Posted: (06/24/2009)
EPA Launches NetDMR
Clean Water Act Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) represent the highest volume of information collection undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA Regions and select States, Tribes, and Territories will have a new tool available to assist their regulated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) facilities in reporting DMRs beginning June 22, 2009. Additional States, Tribes, and Territories may adopt Network Discharge Monitoring Report (NetDMR) and enable their regulated NPDES facilities to begin utilizing the electronic reporting tool. NetDMR provides an Internet-based reporting tool for NPDES facilities to electronically sign and submit DMRs. NetDMR allows participants to discontinue mailing in hard copy forms under 40 CFR 122.41 and 403.12. DATES: The NetDMR application is available beginning June 22, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Donohue, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Mail Stop 2222A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-2195,
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Posted: (06/24/2009)
U.S. EPA's Environmental Justice Resource Guide available to the public Guide lists success stories, funding sources, resources for community organizers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice Resource Guide, a handbook for community organizers and decision-makers, is now available from the EPA's Pacific Southwest Environmental Justice Office. "The EPA's Environmental Justice Resource Guide provides information on funding sources and other resources that can help communities understand, prioritize, and address their specific environmental concerns, said Enrique Manzanilla, Director of the Communities and Ecosystems Division at EPA's Pacific Southwest Regional Office. The Guide contains success stories achieved by communities disproportionately impacted by environmental burdens, such as the West Oakland Toxic Reduction Collaborative, which helped reduce port-related diesel pollutants, and the Torres Martinez Collaborative, which helped remove tons of refuse from tribal lands. These successes were achieved when community groups partnered with EPA, state, tribal and local agencies. The Guide also lists a helpful list of funding sources, tools, and resources available to community organizers. The EPA's Environmental Justice Resource Guide is available online at:
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Posted: (06/19/2009)
Oil Pollution Prevention; Non-Transportation Related Onshore and Offshore Facilities
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the dates by which facilities must prepare or amend their Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans, and implement those Plans to November 10, 2010. The Agency is also establishing November 10, 2010 as the date for farms to prepare or amend their Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans (SPCC Plans), and implement those Plans. DATES: This final rule is effective June 19, 2009. Click on the link below to obtain a .pdf of the final rule
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Posted: (06/18/2009)
S.F. OKs toughest recycling law in U.S.
Throwing orange peels, coffee grounds and grease-stained pizza boxes in the trash will be against the law in San Francisco, and could even lead to a fine. The Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 Tuesday to approve Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposal for the most comprehensive mandatory composting and recycling law in the country. It's an aggressive push to cut greenhouse gas emissions and have the city sending nothing to landfills or incinerators by 2020. "San Francisco has the best recycling and composting programs in the nation," Newsom said, praising the board's vote on a plan that some residents had decried as heavy-handed and impractical. "We can build on our success." The ordinance is expected to take effect this fall. The legislation calls for every residence and business in the city to have three separate color-coded bins for waste: blue for recycling, green for compost and black for trash. Failing to properly sort your refuse could result in a fine after several warnings, but Newsom and other officials say fines will only be levied in the most egregious cases. Fines for almost all residential customers and many small businesses - anyone who generates less than a cubic yard of refuse a week - are initially capped at $100. Businesses that don't have proper bins face escalating fines up to $500. There is a moratorium on fines until at least July 2011 for tenants and owners of multifamily buildings or multitenant commercial properties to get people used to composting. Buildings where recycling carts won't fit can get a waiver. "In any scenario there will be repeated notices and phone calls before we even start talking about fines," said Jared Blumenfeld, head of the city's Department of the Environment. "We don't want to fine people..." For rest of article, go to:
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