tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107651172024-03-14T02:24:51.935-04:00BLACK BEAR SPEAKSGreat Lakes environmental headlines, progressive commentary, good books.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.comBlogger666125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-42250399212782739392015-09-25T17:54:00.000-04:002015-09-25T18:35:35.013-04:00Black Bear Sleeps<a href="http://wcbstv.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_166100924"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/RfrMR3ix6kI/AAAAAAAAAVU/LiGI1HdED8A/s400/xl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042567340134361666" /></a>I've obviously been taking a break from writing for a bit. Hibernation. What can I say, there was too much going on in my life, I was overwhelmed. I'll start writing again in a month or so. The Bear will return. For now, I suggest you read <a href="http://www.wri.org/">this</a>, <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/">this</a> and especially <a href="http://www.truthout.org/">this</a>. <br /><br /> I'm going for a long walk in the park and then I'm going to take a nap.
And everyone should read this too: <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Black_Elk_Speaks.html?id=1oStxQNmteEC&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false">Black Elk Speaks</a>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-50556721118500210462010-04-14T11:02:00.002-04:002010-04-14T11:05:43.557-04:00Public Meeting April 14 on Proposed Cleanup Options for Occidental Chemical Site in MontagueThere will be an informational meeting Wednesday, April 14, on proposed cleanup strategies for contaminated ground water at the Occidental Chemical Corp. facility in Montague. The meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Montague Township Hall, 8915 Whitbeck Road.<br /><br />The proposed cleanup plan includes installing installation of six new wells on the southern portion of the former Occidental Chemical property. The idea is that the wells, working with a current well system in place at White Lake, might reduce ground water contamination to safe levels from Old Channel to White Lake within the next 18 years.<br /><br />From the EPA: <span style="font-style:italic;">State and federal environmental regulators have been overseeing cleanup work on the OCC property since 1979. Since that time, the first set of extraction wells have removed and treated billions of gallons of ground water and prevented the flow of contaminants into White Lake. However, contamination remains trapped in subsurface soil on the northern portion of the site and those chemicals continue to seep into the ground water. No treatment technologies have been found that can remove this contamination trapped in sands below the water table. The objectives of EPA’s proposed plan are to clean up ground water to better protect White Lake and allow for the eventual beneficial use of the ground water and unrestricted use of the OCC property and private property south of Old Channel Trail.</span><br /><br />Show up to have your comments included in the plan.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-37932481193564552582010-03-05T15:44:00.003-05:002010-03-05T15:56:42.511-05:00Michigan Golf Course added to Superfund toxic sites listThe Gratiot County Golf Course in St. Louis, Michigan has been added to the Superfund National Priorities List. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up the most complex and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in the U.S.<br /><br />The Gratiot County site lies east of the Hidden Oaks Golf Course on Monroe Road. From 1956 to 1970, the nearby Velsicol Chemical burned their hazardous waste in an open pit. Originally the pit disposal area was proposed to Superfund in 1982, but at that time Velsicol excavated 68,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. In 2006, more soil and ground water contamination was found, and EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality decided to propose the site as a new listing. With today’s action, the site is now eligible for further analysis and development of a cleanup plan. <br /><br />So the message here is that for over 55 years, the groundwater and soil in St. Louis Michigan have been contaminated. It took 12 years after the toxic waste burning ended before anyone was held responsible and made to remove contamination. It took another 24 years before testing found more contamination. How long will it take to actually resolve this problem? Long after you and I are gone, probably, and long after all the people who worked at Velsicol have died of cancer.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-25605468948040070002010-02-03T16:54:00.003-05:002010-02-03T17:06:25.711-05:00Meanwhile Down in Evansville... or should we call it "Leadville"?<span style="font-weight:bold;">upcoming lead-contaminated soil Superfund cleanup, 350 properties affected encompassing whole neighborhoods<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br />350 properties in an area bounded by Mary Street to the west, Iowa Street to the north, Elliot Street to the east and Division and Illinois streets to the south will excavated and restored down in LEADVILLE beginning in March. The work is being funded through at least $5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. <br /><br />The effort represents the second phase of cleanup at the Evansville site. In 2007 - 2008, the Feds cleaned up about 80 properties with lead levels above 1,200 parts per million (EPA’s residential lead cleanup level is 400 ppm). As that effort wrapped up, EPA announced plans for the current project. A third phase of the cleanup encompasses about a dozen neighborhoods in a 4.5-square-mile area north and south of the Lloyd Expressway near downtown Evansville. This expanded area includes about 10,000 properties that will be tested for soil contamination. EPA expects 4,000 may require cleanup. Work in this expanded area will begin in 2011 or 2012.<br /><br />Several long-closed manufacturing companies used lead, arsenic and other metals in their operations leaving behind the contamination. Evansville was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in July 2004.