Article | March 28, 2011
Water Online's EPA Update: March 28, 2011
Welcome to Water Online's review of the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, resources, and activities related to the water, wastewater, and stormwater industries. EPA offices and programs covered in this installment are listed below. Click on an office or program name to go directly to that section of the article. Office of Water (OW) Coming Together For Clean Water Strategy Released
EPA To Open Public Comment On Proposed Standards To Protect Aquatic Ecosystems
Memorandum Released: Information Concerning 2012 Clean Water Act Sections 303(d), 305(b) And 314 Integrated Reporting And Listing Decisions
Office Of Water's Acting Assistant Administrator Blogs On Beaches And Clean Water
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Opens State Information Call Lines EPA Updates Web Tool Providing Clean Water Violation Trends And State Enforcement Response
Consol Energy To Pay $5.5 Million To Settle Clean Water Act Violations EPA's Watershed Academy Sponsors 57th Free Webcast Seminar: "Nitrogen And Phosphorus Pollution Series: Nitrate In Ground Water"
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
(NRMRL) Aerostat Emissions Sampling Of Gulf Oil In-situ Burning Impact *Also available on line at: Aerostat Sampling of
PCDD/PCDF Emissions from the Gulf Oil Spill In-situ Burns (PDF) Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program ETV Verified Technologies
Vendor Solicitations
Upcoming Conferences and Meetings
For more information on the ETV, visit www.epa.gov/etv. Other EPA News EPA Monitoring Continues To Confirm That No Radiation Levels Of Concern Have Reached The United States
EPA Releases U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental And Health Report Border 2012 is a U.S.-Mexico program that protects people's health and the environment for 10 states on both sides of the 2,000-mile border, including 26 U.S. tribes and seven groups of Mexican indigenous people. The Border 2012 program continues to be a model of cooperation and collaboration between neighboring nations and continues to achieve tangible, on-the-ground health and environmental results within U.S.-Mexico border communities. EPA Proposes To Defer GHG Permitting Requirements For Industries That Use Biomass
New Robot System To Test 10,000 Chemicals For Toxicity
U.S. EPA Announces Settlements With Six Companies At San Fernando Valley Superfund Site
EPA Adds 10 Hazardous Waste Sites To Superfund's National Priorities List For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for these final and proposed sites:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm
SOURCE: EPA
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released Coming Together for Clean Water: EPA's Strategy to Protect America's Waters. This strategy charts a path for meeting the nation's clean water strategic plan goals over the next several years. Protecting the nation's water resources is not only important to the health of the nation's citizens and the environment, but clean water is also a critical resource for the economy.
In April 2010 Administrator Jackson brought a broad range of stakeholders together for the Coming Together for Clean Water forum. The discussion at the forum focused on how to reinvigorate the nation's clean water programs to achieve a significant leap forward in clean water protections.
The Coming Together for Clean Water strategy presents a framework for how EPA's national water program will address the challenges and highlights EPA's priorities for achieving clean water goals. This strategy focuses on the following key areas: ensuring transparency and effectively reporting on the status of the health of all waters; increasing protection of source waters and healthy watersheds; restoring degraded waters and ecosystems; reducing the amount of pollution entering our waters that impact our health and our economy; and tackling new and emerging threats to our waters in a way that will ensure healthier, more livable communities. This vision for EPA's programs is important to consistent and collaborative efforts between EPA, state and tribal partners, local government partners, the private sector and the public in order to achieve significant improvements our nation's water quality.
More information is available at: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/.
As required by the Clean Water Act and pursuant to a settlement agreement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing for public comment standards to protect billions of fish and other aquatic organisms drawn each year into cooling water systems at large power plants and factories. The proposal, based on Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, would establish a common sense framework, putting a premium on public input and flexibility.
Safeguards against impingement will be required for all facilities above a minimum size; closed-cycle cooling systems may also be required on a case by case basis when, based on thorough site-specific analysis by permitting authorities, such requirements are determined to be appropriate. EPA is proposing this regulation as a result of a settlement agreement with Riverkeeper, Inc. and other environmental groups.
The public will be able to comment on the proposal upon its publication in the Federal Register. EPA will conduct a 90 day comment period, and will carefully consider those comments before taking final action on the proposal. The administrator must take final action by July 27, 2012.
