As part of Children’s Health month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry today launched its “Don’t Mess with Mercury” video in an effort to protect children from the dangers of mercury. The EPA responds to numerous mercury spills every year that are primarily caused by children playing with mercury. The EPA’s cost for cleanup can range anywhere from $3,000 to $300,000 or more. The cost to the environment, and in some cases, human health is not quantifiable. Continue Reading →
Tag Archives | EPA
$7 Million in Funds to Train Workers to Clean Contaminated Sites
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that workers across America will have the opportunity to receive job training to help protect human health and the environment. More than $6.8 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be invested to train workers to clean up “brownfields” sites, which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants, turning these rundown areas to revitalized, productive properties.
“The recovery act is not only helping train individuals for good jobs in their communities, it’s helping them rebuild a lasting foundation for prosperity. With new skills in environmental clean up, these workers will begin restoring their communities into better places for businesses to invest and create jobs,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “EPA is providing solutions in these challenging economic times, and making clear that protecting our health and our environment is a great way to rebuild our economy.” Continue Reading →
EPA Proposes Stringent Standards for Large Ships
The Environmental Protection Agency today announced the next steps in a coordinated strategy to slash harmful emissions from ocean-going vessels. EPA is proposing a rule under the Clean Air Act that sets tough engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships that would harmonize with international standards and lead to significant air quality improvements throughout the country.
“These emissions are contributing to health, environmental and economic challenges for port communities and others that are miles inland. Building on our work to form an international agreement earlier this year, we’re taking the next steps to reduce significant amounts of harmful pollution from getting into the air we breathe,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Lowering emissions from American ships will help safeguard our port communities, and demonstrate American leadership in protecting our health and the environment around the globe.” Continue Reading →
United States Files Clean Air Lawsuit Against Engine Importer
The United States has filed a civil complaint against PowerTrain Inc., Wood Sales Co. Inc., and Tool Mart Inc., all based in Golden, Miss., alleging that they imported and sold more than 78,000 Chinese-made engines that do not meet federal air pollution standards, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that imported non-road engines and equipment comply with the Clean Air Act’s emissions standards. The filing marks the first federal court action enforcing the Clean Air Act’s emissions standards for portable generators, water pumps and other “non-handheld equipment.” Continue Reading →
EPA Announces Start of Hudson River Dredging
The long awaited and historic dredging of the Upper Hudson River to remove PCB-contaminated sediment began today near Roger’s Island in Fort Edward, NY. The start of the first phase of the six-year dredging project, which is being conducted under an agreement with the General Electric Company, was marked today by officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State, elected representatives, and a broad group of community representatives and environmental stakeholders at a river’s edge ceremony in Fort Edward.
“The start of Hudson River dredging is a symbol of victory for the environment and for its river communities,” said George Pavlou, Acting EPA Regional Administrator. “Dredging will help restore the health of the river, and will one day allow people to eat fish that are caught between Fort Edward and Albany. This is an historic day for an historic river.” Continue Reading →
EPA Releases Tools that Determine Wetland Condition
The national goal of “no net loss” of wetlands remains a daunting challenge. In February 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published Status and Trends of Wetlands, which noted a loss of more than 350,000 acres of coastal wetlands in the United States between 1998-2004, while at the same time reporting an overall gain in wetland acreage. Building on the challenges presented by FWS Status and Trends reports over the years, the U.S. EPA began the National Wetlands Condition Assessment process in 2006 to determine how healthy and effective our wetlands are—a key component in interpreting data that shows both hopeful gains and worrying losses. In the May-June issue of the National Wetlands Newsletter, EPA reports that the process of assessing the nation’s wetlands has yielded initial indicator classes for determining wetland condition. While far from the final peer-reviewed report, wetlands scientists are buzzing at the potential. Continue Reading →