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-85299651926925748232010-01-26T14:38:00.002-05:002010-01-26T15:34:19.924-05:00Legal battle over, state wins clean-up costs for Ludington industrial site<span style="font-style:italic;">$525,000 Settlement Reached </span><br /><br />The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment reached a settlement that secures re-imbursement of the costs incurred by the department to investigate contamination from the former Handy Things Manufacturing Company property in Ludington. The settlement with Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, the corporate successor to Handy Things Manufacturing, also requires the company to address existing soil and groundwater contamination at the site and includes provisions to prevent any unacceptable exposures to the contaminants. <br /><br />Soil and groundwater in the area are contaminated with volatile organic compounds, chromium, zinc, cyanide, and other metal plating materials. The former Handy Things Manufacturing Company is one source of the contamination in this area, two others are Industrial Plating and Manufacturing, Inc., property (formerly known as the Ludington Plating Company), and Straits Steel and Wire Company property. Both properties are owned by Straits Steel and Wire.<br /><br />The DNRE and Department of Attorney General are currently in negotiations with Straits Steel and Wire to reach a similar settlement regarding pollution that is attributable to them.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-67035948206252137182010-01-11T16:40:00.002-05:002010-01-11T16:44:50.644-05:00Ottawa River clean-up has begunApproximately 260,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment is being removed from the Ottawa River and Sibley Creek in Toledo, OH. The project began on December 19th and it is estimated that it's going to cost us - me and you fellow taxpayer - $49 Million dollars. The goal of the project is to reduce impacts to human health and the environment on the Ottawa River. This is the eighth cleanup of a contaminated site under the Great Lakes Legacy Act.<br /><br />Sediment in the river and creek is contaminated with a mixture of heavy metals, PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons called PAHs. The sediment contamination in the Ottawa River is a key contributor to the fish advisories currently in place and limit the amount of fish that can be safely eaten.<br /><br />During phase one of the project 15,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment will be removed from Sibley Creek, processed on-site to remove excess water and transported to the city of Toledo’s Hoffman Road Landfill for disposal. Sibley Creek is a 1.1-mile long tributary to the Ottawa River that enters the river about four miles upstream of the river mouth. The Sibley Creek work is expected to be completed by the end of January.<br /><br />In April 2010 dredging of the main channel of the Ottawa River will begin. Some 245,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment will be removed. Dredging activities in the Ottawa River are expected to be completed by late 2010.<br /><br />EPA is providing $24.5 million for the project through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The Ottawa River Group, a consortium of private businesses in partnership with the city of Toledo, will provide the remaining $24.5 million. The city is providing space in its municipal landfill as their cost share.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-11658893816680277122010-01-05T14:58:00.002-05:002010-01-05T15:04:26.944-05:00Sunoco to Pay $173,310 for Air Quality Violations at Marcus Hook RefineryOver in the NOT-SO-GREEN corner for the past year is Sunoco, which has ordered to pay $173,310 in penalties for pollution violations at its refinery in Marcus Hook, PA.<br /> <br />In May 2008 a broken boiler released 8.3 tons of carbon monoxide. Two incidents in June 2008 resulted in 18.1 tons of volatile organic compounds being released into the atmosphere, along with 1,300 gallons of oil. These incidents resulted in residential damage claims and odor complaints.<br /><br />In December 2008, a compressor shutdown resulted in the release of 3.93 tons of nitrogen oxides and 8.09 tons of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. <br /><br />Storage tank violations in June, September and November 2008 involved seal problems and an oil leak, which was NOT reported to the Pennsylvania Dept of Environmental Protection. Sunoco was also cited for failing to perform various inspections of instruments, tank hatches and ventilation systems. <br /><br />So, let's continue to shine on a light Sunoco for a bit.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-50909050406964631462010-01-05T12:43:00.000-05:002010-01-05T12:43:09.235-05:00EPA Rules to Impact Manufacturers, Utilitieshe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two separate actions that could significantly impact several industries including power and water utilities.<br /><br />The EPA has identified three industries — chemical manufacturing, petroleum and coal products manufacturing (including refineries and not coal mines), and the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry — that could face financial assurance requirements to ensure that the owners or operators of the facilities, not taxpayers, will be responsible for cleanups through the Superfund program.<br /><br />Read the rest of this story here: <a href="http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/01/05/epa-rules-to-impact-manufacturers-utilities/">EPA Rules to Impact Manufacturers, Utilities</a>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-43889391281333381612009-07-15T16:42:00.003-04:002009-07-15T16:48:50.478-04:00EPA cites Sauder for clean-air violationsThe EPA is taking action against Sauder Woodworking Facility for alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's furniture manufacturing plant in Archbold, Ohio. EPA proposed a $328,334 penalty.