For the full press release: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/3881d73f4d4aaa0b85257359003f5348/1a6586526d351a1d852578610077d4c8!OpenDocument
More information: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/316b/
Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Clean Water Act Sections 303(d), 305 (b), and 314 integrated reporting memorandum for the 2012 reporting cycle. This memorandum provides clarification on existing policy and regulations, including recommendations and options for States as they develop their 2012 integrated water quality reports. Specifically, this memorandum focuses on: 1) Timeliness of State Integrated Report submissions and EPA approval; 2) Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System data clarifications; 3) Availability of recent EPA guidance on Ocean Acidification; and 4) EPA's intent to work with States to develop future guidance on the interplay between antidegradation and the 303(d) program.
For more information: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/ir_memo_2012.cfm.
March is Women's History Month. For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Women in Science blog series, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Water, Nancy Stoner, recently posted a blog on beaches and clean water, and the relevance to human health and environmental protection. In the blog, Ms. Stoner discusses EPA's ongoing efforts to address water quality at beaches and efforts to protect them from pollution, such as grants to help states, territories and tribes to monitor beaches and to notify the public when water quality problems exist.
To read the blog: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2011/03/25/women-in-science-this-land-is-your-land-%E2%80%93-and-so-is-the-water/
For information on beaches: http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which has been charged by President Obama with developing a restoration strategy for the gulf, recently announced the availability of a toll-free number for individuals who have questions or suggestions related to the mission of the task force.
Under its charge, the task force must propose a gulf coast ecosystem restoration agenda by October 5, 2011. A series of listening sessions are being held throughout the gulf coast states for community members to provide individual input that will inform the development of the restoration strategy. The goal of the listening sessions is to obtain individual input on priority issues, existing impediments and key outcomes or actions for the restoration of the gulf coast ecosystem.
Citizens from the five gulf coast states, which include Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, can call the state information call line at 1-855-427-9263 to receive additional information on task force meetings and other activities within their state.
The touch tone automated menu provides general information about task force activities and allows callers to be transferred to a task force staff member located in each state. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday. The state information call line staff includes representatives from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force was established by President Obama through an executive order on October 5, 2010. It is an advisory body made up of lead officials from state representatives appointed by the president upon recommendation of the governors of the five gulf states and 11 federal agencies and White House offices
Citizens can receive automatic updates by emailing the task force at GulfCoastTaskForce@epa.gov.
More information on the task force: http://www.restorethegulf.gov/task-force
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released updated data and a mapping tool designed to help the public compare water quality trends over the last two years. The web-based, interactive map includes "state dashboards" that provide detailed information for each state, including information on facilities that are violating the Clean Water Act and the actions states are taking to enforce the law and protect people's health.
"Access to environmental information that is easy to use is the cornerstone of our commitment to transparency and engaging the public in a meaningful and productive way," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "The release of today's tool removes traditional barriers that have limited access to Clean Water Act information and helps improve public awareness of the important work that remains in protecting our nation's waters."
The state dashboards incorporate data for both large and small sources of water pollution, along with the latest information from EPA's 2009 Annual Noncompliance Report. The public can examine and compare information on the inspections conducted by both EPA and the state in their region, violations and enforcement actions in their communities over the past two years and the penalties levied in response to violations.
In 2009, EPA announced the Clean Water Act action plan to improve Clean Water Act permitting, enforcement, information collection and public access to compliance and monitoring information. The state dashboards are a part of the action plan and are designed to provide information on Clean Water Act violators and government's response.
EPA's enforcement and compliance transparency tools are recognized as a model for open government and improving how government operates. EPA's Enforcement and Compliance Online (ECHO) database provides fast, integrated searches of EPA and state data for more than 800,000 regulated facilities, including information on inspections, violations and enforcement actions.
More information on interactive state dashboard for Clean Water Act violations:
http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ancr/us/
More information on the 2009 Annual Noncompliance report:
http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ancr/us/docs/ANCR_2009.pdf
More information on the ECHO database: http://www.epa-echo.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice, and state
of West Virginia announced that Consol Energy Inc., the largest producer of coal
from underground mines in the United States, has agreed to pay a $5.5 million
civil penalty for Clean Water Act violations at six of its mines in West
Virginia. In addition to the penalty, Consol will spend an estimated $200
million in pollution controls that will reduce discharges of harmful mining
wastewater into Appalachian streams and rivers.
"Complying with the Clean Water Act is a critical responsibility of those who
operate mining operations near our nation's treasured rivers, lakes and
streams," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "The state-of the-art technology
required by today's settlement is an important step forward in protecting
local waterways and the health of communities in Appalachia."
