Category: News

The State Environmental Commission (SEC) will hold a regulatory hearing on Thursday, June 17th 2010 at 10:00 am.  The hearing location is the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Conference Room A, 1100 Valley Road,Reno, Nevada.  The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments from all interested persons regarding the adoption, amendment, or repeal of the following regulatory petitions and related SEC business.  The petitions will be discussed and acted upon but may be taken in different order to accommodate the interest and time of the persons attending.  The meeting notice below contains information about three regulatory petitions. Information in support of the above referenced hearing, including the text of the proposed regulatory petitions, support documents, previous public workshop notices, and non-regulatory SEC business items, if any, are posted on the SEC website at: http://www.sec.nv.gov/main/hearing_0610.htm.   An agenda will be posted on the SEC website at least five days before the meeting; the agenda will also be sent to individuals on the SEC electronic mailing lists.  Click here to go to
SEC Home

Latest report shows 202 million pounds of toxics released into environment, a decrease of nearly 22 million pounds SAN FRANCISCO–Toxic releases into the environment from facilities operating in Nevada decreased 10 percent in 2008 when compared to 2007, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The 22 million pound decline is primarily due to a decrease in land releases from mining facilities. The data comes from the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, commonly referred to as TRI. It’s one of the EPA’s largest publicly available databases, arming communities with valuable information on more than 650 toxic chemicals released by various industries. The chemical information in the inventory is calculated by industrial facilities and reported to the EPA, as required by law. “We encourage people to use data from the Toxics Release Inventory in order to gain a better understanding of what is being released into their neighborhoods,” said Laura Yoshii, acting EPA administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. “Industry and communities informed with accurate information can use the inventory as a starting point to find opportunities to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land we enjoy.” Total releases include toxic chemicals discharged by facilities to air, water, land, and underground, and the amount transferred off-site for disposal. Regulatory controls apply to many of the reported releases. Reporting facilities must comply with environmental standards set by local, state and federal agencies. Here’s a look at toxic releases in Nevada from 2006 — 2008, reported in pounds: Reporting Year Type of Release 2006 2007 2008 Air 1,561,788 1,524,176 1,299,441 Land (On-site) 214,170,699 219,527,708 199,173,533 Underground Injection 4 0 0 Water 191,653 144 158 Off-site disposal 1,476,577 2,946,989 1,872,249 Total On- & Off-site releases 217,400,721 223,999,017 202,345,381 Data from 2008 in Nevada show: ” Overall toxic releases decreased 10% mostly due to a decrease in gold mining releases to land ” 136 facilities in Nevada reported 202 million pounds of toxic chemical releases–ranking the state 6th nationwide in total reported on-site and off-site releases ” Air releases decreased 15%, 225 thousand pounds ” The top five released chemicals are lead, arsenic compounds, zinc compounds, manganese, and mercury ” Approximately 91 million pounds of total releases of lead were reported in Nevada. 99% of these were land releases from the metal mining industry ” In Nevada, 96 million pounds of total releases of PBT chemicals were reported, an increase of 57% or 35 million pounds since 2007 ” Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) releases decreased 40% from 584 to 350 pounds ” All of the PCB releases in 2008 were disposed on-site in a permitted hazardous waste landfill, US Ecology Nevada Inc., in Beatty ” Nevada ranks #1 in the United States for reported mercury releases ” 151 facilities in Region 9 reported 5.4 million pounds of mercury releases, down 794 thousand pounds from 2007– Nevada mining facilities account for 99% of mercury releases in the region Annual Toxics Release Inventory reporting began in 1987 after the enactment of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (1996). The inventory provides information to the public on annual toxic chemical releases reported by certain industrial and federal facilities. The TRI does not include data on toxic emissions from cars and trucks, nor from the majority of non-industrial sources, such as agriculture. In 2000, TRI expanded to include persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals, or PBTs, at ranges from 0.1 grams to 100 pounds. PBT pollutants are toxic chemicals that remain in the environment and food chain, posing risks to human health and ecosystems. The top facilities in Nevada for chemicals releases (reported in pounds) are: Facility Name City 2007 Releases 1 Newmont Mining Corp. Copper Canyon Facility Battle Mountain 52,921,128 2 Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc. Elko 48,864,451 3 Newmont Mining Corp. Twin Creeks Mine Golconda 32,274,695 4 Newmont Mining Corp. Carlin South Area Carlin 26,833,697 5 Robinson Nevada Mining Co. Ruth 14,113,597 6 Cortez Gold Mines Crescent Valley 11,096,986 7 US Ecology Nevada Inc. Beatty 3,197,462 8 Smoky Valley Common Operation Round Mountain 1,783,621 9 Newmont Mining Corp. Carlin North Area Carlin 1,402,094 10 Newmont Midas Operations Midas 1,246,648 TRI Explorer TRI Explorer is a tool that you can use to see the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data. It allows you to look at data by state, county, or zip code; by chemical; or by industry. It provides maps that you can click on to find TRI facilities, chemicals and industries in a particular area. National TRI Findings: ” There was a 6% decrease in total reported releases into the environment nationwide from 2007 to 2008 ” The number of facilities reporting chemical releases decreased 5% nationally ” Total PBT chemical releases decreased by 2% nation-wide For more on the TRI program including additional city, county and facility information

ENERGY STAR is marking a decade of reducing energy costs in schools, homes and corporate buildings across the nation. This year represents the 10th anniversary of the first award of an ENERGY STAR plaque to a commercial building by EPA. That award went to the Ridgehaven Green Building in San Diego in 1999. Since then, over 8,500 buildings have won the ENERGY STAR award nationally by optimizing their energy use. There are now over 90,000 buildings participating in the ENERGY STAR program nation wide, representing over 12 billion square feet of commercial and industrial space. In the Pacific Northwest, Idaho and Alaska, approximately 380 buildings have received the ENERGY STAR award, and approximately 4,700 buildings are actively involved in energy programs. In 2008, the Gresham-Barlow School District, near Portland, Ore., received the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award for continuous improvement. This school district has been awarded the Energy Star plaque on 18 of their 19 schools, and the district has reduced its total use of energy by 30 percent across the entire school district. Additional local participants in the ENERGY STAR program include; Amazon.com, JC Penney, Marriot Hotels, school districts throughout the Northwest, Kohl’s Department Stores, and Albertson’s grocery stores. The ENERGY STAR program promotes energy efficiency throughout American society, including commercial and industrial facilities. Participating facilities are supported by this program in their efforts to reduce their energy consumption through implementation of energy efficient methods and technologies. Facilities that are in the top 25 percent of energy efficiency can win the ENERGY STAR award. Businesses interested in starting an energy efficiency program, should visit the following web site or call the U.S. EPA Region 10 office for assistance. To obtain the publication click on the link:

A new program gives hotels an option for recycling their aging television sets and computer monitors. LG Electronics USA Inc. and Waste Management Inc. are partnering to offer the service. The program, which launches in 2010, will have LG working with Waste Management subsidiary WM Recycle America LLC, according to a press release. The two will offer recycling of old equipment, as well as packaging from new LG flat-panel TVs and computer monitors that are installed on site. The new service comes as more and more states are adding laws that require electronics manufactures to pay for e-waste recycling. Click on the link to read the complete article:

