Category: News

The report, published Sept. 30 in the journal Nature, is the first to simultaneously account for the effects of such things as pollution, dam building, agricultural runoff, the conversion of wetlands and the introduction of exotic species on the health of the world’s rivers.

“Rivers around the world really are in a crisis state,” says Peter B. McIntyre, a senior author of the new study and a professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology.

The Nature report was authored by an international team co-led by Charles J. Vörösmarty of the City University of New York, an expert on global water resources, and McIntyre, an expert on freshwater biodiversity.

Examining the influence of numerous types of threats to water quality and aquatic life across all of the world’s river systems, the study is the first to explicitly assess both human water security and biodiversity in parallel. Fresh water is widely regarded as the world’s most essential natural resource, underpinning human life and economic development as well as the existence of countless organisms ranging from microscopic life to fish, amphibians, birds and terrestrial animals of all kinds.

Read the complete article at Science Daily

By Green Living Tips

Reading that an item takes eleventy snazzillion years to break down in the environment makes for great attention grabbing stuff when writing articles on green living, but the more I research various related topics, the more I find differences in estimations.

A lot of this is to do with the fact that decomposition is very dependent on the environment where the material is decomposing.  For example, look at the difference between how fast steel rusts (a form of decomposition) in a humid salt air environment such as the coast vs. a dry environment like a desert.

Those are a couple of issues to bear in mind when reading statistics on how X or Y material breaks down.  “Break down” is really a vague term and there’s also a big difference in the terms, biodegradable, degradable and compostable; not to mention the types of residues they leave behind, some of which can be toxic.  It’s another good reason to recycle where we can, plus recycling energy savings for most types of waste are significant.

Click here to see a list of common items and how long they take to “break down” in the environment.

President proclaims Oct. 4 as Children Health Day

WASHINGTON – As President Obama proclaims today as Children Health Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with its partners to expand the conversation on what all of us can do to protect children from environmental health hazards. Children are more affected by pollution because of their body weight when compared to adults and rely upon us to provide them with healthy communities where they live, play and learn.

“EPA is asking all Americans to join us this month and every month in making our communities across the country healthier places to live, learn and play for our children and future generations,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “As administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a mother, I know just how important it is that we act to protect our most vulnerable populations, and give them the clean, sustainable environment they need to thrive.”

Under Administrator Jackson’s leadership, EPA has taken steps that will help improve the health of children, including taking action on greenhouse gases, strengthening clean air act standards, reforming chemical safety, reducing the impact of coal on the environment and water and working for environmental justice.

The presidential proclamation calls upon families, child health professionals, faith-based and community organizations and governments to help ensure clean air, safe water and healthy communities for our nation’s children.

Throughout October, there will be roundtable discussions and educational events taking place across the country. These are opportunities where parents, teachers and caregivers can learn about environmental issues affecting children, how they are being addressed more effectively at the local and national level, and the simple actions they can take to help keep children healthy.

Children’s Health events: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/CHM_events.htm

Tips to protect children: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/CHM_Calendar_English_2010_508_2.htm/$File/CHM_Calendar_English_2010_508_2.pdf?Open&preview

On September 20, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Partnership kicked off its national Green Power Community Challenge, a year-long campaign to encourage cities, towns, counties, and Native American tribes to use renewable energy and reduce climate change.

As part of the campaign, communities will compete from September 20, 2010, to September 1, 2011, to see which one can use the most green power and which one can achieve the highest green power percentage of total electricity use. The winning communities will be declared in September 2011 and will receive special attention and recognition from EPA. Throughout the Challenge, EPA will provide technical assistance to help participants increase their use of green power.

To participate in the Challenge, communities must join the Green Power Partnership as a partner and buy green power in amounts that meet EPA minimum purchase requirements, submit a signed Green Power Communities Partnership Agreement, and initiate a community-wide green power campaign to encourage local businesses and residents to buy green power.

To date, more than 30 cities and towns in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin have partnered with EPA to become Green Power Communities. 

For more information about becoming a Green Power Community, visit www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities, or contact Anthony Amato at anthony.amato@erg.com or (781) 674-7225.

