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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for week ending October 22, 2010
EPA ANNOUNCES LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK
The last week of October has been designated as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week to remind the public to protect themselves and especially young children from the toxic effects of lead poisoning. Lead can be found everywhere: in the inside and outside of buildings and in soil, and children are particularly vulnerable, but exposure can be reduced in many ways. Have your children undergo a test for lead and get your home inspected, especially if built before 1978. For more facts, visit http://www.leadfreekids.org 
or call 1-800-424-LEAD.
BNY MELLON BANK AND CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZED AS GREENPOWER PARTNERSHIP LEADERS
On Oct. 20, EPA's Green Power Partnership honored Pittsburgh, Pa.'s BNY Mellon Bank and Carnegie Mellon University with the prestigious Green Power Leadership Award for voluntarily purchasing the majority of their green power from renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, or biomass. Green Power partners pledge to purchase green power to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse emissions through a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate supplier. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm.
EPA TO ADD NINE HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES TO THE SUPERFUND NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST; ONE SITE IN MARYLAND
On Oct. 19, EPA proposed to add nine hazardous, toxic and contaminated waste sites to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), the federal program that investigates and cleans up these sites to safeguard human health and the environment. EPA published a rule proposing to add the nine sites to the NPL in the Oct. 21, 2010 Federal Register [Docket No. EPA-HQ-SFUND-2010-0639]. After a site has been proposed to the NPL list, there is a 60-day comment period and a final decision is made after EPA has responded to all the public comments.
An abandoned World War II site in Elkton, Md. is included on the proposed list. The Dwyer Property Ground Water Plume (formerly Triumph Explosives, Inc.) site is a highly contaminated trichloroethylene (TCE) ground water plume and poses a threat to the water quality and health of nearby residents. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm
EPA TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EIGHT COMMUNITIES UNDER THE SMART GROWTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Under the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) program, EPA, with its partners (HUD and DOT) have selected eight communities in the nation to become more environmentally and economically sustainable by helping address their deteriorating infrastructures, protect water quality, set development standards, and create options for housing and transportation. In Region 3, the Metropolitan Washington (DC) Council of Governments will receive technical assistance in assessing climate change risks to the D.C. region, identifying smart growth strategies that can help the region adapt to climate change, and sharing this with local decision-makers. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htm For more information on the partnership, go to https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html
EPA TO HOLD LISTENING SESSIONS ON POTENTIAL CHESAPEAKE BAY STORMWATER RULE
EPA will hold five public listening sessions and one webcast to solicit input on a proposed stormwater rule to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed from the harmful effects of stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment while addressing environmental justice considerations. The sessions will be held from Oct. 26 to Nov. 17 in various locations:
October 26, in Baltimore, Md. and October 28 in Cambridge, Md.
November 4 in Washington, D.C
November 9 in Richmond, Va.
November 16 - 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST webcast listening session.
November 17 in Harrisburg, Pa.
EPA will accept written comments on the potential rule until 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. To register or for more information on the listening sessions: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking
