Category: News

Source: Science Daily.com

Feb. 14, 2013 — 2012 marked the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which established regulations for the discharge of pollutants to waterways and supported the building of sewage treatment plants. Despite these advances, sewage remains a major source of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and naturally occurring hormones found in the environment.

Many rural communities in the United States use aerated lagoon systems to treat their wastewater. The wastewater is pumped into at least one human made aerated lagoon, in which oxygen-loving and anaerobic microorganisms remove many of the contaminants. The water is then pumped into a series of other lagoons. Finally, the resulting water, known as the effluent, is discharged directly into a receiving stream.
Continue reading Sewage Lagoons Remove Most — But Not All — Pharmaceuticals

Source: Environmental Protection Online.com

• By Jerry Laws

Seventeen states have joined the new Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies, which will create a technical forum to help states apply the Clean Air Act and associated regulations.

New programs at some state agencies and a new organization focused on air pollution control strategies at the state level are gearing up at the start of 2013, opening new employment and training opportunities for their technical staffs. A high-profile move by 17 states, including Texas, is their creation of the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies, which will create a technical forum to help states apply the Clean Air Act and associated regulations.

“There are real technical issues with regulations and guidance coming from EPA that need thoughtful consideration across the United States,” said Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Commissioner Carlos Rubinstein. “Issues like potentially unachievable air quality standards that keep being lowered and transport issues left in limbo by legal challenges. States participating in this organization will have the opportunity to discuss, educate and be educated about the latest technical and regulatory actions.”
Continue reading State Agencies’ Responsibilities Expanding

On February 1, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partially approved and partially disapproved Nevada’s 2008-2010 303(d) list of waters requiring a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). EPA approved waters Nevada identified as requiring a TMDL, and disapproved the omission of 19 waters EPA determined to be impaired due to mercury in fish tissue. EPA is taking action to add the 19 identified impaired waters.

EPA is starting a public comment period during which interested parties are invited to submit written comments on EPA’s action to add the identified 19 waters. The partial approval / partial disapproval letter and a link to the Nevada’s 2008 – 2010 Integrated Report and 303(d) List of Impaired Waters are provided below.
Continue reading EPA partially approved Nevada’s 2008-2010 303(d) list of impaired waters

Proposed Ordinance Changes- Pretreatment and Reclaimed Water Services

The City of Reno (City) is proposing Reno Municipal Code (RMC) revisions for certain pretreatment program mandated activities as specified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed RMC revisions will ensure that ordinance and methodology comply with 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 403 and its Nevada Pollutants Discharge Elimination System Permit. These revisions will apply to the City’s local limits, industrial users, Publicly Owned Treatment Works legal authority, and enforcement documents.

OFFICIAL NOTICE

DRAFT ORDINANCE CHANGES

Proposed Ordinance Changes- Reclaimed Water Services

The City of Reno (City) is proposing Reno Municipal Code (RMC) revisions by adding Chapter 12.24, Reclaimed Water Service, for establishing requirements and a schedule of rates and charges for Reclaimed Water Service. At the present time these requirements and rates will only apply to the City’s truck fill station located at the Reno-Stead Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City may furnish future systems for the filling of construction water trucks and other reclaimed water service uses at locations designated by the City. The proposed RMC revisions will ensure that the requirements, rates and charges will be uniform and fairly applied to all users of the City’s reclaim water truck fills.

OFFICIAL NOTICE

DRAFT ORDINANCE CHANGES

Source: Environmental Leader.com

Sustainability is paying off for a growing number of companies with 37 percent of surveyed executives reporting a profit from their efforts, a 23 percent rise over last year, according to a global study by the MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group.

The fourth annual study, which is based on a survey of 2,600 executives and managers from companies around the world, found nearly half of the companies have changed their business models as a result of sustainability opportunities, a 20 percent jump over last year.
Continue reading More Companies Profit from Sustainability, Survey Finds

Smart growth policies can help achieve environmental justice goals

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a first-of-its kind report showing how low-income, minority and tribal communities can apply smart growth land use and development strategies to create healthy communities, spur economic growth and protect the environment.

The Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities report describes how low-income, minority, and tribal communities can employ smart growth strategies to clean up and reinvest in existing neighborhoods; provide affordable housing and transportation; and improve access to jobs, parks and stores. The report also provides smart growth practitioners with concrete ideas on how they can better meet the needs of low-income residents as they promote development or redevelopment in underserved communities.
Continue reading EPA Provides Tools for Sustainable Communities