<br /><br />Allegations suggest Sauder has violated federal and state regulations by emitting excessive amounts of particulates (smoke, dust, ash), nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from its plant. Sauder has also violated notification and record keeping requirements and requirements to continuously monitor emissions.<br /><br />Inhaling high concentrations of particulates can have adverse health effects, particularly in children, the elderly and people with heart and lung disease, while nitrogen oxide can irritate the lungs and lower resistance to respiratory infections. Nitrogen oxide also contributes to the formation of smog and acid rain.<br /><br />Volatile organic compounds also contribute to the formation of smog. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-61656071372182722882009-05-27T16:38:00.002-04:002009-05-27T16:41:24.347-04:00Genesee County Files Application to Drain Lake HuronThe Michigan DEQ received a water withdrawal permit request this week from the Genesee County Drain Commission for the withdrawal of 85 million gallons per day from Lake Huron as a public water supply source for Genesee County, the city of Flint and customer municipalities in Lapeer, Sanilac, Saginaw, and Shiawassee counties.<br /><br />A 45 day public comment period required under state law will be open through July 15, and a decision on the permit application is expected later this summer.<br /><br />Copies of the permit application and supporting information are available on the DEQ website at <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/deq">http://www.michigan.gov/deq</a>.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-74098947180306196012009-05-15T16:01:00.002-04:002009-05-15T16:05:34.924-04:00$10.3 Million in grants for contaminated land cleanup, economic development in MichiganFunds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being awarded to help communities in Michigan clean up sites known as “brownfields” which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants. The grants which include $2.5 million from the Recovery Act and $7.8 million from the EPA brownfields general program funding, help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, with the intent of turning them from problem properties to productive community use.<br /><br /><br />Battle Creek (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to update the city’s brownfields inventory and conduct 18 site assessments, and a $200,000 grant to assess properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Ingham County (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 18 site assessments, and a $100,000 grant to conduct eight site assessments at properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Jackson County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, $1 million revolving loan fund grant to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances. The Authority is targeting properties along the West Michigan Avenue Corridor.<br /><br />Lenawee County, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 26 site assessments.<br /><br />Lincoln Park, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 18 site assessments.<br /><br />Roscommon County, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 19 site assessments.<br /><br />Van Buren County, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 23 site assessments.<br /><br />Applicants selected to receive brownfields general program funds are:<br /><br />Albion Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 18 site assessments.<br /><br />Bay City (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to conduct at least 16 site assessments, and a $200,000 grant to assess properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Benton Harbor (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 20 site assessments, and a $100,000 grant to conduct 10 site assessments at properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Downriver Community Conference (2), a $1 million grant to assess hazardous substances and potential petroleum contamination at 90 properties throughout 14 member communities, and a $1.5 million revolving loan fund grant to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances.<br /><br />Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct about 50 site assessments, and a $200,000 grant to conduct assessments at properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Hastings, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to conduct 18 site assessments.<br /><br />Huron County (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct up to 16 site assessments, and a $200,000 grant to conduct assessments at properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Lake County (2), a $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to inventory brownfields and conduct 21 site assessments, and a $200,000 grant to conduct assessments at 27 properties with potential petroleum contamination.<br /><br />Muskegon, $200,000 hazardous substances assessment grant to conduct about 20 site assessments.<br /><br />Oakland County, $1 million grant to inventory brownfields and assess hazardous substances and potential petroleum contamination at about 90 properties.<br /><br />Saginaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, $1 million grant to assess hazardous substances and potential petroleum contamination at about 70 properties.<br /><br />St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation, $200,000 grant to assess potential petroleum contamination at up to 20 properties.<br /><br />Ypsilanti (3), $600,000 total, $200,000 each for three hazardous substances cleanup grants to address properties on East Michigan Avenue and South River Street.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-3450601667508413062009-04-06T17:41:00.002-04:002009-04-06T17:51:42.515-04:00New Environmental Justice Grants for Chicago and MilwaukeeWhat is ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE??? In the United States, minority and low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to comparatively high levels of pollution and health risks. For example, in the early 1990's it was recognized that 96% of all hazardous waste dumping sites were in predominately minority owned communities. The federal government's Environmental Justice program aims to help these folk by ensuring fair treatment and meaningful involvement for everyone affected in the environmental decision-making process. The federal government has been issuing grants for the past 15 years to address these issues.