Creative Design Concepts

(1) NREL. 2010. Green Power Marketing in the United States: A Status Report (PDF). (69 pp., 1.1M)

Release Date: 11/15/2011Contact Information: Stacy Kika, Kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – Edward Wyman, 64, from Reseda, Calif. has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegally storing toxic and explosive hazardous wastes in his backyard, materials that posed an imminent danger to nearby residents. The sentence is the longest handed down by a California federal judge in a hazardous waste case.

“Illegally storing toxic and explosive hazardous wastes is a crime and in this case a very dangerous one," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s sentence shows that there are consequences to breaking the law and putting the public at risk."

"Today’s sentence demonstrates the serious nature of federal environmental crimes," according to United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. "Federal environmental regulations exist to protect both public safety and the environment. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the environment and to prosecuting persons who threaten the community through their illegal actions."

Wyman was convicted of the felony environmental crime on April 5, 2011, by a federal jury following a five-day trial. In addition to convicting Wyman of violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the jury made a special finding that the defendant’s conduct knowingly placed another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Wyman was also ordered to pay $800,000 to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9 Emergency Response Office for costs associated with a 47-day clean-up. During the clean-up, EPA contractors were forced to call out the Los Angeles Police Department Bomb and Arson Squad seven times to deal with possible explosives mixed into the burned debris.

Wyman was charged in June 2009, after firefighters responded to a report of a fire and explosions at Wyman’s residence. Because of the ammunition that was being “cooked off” in the fire, firefighters had to wear bullet proof vests. Investigators at the scene discovered a large cache of toxic materials, including thousands of rounds of corroded ammunition, highly reactive lead-contaminated waste from shooting ranges, hundreds of pounds of decades-old gunpowder and military M6 cannon powder, and industrial solvents that contained 1,1,1-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, two potent chemicals that are listed as hazardous substances under federal law. Wyman did not have a permit to store any of the materials.

The case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

More information on EPA’s criminal enforcement program: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/criminal/index.html
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Release Date: 01/23/2012Contact Information: David Deegan, 617-918-1017

(Boston—January 23, 2012)  – Richard Emberley, Plant Operator of the Franklin Pierce University, N.H. Wastewater Treatment Plant is being honored with a "2011 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Excellence Award" by EPA. Mr. Emberley has been the Chief Plant Operator of the Franklin Pierce University Wastewater Treatment Plant since 2000.  He has done an outstanding job over the years.
The EPA Regional Wastewater Awards Program recognizes personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England.   The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services was instrumental in Mr. Emberley’s nomination.
“The professionals operating these wastewater treatment plants, as well as the municipalities and the state environmental agencies that support them, are essential to keeping our environment healthy by protecting water quality.  I am proud to acknowledge Mr. Emberley’s outstanding contributions to help protect public health and water quality for so many years and to give him the credit he deserves,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office.
EPA’s New England office will formally acknowledge Mr. Emberley for his fine work during the annual New England Water Environment Association Conference at the Boston Copley Marriott Hotel on January 25th.
For more information: http://www.epa.gov/ne/topics/water/wwater.html and

http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/intnet.htm

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Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/newsevents/index.html)
Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland)
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Release Date: 11/16/2011Contact Information: Molly Hooven, Hooven.Molly@epa.gov, 202-564-2313, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented the 11th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 19 EPA Green Power Partners across the country. Winning partners range from iconic commercial buildings and Fortune 500 companies to local governments and higher education institutions. Through the use of clean, renewable energy sources, partners are increasing our country’s energy security, reducing harmful pollution and helping protect people’s health and the environment. EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program helping to increase the use of electricity generated from renewable resources among leading U.S. organizations.

“EPA’s Green Power Leadership Award winners are at the forefront of our economy, driving the development of innovative, renewable energy sources and demonstrating that green power makes as much sense for our health and our environment as it does for our business’ bottom lines,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “We applaud their efforts to cut pollution and advance the market for green energy, one of the most important frontiers of our economic future. We hope that they will be an example for other organizations.”