Through December 31, recycle your old phone books at any Scolari’s, Sak ‘N Save, AT&T offices or various park locations. All recycled phone books are used to create new phone books. Make sure to check out the Recycling Guide in your new AT&T Real Yellow Pages and learn how you can “opt out” of getting future phone books. If you would like to find out what phone books are being delivered to your household or want to stop receiving your directory visit the Yellow Pages Association and click on Consumer Choice. AT&T Project Redirectory runs from November 16 through December 31, 2009. Phone books can be recycled at any Scolari’s, Sak ‘N Save, AT&T office, Recycle America or on top of your curbside recyclables. And for every ton of phone books recycled at one of listed participating park locations below AT&T will donate 17 trees to local parks. City of Sparks Drop-Off Sites: Alf Sorenson Community Center – 1400 Baring Boulevard, Sparks City Hall – 431 Prater Way, Sparks Fire Station #5 – 6490 Vista Boulevard, Sparks Sparks Marina – 300 Howard Drive, Sparks Sparks Parks and Recreation – 98 Richards Way, Sparks Washoe County Drop-Off Sites: Bartley Ranch Regional Park – 6000 Bartley Ranch Road, Reno Lazy 5 Regional Park – 7100 Pyramid Lake Highway, Spanish Springs North Valley’s Sports Complex – 8085 Silver Lake Road, Stead (Reno) Rancho San Rafael Regional Park – 1595 North Sierra Street, Reno Sun Valley Community Park – 115 West 6th Avenue, Sun Valley South Valley’s Library – 15650 Wedge Parkway, Reno City of Reno Drop-Off Sites: Fire Station #14 – 12300 Old Virginia Road, Reno Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center – 1301 Valley Road, Reno Neil Rd. Recreation Center – 3925 Neil Road, Reno Northwest Pool – 2925 Apollo Way, Reno Reno Tennis Center – 2601 Plumas Street, Reno Last year AT&T Project Redirectory collected 100 tons of phone books in the Truckee Meadows! These phone books were recycled into new phone books for other communities.

Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas top the list for most Energy Star homes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today reaches a milestone for the Energy Star program by passing the 1 millionth Energy Star qualified home mark. With more than 15,000 partners in sectors all across the economy, Energy Star has been enormously successful at saving consumers money by reducing the energy usage of products used in the home and office everyday. Since the program began labeling new homes in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds. This year alone, families living in Energy Star qualified homes will save more than $270 million on their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from about 370,000 vehicles. “This is an amazing achievement for the Energy Star program — but the real winners are the 1 million American families who have the chance to save money and keep harmful pollution out of the air. That’s great news for anyone who wants to cut costs and protect our planet,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re going to keep the number of Energy Star homes growing, because every new Energy Star home is a step towards lower costs, cleaner air, and communities that are environmentally and economically sustainable. We’re giving everyday American homebuyers the power to lower their bills and join the fight against climate change.” To earn the Energy Star label, a home must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by EPA. Those guidelines can be met through established, reliable building techniques available to most middle-class American homeowners. Those include effective insulation systems, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and high-efficiency lighting and appliances. In addition, an independent home energy rater conducts onsite testing and inspections to verify that the home’s performance meets Energy Star requirements. There are more than 6,500 builders across the nation building homes that earn the Energy Star label and qualified new homes can be found in every state in the country. The top 20 markets for Energy Star qualified homes built to date include: Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Las Vegas, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Greater Los Angeles, Calif.; New York, N.Y.; Tucson, Ariz.; San Antonio, Texas; Sacramento, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Ind.; Austin, Texas; Philadelphia, Pa.; San Francisco, Calif.; Boston, Mass.; Denver, Colo.; Orlando, Fla.; and Oklahoma City, Okla. More information about the features and benefits of Energy Star qualified homes and participating builders click on the link.

EPA is moving forward to protect public health by revoking tolerances for the pesticide carbofuran, stating that dietary exposures to carbofuran do not meet today’s rigorous food-safety standards. Since the tolerances are being revoked, EPA reminds growers that carbofuran should not be applied to any food crops after December 31, 2009 and encourages growers to switch from carbofuran to safer pesticides or other environmentally preferable pest control strategies. Use of carbofuran after this date could be subject to enforcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, click on the link: test

Nearly three-quarters of an estimated 12 million Americans who heat their homes with wood stoves each winter, do not use EPA certified stoves. EPA’s Burn Wise campaign encourages homeowners to use EPA-certified wood stoves or to follow EPA’s recommendations to reduce wood smoke pollution emitted from older, uncertified models by burning only dry, seasoned wood, maintaining your wood stove or fireplace with a certified yearly inspection, and changing to an EPA-certified wood stove or fireplace insert. Wood smoke is mixture of gases and fine particle pollution unhealthy to breathe indoors or out, especially for children, older adults and those with heart disease, asthma or lung diseases. More information is available on the Burn Wise site; click on the link below: