EPS has introduced a new web-based tool that will enable the public to search for and have easy access to health and safety studies on industrial chemicals.
EPA has announced new criteria to help companies and other groups, such as states and environmental organizations, identify safer chemicals.
The Envirofacts database is EPA’s single point of access on the Internet for information about environmental activities that may affect air, water and land in the U.S and provides tools for analyzing the data
EPA is releasing a database, called ToxRefDB, which allows scientists and the interested public to search and download thousands of toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals. ToxRefDB captures 30 years and $2 billion of testing results.
EPA has concluded, based on a review of available studies, that these chemicals could cause cancer in people.
Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database provides access to the scientific studies used in making key regulatory decisions, including EPA’s periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six major pollutants.
This inventory contains a consolidated list of thousands of industrial chemicals maintained by the agency.
The agency believes this rule, which takes effect in February 2010 and will be phased in over four years, will significantly improve the quality of water nationwide.
A new resource is available to those working for environmental and occupational justice.
The Clean Water Action Enforcement Plan is a first step in revamping the compliance and enforcement program
has extended the period of time for community input on the proposal to add New York City’s Newtown Creek to the Superfund National Priorities List (Superfund).
EPA is seeking public comment on a revised risk analysis developed for the 2003 proposed Solvent-Contaminated Industrial Wipes Rule
“Newtown Creek is one of the most grossly-contaminated waterways in the country,” said Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. “By listing the creek, EPA can focus on doing the extensive sampling needed to figure out the best way to address the contamination and see the work through.”
Radon inhalation accounts for up to 14 percent of lung cancers worldwide, and is the world’s second-leading risk of lung cancer, next to smoking
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with the city requiring it to pay $50,000 in penalties and launch a comprehensive program to ensure the proper handling of many thousands of bulbs that contain toxic mercury and computer monitors that contain lead .
The eRulemaking Program has launched a significant upgrade to the Web site that provides one-stop, public access to information related to current and forthcoming regulations issued by the federal government.
The Environmental Protection Agency declared a public health emergency on Wednesday in and near Libby, Mont., where over the course of decades asbestos contamination in a vermiculite mine has left hundreds of people dead or sickened from lung diseases.
After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.
EPA has released a guidance document on the development, evaluation and application of environmental models used to inform environmental decision making.
EPA is delaying the effective date of the final rule that amends the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations promulgated in the Federal Register on Dec. 5, 2008, in accordance with the memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget entitled, “Implementation of Memorandum Concerning Regulatory Review” (M-09-08, January 21, 2009). The amendments will now become effective on January 14, 2010.
EPA is releasing a new approach to advance the science upon which the agency bases its regulatory decisions and policies, resulting in better protection for human health and the environment.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is making available the most recent reporting on the amount of toxic chemicals released into the U.S. environment.
EPA has released a new online database that collects information on more than 500,000 man-made chemicals from over 200 public sources.
Did you know that radon gas is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers? Nearly 50 people a day will die from indoor exposure to radon – that’s equal to about 20,000 people each year.
EPA is taking the next step to eliminate harmful hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) emissions, which are ozone-depleting substances and potent greenhouse gases.
The achievements of the U.S. EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership have governments and other organizations around the globe sitting up and taking note. At the first SmartWay International Summit, representatives from 12 countries, major retailers, and freight carriers gathered to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gases from the transportation sector.
On-board diagnostic systems (OBD) have been required on passenger cars since the mid-1990s, and will now be required on heavy-duty vehicles.
The Environmental Protection Agency must revise its approach to assessing environmental health hazards and other risks, an expert panel is reporting.
What are the possible risks of formaldehyde emissions from pressed-wood products? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to find out and is asking interested parties to submit comments, information and data to determine the extent of the problem and what to do about it. In addition to the 60-day public comment period, EPA has scheduled five public meetings to obtain more input.
New amendments to the SPCC rule will clarify regulatory requirements, tailor requirements to particular industry sectors, and streamline certain requirements for facility owners or operators subject to the rule.
Electronics recyclers have a new guide on how to run safe and environmentally protective recycling operations. EPA, as part of a group of recycling stakeholders, developed the “Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers” to promote better environmental, worker safety, and public health practices for electronics recyclers.
EPA has finalized reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). These changes were proposed on June 8, 1998.
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday set stringent new standards for airborne lead particles, following the recommendations of its science advisers and cutting the maximum allowable concentrations to a tenth of the previous standard
To better inform communities about releases of toxic chemicals from industrial facilities in their area, EPA today announced the availability of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facility-level data for 2007.
From lawn mowers and weed trimmers, to personal watercraft and speedboats, gas-powered engines will soon contribute to healthier and cleaner air for Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict new standards for gas-powered lawn equipment and marine engines, enhancing public health by substantially reducing the amount of gas fumes, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smog-forming pollutants emitted from a wide range of engines
EPA today announced a pilot project that allows regulated facilities nationwide to self-disclose environmental violations in a secure environment on EPA’s Website under the Agency's audit policy.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a report that discusses the potential impacts of climate change on human health, human welfare, and communities in the U.S. The report, entitled "Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems,"
Today, EPA is proposing a rule that supports promising technologies to prevent industrial emissions of carbon dioxide. Secure, long-term underground storage of the greenhouse gas is one way scientific innovation could lessen the effects of climate change.
Today EPA released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) soliciting public input on the effects of climate change and the potential ramifications of the Clean Air Act in relation to greenhouse gas emissions
The Con Edison Company of New York has made a commitment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace underground cables containing lead with less hazardous alternatives.