The 2011 Green Power Leadership Award winners include:

Green Power Partner of the Year: Empire State Building, Google Inc., Intel Corporation, Kohl’s Department Stores, and Staples
Green Power Community of the Year: Portland, Ore. and Washington, D.C.
Green Power Purchasing: Adobe Systems Inc., Allegheny College, Datapipe, Inc., Franklin & Marshall College, Jackson Family Wines, Mercyhurst College, MetLife, Santa Clara University, State Street Corporation, and the University of Central Oklahoma
On-site Generation: City of San Francisco and SC Johnson & Son

The City of San Francisco, Intel Corporation, Kohl’s Department Stores, and Staples are all previous winners of EPA’s Green Power Leadership Award. Washington, D.C. also won EPA’s 2010-11 Green Power Community Challenge title for using the greatest amount of green power annually.

EPA presents the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. Awards will be presented today at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference in San Francisco.

EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with close to 1,300 partner organizations to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Partners voluntarily are using more than 21 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, equal to avoiding annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the electricity used by more than 1.8 million average American homes. Green power is electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydro and produces no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions.

More information on the Green Power Leadership Awards: www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards
More information on the Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower
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Release Date: 11/15/2011Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 or heron.donna@epa.gov

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (November 15, 2011) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. General Services Administration recognized AERC/Com-Cycle at an event today for becoming the region’s newest electronics Certified Responsible Recycler (R2) facility.

Today’s America Recycles event at AERC/Com-Cycle’s Allentown facility highlights EPA’s partnership with industry aimed at promoting environmentally-sound management of used electronics, and encouraging businesses and consumers to recycle their electronics with certified recyclers. As an R2 certified electronics recycler, AERC/Com-Cycle operates all its facilities in accordance with the most stringent certification standard in the electronics recycling industry.

EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin and GSA Regional Administrator David H. Ehrenwerth got a tour of the plant and learned how the company operates.

“An expanding electronics recycling industry has tremendous environmental and economic potential. This industry makes addressing pollution profitable, and conserves natural resources while creating green jobs,” said Garvin. “Traditionally most people think of recycling as cans, bottles and paper. But electronics is a growing area of concern. Industry leaders like Com-Cycle are demonstrating that environmental stewardship and job creation go hand-in-hand".

As part of the president’s new National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship, GSA and EPA are promoting the development of new environmental performance standards for categories of electronic products not covered by current standards.

"By some estimates, the federal government goes through 10,000 computers a week. Requiring that each of those machines end their useful lives at a certified recycler could mean big business," said GSA’s Ehrenwerth. "Ultimately, the federal government is set on making the country’s largest consumer of electronics the country’s most responsible user of electronics"

AERC/Com-Cycle is one of the nation’s largest certified electronics recycler. AERC operates ten facilities throughout the United States in Allentown, Pa., Ashland, Va., West Melbourne, Fla., Houston, Tx. and Hayward, Ca. The company has grown from one employee handling electronics at one facility to five electronics processing facilities in these regions and employs approximately 200 people. The Allentown facilities alone process more than 600,000 pounds of electronics for reuse and recycling each month, and employs nearly 60 people, and operates two shifts five days a week. Over the past two years Com-Cycle’s electronics recycling workforce has risen 15 percent.

“By having all of its electronics processing Com-Cycle locations around the nation distinguished as R2 / RIOS™ Certified Electronics Recycler® facilities, AERC continues to demonstrate its commitment to compliance, investment in its best practices and the ability to provide its clients with a competitive solutions, said Lindsay L. Kissel, spokesperson for AERC/Com-Cycle. "Electronics are one of the few waste streams that are 100 percent recyclable. AERC’s positioning in the marketplace demonstrates the company’s commitment to recycling electronics in a safe and environmentally friendly way here in the U.S.. AERC is pleased to be a part of a solution that facilitates the creation of jobs, turning the economy around and ultimately protecting the environment – all through proper electronics recycling,”

There are two existing domestic third-party electronics recycling certification standards, R2 and E-Stewards.