<br /><br />Nation-wide, $800,000 in grants to organizations working with communities facing environmental justice challenges will be distributed throughout the country. Forty grants, up to $20,000 each, are going to community-based organizations and local and tribal governments in 28 states for community projects aimed at addressing environmental and public health issues. <br /><br />In April, The Metropolitan Tenants Association in Chicago is receiving $19,940 to educate low-income individuals in rental buildings about lead poisoning and pesticide use. The project will focus on education, inspection and abatement in 40-70 multiple-unit buildings, housing a projected 1,000 renters.<br /><br />Also in April, People for Community Recovery in Chicago is going to receive $19,966 for a project called "Environmental Justice through Education and Exploration." The organization will work with youth ages 14-18 in the predominantly African-American Altgeld Gardens public housing project on the harmful effects of environmental hazards in the air, water and water. <br /><br />The City of Milwaukee is receiving a grant for $20,000 to raise awareness of how human actions affect storm water runoff and water pollution. The training will be provided in English, Spanish, Hmong and Lao languages by peer educators at local schools and neighborhood and faith-based organization meetings.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-90142854544498685672009-02-18T19:45:00.006-05:002009-02-21T15:06:07.094-05:00Crown Chemical Fined for Dumping Caustic Waste into Local Water SupplyJim Spain, former president of Crown Chemical in Crestwood iL, has plead guilty to illegally dumping chemical wastes into a regional sewer system. He gets off easy with a fine, home confinement and a year's probation. Crown Chemical Inc., which also pleaded guilty to charges in the case, was sentenced to pay a criminal fine, required to spend a year on probation and make a public apology. The company's manager, Catalino Uy, was fined and will spend two years on probation. The fines total $135,000. <br /><br />Spain was charged in 2006 with the illegal discharges, lying to federal investigators and conspiracy. Spain admitted that he showed employees how to discharge the untreated wastewater to the local sewers, and that he also directed employees to use a hose to try to dilute the waste being discharged. During the trial he acknowledged that the illegal discharges extended for 16 years, from 1985 until 2001. Spain also admitted he had lied to federal investigators and admitted that he telephoned several employees before they arrived for work and told them to falsely tell investigators that they treated the wastewater before they discharged it. <br /> <br />Crown Chemical Inc., manufactures industrial and commercial home cleaning products. According to the indictment in the case, wastewater resulting from cleaning out tanks at the facility routinely was drained to the city sewer system, despite the fact that the discharges violated standards for their acid content and at times for their caustic content. The sewer system in Crestwood is a regional system that connects to a treatment plant owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. <br /><br />Guess what Chicago, you just drank toxic waste... again.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&charset=utf-8&style=default&publisher=7cb295b7-dc46-4ed5-9b5e-637ca1db89a5&headerbg=%23ebebeb&inactivebg=%23666666&inactivefg=%23ffffff&linkfg=%23ff6600&popup=true&embeds=true&offsetLeft=100&offsetTop=100"></script>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-28892445273853899892009-02-18T19:32:00.005-05:002009-02-18T20:07:37.274-05:00EPA says Des Plaines River Oil Spill is Cleaned Up<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/SZyrRvBJ1LI/AAAAAAAAAk4/mwKW0hWJO64/s1600-h/oil25crop.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/SZyrRvBJ1LI/AAAAAAAAAk4/mwKW0hWJO64/s320/oil25crop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304302782303032498" /></a><br />EPA said today that most cleanup activities associated with the Feb. 8 oil release from Caterpillar's Joliet facility are now complete. The work was performed with support from Illinois EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard.<br /><br />The poisoning of the river occurred when Caterpillar Corps waste oil/water separation system failed. Two waste oil collection pits containing about 65,000 gallons of oil overflowed, spilling onto a parking area and an embankment leading down to the Des Plaines River. <blockquote><em>Up to 6,000 gallons of the oil flowed into the river. About 90 percent of the spilled oil collected in a gravel parking area and on the embankment. Light river surface "sheening" was spotted several miles downstream from the Caterpillar facility.</em> </blockquote><br />The Coast Guard and Caterpillar contractors captured most of the off-shore spill with an absorbent pad system. <br /><br /><em><blockquote>Later in the week, the parking area and shoreline impacted by the spill were monitored for additional releases. Runoff from recent rains was monitored to prevent recontamination of the cleaned areas. Next, Caterpillar will submit for EPA review a follow-up water and land sampling plan. Laboratory analysis of this work should be complete by April or May 2009. About 200 cubic yards of oil-stained parking lot gravel and other debris is now staged in rolloff boxes awaiting treatment and/or landfill disposal. </blockquote></em><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&charset=utf-8&style=default&publisher=7cb295b7-dc46-4ed5-9b5e-637ca1db89a5&headerbg=%23ebebeb&inactivebg=%23666666&inactivefg=%23ffffff&linkfg=%23ff6600&popup=true&embeds=true&offsetLeft=100&offsetTop=100"></script>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-40327472683736693142009-01-27T17:16:00.001-05:002009-01-27T17:18:25.553-05:00PENNSYLVANIA TO HOLD FIRST STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONFERENCEHARRISBURG – A first-of-its-kind conference will be held April 26 – 28 to educate and improve communication among members of environmental justice communities, community organizations, private sector organizations and government officials, the Department of Environmental Protection announced today.