DNR South Central Region - MONONA - Outdoor enthusiasts are reminded that this year’s Department of Natural Resources’ spring hearing in Dane County will be held in the E.F. Schwan Performing Arts Center at Monona Grove …
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By: Wisconsin DNR News Releases
DEQ is holding a public information meeting to seek public input and provide background about a draft report on reducing persistent pollutants in Oregon waters. The report describes sources of priority persistent bioaccumulative toxins that have a documented affect on human health, wildlife and aquatic life. The report also lists measures for reducing these pollutants’ entry into Oregon waterways. DEQ will submit a final, revised report to the Oregon Legislature on June 1.
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By: Oregon DEQ News
*EPA Disapproves Air Permitting Exemption Program in Texas*
(Dallas, Texas - March 31, 2010) Today, EPA disapproved the Qualified Facilities exemption rule that TCEQ had submitted for inclusion in its federally approved State Implementation Plan. The rule allows companies that have Texas issued air permits to avoid certain federal clean-air requirements including public review when they modify their plants. EPA has determined that this regulation does not meet several federal Clean Air Act requirements.
“Today’s action improves transparency by requiring companies that modify their operations to notify the public and will assure that all air emitting sources are properly permitted under the Clean Air Act,” said Al Armendariz, Regional Administrator. “Improved public review will better inform our communities about the environmental conditions where they live.”
The Clean Air Act ensures that businesses across the country operate efficiently and cleanly. Under the Act, all states must develop plans for meeting federal requirements to protect pubic health, including an air permitting program. Since EPA approved Texas’ major clean-air permitting plan in 1992, the state has submitted over 30 regulatory changes to the EPA approved plan. Today’s action represents final agency decision on one of those regulatory changes.
In September 2009, EPA issued a Federal Register Notice proposing to disapprove the TCEQ’s Qualified Facilities Program and invited public comment. EPA has completed its careful review of comments and is now issuing its final decision.
EPA has been meeting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, industry representatives, and environmental groups to discuss deficiencies with air emission permits issued by the state agency to industry in the state. These discussions have led to Texas proposing new rules used to issue permits.
EPA intends to work with the state and interested parties as air quality permits are transitioned in a gradual and structured manner to be consistent with state and federal law. EPA is committed to a close partnership with industry, environmental organizations, and community leaders as we work with the state to update the state-issued permits.
In July 2009, EPA and Business Coalition for Clean Air (BCCA) Appeal Group, Texas Association of Business, and Texas Oil and Gas Association reached an agreement regarding the timing of federal review of regulatory changes to Texas’ air permitting program. EPA is likely to issue final decisions on two additional changes–the Flexible Permits Program and New Source Review Reform regulations–before the end of the year.
More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6
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For more information, contact Dave Bary at (214) 665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov.
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10-05.pdf FYI -
Greetings,
EPA announces the availability of grant funds and direct assistance (through Agency contract support) and solicits proposals from eligible entities to facilitate community involvement in area-wide planning approaches to Brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse. Area-wide planning grant funding and technical assistance will be directed to Brownfields-impacted areas, such as a neighborhood, district, city block or corridor. The grant funding and direct assistance will result in an area-wide plan which will inform the assessment, cleanup and reuse of Brownfields properties and promote area-wide revitalization. EPA anticipates selecting approximately 20 pilot projects through this competitive opportunity. The maximum total amount of grant funding that applicants may apply for is $175,000 for the entire project period. Applicants may apply for project periods of up to 24 months. The deadline for proposal receipt (postmarked hard copy or via email) is June 1, 2010.
The Request For Proposals for the Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program is now open and available on-line on the following EPA web pages and a copy is attached below.
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-05.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/areawide_grants.htm
EPA is soliciting these proposals under section 104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Brownfields Law).
Dan Heffernan Brownfields Coordinator US EPA, Region 8 (EPR-B) 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129 ph: 303-312-7074 E-mail: heffernan.daniel@epa.gov www.epa.gov/region8/brownfields
10-05.pdf FYI -
Greetings,
EPA announces the availability of grant funds and direct assistance (through Agency contract support) and solicits proposals from eligible entities to facilitate community involvement in area-wide planning approaches to Brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse. Area-wide planning grant funding and technical assistance will be directed to Brownfields-impacted areas, such as a neighborhood, district, city block or corridor. The grant funding and direct assistance will result in an area-wide plan which will inform the assessment, cleanup and reuse of Brownfields properties and promote area-wide revitalization. EPA anticipates selecting approximately 20 pilot projects through this competitive opportunity. The maximum total amount of grant funding that applicants may apply for is $175,000 for the entire project period. Applicants may apply for project periods of up to 24 months. The deadline for proposal receipt (postmarked hard copy or via email) is June 1, 2010.
The Request For Proposals for the Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program is now open and available on-line on the following EPA web pages and a copy is attached below.
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-05.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/areawide_grants.htm
EPA is soliciting these proposals under section 104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Brownfields Law).