"In this settlement, Consol takes responsibility for its past failures to
abide by the terms of its Clean Water Act permits," said Ignacia S. Moreno,
assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of
the Department of Justice. "As a result of this enforcement action, Consol
will install a state-of-the-art system to treat wastewater from multiple mines
that will set the standard for the responsible management of discharges from
underground mining operations in Appalachia. This settlement will ensure
protection of human health and the environment for the benefit of the people who
live in Appalachia."
Consol has agreed to build and operate an advanced water treatment plant using
reverse osmosis technology near Manington, W.Va. to remove high levels of
chloride from mining wastewater. When completed, the plant will be the largest
such water treatment plant in Appalachia and capable of treating 3,500 gallons
of mine water per minute, substantially reducing chloride and other salts in
mining waters discharged to streams. This treatment will eliminate more than 96
million pounds of total dissolved solids, including more than 11 million pounds
of chloride. High levels of chloride and dissolved solids can harm aquatic life,
clog irrigation devices and carry toxic chemicals that impact drinking
water.
The U.S. government's complaint filed concurrently with the settlement alleges
that six Consol mines violated pollution discharge limits in their Clean Water
Act permits hundreds of times over the last four years. The complaint alleges
chronic exceedances of chloride discharge limits at the Blacksville No. 2,
Loveridge, Robinson Run and Four States mines in the Monongahela watershed and
the Shoemaker and Windsor mines discharging into tributaries of the Ohio
River.
The complaint also alleges that discharges of high amounts of chloride and total
dissolved solids from Consol's facilities at Blacksville No. 2 and Loveridge
contributed to severe impairment of aquatic life and conditions allowing golden
algae to thrive in Dunkard Creek. In September of 2009, a species of golden
algae bloomed in Dunkard Creek killing thousands of fish, mussels and
amphibians.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District
of West Virginia, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by
the federal court.
More information on the settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/cwa/consol.html
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a webcast titled "Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Series: Nitrate in Ground Water" on Tuesday March 29, 2011 at 1:00-3:00 pm (EST). This webcast will highlight an emerging issue of increased nitrate loading to ground water, a growing national concern. According to EPA's most recent data, public water systems using ground water as a drinking source serve over 300 million people nationwide. The total number of people drinking ground water increases when factoring in households supplied by private drinking water wells. Ground water can become contaminated by nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) leaching from the land surface into the ground water supply.
In a September 2010 report, "Nutrients in the Nation's Streams and Groundwater," the U.S. Geological Survey monitored and documented nitrate levels above 10 mg/L, which is the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations through the Safe Drinking Water Act, in over 20 percent of shallow household wells in agricultural areas. Additionally, from 1998 to 2008, the number of nitrate violations recorded at public water systems around the country has nearly doubled. Surface sources of drinking water are also at risk. For example, stormwater runoff can carry nutrients directly to rivers, lakes and reservoirs – some of which are used as drinking water supplies. Capital costs to remove nitrates from public water systems or to provide alternative water supplies for individual households can be very high, with some communities spending millions of dollars.
The webcast will provide a national overview of the nitrate in ground water issue and highlight a case study in Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley. This webcast is a second in a series of Watershed Academy Webcasts on the impacts of nutrients on water resources.
Participants are encouraged to download the presentation, which will be posted prior to the webcast. For more information on the webcast, including the presentation, information on speakers, and to register, visit
www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts. More information on nitrates in drinking water can be found at
http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/nitrate.cfm.
Air quality researchers from EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory employed aerostat (balloon) sampling technology to measure emissions from in-situ burning of waterborne oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. Anchored to an oil rig utility ship, the sampling package was carried aloft by a polyurethane/nylon balloon and maneuvered into plumes emitted from purposely burned surface oil. Data from the sampling aided in the characterization of oil-burn contaminants and assessment of worker exposure hazard.
Background
The aerostat sampling method was developed by EPA air quality researchers to measure emission factors from open burning of explosives, prescribed forest fires, agriculture residue fires, and landfill waste burns. On land, the aerial sampling technology uses one or two all-terrain vehicles to maneuver the balloon, which deploys a lightweight battery-powered instrument package. Vertical and horizontal motion of the helium-filled balloon is controlled by two tethers attached to vehicle-mounted winches. A 4x3-meter (about 10x13-ft) semispherical balloon can carry a maximum load of 18 kg (approx. 40 lbs) at sea level and is known to provide a stable platform in winds as high as 47 miles/hr.
