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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for week ending December 10, 2010
EPA'S SUPERFUND PROGRAM MARKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY / NEW INITIATIVE SEEKS TO ACCELERATE SITE CLEANUP
EPA is marking the 30th anniversary of the Superfund program with the announcement of a new Integrated Plan Initiative that will accelerate cleanup of the most polluted, complex, uncontrolled or abandoned sites in the U.S. to protect public health and the environment. The new initiative will accelerate cleanups where possible, address a greater number of contaminated sites, and put these sites into productive use. For more information on the Superfund program, go to https://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/oswer_eoy_2010.pdf
More information about the Superfund Program's 30th Anniversary: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/30years/index.htm
EPA LAUNCHES WEBSITE INFORMING THE PUBLIC ON EPA REGULATIONS
EPA has launched Reg Stat, a new website that provides information on the number, type, and range of regulatory documents developed each year by the agency, and the important role the EPA regulatory system plays in addressing the nation's environmental problems. Based on EPA documents published in the Federal Register between 2005 and 2009, both summary graphics and searchable data tables can be downloaded and sorted based on categories of interest. Complex terminology is explained. For more information, go to Reg Stat https://www.epa.gov/regstat .
KEEP THE HEAT INDOORS THIS WINTER WITH FIVE EASY TIPS
This winter, heat your homes while saving money, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change by following EPA's 5 tips: 1. Assess your energy use to similar homes across the country @ energystar.gov. 2. Seal air leaks. 3. Maintain heating equipment. 4. Use a programmable thermostat. 5. Look for Energy Star qualified products. If every household follows these tips, they could save $14 billion in annual energy costs and prevent more than 160 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equal to the annual emissions from 14 million cars. For more information, go to http://www.energystar.gov/heatingtips
PHILADELPHIA HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATION JOINS EPA'S SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP
On Nov. 16, Philabundance, a hunger-relief organization headquartered in Philadelphia, joined the Region 3 Sustainability Partnership to reduce its environmental footprint. Serving more than 65,000 individuals in Pa., and N.J. and distributing more than 22 million pounds of food during 2010, Philabundance will benefit from EPA expertise within programs such as WaterSense, Energy Star and WasteWise to reduce its in-house waste generation, natural resource usage, and energy consumption. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/spp/aboutus.html
PHILADELPHIA'S SEPTA PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM HEADQUARTERS EARNS ENERGY STAR LABEL
On Dec. 9, EPA presented the SEPTA public transit authority with an Energy Star label for transforming its headquarters in Philadelphia into an energy-efficient one by installing energy-efficient chillers, new electronic controls and lighting, water-saving toilets, a reflective cool roof, switching from nighttime to daytime cleaning, and allowing managers to shut down the building by 6 p.m. SEPTA was able to decrease all non-essential building functions by 24-percent and reduce the electric bill. For more information on Energy Star for buildings, visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_bldgs.
HEALTHY WATERS BLOG CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
Rain Gardens for the Bay Campaign is a voluntary partnership promoting a healthier bay by encouraging the creation of rain gardens including in backyards, school campuses, town halls, libraries, and local businesses. Rain gardens are a cost effective way to capture rain water, reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff, create habitats and prevent flooding. Learn to create a rain garden, visit the Healthy Waters Web site at http://blog.epa.gov/healthywaters/
Why Are There Trees in This Parking Lot Instead of More Parking? Trees are being used as part of a correctly-graded parking lot. An incorrectly graded one allows water to pool and stagnate while a correctly graded lot will drain the water right away into the storm drain preventing pollutants from entering local waters. Learn more about this, visit the Healthy Waters Web site at http://blog.epa.gov/healthywaters/