<br /><br />The conference, organized by the DEP's Environmental Justice Advisory Board and Office of Environmental Advocate, along with Drexel University, will be held at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel, Harrisburg.<br /><br />"Environmental policy in Pennsylvania must be formed with respect and sensitivity toward everyone and with special care to protect vulnerable communities, said Environmental Protection acting Secretary John Hanger. "Our goal is to include community members and advocates as partners and participants in planning and decision making. This conference will foster a better understanding of the obstacles vulnerable communities face and what we can do to address them."<br /><br />The conference, "Building Healthy and Improved Communities for All," is also being made possible through the efforts and sponsorship of the departments of Transportation, Public Welfare, Education, Health, Community and Economic Development, as well as Simmons Cooper Cooney & Conway, Waste Management, and individual donors. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-49937494095970223242008-10-13T16:45:00.001-04:002008-10-13T16:45:54.544-04:00Open House on Kennecott Mine ProposalThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold an open house on October 22 to answer questions about the federal role in regulating the proposed mine and the underground injection control permit application submitted by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company. The open house will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1951 U.S. Highway 41, West Marquette, Mich. There will be three sessions from 9 to 11 a.m., 1 to 3 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m.<br /><br />Kennecott proposes to dispose of treated wastewater as part of a nickel and copper sulfide mining operation within the Yellow Dog Plains of northwestern Marquette County. EPA notified the company that any underground disposal system at the mining site must comply with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act's federal Underground Injection Control program before construction and operation. The Safe Drinking Water Act is intended to protect underground sources of drinking water.<br /><br />The UIC permitting process for the underground disposal system is EPA's only direct regulatory role in the Eagle mine project. EPA is conducting a technical evaluation of the permit application and supporting documents and expects to issue a draft decision before the end of the year. EPA will accept public comments and hold a public hearing when the draft decision is announced.<br /><br />A copy of the permit application and more information about the Eagle mine project and the underground injection control program is available at: http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/uic/kennecott/index.htm.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-10541841396298390262008-09-23T17:42:00.002-04:002008-09-23T17:45:09.416-04:00BIFMA Standards Unveiled in October<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">From Environmental Leader</span> - <span style="font-style:italic;">September 19, 2008<br />Sustainability Guidelines for Office Furniture May Soon Be Finalized</span></span><br /><br />A new national sustainability standard for office furniture makers, developed jointly by NSF and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, may be finalized by early October, Western Michigan Business Review reports.<br /><br />The guidelines set baselines to determine the sustainability of products and internal business practices. The development of the standard was mainly driven by booming market demands for environmentally friendly products from office furniture makers.<br /><br />Brian Walker, president and CEO of Herman Miller, told Western Michigan Business Review that the standard allows manufacturers already involved in green efforts to go even further, and encourages smaller companies to begin the journey.<br /><br />According to a case study by Forrester Research, Herman Miller has reduced landfill waste by 80 percent and hazardous waste by 91 percent. The company has also seen 32 percent return on investment in energy efficiency investments.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/western/index.ssf/2008/09/office_furniture_industry_fina.html">READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE</a>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-41074047426988611232008-09-19T16:26:00.003-04:002008-09-19T16:33:48.918-04:00Great Lakes Legacy Act ReAuthorized in Congress, still must pass SenateBuffalo, NY—The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to reauthorize and triple the amount being spent for cleaning up contamination at sites around the Great Lakes. Once approved by the Senate, the reauthorized Great Lakes Legacy Act (H.R. 6460/S.R. 2994) will:<br /><br />• Provide $150 million annually from 2009-2013<br />• Fund pilot projects using innovative approaches, techniques or technologies to clean up contaminated sediment; and<br />• Guarantee public involvement and participation.<br /><br />The 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement identified 43 “Areas of Concern” with 26 sites in U.S. waters and five in shared U.S-Canadian waters. <br /><br />Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), and Congressman John McHugh (NY-23) championed the Great Lakes Legacy Act in the House. New York Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton are both original co-sponsors in the Senate. To date, New York’s Great Lakes toxic hot spots have received almost $20 million to help clean up blighted and orphaned coastal contamination sites.