 Liz McMeekin,
Chair
Allegheny Mountain Section emcmeekin@ppg.com
It’s June and that means Annual Conference time! Hopefully many of you will be getting together at ACE in Detroit later this month (June 16-19). (I had hoped to go, but, due to other commitments, will not be able to attend. You will have to let me know what I missed.) Summer is also the time AMS takes a short break from a number of its regular activities: no monthly luncheons until September and our volunteer Zephyr staff will be taking a well-deserved break - The next edition of the Zephyr will be published the beginning of September.
Even thought the pace of some things might slow down in the summer, it looks like a number of environmental initiatives will be moving “full speed ahead” during this time. As I write this, the comment deadline is closing on the proposed Greenhouse Gas Mandatory Reporting Rule. EPA plans to finalize the rule by October 2009 with implementation to begin January 1, 2010 (for reporting 2010 GHG emissions). Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives is readying for a floor vote on the Waxman- Markey “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” by July 4th. Granted, the Senate has not even started on a comparable bill, but we are clearly stepping towards having some form of Energy and Climate Change legislation enacted in this country – maybe not by the end of 2009, but certainly by sometime in 2010. These are interesting times! (By the way - A&WMA has a timely and appropriate conference scheduled for Sept 1st and 2nd, entitled “Harmonizing Greenhouse Gas Assessment and Reporting Processes”, that will provide guidance in GHG reporting matters.)
Being the “air” person on my job, there are also a number of other regulatory initiatives moving forward in EPA that I am watching – the Boiler/CSWI MACT; the Chemical Manufacturing Area Source Standard (CMAS); and the Paints and Allied Products Manufacturing Area Source Standard. It might look like AMS is taking a summer break, but believe me, we will be using this time to put our “fall line-up” together for you. I think we have just a little bit of material to work with!
Please check out the notice inside about our 2009 AMS Scholarship winners. This year, the AMS awarded a total of $5,000 to 3 students - Daniel Pollak, Michael Vlah, and Katelyn Demyan. Congratulations to these future environmental professionals! We look forward to seeing you at future A&WMA functions! And thanks to Dave Testa, Meghan Blaney, and Jill Pouliot for all their energy and hard work they put into our Scholarship Program.
Also, I would like to thank the entire AMS membership, board, and sponsors for supporting the AMS scholarship program. Although AMS had to reduce the amount awarded this year due to the economic crunch, we were still able to continue this very important program. Hopefully, next year we will be able to return to our 2008 scholarship level.
During our “off” time this summer, please feel free to email me (emcmeekin@ppg.com) with your thoughts, ideas, or opinions on all things A&WMA – luncheon speakers, programs, initiatives – whatever – I would love to hear from you. And finally… Have a Great (and safe) Summer!
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 Section News News about and
of interest to members of the Allegheny Mountain
Section Editor-in-Chief: Arijit Pakrasi, 412/858-3921,
e-mail:Arijit.Pakrasi @
shawgrp.com
___________________________________
AMS Monthly Board of Directors Meeting Summary
Submitted by Meghan Blaney, Secretary
The AMS Monthly Board of Directors Meeting was held at the ACHD Conference Room on May 4, 2009.
The Board approved the Treasurer’s report. Also, considering moving funds from UBS to Vanguard or Fidelity.
The Membership Committee has sent out initial letters sent to new (11) and lapsed (31) members and has received four (4) responses so far.
The Board approved an increase in lunch prices for the fall.
Dave Testa reported 3 awards from 9 good Scholarship applicants. The Board approved that the Section pay for 9 applicants’ student member fees.
Brad Waldron attended the last West Virginia Board and Membership meeting. Fifty (50) were at meeting. Five (5) local associates, including 1 officer. They are planning Brownfields’ Conference in Morgantown for Fall 2009.
The AMS Board of Directors did not meet in June.
ANNOUNCING THE 2009 AMS SCHOLARSHIPS WINNERS
Submitted by Dave Testa, QEP, Allegheny Mountain Section, Scholarship Chair
This year’s Allegheny Mountain Section scholarship program was quite a success! Three (3) scholarships were awarded:
- a $2,000 award to Mr. Daniel Pollak, who will be a junior at Penn State majoring in Meteorology
- a $2,000 award to Mr. Michael Vlah, who will be a freshman at Allegheny College majoring in Biology/Environmental Science
- a $1,000 award to Ms. Katelyn Demyan, who will be a freshman at WVU majoring in Mechanical Engineering
Congratulations to Daniel, Michael, and Katelyn and here’s to seeing you all as student members while in college and international members as successful environmental professionals.
I would very much like to thank Meghan Blaney and Jill Pouliot, for their help in reviewing the scholarship applications.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
We would like to welcome our recent new members:
- Akkala Arjun, student Univeristy of Toledo
- John Baltrus, U.S. Department of Energy - NETL
- Donald Clark, Student
- John Gill, Student
- Erika, Hintz, Calgon Carbon
- John Holloran, AECOM
- Anand Karre, TAMUK
- Jill Kjellsson, Student, Cal Poly
- Kimberly Landick, MI Tech U.
- Jonna McConaughy, Consultant
- Britney McCoy, Student, CMU
- Jessica Sharrow, Eckert seaman
- David Swisher, American Geoscience, Inc
- Jyoti Upadhyaya, University of Windsor
- Fang Wang, Cardinal Resources
- Christi Wilson, Trinity Consultants
- Matt Veltri, AECOM Environment
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH A&WMA- UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO. Our Section uses A&WMA’s Headquarters database for addresses and e-mail addresses to contact Members. If you move, change jobs or just change e-mail addresses, you need to update your contact information on the Headquarters’ database. This is a “Members Only” part of the website, so you will need your Member Number and password to access the database.
From the Home Page of awma.org, hit “Members Only” from the left-hand menu. Enter you ID number and password. Under “Members Only Overview” page, select “Update Membership Contact Info” under the “Membership Maintenance” group. This brings you to a page where you can edit your contact information at the office or at home.
ARE YOU A CURRENT MEMBER? The most common reason A&WMA looses members is the member forgot to renew. EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2009, you will not get the member discount on Section lunches (note new lunch prices give members a $10 or 50% membership discount on lunches) or programs unless A&WMA records show you are a member. Contact the Membership Committee if you want to check your expiration date.
We appreciate the continuing support of our Organizational Members:
- Allegheny County Health Dept.
- Babst Calland Clements & Zomnir
- Carmeuse Lime & Stone
- Environmental Resource Management (ERM)
- GE Transportation
- KU Resources, Inc.
- MACTEC Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
- Michael Baker Corporation
- Novel Geo-Environmental, LLC
- PPG Industries, Inc.
- Reliant Energy
- Shaw Environmental, Inc.
- URS Corporation
The Organizational Membership provides a cost savings if there are more than four (4) individuals at your business address who could benefit from A&WMA membership. If your company is an A&WMA Organizational Member, are there others in your organization who should join? Sign up today!
For more information, please contact Harry Klodowski, AMS Membership Chair by calling (724) 940-4000 or emailing HKlodowski@BHKLawPgh.com
RESULTS OF THE 2009 AMS GOLF OUTING
The 2009 A&WMA Allegheny Mountain Section Golf Outing was held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at the Birdsfoot Golf Club in Freeport, PA. It was a beautiful day for the outing and we began our round at noon to the sound of bagpipes. Dinner was served on the Patio at 5 and every golfer got a prize thanks to the prize sponsors and other donations.
We would like to extend a special THANK-YOU to the Event Sponsors:
- Air/Compliance Consultants, Inc.
- URS
- Quality Qardens, Inc
- Blue Mountain Environmental
- Betts, Hull & Klodowski LLC
- Rose Ridge Golf Course
Golf Outing Highlights
27 golfers
Skills:
- Low Gross Team (Blue Mt): Joe Stanger, Chuck White, Andy Dulya, Andy Kepple
- Longest Put & Longest Drive: Jim Lefik
- Longest Put: Nancy Hirko
- Closest to pin: Jill Merrill , Joe Pezze
AMS Website Upgrade
Submitted by Randy York, Webmaster
The Section website at www.ams-awma.org will be upgraded over the summer program hiatus. We are consolidating the Luncheon and Events Pages, and will be providing an increased level of automation and capability for the webmaster and site users. Beginning in September, registration and payment for Section events will be done through the website. We will accept credit cards and PayPal payments directly to the Section’s PayPal account. We will also be able to use the new database functionality to better manage and report on registrations and attendance at our events. The site will continue to provide access to program materials that speakers provide to us for posting.
Watch for the changes before the September Luncheon!
Comments and Feedback are welcomed. Email me at ryork@se-env.com.
