Invites Outside Experts to 2009 Ag Week Events

EPA Region 7 kicked off its 2009 Agriculture Week with a number of informative seminars, including top Iowa officials, and Ag 101 Training. The Region 7 Ag and Biofuels teams hosted a panel, which included outside experts, who discussed feedstocks and renewable fuels. Pictured (left to right) are William Rice, Acting Region 7 Administrator; Alan Banwart, Acting Region 7 Associate Ag Advisor; Greg Karr, Midwest Research Institute's Algae Program, Emily Heaton, Iowa State University Bioeconomy Institute; Ward Burns, Region 7 Biofuels Team Leader; and Nathan Schock, POET's Public Relations Director. Not pictured: Alan Weber, National Biodiesel Board.

Growers Reminded to Apply Pesticides Properly

(Kansas City, Kan., May 27, 2009) - EPA is reminding growers and pesticide applicators to pay attention to label requirements when applying pesticides to crops near harvest time. News Release

Drury Development Corporation Agrees to Settlement Terms for Alleged Failures to Inform St. Louis Tenants of Lead Hazards

(Kansas City, Kan., May 27, 2009) - A St. Louis corporation has agreed to replace windows and remove lead from four of the single-family residential properties that it leases in the city, as part of a settlement with EPA Region 7 over allegations that it failed to inform tenants about actual and potential lead-based paint hazards in its pre-1978 housing. News Release

Decision on Iowa’s Water Quality Standards

(Kansas City, Kan., May 22, 2009) - EPA has approved revised Iowa water quality standards to support recreational activities and the protection of aquatic life. The approved water quality standards protect 83 water bodies in Iowa. News Release

EPA Helps Break Ground on $16M 'Green' Project in Kansas

Federal, state and local officials held a groundbreaking recently for the largest "green infrastructure" project in Kansas to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - $16 million in improvements to the Johnson County Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project is expected to cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9,700 metric tons. Pictured are EPA Acting Regional Administrator William Rice (left) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby standing in front of the groundbreaking bulldozer at the future site of the plant's new anaerobic digester. News Release

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