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A few of the Great Lakes Legacy Act Areas of Concern in New York (many more in surrounding states)</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />New York State’s remaining Great Lakes toxic hot spots include:</span><br />Niagara River Area of Concern is located in Erie and Niagara counties. Pollution from inactive hazardous waste sites, sewer overflows, shoreline development, heavy metals and toxic chemicals from industrial waste impair the River’s health.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Buffalo River Area of Concern.</span> Poor water quality, sewer overflows, 45 inactive hazardous waste sites, deformed fish, and contaminated sediments laden with toxic chemicals and heavy metals impair the Buffalo River in the City of Buffalo.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern</span> is located in the Town of Newfane, Niagara County. Fish and wildlife deformities and reproductive problems are linked to sediments contaminated with heavy metals and toxic chemicals, as well as poor water quality and habitat degradation, impair this Lake Ontario tributary.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rochester Embayment Area of Concern</span> of Lake Ontario in Monroe County is impaired by heavy metals, sewer overflows, toxic organic substances resulting in health advisories for fish consumption.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">St. Lawrence River at Massena Area of Concern</span> begins at the Massena Village drinking water intake and includes portions of the Grasse, Raquette and St. Regis Rivers. PCBs, mercury, DDE, Mirex, nutrients, metals, physical disturbance, natural erosion and invasive species impair the River.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toxic Chemicals and Heavy Metals in Great Lakes Areas of Concern</span><br /><br />Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin and Mirex are man-made chemicals once used as insecticides and flame retardants. They accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. Exposure impacts the nervous system, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, and reproduction in animals and people.<br /><br />Dioxins and Furans are persistent chemicals that accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. Released as a by-product of manufacturing and emissions from motor vehicles, municipal waste incinerators, wood fires and trash burning. Exposure is linked to skin, reproductive, and liver problems in people.<br />PCBs are persistent man-made chemicals, banned in the mid-1970s that continue to accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. PCB exposure is linked to low birth weight, learning disabilities, decreased memory, and reproductive problems.<br /><br />Mercury is a bioaccumlative toxic heavy metal that poses particular problems for the developing nervous system of children and unborn babies.<br />Cadmium is a bioaccumaltive toxic metal used in many industrial operations and in consumer products such as paints, plastics and batteries. Long term cadmium exposure adversely impact human’s kidneys, bones, and blood.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-83092131782928267492008-09-15T18:31:00.002-04:002008-09-15T18:40:54.882-04:00Eden Environments: Grand Rapids' Sustainable Design Center<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/SM7i7jiMZhI/AAAAAAAAAb8/7BlXCMJ2AZU/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/SM7i7jiMZhI/AAAAAAAAAb8/7BlXCMJ2AZU/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246380128712025618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/SM7i7zIpZfI/AAAAAAAAAcE/6uXjok-GD2o/s1600-h/EDEN-ENVIRONMENTS-OPENING-7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2sy22GiI-8I/SM7i7zIpZfI/AAAAAAAAAcE/6uXjok-GD2o/s400/EDEN-ENVIRONMENTS-OPENING-7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246380132899841522" /></a><br /><br />Yup, the bear attended opening night of Eden Environments and I was glad to see and meet so many likeminded green folk. Good food, good conversation and great design came together that evening with expectations of great things to come from owner Denise Hopkins.<br /><br />Denise's vision was to create a store that would offer green alternatives for every aspect of interior design and construction. She is off to a great start. She has a fantastic location on 28th Street in the Design One Plaza - just east of the I-96 offramp near the Cascade Meijer - and her new showroom is filled with creative and inspiring designs.<br /><br />Hat's off to Denise! Finally a great place to shop for green goods in Grand Rapids!Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-34131787994649523242008-09-08T16:59:00.003-04:002008-09-08T17:08:10.001-04:00The Ashtabula River Runs Clean Into Lake Erie Once AgainThe Ashtabula River Partnership recently hosted a party at the Ashtabula Yacht Club to celebrate the successful removal of nearly 630,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the river. The sediment contained a variety of chemicals including PCBs, heavy metals and uranium, radium and thorium. Dredging began in September 2006 and is finally over.<br /><br />It cost over $60 million from the Great Lakes Legacy Act and the state of Ohio to remove 25,000 pounds of hazardous PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and other contaminants from the river bottom. It is the first cleanup project in Ohio funded by the federal Great Lakes Legacy Act, and the largest of the four Legacy Act projects funded to date. Also, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the dredging north of the Fifth Street lift bridge to Lake Erie at a cost of $15 million.<br /><br />The true cost of pollution is never pretty... these millions are nothing compared to the disease and the loss of life that this mess has likely created.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-30557480328463939562008-09-05T15:05:00.001-04:002008-09-05T15:07:36.368-04:00Troy Ohio added to SuperFund Priorties ListThe East Troy Contaminated Aquifer site in Troy, Ohio, to the Superfund National Priorities List. Three other sites - the Behr Dayton Thermal System VOC Plume site in Dayton, the New Carlisle Landfill in New Carlisle, Ohio, and the U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery in East Chicago, Ind. - were proposed for addition to the priorities list. Sites on the list are eligible for additional study and resources under EPA's Superfund program.<br /><br />Nationally, six new sites were added to the NPL, bringing the total to 1,258, and 11 sites were proposed for addition to the list. Under the NPL process, sites are first proposed and public comments considered before a determination is made to formally add a site to the list. The NPL is updated twice each year.<br /><br />The East Troy site is an area where volatile organic compounds, including the common industrial chemicals PCE and TCE, have contaminated ground water, soil and the indoor air in basements. EPA addressed the indoor air health risk by installing vapor abatement systems in 16 homes and St. Patrick Elementary School in the summer of 2007. EPA and Ohio EPA data also shows that VOCs have contaminated ground water below the city of Troy, as well as a local drinking water well field. To address this, Ohio EPA and Troy have taken steps to contain one potential source of the<br />contamination, and are treating contaminated ground water prior to use. Adding the site to the NPL enables EPA to study site conditions further, identify possible sources of the contamination, and develop a comprehensive strategy to address all locations and sources of the VOC contamination.<br /><br />The proposed Behr Dayton site also involves TCE contamination in ground water. In 2003 and 2006, volatile organic compounds were detected in ground water beneath the Behr Dayton Thermal System auto parts manufacturing facility at 1600 Webster St. To address potential health risks associated with the pollution, EPA has installed vapor mitigation systems in 180 homes in the neighborhood south of the plant since late 2006. EPA will soon announce an October open house session to discuss the project.<br /><br />The New Carlisle Landfill, at 715 N. Dayton-Lakeview Road in New Carlisle, operated from the mid-1950s until the early 1970s. It is now covered with two to four feet of clay, but was not designed with a protective liner in the manner of modern landfills. Ohio EPA data indicates that water from two public wells and two residential wells in the nearby area contain vinyl chloride above the safe drinking water level. In 2005, EPA extended the water line from the New Carlisle public water system to two homes and a plant nursery business. EPA remains concerned about potential migration of the vinyl chloride toward residential wells within one-half mile of the site.<br /><br />The U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery site, 5300 Kennedy Ave., East Chicago, Ind., was also proposed for addition to the NPL today. The company operated from 1920 to 1985. Lead, most likely dispersed from long-removed smokestacks, has been detected in residential soil north of the property. The company also discharged process water to wetlands on the property that flow toward the Grand Calumet River Corridor. In July 2008, EPA began removing lead-contaminated soil from 15 nearby homes. Adding the site to the NPL will enable EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to complete a comprehensive approach to address the contamination.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-91216997683221219352008-09-02T17:41:00.002-04:002008-09-02T17:44:39.318-04:00CORPORATE POLLUTERS PAY STIFF FINES IN THE GREAT LAKES1) An agreement has been reached with Republic Engineered Products Inc. on alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's steel mill at 1807 E. 28th St., Lorain, Ohio. Republic has agreed to pay a $210,000 penalty. <br /><br />2) EPA proposed a $114,740 penalty and filed an administrative complaint against Wolf Paving Co. Inc., 612 N. Sawyer Road, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin., for alleged Clean Air Act violations at an asphalt plant the company owned and operated until January 2007 at Highway 18 and County Road C in Genesee, Wisconsin.<br /><br />3) The EPA and U.S. Department of Justice recently announced a $2,055,373 settlement for cleanup costs at the former IWI site, 7738 W. 61st Place, in Summit, Ill. A group of 23 companies will reimburse the government for cleanup work completed in October 2003. The late Glenn Wellman operated four companies at the 1.7-acre site from the late 1960s until the late 1990s: IWI Inc., IWI Industries, Itasco and Wellco. The business manufactured, cleaned and repaired stainless steel totes designed to store up to 600 gallons of liquid - typically flammable or corrosive materials such as adhesives, inks, oil and paint. The property was abandoned following Wellman's death in 1999. Oddly enough, a fire destroyed the former administrative offices in May 2002. A nine-month cleanup effort by a Chicago-based EPA Superfund team resulted in the safe disposal of 683 tons of contaminated soil, 568 tons of hazardous sludges, 568 drums and 52,300 gallons of hazardous liquids from a railroad tank car, sumps and totes at the site. The remaining structures on the property were razed. <br /><br />4) Hercules Inc. had alleged clean-air violations at the company's chemical plant at 5228 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee. A $22,500 penalty resolves EPA allegations that Hercules failed to comply with regulations requiring the facility to control leaks of hazardous air pollutants from its equipment.