The basic sampling package is capable of measuring CO (carbon monoxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide), particulate matter ranging from 2.5 to 0.25 micrometers in size, PCDD/F (dioxins and other toxic chemicals), as well as PAHs (hydrocarbon byproducts of petroleum combustion), ambient temperature and relative humidity. The package is also equipped with a GPS (global positioning system) for location and elevation, and can carry a camera for video recording.
The Research Question
After the catastrophic April 20, 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico, cleanup efforts included the controlled burning of surface oil from the spill. In-situ burning of oil spills has the benefit of minimizing contamination of coastal marine environments. However, a major detriment is the potential health effects of emissions from the incomplete combustion of the oil, as indicated by the copious volumes of black, particle-laden smoke.
Concerns about the health effects of oil-burn emissions, coupled with limited findings in the literature, prompted EPA's Office of Research and Development and Region 6 to conduct an air quality test using the balloon-borne sampling instrumentation.
Action
With the assistance of EPA's Emergency Response Team, the sampling equipment was loaded aboard a 220-foot oil rig platform-ship hired by British Petroleum. Surface oil was collected by two parallel trawlers, each towing one end of a fireproof boom. Maneuvered by the ship and guided by tethered lines, the balloon and instruments were lofted directly into the plumes of 27 surface fires over a period of four days. Researchers' prior experience with burning multiple fuels determined the minimum emission mass needed for targeting. Contaminants of concern for the test were polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCCDs and PCDFs). Data from the sampling were used to determine and characterize these emissions, and to assess worker exposure hazard.
Results
Sea, weather, and oil conditions during the sampling resulted in plumes of varying appearance, duration, and intensity. A composite sample from 27 of these plumes over four days (July 13-16) resulted in emission factors and concentrations that were representative of the Gulf in-situ oil fires. Complete test data are shown in ?Aerostat Sampling of PCDD/PCDF Emissions from the Gulf Oil Spill In-situ Burns? in Environmental Science & Technology (mid-December 2010 publication).* The calculated emission factors of the 27 samples of PCDD/PCDF concentrations were roughly 25 to 65 times higher than observed for controlled combustion of waste engine oil and over two orders of magnitude lower than for open burning of residential waste. The extent to which the Gulf sampling values may be applied to emissions from other in-situ oil fires remains to be determined.
Incorporation of the emission factors into transport and deposition models can provide information on potential receptor exposure on land and water, allowing the impact of PCDD/PCDF emissions from in-situ oil burns on environmental and other routes of human health exposures to be assessed. These studies would also be useful in balancing the overall ecosystem and health impact of in-situ burning versus alternative cleanup strategies and their environmental impacts. The aerial sampling method has significant advantages in that it provides safe, maneuverable access to actual fire emissions, allowing the whole event to be sampled without the introduction of sample bias or risk to researchers.
In addition to the Gulf oil burn test, the system was also recently deployed in the sampling of plumes from open burning and open detonation of military ordnances during disposal operations. Tests sampling emissions from detonation of TNT and burning of M1 propellant at the Toole, Utah, Army Ammunition Depot were very successful. A second
year's effort is planned for this March.
The ETV Program has verified the performance of 444 innovative environmental
technologies that can be used to monitor, prevent, control, and clean up
pollution. For a full list of ETV verifications, visit
http://www.epa.gov/etv/verifiedtechnologies.html.
ETV centers issue periodic solicitations for vendors and collaborators
interested in verification. For a list of active ETV vendor solicitations,
please visit www.epa.gov/etv/vendorswanted.html,
or contact the appropriate ETV center (see www.epa.gov/etv/contacts.html)..
During detailed filter analyses from 12 RadNet air monitor locations across the nation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified trace amounts of radioactive isotopes consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident. Some of the filter results show levels slightly higher than those found by EPA monitors last week and a Department of Energy monitor the week before. These types of findings are to be expected in the coming days and are still far below levels of public health concern.
EPA's samples were captured by monitors in Alaska, Alabama, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands and Washington state over the past week and sent to EPA scientists for detailed laboratory analysis.