For more information on the EPA and industry collaboration go to: http://www.epa.gov/electronicsstrategy.

For more information on GSA’s electronic stewardship goals and promoting federal agencies’ purchasing Environmentally Preferable Products go to: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/234565.

For more information on where and how you can recycle electronics go to: http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm or www.earth911.com.

To locate a list of Responsible Recycling (R2) Certified Electronics Recyclers go to: http://www.r2solutions.org/index.php?submenu=Recyclers&src=gendocs&ref=R2CertifiedRecyclers&category=Main.

To locate a list of e-Stewards Certified Electronics Recyclers go to: http://e-stewards.org/find-a-recycler/.
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Release Date: 11/15/2011Contact Information: Stacy Kika, Kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – Edward Wyman, 64, from Reseda, Calif. has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegally storing toxic and explosive hazardous wastes in his backyard, materials that posed an imminent danger to nearby residents. The sentence is the longest handed down by a California federal judge in a hazardous waste case.

“Illegally storing toxic and explosive hazardous wastes is a crime and in this case a very dangerous one," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s sentence shows that there are consequences to breaking the law and putting the public at risk."

"Today’s sentence demonstrates the serious nature of federal environmental crimes," according to United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. "Federal environmental regulations exist to protect both public safety and the environment. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the environment and to prosecuting persons who threaten the community through their illegal actions."

Wyman was convicted of the felony environmental crime on April 5, 2011, by a federal jury following a five-day trial. In addition to convicting Wyman of violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the jury made a special finding that the defendant’s conduct knowingly placed another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Wyman was also ordered to pay $800,000 to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9 Emergency Response Office for costs associated with a 47-day clean-up. During the clean-up, EPA contractors were forced to call out the Los Angeles Police Department Bomb and Arson Squad seven times to deal with possible explosives mixed into the burned debris.

Wyman was charged in June 2009, after firefighters responded to a report of a fire and explosions at Wyman’s residence. Because of the ammunition that was being “cooked off” in the fire, firefighters had to wear bullet proof vests. Investigators at the scene discovered a large cache of toxic materials, including thousands of rounds of corroded ammunition, highly reactive lead-contaminated waste from shooting ranges, hundreds of pounds of decades-old gunpowder and military M6 cannon powder, and industrial solvents that contained 1,1,1-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, two potent chemicals that are listed as hazardous substances under federal law. Wyman did not have a permit to store any of the materials.

The case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

More information on EPA’s criminal enforcement program: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/criminal/index.html
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Release Date: 01/04/2012Contact Information: Roy Seneca seneca.roy@epa.gov (215) 814-5567

PHILADELPHIA (January 4, 2012) — The Sewer Authority of the City of Scranton will pay a $12,619 penalty and complete a $30,000 tree planting project under a settlement with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over risk management violations at its treatment facility at Cedar Avenue and Breck Street in Scranton, Pa.

The alleged violations, identified in an April 2010 EPA inspection, focused on the sewer authority’s failure to comply with a risk management plan designed to reduce the risk of an accidental release of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Some of the specific violations included failure to properly train employees in operating procedures, failure to test and inspect equipment, and failure to conduct a three-year compliance audit.

Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute or store certain chemicals are required to develop, implement and submit a risk management plan to EPA. Alleged violations included the authority’s failure to update safety procedures, train employees, perform inspections or maintain proper identification.

Under the settlement, the authority will pay a cash civil penalty of $12,619, and will implement a supplemental environmental project costing $30,000 that involves purchasing and planting 100 trees in urban neighborhoods on the south side of Scranton. The tree project is intended to improve air quality in Scranton by absorbing air pollutants, which are triggers for asthma, and thereby creating health benefits for asthma sufferers.