<br /><br />EPA said Hercules had an uncapped open-ended line, had delayed repair of another line and had not tagged relevant equipment. The company has since demonstrated compliance with these requirements and improved its leak-management system. <br /><br />5) Another agreement with Perham Resource Recovery Facility, a small municipal waste combustor in Perham, Minn., on alleged clean-air violations. This agreement, which includes a $15,950 penalty and a $110,760 environmental project, resolves EPA allegations that the facility exceeded emission standards for hydrogen chloride and mercury. The alleged violations were discovered through performance test reports submitted by the facility. The facility's environmental project consists of two improvements to its air pollution control system that will reduce emissions of hydrogen chloride and mercury. Hydrogen chloride, or hydrochloric acid, is corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Chronic exposure can cause chronic bronchitis and skin problems. <br /><br />6) Bristol-Myers Squibb, an international pharmaceutical manufacturer, has agreed to reduce the output of ozone-depleting refrigerants at multiple industrial facilities around the country at a combined cost of $3.65 million to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice announced in early July. Under an agreement filed in federal court in Evansville, Ind., New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb will be required to retire or retrofit 17 industrial refrigeration units by July 2009 at facilities in Mt. Vernon and Evansville, Ind.; Hopewell, N.J.; and Humacao and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The units are used in the facilities' industrial process or as air conditioners and currently use hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs, as refrigerants. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I could keep going there are so many more to list...</span>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-1252678531400186592008-08-15T17:02:00.001-04:002008-08-15T17:04:40.273-04:00HERE'S A FACT THAT YOU DON'T KNOWThere are an estimated 243 million cell phone users in the United States. That number is dwarfed only by the estimated number of unused cell phones lurking in junk drawers and closets – 500 million. And the number of obsolete and unused cell phones is growing by an estimated 100 million each year. It's also estimated that the average wireless customer changes phones every 16 months. We're being buried in unused cell phones.<br /><br />Certainly, recycling unused, obsolete or broken cell phones keeps hazardous waste out of our landfills, but it CAN also help animals in the wild.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Columbite-tantalite, or Coltan for short, is a dull metallic ore found in major quantities in the eastern areas of the African Congo. It is used in cell phones, laptops, pagers and other electronic devices. When refined, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electrical charge. Some types of Coltan mining may occur illegally in protected lands all across the Congo which in turn put wildlife such as Elephants and Gorillas of the Congo region at risk.</span><br /><br />The Houston Zoo and 46 other zoos and aquariums across the country are in partnership with Eco-Cell, a cell phone-recycling firm based in Louisville, Kentucky. <br /><br />The Houston Zoo has a recycling bin in our gift shop for collection of unwanted cell phones, batteries, and chargers. Zoo guests may also mail them in (see address below). <br /><br />One hundred percent of the funds raised from the recycling of unwanted cell phones and accessories support the Houston Zoo’s wildlife conservation programs in Texas as well as in Africa and Asia. Through the Zoo’s partnership with Eco-Cell, items collected are sold, refurbished, or recycled. Damaged or obsolete phones are safely recycled in accordance with all applicable environmental guidelines.<br /><br />The Houston Zoo’s Recycling Program also accepts empty inkjet, laser printer cartridges, and PDAs (palm pilots) for recycling.<br /><br />If you have any questions about the Houston Zoo’s cell phone recycling program, please contact Brian Hill at bhill@houstonzoo.org or call 713-533-6531. I’d be happy to connect you with our Conservation Department. The mailing address for the recycling program is below.<br /><br /><br />Houston Zoo Inc.<br />Cell Phone Recycle<br />1513 North MacGregor<br />Houston, TX 77030Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-765371279313166262008-08-14T17:16:00.001-04:002008-08-14T17:19:58.560-04:00Protect the Earth Summit August 2 and 3<span style="font-weight:bold;">Help Stop Metallic Sulfide and Uranium Mining</span><br /><br />Keepers of the Water, Yellowdog Summer, and Students Against Sulfide Mining are organizing a Protect the Earth Summit on the shores of Gichigami for August 2 and 3 to bring communities together throughout the Great Lakes Region and the Midwest that are concerned about metallic sulfide and uranium mining. We all share and depend on clean land, air and water for our survival and must work together to protect the health of our communities and ecosystems. Please join them for free workshops, speakers, music, food, dance, and a walk to Eagle Rock. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.savethewildup.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/finalsummitprogram-web.pdf">To see the schedule of events please click here. </a>Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10765117.post-43879988482871736412008-07-25T16:18:00.002-04:002008-07-25T16:21:48.681-04:00Dow will Clean up dioxin in SaginawThe Feds have reached an agreement with Dow Chemical Co. that requires the company to clean up dioxin contamination in the Riverside Boulevard neighborhood of Saginaw. Construction work in this neighborhood on the Lower Tittabawassee River is expected to begin in late July and continue through the fall.<br /><br />There are dangerously high levels of dioxin contamination in yards, the unpaved Riverside Boulevard roadway and in the interior of some homes. <br />Last April, EPA took soil samples at residential properties following discussions and consultation with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Michigan Department of Community Health. <br /><br />The agreement, called an "administrative order on consent", includes:<br />* Excavation of residential yards, then backfilling with clean soil.<br />* Interior cleaning of homes.<br />* Remediation of unpaved surfaces on Riverside Boulevard.<br /><br />Dow's Midland facility is a 1,900-acre chemical manufacturing plant. Dioxins and furans are byproducts from the manufacture of chlorine-based products. Past waste disposal practices, emissions and incineration at Dow have resulted in on- and off-site dioxin and furan contamination.Jerome Alickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244992509829692574noreply@blogger.com0