Dan Heffernan Brownfields Coordinator US EPA, Region 8 (EPR-B) 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129 ph: 303-312-7074 E-mail: heffernan.daniel@epa.gov www.epa.gov/region8/brownfields
Oregon DEQ is working with an advisory committee to help determine the best way to ensure the proper removal, destruction, and notification of an uncertified wood stove when a home is sold as now required by state law.
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By: Oregon DEQ News
Secretary Steven Chu and Lawrence H. Summers to be keynote speakers at EIA/SAIS Energy Conference April 6 & 7, 2010. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, DC, http://www.eia.doe.gov/conference/2010/. ****** ****** ** ************************************* ** ** * * *** United States *** **** ** ****** * Energy Information Administration * ** ** ** ** ************************************* ****** ****** ** ** ************************************* STATE ENERGY DATA RELEASE - March 26, 2010
State-level estimates of consumption, prices, and expenditures for coal and coal coke imports and exports through 2008
On March 26, 2010, EIA released estimates of coal consumption, prices, and expenditures as well as U.S. coal coke imports and exports for data year 2008 at SEDS Updates . Data highlights include the following:
* In 2008, the United States consumed 1.1 billion short tons of coal, of which 93 percent was consumed by the electric power sector. The top five coal-consuming States - Texas, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois - accounted for one-third of the Nation’s consumption.
* Total expenditures on U.S. coal consumption are estimated to be $49.4 billion in 2008. Coal expenditures averaged 3.8 percent of total energy expenditures for 2000 through 2007 (the most recent year for which total energy expenditures data are available). That average is well below the average of 6.5 percent recorded for the period of 1970 through 1979.
The State Energy Data System (SEDS) provides annual State-level estimates of energy consumption, prices, and expenditures by sector and energy source. A full set of State-level estimates for all fuels, all sectors, and all years through data year 2007 was released in August 2009. To see fuel-specific early releases of 2008 estimates, please go to SEDS Updates .
Contact:
Yvonne Taylor
202-586-1455
Yvonne.taylor@eia.doe.gov
C3 MichCon Bell River 03 30 10.pdf FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2010
Contact: Robert McCann
(517) 373-7917
MichCon Belle River Mills Compressor Station Joins Michigan’s Clean Corporate Citizen Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Director Rebecca A. Humphries welcomed MichCon’s Belle River Mills Compressor Station of China Township as the 163rd member of the Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) Program. The C3 Program is a voluntary environmental program that recognizes environmental stewardship at Michigan’s facilities.
“I would like to congratulate the entire MichCon Belle River Mills Compressor Station team for their work in protecting Michigan’s environment,” said Director Humphries. “Their work helps demonstrate our belief that environmental stewardship and economic success go hand-in-hand.”
MichCon’s Belle River Mills Compressor Station has earned the C3 designation by integrating environmental factors into the daily operations, undertaking targeted pollution prevention efforts such as installing a natural gas engine “zero startup” system that releases no natural gas during the start up process, and establishing a recycling program to reduce waste-to-landfill transfers.
The MichCon Belle River Mills Compressor Station compresses and draws gas from three natural gas storage fields for delivery to customers in the Midwest. The facility is located on 500 acres in China Township and employs approximately 30 employees. Their employees actively work with the Wildlife Habitat Council to ensure native habitat management of the facility’s surrounding acreage, and are active with community and public outreach as well as educational activities.
“Earning Clean Corporate Citizen designation is the latest achievement in our continuing effort to meet the highest standards of environmental stewardship and management at the Belle River Mills Compressor Station,” said Robert Richard, Energy Senior Vice-president of Gas Operations for DTE, the parent company of MichCon. “This facility already has earned Wildlife Habitat Council certification and ISO 14001 certification of its environmental management system. These three achievements all are voluntary and go well beyond compliance with the environmental rules and regulations governing this facility. But none of these accomplishments would be possible without first achieving a strong record of regulatory compliance.”
“Earning Clean Corporate Citizen designation required commitment, hard work, and perseverance from every member of the Belle River Mills team. I’m proud of every member of the team for their dedication to achieving this goal,” said MichCon Belle River Mills Compressor Station Manager Lawrence Maiorana. “While we have earned the opportunity to enjoy the achievement, we cannot let our focus or effort slip. Maintaining C3 status will require the same level of commitment and effort going forward.”
The C3 designation is made to candidates that adopt facility-specific Environmental Management Systems, have active and on-going pollution prevention initiatives at their facility, and have a consistent record of compliance with state and federal environmental requirements. The C3 Program is open to companies regulated under any of Michigan’s environmental statutes, and designations are reviewed and renewed on a regular basis.
The DNRE is committed to conserve, manage, protect, and promote accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environmental, natural resource, and related economic interests for current and future generations.
Weather permitting, the Delaware Mosquito Control Section is planning insecticide applications of wooded wetlands during daylight hours on Thursday, April 1 and Friday, April 2, 2010. These areas include:
Greater Newark, Bear, Middletown, Townsend, Smyrna, & Clayton.
A liquid insecticide, Vectobac 12 AS (Bti) will be applied via helicopter.
All insecticides used are EPA-registered for mosquito control and applied according to EPA-approved label instructions, which the EPA has determined can be used without posing unreasonable risks to human health, wildlife or the environment.
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