Members on the Move
Section Webmaster and former Board Member and Chair, Randall G. York, P.E., BCEE has joined SE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (SET), a Pittsburgh-based professional and technical services firm, providing creative technical and management solutions for the complex environmental problems of industry and government. The company provides comprehensive environmental services including permitting, environmental compliance auditing, site investigation and remediation, wastewater treatment, waste management, industrial hygiene monitoring, environmental engineering, and health and safety consulting. Randy, as a Principal Environmental Engineer, will be responsible for managing projects and leading technical tasks related to client’s environmental regulatory compliance issues.
Editor needed to cover Compliance Corner column
We regret the departure of Dan Hagerty, Compliance Corner Editor for the Zephyr. He has chosen to step down due to a large number of commitments.
If you are interested in covering compliance news for the Zephyr, please contact Arijit Pakrasi, Editor in Chief of the AMS Zephyr, by emailing Arijit.Pakrasi@shawgrp.com
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 Internet Site
ReviewInternet Sites of
Interest to Environmental Professionals
with Kimberly Walker You can contact me at kimberly.walker@
erm.com ___________________________________
WiserEarth
(Source:http://www.wiserearth.org/)
“WiserEarth is an online community space connecting the people, nonprofits and businesses working toward a just and sustainable world.” This website is intended to provide tools and resources to help communities of action work together to define, address and solve social and environmental problems around the world. WiserEarth was created to help people and organizations increase their collective awareness, reduce the duplication of efforts, and facilitate better connectivity with the aim of instituting positive change.
WiserEarth is designed to help individuals:
- Find and connect with people and organizations working on the issues you are passionate about, both in your region and beyond.
- Gain greater visibility and credibility for your organization, initiatives and expertise.
- Join communities of action where you can generate visibility and support for the work you do.
- Draw upon and contribute to a global knowledge base of solutions and resources within the fields of social justice and sustainability.
Here you will find online community forums, an international directory of non-governmental organizations. Whether you want to find out how to volunteer in your local community or find out about issues around the world, the website has the information readily available for you.
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 A Word on
WaterThe Latest News on Water, Wastewater
and Related Topics
with Susan Z. Forney,
szforney@ehsinfolink.com
___________________________________
FY 2010 National Water Program Guidance is released
The National Water Program has released the final FY 2010 National Water Program Guidance. This Guidance describes water program priorities and strategies, including the suite of water performance measures and their targets, for the coming fiscal year. The final Guidance is available at http://www.epa.gov/water/waterplan/fy10.html.
DEP REMINDS POOL OWNERS TO HANDLE WASTE WATER SAFELY
Clean Streams Law Prohibits Discharging Chlorinated (Pool) Water to Storm Sewers
As warm summer months approach, private and public pool owners, as well as pool management companies, should remember that pool and chlorinated wastewater must be handled responsibly, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Regional Director Ken Bowman said today.
“For many pool owners, Memorial Day heralds the start of swimming season,” Bowman said. “Almost every spring, as swimming pools are cleaned and prepared for summer use, we see fish kills in local streams that could have easily been prevented.
“Pool owners and professional pool cleaners must properly dispose of old water to neutralize wastewater that contains harmful chemicals, such as chlorine. Most importantly, they need to make sure the wastewater is going into the sanitary sewer, where it is allowed—not the storm sewer.”
When chlorinated water is drained from a swimming pool into a storm sewer, it quickly makes its way to a stream or other body of water, where aquatic life is damaged or killed. Discharging swimming pool water to Pennsylvania’s waters without a permit violates the Clean Streams Law, and property owners and pool companies who violate this law may be prosecuted and penalized for damages.
If the local municipality grants permission, all wastewater—including pool backwash water, neutralized pool cleaning wastewater and standing water—should be discharged to the local sanitary sewer system. If sanitary sewers cannot be accessed, the wastewater should be hauled off-site for disposal at an approved treatment facility.
Anyone with questions about handling pool wastewater may call the Water Management Program in DEP’s southwest regional office at (412) 442-4000.
For more information on how chemicals in stormwater can impact Pennsylvania’s streams and lakes, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Stormwater.
DELAWARE RIVER BASIN PARTNERS ANNOUNCE ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FOR WILDLIFE AND WATER
Pennsylvania, New York City and other states in the Delaware River Basin, have reached two agreements regarding the plan that safeguards the drinking water supply for 15 million people and supports the basin's diverse wildlife habitat, Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger recently announced.
The Flexible Flow Management Program governs New York City and Delaware Basin reservoir diversions and releases under the terms of a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decree.
The first agreement – in effect for this summer only - protects trout from the stresses of high temperatures in the West Branch of the Delaware River by increasing cold water releases this summer from New York City’s Cannonsville Reservoir from June 1 through Aug. 31.