Detailed information on this latest round of filter results can be found at: http://epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-data-map.html#results
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mexico's Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment
has released the Border 2012 Accomplishment Report for 2010. The report highlights projects taking place within border communities through the Border 2012 program that ensures the protection of people's health. The bi-national program focuses on cleaning the air, providing safe drinking water, reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous waste, and ensuring emergency preparedness along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"The Border 2012 Program showcases what two neighboring countries can do when they have a shared goal to protect health and clean up the environment. This program continues to be a model of collaboration and this report highlights what can be accomplished when we work together for one mission," said Michelle DePass, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs. "As the national program coordinator, I am glad to collaborate with our state and local government partners, U.S. tribal nations and Mexican indigenous communities, and other stakeholders as we work to improve public health and the environment in our border communities."
Some of the highlights include:
More information: http://www.epa.gov/usmexicoborder/
Following through on a January 2011 commitment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to defer, for three years, Clean Air Act permitting requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic sources. This additional time will allow the agency to conduct a detailed examination of the science on this issue.
Seeking advice of federal partners, states, a diverse group of expert scientists including industry and other stakeholders, and an independent scientific panel, will help to determine how these emissions should be treated under the EPA's air permitting program. In July 2010, EPA issued a call for information seeking public comment.
New EPA guidance is also being provided to help permitting authorities determine that using biomass as a fuel can be considered the best available control technology for CO2 emissions from the large sources needing permits. The guidance can be used until EPA takes final action on the deferral.
Sources covered by this proposal would include facilities that emit CO2 from burning forest or agricultural products for energy, wastewater treatment, waste management (landfills), and fermentation processes for ethanol production. Facilities meeting the requirements under the agency's greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting program will still need to report their CO2 emissions.
Beginning on January 2, 2011, the Clean Air Act required large plants and factories planning to make major modifications or build new facilities to obtain pre-construction permits addressing their GHG emissions. Emissions from small sources, such as farms and restaurants, are not covered by these permitting requirements.
EPA will accept comments on the proposed deferral for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register.
Several federal agencies have unveiled a new high-speed robot screening system that will test 10,000 different chemicals for potential toxicity. The system marks the beginning of a new phase of an ongoing collaboration, referred to as Tox21, that is working to protect people's health by improving how chemicals are tested in this country.
The robot system, which is located at the National Institutes of Health Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC), was purchased as part of the Tox21 collaboration established in 2008 between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Toxicology Program, and NCGC, with the addition of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010. Tox21 merges existing resources – research, funding and testing tools – to develop ways to more effectively predict how chemicals will affect human health and the environment.
"Understanding the molecular basis of hazard is fundamental to the protection of people's health and the environment," said Dr. Paul Anastas, assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Research and Development, "Tox21 allows us to obtain deeper understanding and more powerful insights, faster than ever before."
The 10,000 chemicals the robot system will screen include chemicals found in industrial and consumer products, food additives and drugs. Testing results will provide information useful for evaluating if these chemicals have the potential to disrupt human body processes enough to lead to adverse health effects.
"Tox21 has used robots to screen chemicals since 2008, but this new robot system is dedicated to screening a much larger compound library," said NHGRI Director Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D. The director of the NCGC at NHGRI, Christopher Austin, M.D., added "The Tox21 collaboration will transform our understanding of toxicology with the ability to test in a day what would take one year for a person to do by hand."
"The addition of this new robot system will allow the National Toxicology Program to advance its mission of testing chemicals smarter, better, and faster," said Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., NIEHS and NTP director. "We will be able to more quickly provide information about potentially dangerous substances to health and regulatory decision makers, and others, so they can make informed decisions to protect public health."
Tox21 has already screened more than 2,500 chemicals for potential toxicity using robots and other innovative chemical screening technologies. The Tox21 chemical screening technologies were used to screen the different types of oil spill dispersants for potential endocrine activity during the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year.
"This partnership builds upon FDA's commitment to developing new methods to evaluate the toxicity of the substances we regulate," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
EPA contributes to Tox21 through the ToxCast program and by providing chemicals and additional fast, automated tests. ToxCast currently includes 500 chemical screening tests that are assessing more than 1,000 chemicals.
Video of the Tox21 robot is available at http://www.genome.gov/27543670.
More information on the Tox21 collaboration: http://epa.gov/ncct/Tox21/
More information on ToxCast: http://epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/
More information on NTP: http://www.ntp.niehs.nih.gov
More information on NCGC: http://www.ncgc.nih.gov
More information on FDA: http://www.fda.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has reached settlements with six companies to address contaminated groundwater in North Hollywood and Glendale, areas that are part of the San Fernando Valley Superfund Sites, near Los Angeles, Calif.
