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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for week ending March 25, 2011
EPA'S EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST FOR GRADES K-12 ENTRY DEADLINE IS EARTH DAY, APRIL 22.
K-12 grade students from the mid-Atlantic region are invited to submit hand-created drawings for EPA's 2011 Earth Day poster contest. Participants can choose one of the four themes: Protect habitats, endangered species; Help protect the Earth from climate change; The meaning of Earth Day; and Bays, estuaries, oceans and coasts. There will be prizes for the top three winners and others in four categories of grades. Entries must be postmarked no later than Earth Day, April 22, 2011.
EPA MONITORS APPROACHING RADIATION LEVELS FROM JAPAN QUAKE
Although detailed filter analyses from 12 RadNet air monitors across the nation tracked by EPA's Radiation Air Monitoring System has identified trace amounts of radioactive isotopes consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident, the findings are still far below levels of public health concern. Detailed information on the latest round of filter results can be found at https://epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-data-map.html#results Find out about EPA's radiation air monitoring system at https://epa.gov/japan2011/index.html
PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT GARNERS EPA'S INDOOR AIR QUALITY GREAT START AWARD
On March 10, EPA's Region 3 office presented the Philadelphia School District with EPA's National Great Start Award in recognition of the district's participation in the EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program to promote healthy air in the district's 357 buildings. The district is making their indoor air quality healthier by following the program's procedures to reduce exposure to indoor environmental contaminants. For more information, visit
https://www.epa.gov/iaq
https://www.epa.gov/schools
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OPEN ON PROPOSED STANDARDS TO PROTECT AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
EPA is requesting public comment on a proposed rule intended to prevent fish from being killed by cooling water intakes at power plants and other large industrial facilities. The proposed rule requires facilities to conduct studies as part of the permit application in order to implement the proper pollution control technology at each facility that will reduce fish mortality and preserve the marine and freshwater ecosystems. For more information on the settlement agreement and the comment period, go to http://www.riverkeeper.org/news-events/news/preserve-river-ecology/intake-regulations-316b/ 
WEB-BASED TOOL PROVIDES INFORMATION ON CLEAN WATER VIOLATION AND STATE COMPLIANCE
On March 24, EPA released an updated web-based EPA Enforcement and Compliance Online (ECHO) data and mapping tool designed to help compare water quality trends over the last two years for more than 800,000 regulated facilities, including information on inspections, violations and enforcement actions. The interactive map includes 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. For more information, go to http://www.epa-echo.gov
EPA STREAMLINES REGULATIONS FOR CAR AND TRUCK FUEL CONVERSION SYSTEMS
EPA has updated rules so that manufacturers can market fuel conversion systems allowing vehicles to run on fuels other than the ones for which they were originally designed. Opening up the market for clean alternative fuels as a fuel supply choice will help with concerns about fuel costs, energy security, and emissions. Most alternative fuel conversions involve converting gasoline or diesel vehicles or engines to run on natural gas, propane, alcohols, or electricity, or a blend of conventional and alternative fuels. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm
HEALTHY WATERS BLOG CURRENT HIGHLIGHT
PROTECTING DRINKING WATER WITH SSAs – There is a little known way that EPA uses to protect a community's drinking water. It is with the Sole Source Aquifer program. Find out more at http://blog.epa.gov/healthywaters/.