The second agreement reduces the rapid increases or decreases in the reservoir conservation release rates (known as the yo-yo effect or bouncing) by allowing New York City the flexibility to more evenly adjust releases from the reservoirs over periods of up to seven consecutive days when reservoir storage levels rapidly fluctuate in the spring and fall. Fishery experts believe the bouncing effect is harmful to wildlife in the river habitat, Hanger said.
The Flexible Flow Management Program was originally adopted in September 2007 and amended in December 2008. The Program and its associated agreements are available at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/odrm/.
Gas Assn. Study Shows Marcellus Shale Drilling Activity Had Minimal Impact On Monongahela
A study completed by Tetra Tech, Inc. on behalf of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of PA found natural gas development was only a minor contributor to elevated levels of Total Dissolved Solids in the Monongahela River last fall.
Tetra Tech found that the primary TDS load in the Monongahela River came from abandoned mine discharge, which was realized in high sulfate concentrations. Drilling activity accounted for approximately seven percent of the total TDS concentrations detected in the Monongahela River in October 2008 and decreased to less than one percent by December 2008.
Increases in river flow rates and reductions in discharges from abandoned mines appear to be the most significant factors that contributed to the reductions in TDS concentrations between October and December 2008. Changes in TDS levels associated with restricting the discharges of drilling wastewater at municipal wastewater treatment plants along the Monongahela River were negligible compared to these other factors.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, TDS in drinking water can be traced to a number of potential sources, including naturally occurring minerals in water, sewage, urban run-off, industrial wastewater, and chemicals used in the water treatment process, as well as the piping used to convey the water. TDS minerals are actually added to distilled drinking water in some commercial water operations for quality assurance and to enhance the taste.
In late summer/early fall 2008, the Department of Environmental Protection began to detect unusually high levels of TDS at points along approximately 70 river miles of the Monongahela River, beginning at the West Virginia border to the confluence with the Youghiogheny River.
During its investigation, DEP suggested a number of possible sources, including the natural gas industry. In October 2008, DEP directed municipal sewage treatment plants to reduce the amount of natural gas flowback and produced water received for treatment.
Tetra Tech reviewed a variety of flow and water quality data, including the U.S. Geological Survey Monongahela River gauges and DEP's comprehensive water quality data set, as part of its study. Tetra Tech found the daily and monthly average flow rates in October 2008 were much lower than historic flow rates.
The DEP issued a drought watch in November 2008 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers minimized releases of water from reservoirs in the watershed per their drought release schedules in the same time period. DEP's water quality data showed that TDS concentrations were as high as 900 parts per million (ppm) in October 2008 and decreased to approximately 200 ppm in December 2008.
The TDS found in the Monongahela posed no threats to health or safety, but did cause some inconveniences for residential and industrial water customers. A long-term statistical trend analysis indicated that there has been no statistically significant difference in the mass loadings of TDS in the Monongahela River over the past seven years.
The complete Tetra Tech report can be found on the Marcellus Shale Committee website.
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 In the AirNews of Air Pollution
Control
and Air Related Issues
with Nancy Hirko, Kimberly Coy, and Mark Schooley of Air/Compliance
Consultants, Inc You can contact them at schooley @ air-comp.com
___________________________________
Recently Noticed in the Federal Register
EPA extends public comment period for Portland Cement Manufacturing NESHAP until September 4, 2009. [74 FR 27265; June 9, 2009]
Implementation of NSR for PM2.5 (as published on May 16, 2008) is under reconsideration by the EPA. EPA granted a petition for reconsideration submitted by NRDC and the Sierra Club. EPA also granted an administrative stay of regulation for one of the provisions for which the petitioners objected - a “grandfathering” provision for PM2.5 contained in the federal PSD program. 40 CFR 52.21(i)(1)(xi) is stayed until September 1, 2009. [74 FR 26098; June 1, 2009]
EPA is proposing NESHAP for the Paints and Allied Products Manufacturing area source category. The proposed emissions standards for new and existing sources are based on EPA’s proposed GACT (generally available control technology) determination or management practices for the area source category. The paints and allied products manufacturing area source rule (CCCCCCC) [not to be confused with CCCCC coke oven NESHAP or CCCCCC gasoline dispensing facilities] would cover all coatings, but does not includes resin manufacturing, which is covered by the chemical manufacturing area source NESHAP (VVVVVV). Facilities that manufacture both resins and coatings would have to comply with both rules. See §63.11606 for the definition of paints and allied products. Written comments are due to EPA by July 1, 2009. [74 FR 26142; June 1, 2009]
PADEP Releasing Guidance for Determination of Significant Figures and Timeliness for Evaluation of Air Contaminant Emissions and Concentrations
PADEP has released draft Technical Guidance No. 273-4110-002, dated May 19, 2009, at the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee (AQTAC) meeting held on May 28, 2009. The proposed guidance will cover emissions data pertaining to permitting, modeling, emission inventory, stationary source emissions testing, continuous emissions monitoring, periodic compliance monitoring, sample evaluation, and determinations or demonstrations of compliance. The draft document is available at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/subject/advcoun/aqtac/aqtac.htm
Portland Cement MACT – Proposed Changes
From: Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 6, 2009
EPA is proposing amendments to the current National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) from the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry (Part 63, Subpart LLL). These proposed amendments would add or revise, as applicable, emission limits for mercury, total hydrocarbons (THC), and particulate matter (PM) from kilns and in-line kiln/raw mills located at a major or an area source, and hydrochloric acid (HCl) from kilns and in-line kiln/raw mills located at major sources. These proposed amendments also would remove the following four provisions in the current regulation: the operating limit for the average hourly recycle rate for cement kiln dust; the requirement that cement kilns only use certain types of utility boiler fly ash; the opacity limits for kilns and clinker coolers; and the 50 parts per million volume dry (ppmvd) THC emission limit for new greenfield sources. EPA is also proposing standards which would apply during startup, shutdown, and operating modes for all of the current section 112 standards applicable to cement kilns. Finally, EPA is proposing performance specifications for use of mercury continuous emission monitors (CEMS), and updating recordkeeping and testing requirements. Comments are due by September 4, 2009.
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 International
FocusNews of
Environmental Trends and Regulations
in Other Countries
with Kim Walker You can contact me at Kimberly.walker @
erm.com ___________________________________
Green Energy Overtakes Fossil Fuel Investment
(Soure:http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/03/renewables-energy)
Green energy overtook fossil fuels in attracting investment for power generation for the first time last year, according to figures released by the United Nations. Wind, solar and other clean technologies attracted $140 billion compared with $110 billion for gas and coal for electrical power generation, with more than a third of the green cash destined for Britain and the rest of Europe.
The biggest growth for renewable investment came from China, India and other developing countries, which are fast catching up on the West in switching out of fossil fuels to improve energy security and tackle climate change. "There have been many milestones reached in recent years, but this report suggests renewable energy has now reached a tipping point where it is as important – if not more important – in the global energy mix than fossil fuels," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN's Environment Program.
Wind, where the US is now global leader, attracted the highest new worldwide investment, $51.8 billion, followed by solar at $33.5 billion. The former represented annual growth of only 1%, while the latter was up by nearly 50% year-on-year. Biofuels were the next most popular investment, winning $16.9 billion, but down 9% on 2007, as the sector was hit by overcapacity issues in the US and political opposition, with ethanol being blamed for rising food prices. Europe is still the main centre for investment in green power with $50 billion being pumped into projects across the continent, an increase of 2% on last year, while the figure for America was $30 billion, down 8%. While overall spending in the West dipped nearly 2%, there was a 27% rise to $36.6 billion in developing countries led by China, which pumped in $15.6 billion, mostly in wind and biomass plants. China more than doubled its installed wind turbine capacity to 11GW of capacity, while Indian wind investment was up 17% to $2.6 billion, as its overall clean tech spending rose to $4.1 billion in 2008, 12% up on 2007 levels.
However, the slump in global renewable investment during the first quarter of 2009 has alarmed the UN and New Energy Finance, the London-based consultancy that compiled the figures for the UN. Michael Liebreich, chief executive of NEF, said the second quarter had revealed "green shoots" of recovery, which indicated this year could end up with investment at the upper end of a $95 billion to $115 billion range, but still a quarter down on 2008 at the least. About $3 billion of new money had been raised via initial public offerings or secondary issues on the stock markets in the second quarter, compared with none in the first three months of this year.
But Steiner and Liebreich are still anxious that politicians do more to stimulate growth.
It is important stimulus funds start flowing immediately, not in a year or so, he added: "Many of the policies to achieve growth over the medium-term are already in place, including feed-in tariff regimes, mandatory renewable energy targets and tax incentives. There is too much emphasis amongst some policy-makers on support mechanisms, and not enough on the urgent needs of investors right now."
