Category: News

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. This panel will focus on the agency’s review of its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for municipal solid waste landfills.

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review new source performance standards every eight years and revise them if necessary. EPA is under a court-ordered deadline to complete its review and propose how to address the results of that review by Feb. 4, 2014 and to take final action by Dec. 17, 2014.

The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA.  The panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to inform the panel members about the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.

EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs.

Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be received by July 5, 2013.

Nominate yourself as a SER: http://www.epa.gov/rfa/landfill.html

Municipal solid waste landfills are disposal facilities in or on land for household waste. These landfills may receive certain other types of waste, such as non-hazardous sludge and commercial solid waste. Emissions from municipal solid waste landfills, known as “landfill gas,” occur from decomposition of wastes.

More information on the New Source Performance Standards: http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/landfill/landflpg.html

On May 24, 2013, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking entitled Oil and Gas; Well Stimulation, Including Hydraulic Fracturing, on Federal and Indian Lands. This supplemental notice relates to the proposed rulemaking published on May 11, 2012.  BLM seeks additional comment on the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking which significantly revised the original proposed rule.  Comments on the supplemental proposed rule are due by June 24, 2013.

• Proposed Rule from the Federal Register  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-05-24/html/2013-12154.htm
• Submit Comments on this Request on Regulations.gov  http://www.regulations.gov

Advocacy contact: Kia Dennis at 202-205-6936

Source: Energy Manager Today.com by Linda Hardesty

A quick and inexpensive way for restaurants to save water and the energy needed to heat water is to install new pre-rinse spray valves in their dishwashing areas, according to the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), a group affiliated with the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships & Extension.

Restaurants, as a sector, are one of the heavier users of energy per square foot compared to other commercial businesses. Some of that energy is used to heat water for cleaning dishes and washing hands in busy kitchens.
Continue reading Low Flow Dishwashing Sprayers Help Restaurants’ Bottom Line

Source: Energy Manager Today.com by Linda Hardesty

A study conducted by a research team at the University of Washington, titled Targeting 100!, identifies a process for newly constructed hospitals that integrates architectural, mechanical and central plant systems to reduce energy consumption by an average of 62 percent.

The biggest breakthrough comes from addressing the reheating of centrally-cooled air, which is the largest contributor to wasted energy in a hospital, representing more than 40 percent of annual heating energy usage. By combining energy-reduction design solutions – including sun and daylight shading controls, vacant room sensors, outdoor air supply with heat recovery systems, modified air delivery systems, thermal energy storage, and improved air-tightness and high insulation values in windows and walls – a newly constructed, code-compliant hospital in the range of Targeting 100! saves between $500,000 and $800,000 a year in energy costs.
Continue reading Hospitals Can Reduce Energy 62%

Source: Sustainable Industries.com

When handling hazardous chemicals, what is the best way to communicate their dangers?

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is a new worldwide initiative for the standardized classification of hazardous chemicals and a communication system to convey information regarding their proper use and handling.

Currently many systems for the classification and labeling exist between and within countries. This is costly for companies working with different systems, difficult for governments to regulate, and dangerous for workers handling the chemicals who may find a system unfamiliar or confusing. The goals of implementing GHS are: reduce costs, streamline regulatory procedures, increase safety through a universal set of rules for classifying hazards, and use of the same format and content for labels and safety data sheets.
Continue reading In Harmony?

Source: Environmental Protection OnLine.com

Researchers have found a low-grade cotton from West Texas that might be able to clean oil spills more effectively and more eco-friendly than other methods currently in use. According to the study, one pound of the cotton can soak up more than 30 pounds of oil.

In a new study, researchers used unprocessed raw cottons to soak up oil, becoming one of the first studies to collect data on cotton and oil spills. Seshadri Ramkumar, the lead author of the study, said that he and his colleagues found that low-micronaine cotton is the most effective type of cotton at soaking up oil. Because this type of cotton is low-quality, it could also prove to be a cheaper option for cleaning up oil spills.

“In this region, about 10 percent of the cotton grown in West Texas is low micronaire,” said Ramkumar. “It doesn’t take a dye well, so it gets discounted. However, because low-micronaire cotton is less mature, it shrinks, and you are able to pack more fiber into a given area. The strength here is that the low-micronaire cotton absorbs the most crude oil. The oil is not only stuck to surface, the oil gets absorbed into the fiber.”

Barley straw and polypropylene wool have also been tested by other scientists for oil spills, but Ramkumar said those fibers still left big gaps in research, leaving room for improvements. This low-grade cotton proves to be significant in oil cleanup because it picks up oil by both absorption and adsorption, which makes the oil stick to the outer surface of the cotton.

Source: Environmental Daily Advisor (BLR) by Kelly Lagana

“When liquid mercury is spilled, it forms droplets that can accumulate in very small spaces and then emit vapors into the air. Mercury vapor in the air is odorless, colorless, and very toxic. Therefore, all mercury spills, regardless of quantity, should be treated seriously.”

Mercury spills less than or equal to the amount in a thermometer. EPA recommends that the following procedures be followed to clean up mercury spills less than or equal to the amount in a thermometer:

• Remove everyone, including pets, from the area in which cleanup will take place. Do not allow assistance from children.
• IF you are using powdered sulfur, sprinkle it over the spill area at this time. Powdered sulfur may be purchased from laboratory, chemical supply and hazardous materials response supply manufacturers. Please note that powdered sulfur may stain fabrics a dark color. Users should understand the product and how to use it, and should not breathe in the powder.  The sulfur does two things:
  • It makes the mercury easier to see, since there is a color change from yellow to brown.
  • It keeps the mercury from vaporizing.

Continue reading Tips for Safe Mercury Cleanup