For more information on the Green Power Community Challenge, visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities/gpcchallenge.htm, or contact Allison Dennis at dennis.allison@epa.gov or (202) 343-9526.

I think that EPA felt the heat from outside groups and Congress (remember that link I sent a while back where you could watch EPA testify?  It was memorable testimony).  It appears that EPA is going to look at developing effluent guidelines for dental facilities (propose a rule in 2011).  EPA is already trying to limit mercury controls:  they do not want to look beyond amalgam separators.  What if something beyond an amalgam separator is required to allow a POTW to achieve compliance?  I presented data in a previous blog on just such a case study. 

EPA expects to propose a rule next year and finalize it in 2012. Dental offices will be able to use existing technology to meet the proposed requirements. Amalgam separators can separate out 95 percent of the mercury normally discharged to the local waste treatment plant. The separator captures the mercury, which is then recycled and reused. 

Until the rule is final, EPA encourages dental offices to voluntarily install amalgam separators. Twelve states and several municipalities already require the installation of amalgam separators in dental offices.

Approximately 50 percent of mercury entering local waste treatment plants comes from dental amalgam waste. Once deposited, certain microorganisms can change elemental mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish.

Fish and shellfish are the main sources of methylmercury exposure to humans. Methylmercury can damage children’s developing brains and nervous systems even before they are born.

Also, remember the Michigan Law?  That is still sitting out there as a problem that EPA does not want to touch (especially before the mid-term elections).  Will the EPA regions flex their muscles?  Will Region 1 continue to be the lone voice out there?  Will the ADA be making the decisions?  What happens if the effluent guidelines conflict with the Methylmercury NPDES implementation document?  What about the EPA-ADA-NACWA MOU?

I hope everyone will take the time to be involved in this.  If anyone gets any information (inside) please pass along and be assured anonymity.
See what EPA says:  http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/dental/

Current Water Demands Are Not Sustainable

Climate change will have a significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades. A new analysis, performed by consulting firm Tetra Tech for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), examined the effects of global warming on water supply and demand in the contiguous United States. The study found that more than 1,100 counties — one-third of all counties in the lower 48 — will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming. More than 400 of these counties will face extremely high risks of water shortages.

Water Supply Sustainability Overview for Nevada

Nevada: Without Climate Change Impacts

Nevada: With Climate Change Impacts

The report uses publicly available water use data across the United States and climate projections from a set of models used in recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) work to evaluate withdrawals related to renewable water supply.  The report finds that 14 states face an extreme or high risk to water sustainability, or are likely to see limitations on water availability as demand exceeds supply by 2050. These areas include parts of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In particular, in the Great Plains and Southwest United States, water sustainability is at extreme risk.

Read or download the document at Natural Resource Defense Council

SUMMARY: EPA is proposing changes to analysis and sampling test procedures in wastewater regulations. These changes will provide increased flexibility to the regulated community and laboratories in their selection of analytical methods (test procedures) for use in Clean Water Act programs. The changes include proposal of EPA methods and methods published by voluntary consensus standard bodies, such as ASTM International and the Standard Methods Committee and updated versions of currently approved methods. EPA is also proposing to add certain methods reviewed under the alternate test procedures program. Further, EPA is proposing changes to the current regulations to clarify the process for EPA approval for use of alternate procedures for nationwide and Regional use. In addition, EPA is proposing minimum quality control requirements to improve consistency across method versions; corrections to previously approved methods; and changes to sample collection, preservation, and holding time requirements. Finally, EPA is proposing changes to how EPA cites methods in three effluent guideline regulations. DATES: EPA must receive your comments on this proposal on or before November 22, 2010.

Read the complete proposal:

The U.S. Department of Energy has distributed the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recently published IEA Wind Energy Annual Report 2009, which is now available for free download. The report presents the latest information on domestic and international wind generation capacity, national incentive programs, progress toward national objectives, benefits to national economies, research and development results, and issues affecting turbines, market growth, and costs of projects. The Executive Summary synthesizes the information presented from IEA’s member countries, cooperative research tasks, the European Commission, and the European Wind Energy Association. Read the Executive Summary