"These settlements highlight our priority at EPA to clean up vital drinking water sources," said Jane Diamond, Director of the Superfund Division in EPA's Pacific Southwest regional office. "In addition to cleaning up groundwater for use as drinking water, we are making sure those responsible for the contamination pay their fair share of the cleanup costs, leveraging the taxpayer's dollars to conduct further cleanups."
In the North Hollywood area, EPA signed an agreement with Honeywell International and Lockheed Martin for design work, valued at $2.2 million, for an expanded cleanup system to treat contaminated groundwater. This system will capture and treat the most highly contaminated groundwater in the North Hollywood area of the San Fernando basin and prevent degradation of water quality at the water supply wells operated by the City of Los Angeles. While design work proceeds, EPA will negotiate an agreement with a larger group of companies to construct and operate this long-term remedy that provides clean drinking water to the City.
In the Glendale area, EPA settled with Goodrich Corporation, ITT Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PRC DeSoto International, Inc. to invest an estimated $1 million for investigation of chromium contamination in groundwater in the Glendale area. In addition to performing work, the companies will pay EPA $750,000 in partial settlement of their share of EPA's past costs. EPA will use this money to fund additional work on the chromium groundwater investigation and cleanup.
EPA has been active in groundwater cleanup efforts in the San Fernando Valley area since the early 1980s when solvent contamination was first discovered. In 2008, the EPA launched a focused investigation on chromium groundwater contamination within the Glendale Superfund site area that will lead to cleanups at chromium sources impacting Glendale area groundwater.
For more information on the San Fernando Valley Superfund sites, please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/sanfernandovalley
For more information on chromium, please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/sfund/chromium/index.html or
http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/chromium.cfm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is adding 10 new hazardous waste sites that risk people's health and threaten the environment to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites and is proposing to include 15 additional sites. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.
To date, there have been 1,637 sites listed on the NPL, 347 of which have been deleted, resulting in 1,290 current sites on the NPL. There are now 66 proposed sites awaiting final agency action: 61 in the general Superfund section and five in the federal facilities section. There are a total of 1,356 final and proposed sites.
Harmful contaminants found at the sites include arsenic, asbestos, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, creosote, dichloroethene (DCE), dioxins, lead, mercury, pentachlorophenol (PCP), polynuclear aromatic hydrcarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethene (TCE), and zinc.
With all Superfund sites, EPA tries to identify and locate the parties potentially responsible for the contamination. For the newly listed sites without viable potentially responsible parties, EPA will investigate the full extent of the contamination before starting significant cleanup at the site. Therefore, it may be several years before significant cleanup funding is required for these sites.
Sites may be placed on the list through various mechanisms:
The following 10 sites have been added to the National Priorities List:
Dwyer Property Ground Water Plume, Elkton, Md.
Washington County Lead District – Furnace Creek, Caledonia, Mo.
ACM Smelter and Refinery, Cascade County, Mont.
Mansfield Trail Dump, Byram Township, N.J.
Dewey Loeffel Landfill, Nassau, N.Y.
Wright Chemical Corporation, Riegelwood, N.C.
Milford Contaminated Aquifer, Milford, Ohio
Cabo Rojo Ground Water Contamination, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Hormigas Ground Water Plume, Caguas, Puerto Rico
West County Road 112 Ground Water, Midland, Texas
The following 15 sites have been proposed to the National Priorities List:
Blue Ledge Mine, Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest, Calif.
New Idria Mercury Mine, Idria, Calif.
Sandoval Zinc Company, Sandoval, Ill.
Gary Development Landfill, Gary, Ind.
Sauer Dump, Dundalk, Md.
Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp, Columbus, Miss.
Red Panther Chemical Company, Clarksdale, Miss.
Garfield Ground Water Contamination, Garfield, N.J.
MolyCorp Inc., Questa, N.M. (re-proposal)
New Cassel/Hicksville Ground Water Contamination, New Cassell/Hicksville, N.Y.
CTS of Asheville, Inc., Asheville, N.C.
Astoria Marine Construction Company, Ore.
North Ridge Estates, Klamath Falls, Ore.
US Finishing/Cone Mills, Greenville, S.C.
Alamo Contaminated Ground Water, Alamo, Tenn.