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Disposal and Remediation News
with John Scrabis, P.E.You can contact me at:jmscrabis@mactec.com
___________________________________
EPA Considers Reversing Bush Era Relaxation of Hazardous Waste Rules
EPA announced that the agency is moving forward on two hazardous waste rules to respond to concerns raised by stakeholders: the Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule and the Emission Comparable Fuels (ECF) rule.
EPA is planning to hold a public meeting to discuss possible revisions to the DSW rule in response to an administrative petition asking the agency to reconsider and repeal the rule. The rule became effective on December 29, 2008. The meeting is planned for the end of June, and a Federal Register notice with the details of the meeting will be published in May.
The DSW rule modified the regulations for recycling hazardous secondary materials to encourage the recycling of certain materials to help conserve resources. The rule includes conditions designed to ensure that the recycling of the materials is protective of human health and the environment. The rule also takes into account a series of opinions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on the meaning of the term “discard,” which forms the basis of the definition of solid waste.
Since publication of the DSW rule, the Sierra Club has raised concerns about the effectiveness and protectiveness of the rule and has requested EPA stay the rule in an administrative petition. In addition, the Sierra Club and the American Petroleum Institute have filed judicial petitions for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Various industry groups have also filed letters opposing the Sierra Club’s administrative petition.
EPA expects that stakeholders’ input at the public meeting will assist the agency in deciding whether to make revisions to the rule and how such revisions would further ensure that the rule appropriately and safely encourages resource conservation for those hazardous secondary materials that are conditionally excluded. The Federal Register notice announcing the meeting will raise specific questions for consideration, particularly related to reclamation that is not under the control of the generator. Any revisions to the rule would be made through the full public rulemaking process.
EPA is also planning to propose a rule to withdraw the ECF rule, which became effective on January 20, 2009. The proposal will present the agency’s concerns and request comments from the public after publication in the Federal Register, planned for November 2009. After evaluating the public comments, the EPA will make a decision on whether to repeal the exclusion.
The ECF rule removed regulatory costs by reclassifying certain manufacturing byproducts as non-wastes. ECF is fuel that is produced from a hazardous waste, but which generates emissions when burned in an industrial boiler that are comparable to emissions from burning fuel oil. The materials must also be stored under an elaborate set of requirements. The final rule has been criticized for allowing hazardous waste to evade the hazardous waste regulatory system, and also for being difficult to administer. Industry members have also criticized it because of the detailed and prescriptive conditions for reclassification, which they believe will limit the rule’s use.
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 ENVIROCABULARYEnvironmental Acronyms, Obscure
Words
and Other Lingo
with Kim Walker You can contact me at Kimberly.walker @
erm.com ___________________________________
Each month, the
Envirocabulary staff will scour the environmental literature for terms of
interest to our readers.
This month’s terms are…
Maelstrom: A whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence..
(Source:www.ecologydictionary.org)
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Indicator ImpactA look at indicators of efforts to resolve air,
water and waste problems that affect populations and property through
the practice of Environmental Management and Related Fields
courtesy of the Zephyr Editorial Board. Please contact Allison Robinson at robinsonal2@upmc.edu if you have any questions
______________________________
Land lakes’ of blue, green and yellow grasses
Do you recognize any of these? (turfs) red or yellow fescue, Kentucky blue grass, buffalo, blue grama, miscanthus, pennisetum, crab; (cereal) sorghum, maize, rice, rye, oats, barley; (other commodities: fiber, ornamental, biofuel, feedstock) marsh, cattails, reeds, bamboo, switchgrass, hay, pampas, fountain, …
Whether cruising in your golf cart, driving by grazing animals, choosing cloths for summer clothing, decorating your garden, or competitively preening, you see green, blue green, shades of yellow, or dark red grasses. The abundance and resilience is comforting until a change is detected; change in color, hardness, hardiness, and variety usually indicates an exposure.
Grasses have many applications. They reduce glare, noise, air pollution and heat island effects in overbuilt, impervious zones. They provide surface traction and cushion in athletic fields; and they contribute to property values through an aesthetic, utilitarian appeal.
Grasses need very little resources: a growth medium such as soil, sand, or mud; water; and plenty of sun. Most proliferate through seeds resulting from flowers and go through a multitude of generation in a season. Some proliferate through underground tubers systems. They exist in broad climate ranges and biomes. Unless it is a commodity such as the golf-course and lawn turfs, cereal grains, and housing or cloth material, grasses require very little investment to maintain.