For more information on EPA regulations concerning emergency management and risk management plans, visit: http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/content/rmp/ .
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Release Date: 01/19/2012Contact Information: David Bryan, (913) 551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov; or Chelsey Derks, (913) 551-7240, derks.chelsey@epa.gov

Environmental News

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 19, 2012) – EPA Region 7 will recognize the Iowa Radon Poster Contest winners at an award ceremony at 1:00 p.m. today at Sacred Heart School in Boone, Iowa.

Iowa’s First Lady, Chris Branstad, will attend the event, along with representatives of EPA, Iowa Department of Public Health, American Lung Association of Iowa, and Boone County Health Department. The award ceremony is open to the press.

WHAT: Iowa Radon Poster Contest Award Ceremony

WHEN: 1:00 p.m., January 19, 2012

WHERE: Sacred Heart School, 1111 Marshall Street, Boone, Iowa 50036

WHO: Iowa’s First Lady, Chris Branstad; EPA Region 7 Radiation and Indoor Air Specialist Bob Dye; Representatives from Iowa Department of Public Health, American Lung Association of Iowa, and Boone County Health Department

The Iowa Radon Poster Contest was part of the National Radon Poster Contest. This contest takes place as an outreach program to inform the community of the dangers of radon during National Radon Action Month, which occurs every January. About 170 posters were entered from Iowa from 10 different schools.

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and kills more than 21,000 people annually. Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels.
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Learn more about radon

View the winning radon posters from the Iowa contest

More information on the National Radon Poster Contest

Locate this and other Region 7 news items on the News Where You Live interactive map

