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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending July 24, 2009
OPERATORS OF SMALL AND LARGE PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS RECOGNIZED FOR PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
EPA presented its 2009 Professional Operator Excellence Regional Award for large public drinking water systems on July 23 to Michael Griffith, chief operator of the City of Frostburg Water Treatment Plant in Frostburg, Md. Mr. Griffith used his expertise and ingenuity to protect his community's water supply, maintaining perfect compliance, reducing the plant's operational costs by generating the plant's own electricity, and using a minimum amount of disinfectant by-products.
Mark Beall of Stanardsville, Va., was honored by EPA this past June for excellence in operating a small public drinking water system and protecting the community's water supply. Through his leadership and direction, the Woodberry Forest High School (near Charlottesville, Va.) and its community maintained perfect compliance, achieved optimal corrosion control treatment for the first time, and created an e-mail network informing users about their drinking water quality. For more information on the award program, go to https://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/drinking/awards.htm#operator
EPA'S ENERGY STAR PROGRAM WILL ISSUE REBATES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES; REGION TO RECEIVE ABOUT $30 MILLION
Energy Star, a joint EPA/Department of Energy program promoting energy efficient products and practices will issue nationwide rebates for consumer purchases this winter. State/territory energy offices will receive almost $300 million nationally to provide rebates for consumer purchases of Energy Star-qualified home appliances by selecting the appliances in their rebate programs. Region 3 states (including the District of Columbia) will receive almost $30 million to be distributed by the end of November 2009. For the list of national allocations, go to
http://www.energy.gov/news2009/documents2009/EE_EnergyStar_State_Allocations.pdf
For more information, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=news.nr_news
EPA TO RECONSIDER MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FOR AIRBORNE LEAD
EPA announced it will review the need for more rigorous monitoring standards near industrial sources of lead and also more rigorous monitoring requirements for urban areas. "We have a fundamental responsibility to protect every child from environmental threats, especially contaminants like lead that can cause behavioral and learning disabilities and create a lifetime of challenges," said former Administrator Lisa Jackson. "We're putting in place rigorous standards to prevent contamination." EPA will issue a public review proposal, a comment later this summer, and a final rule in early Spring 2010. (Note: This is not a reconsideration of lead standards, but monitoring requirements). For information on lead pollution in air, go to https://www.epa.gov/air/lead/
REGIONAL FIRM AMONG 20 CLIMATE LEADERS HONORED FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS
EPA announced that 284 companies (35 in Region 3) have joined Climate Leaders, the industry-government partnership providing guidance and recognition to companies to develop long-term climate change strategies. Partners voluntarily inventory their greenhouse gas emissions and set goals to reduce them. A regional firm, Exelon Corporation (parent company of Philadelphia-area utility PECO and one of the nation's largest electric and gas utilities) is one of approximately 20 Climate Leaders who met their emissions reduction goals. Exelon joined Climate Leaders in 2003 and set a goal of reducing total annual GHG emissions by 8 percent from 2001 to 2008, surpassing its goal with a total GHG emissions reduction of 38 percent at the end of 2008. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/climateleaders
CAST YOUR VOTE TO SELECT THE RACHEL CARSON SENSE OF WONDER CONTEST WINNERS
EPA's Aging Initiative needs you to cast your vote in the third annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder contest co-sponsored by Generations United, the Rachel Carson Council Inc., and the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. Rachel Carson is the author of "Silent Spring," the book which spawned the environmental movement. Inspired by another of her books, "The Sense of Wonder," contest judges selected submissions in five categories for public vote: photography, essay, poetry, dance and mixed media (photography and a poem or essay) which express the 'Sense of Wonder' evoked by the wonders of nature. The deadline to vote is October 1. Winners will be announced later that month.
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