A ubiquitous environmental indicator, sensitivity of grasses vary. Grasses indicate environmental and ecological changes. Discoloration, increased brittleness, recidivism, and unseasonal dormancy may indicate prolonged increase in atmospheric temperature (not necessarily drought), drought, increased CO2, seasonal soil salinity, low oxygen in soil, and low moisture in soil; all of which reflects environmental change. A common example of seasonal environmental exposure is “salt burn” resulting increased, unnatural soil salinity often associated with winter salting of roadways. Comparatively, leaf dwarfism, curling, injury, and discoloration are symptoms of an ecological invasion by animal and insect grazers, spread of viruses, or root consuming larvae and worms.
Ecological stresses sometimes indicate subtle changes in the environment that enable predators to proliferate. For example, an indicator of climate change is a shift in rain deposition. Increased soil moisture associated with increased rain may result in a proliferation of snails. Recent research discovered that snails love to “fungal farm” on grasses by spreading preferred dietary fungal spores in their slime wakes as they scale up and down grass blades. If the slime-wakes dry and release the fungal spores prematurely, this release may indirectly contribute to seasonal asthma or allergy attacks. In another example, environmental conditions that allowed grazing aphids to proliferate as well as a destructive viral infection provided a demonstration of transvector infection similar to how mosquitoes transferring West Nile virus to humans.
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 P2 ForumNews on Pollution
Prevention,
Recycling and Related Issues
with Michael Stepaniak You can contact me at michaels @
ccicenter.org ___________________________________
This Month, JUNE 2009:
Pennsylvania Offering Discounts on Solar Costs for Homes and Businesses
President Announces National Auto Fuel Efficiency Policy
U.S. Department of Energy Revisits New Energy Standards for Home Furnaces
* # * # * # * # * # * # *
Pennsylvania Offering Discounts on Solar Costs for Homes and Businesses
Pennsylvania homeowners and small business owners eager to lower or in some cases even eliminate their electricity bills will now be able to install new solar technologies at a discount of up to 45 percent, thanks to a new statewide initiative launched on May 18, 2009. The PA Sunshine Solar Program will provide $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric and hot water projects, reimbursing eligible parties up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs. The reimbursement, in combination with federal tax credits, could reduce system costs by 45 percent. This is a highly anticipated program that will help families and small businesses lower their energy use, and in turn slash their bills substantially. At the same time, consumers will be able to generate their own power in a cleaner and increasingly more cost-effective manner. PA Sunshine is part of the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund. Homeowners and small businesses wanting to apply for rebates must first select an installer that has been approved by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. The installer will submit all application materials on the consumer's behalf. Project approval will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. Finally, rebates will be dispersed to participating consumers upon project completion. For detailed program information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, and use the keyword PA Sunshine.
President Announces National Auto Fuel Efficiency Policy
President Obama recently initiated a two-pronged national policy aimed at increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. The new standards, beginning with and covering the 2012-2016 model years, and finally requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016, are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program. In addition, the fuel economy gain is projected at averaging more than 5 percent per year and greenhouse gas emissions reducing approximately 900 million metric tons. This would surpass the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) law passed by Congress in 2007 required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020. This landmark policy adheres to the Administration’s commitment to enact more stringent fuel economy standards and represents an notable collaboration between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the world's largest auto manufacturers, the United Auto Workers, leaders in the environmental community, the State of California, and additional state governments. According to the administration, a clear and uniform national policy is not only good news for consumers who will save money at the pump, but it is also good news for the auto industry which will no longer be subject to a costly patchwork of differing rules and regulations. Finally, a national policy on fuel economy standards and greenhouse gas emissions is welcomed by the auto manufacturers because it provides regulatory certainty and predictability and includes flexibilities that will significantly reduce the cost of compliance. The collaboration of federal agencies also allows for clearer rules for all automakers, instead of three standards (DOT, EPA, and State). For more information on fuel economy visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov/fueleconomy.
U.S. Department of Energy Revisits New Energy Standards for Home Furnaces
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently granted the Obama Administration's request to reconsider weak efficiency standards of residential furnaces, one of the home's biggest users of energy. The case was brought to the Department of Energy (DOE) by several states, and consumer and environmental groups. During the previous administration, the DOE set standards at 80 percent efficiency, a level already met by virtually all furnaces being sold. Now, the Obama Administration is committing to consider new standards of at least 90 percent. According to the DOE a furnace with 90 percent efficiency would save consumers approximately eleven percent off of their home heating bills. A more stringent standard for residential furnaces would also save at least enough gas to heat four out of every five U.S. homes for one year, net about $11 billion in consumer savings, and cut global warming pollution by the amount emitted by 25 million cars in a year. For more information on the topic visit the Earthjustice website at www.earthjustice.org.