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

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Release Date: 01/10/2012Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Jan. 10, 2012) – EPA’s New England office is awarding 13 grants across New England under its 2011 Healthy Communities Grant Program, totaling approximately $372,000, to support community projects addressing environmental and public health issues.  The projects funded through this program will result in reduced environmental risk, protection and improvement of human health, and improvements to the quality of life for communities across New England. 
The Healthy Communities Grant Program combines resources from nine EPA programs to strategically address environmental and public health issues burdening New England communities.  The goal of the program is to competitively select projects that will achieve measurable environmental and public health results in communities across New England.   Eligible projects must meet several criteria including: (1) location  in /or directly benefit one or more of the EPA’s  identified Target Investment Areas; and (2) identification of how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and/or public health results in one or more of the EPA’s identified Target Program Areas.  Target Investment Areas and Target Program Areas are identified in the annual Request for Initial Proposal. 
In 2011, the Target Investment Areas included Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern, Narragansett Bay Watershed, areas with Sensitive Populations, and/or Urban Areas.  Target Program Areas included:  Asthma, Capacity-Building for Environmental and Public Health Issues, Healthy Indoor/Outdoor Environments, Healthy Schools, Narragansett Bay Watershed-Based Water Quality Management, and Urban Natural Resources.
The grants were awarded to the following recipients:
Connecticut:
Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust was awarded $25,000 for their “Bridgeport East Side Healthy Homes Initiative” project.  The project will conduct a targeted neighborhood approach to addressing environmentally related illnesses including: inhalant allergens that contribute to asthma triggers; and lead contamination that poisons young children. 
Town of Stratford, CT was awarded $25,000 for their “Reducing Exposure to Residual Nicotine among Children” project.  The project will develop and implement a community marketing/outreach strategy about Third Hand Smoke and Residual Nicotine Exposure (THS/RNE) to be incorporated into existing asthma programs. 
Maine:
Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point was awarded $25,000 for their “Algae to Diesel Fuel Production in Backyard Bio-Reactors for Home” project.  The project will build on an existing pilot project for producing home heating oil from algae grown in backyard reactors in order to reduce carbon and sulfur emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels. This will ultimately improve ambient air quality and and have positive impact on Tribal health. 
Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health was awarded $24,999 for their “Healthy Learning Environments for Asthma Prevention” project.  The project will achieve measurable reductions in environmental triggers; improve asthma management, and build capacity to address environmental inequities in struggling schools.
Ecumenical Social Action Committee was awarded $25,000 for their “Boston Asthma Initiative” project.  The project will provide a holistic integrated clinical and environmental approach to managing asthma for children in the City of Boston. 
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was awarded $39,235 for their “MA/RI Municipal Management Stormwater Assistance Initiative” project.  The project will improve the water quality of Narragansett Bay and its tributary rivers by improving the effectiveness of municipal stormwater management. 
Health Resources in Action was awarded $35,000 for their “Promoting Purchaser Demand” project.  The project will reduce health disparities, and promote environmental justice, health and safety of low-income and minority populations in New England by increasing the demand for Asthma Services which will result in increased financing/and reimbursement by medical insurance companies. 
New Hampshire:
New Hampshire Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health was awarded $25,000 for their “Healthy Schools, Children, Minds” project.  The project will expand the Tools for Schools program statewide in order to increase a) school building maintenance assessment, b) reporting to the Department of Education, and c) school building environmental improvements. 
Manchester Health Department was awarded $24,999 for their “Asthma Education & Outreach Program” project.  The project will advance the Department’s existing comprehensive pediatric asthma education and outreach program through the official adoption and integration of a holistic healthy homes approach to environmental diseases. 
Rhode Island:
Childhood Lead Action Project (CLAP) was awarded $25,000 for their “Up to Code Providence” project.  The project will expand CLAP’s Get the Lead Out Coalition to expand their work on childhood lead poisoning to include childhood asthma in order to protect children from severe health outcomes resulting from mold, pests, lead hazards, or unsafe renovation practices. 
Save the Bay was awarded $34,556 for their “Flood Hazard Reduction and Water Quality Improvement in the Upper Narragansett and Mount Hope Bay Watersheds” project.  The project will assess coastal adaptation techniques and include activities to provide at risk towns with planning tools for adapting to predicated climate changes.
Rhode Island Natural History Survey was awarded $39,209 for their “Expanding Watershed Counts” project.  The project will develop consensus-based freshwater quality indicators for the rivers and streams in the Narragansett Bay watershed.  
Vermont:
Parks Place Community Resource Center was awarded $25,000 for their “Contractor and Landlord Educational Outreach” project.  The project will reduce childhood exposure to lead contaminated dust during renovation and repairs.
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[Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:25:35 -0400]

Release Date: 11/29/2011Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (November 29, 2011) — On November 30, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance will hold a Food Recovery Workshop at the Capital Union Building on Penn State University’s Harrisburg Campus. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Surplus food is second only to paper in materials sent to landfills. Much of this “waste” is not waste at all, but actually safe, wholesome food that could potentially feed millions of Americans. Only three percent is currently being diverted to hunger relief organizations or for other uses. EPA will showcase the agency’s Food Recovery Challenge, a sustainable materials management initiative, which challenges participants to reduce disposal of as much of their surplus food as possible — saving money, helping communities, and protecting the environment.

The daylong workshop will provide information on how to increase the amount of consumable surplus foods provided to food banks and non-consumables food to composters. Professionals in the grocery, retail, food bank, composting, and associated government agencies are encouraged to attend. This workshop will include sessions on best practices with respect to managing surplus food and updates on regional and national food recovery trends.

Featured speakers include representatives from the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Feeding America, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, food bank associations, grocers, and EPA.

EPA is providing funding and technical support for the workshop. The registration fee is $30.00 but scholarships may be available if needed. For more information on scholarships, contact Linda Knapp at: lknapp@ilsr.org.

To register go to: http://surplusfoodrecovery.eventbrite.com. For directions to the Capital Union Building which is located at the corner of College Avenue and O Street on the Penn State Harrisburg Campus, go to: http://hbg.psu.edu/visitors/directions.php

To learn more about the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge go to: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/partnerships/wastewise/challenge/foodrecovery/index.htm
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