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Compliance CornerWhat's New with Regulatory
Compliance,
Environmental Management
and Related Issues
with Dan Hagerty, CHMM You can contact me at daniel_hagerty @
hotmail.com
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EPA Delays Effective Date for PSD and NSR Aggregation
In the May 14 Federal Register, EPA issued a final rule that delayed the effective date for the rule addressing aggregation under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and the nonattainment New Source Review (nonattainment NSR) programs (collectively, NSR). The “NSR Aggregation Amendments” were published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2009, and described when a source must combine nominally—separate physical changes and changes in the method of operation for the purpose of determining whether they are a single change resulting in a significant emissions increase.
On January 30, 2009, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) submitted a petition for reconsideration (the “NRDC Petition”) of the NSR Aggregation Amendments. In response to the NRDC Petition, EPA announced on February 13, 2009, that it would convene a reconsideration proceeding for the NSR Aggregation Amendments and would delay the effective date of the rule from February 17, 2009 until May 18, 2009.
On March 18, 2009, EPA proposed an additional delay of the effective date and solicited comment on the duration of the additional delay.
With this final ruling, EPA is delaying the effective date of the NSR Aggregation Amendments for an additional 12 months, which will allow for sufficient time to conduct the reconsideration proceeding. The new effective date of the rule is May 18, 2010.
In summary, the effective date of FR Doc. E9-815, published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2009 (74 FR 2376), and delayed on February 13, 2009 (74 FR 7284), is now further delayed to May 18, 2010.
EPA to Review Three New Source Review Rules
EPA plans to reconsider portions of three rules under its New Source Review (NSR) permitting program. The NSR program is a preconstruction clean air permitting program for industrial facilities that provides important public health and environmental protection.
To ensure that the public has an opportunity to fully review any recent changes that would impact the implementation of NSR, EPA has agreed to reconsider portions of the following rules:
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source Review: Reasonable Possibility in Recordkeeping
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source Review: Inclusion of Fugitive Emissions
- Implementation of the New Source Review Program for Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)
These reconsiderations are the most recent in a series of actions EPA has taken to ensure the NSR program protects clean air. EPA is reconsidering these rules to ensure that the public has an opportunity to fully review any recent changes that would impact the implementation of NSR. EPA plans to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register requesting comment on certain aspects of each of these three rules.
Background on GHS Implementation
The third revision of the UN GHS Purple Book was adopted in December 2008. The updated version is expected to be published by the end of June 2009. Amendments to the third revision of the Purple Book are available at www.unece.org/trans/doc/2009/ac10/STSG-AC10-36a3e.pdf In addition, the Purple Book will hereafter be revised biannually, bringing it into line with the UN Model Regulations for Transport of Dangerous Goods. Due to European Union (EU) language requirements, the next revision (fourth edition) of the Purple Book is expected to rationalize a number of precautionary statements. The fourth edition is scheduled for publication in 2011.
As you likely know, GHS is an acronym for The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The GHS is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labeling of chemicals. It is a comprehensive approach to:
- define health, physical, and environmental hazards of chemicals
- create classification processes that use available data on chemicals for comparison with defined hazard criteria
- communicate hazard information, as well as protective measures, on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
The implementation of the GHS system for classification, labeling, and transportation of hazardous goods has not been performed at an agreed upon or set timetable. This has resulted in differing timeframes in which GHS is being implemented by individual countries and/or regions. In addition, the flexibility within each given classification and labelling parameter within the GHS guidance has resulted in significant variation.
The full text of GHS implementation activities by country/region may be found at www.unece.org/trans/danger.
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Note from the Program Committee: Our monthly luncheons will continue again on Thursday, September 10 at Wright’s Seafood Inn. Speaker to be announced in the September Zephyr. Have a GREAT Summer!
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DON'T FORGET TO CHECKOUT WEBINARS AND EVENTS LISTED at ams-awma.org
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NW PA Chapter of the A&WMA sponsor a Half-Day Workshop
hosted by GE Transportation
Responding to an Onsite Environmental Release
Panel moderators: R Shawn Mendt, PE
Alleghheny Mountain Section, EHS Manager, GE Transportation
and Conrad Sobczak, NW Pa Chapter Chair
Environmental Safety Specialist,Plastek Group
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
8:00am - 1:00pm
General Electric Corporation, Transportation Learning Center
2901 East Lake Road
Erie, Pa 16531
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