EPA today released its 2008 Report on the Environment (EPA 2008 ROE), an important resource that citizens can use to better understand trends in the condition of the air, water, and land and related changes in human health and the environment in the United States.
Most Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuters don’t give the proper disposal or recycling of the fluorescent lights over their heads a second thought as they ride in and out of Manhattan. However, this issue is at the heart of the recent resolution of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) complaint against the LIRR, which the railroad settled by paying a financial penalty of $43,875.
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg announced the opening of the third New York City Green Building Competition. This national competition seeks projects and ideas that promote the New York City as the pre-eminent cultural and sustainable urban epicenter.
A database used the world over to quickly see the research on chemicals found in the environment and their potential to cause health effects in people will undergo several changes to increase its transparency and efficiency. Announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development, the revisions to the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) process for developing chemical assessments will include an expanded process for recommending a substance be assessed; the earlier involvement of other agencies and the public; hosting “listening sessions” to allow for the broader participation and engagement of interested parties; and an even more rigorous scientific peer review of IRIS assessments.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a new Web-based compliance assistance center that provides comprehensive environmental compliance assistance and pollution prevention information for colleges and universities. The center was developed by the National Association of Colleges and University Business Officials with support and funding from EPA. EPA sponsors 15 other Web-based compliance assistance centers on agriculture, auto repair, automotive recycling, chemicals, construction, federal facilities, health care, local government, metal finishing, paints and coatings, printed wiring board, printing, transportation, tribal, and U.S. borders. These Web sites were visited nearly 2 million times last year.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a new rule to clarify how to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to the nation's wetlands and streams. The rule will enable the agencies to promote greater consistency, predictability and ecological success of mitigation projects under the Clean Water Act.
3/28/08 - Internet Reporting Now Available for All Facilities Reporting TRI Data
EPA continues to speed release of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) information to the public and to enhance data quality. For the first time since TRI's inception, all facilities that are required to submit data to TRI will be able to do so over the Internet, using the award-winning TRI-ME software.
Aircraft passengers and crews will be able to drink safer water under new regulations proposed today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) will tailor existing health-based drinking water regulations to fit the unique characteristics of aircraft public water systems.
EPA today met its requirements of the Clean Air Act by signing the most stringent 8-hour standard ever for ozone, revising the standards for the first time in more than a decade. The agency based the changes on the most recent scientific evidence about the effects of ozone, the primary component of smog.
W.R. Grace, a global supplier of specialty chemicals, has agreed to pay $250 million, the highest sum in the history of the Superfund program, to reimburse the federal government for the costs of the investigation and cleanup of asbestos contamination in Libby, Mont., the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today launched its new web multimedia portal: www.epa.gov/multimedia .The multimedia portal is EPA’s one-stop location for environmental video, audio/podcasts, and photography.
Information on the 2006 reporting year is now available as part of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) database. Today marks the earliest release of the data in the 20-year history of the program. Improvements in electronic reporting and data processing have made this possible. Nation-wide chemical releases into the environment are down by two percent from 2005.
EPA is asking for public comment on a list of 104 possible drinking water contaminants that may need to be regulated in the future to ensure the continued protection of drinking water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA includes on the draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) currently unregulated contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and which may require regulation.
The Metropolitan Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers has expressed opposition to a proposed law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York by requiring permits for atmospheric biological, chemical, and radiological detectors.
Also see AIHA, NYCOSH Protest Air Monitoring Bill (Occupational Hazards Magazine)
A License to Check for W.M.D.’s? (NY Times City Room Blog)
NYPD Seeks an Air Monitor Crackdown for New Yorkers (The Village Voice)
Can you picture what it means to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1 million metric tons? News stories are packed with measurements of greenhouse gas reductions, but it can be difficult to understand them until now. EPA's new Greenhouse Gas Calculator helps you turn greenhouse gas savings into more easily understood everyday terms.
Recycled televisions and computer monitors, known as CRTs, often end up in another country as unusable and broken. That can be a problem because Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to make sure that the destination-country is aware that the recycled materials are on their way.
What are the human health and environmental risks and benefits of nanoscale chemical products? That’s what EPA wants to find out with its just-announced Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP). Engineered nanoscale materials range in size from 1-100 nanometers (nm), and may have very different properties than the same materials at a larger scale.
Responding to this danger, EPA is joining state, local, and tribal governments, community groups, public health organizations, and industry in designating January as National Radon Action Month, to raise public awareness and promote actions reducing these risks
1/29/08 - NYC Council Considers Proposed Law to Require Permits for Biological, Chemical and Radiological Detectors
Members of the New York City Council have proposed a new local law that would require permits in order to use biologocal, chemical snd radiological detectors. This law may have a direct impact on the HSE professionals operating in New York City. A copy of the proposed law and the committee report can be found on the City Council Web site.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a new report "Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices," which contains 17 case studies from across North America that show the economic viability of LID practices.
EPA is sharing more information about ways the public can get involved in environmental regulation.
EPA has issued a final rule to clarify when industrial facilities making changes to equipment or processes may need to retain records documenting their emissions even if the changes do not trigger Clean Air Act New Source Review (NSR) permitting requirements.
EPA today released its Regulatory Plan, which describes 30 of the most significant regulations it plans to issue by next October.
12/5/07 - EPA Funded Research Explores Connection Between Respiratory Illnesses, Air Quality and Weather in New York City
Local air quality affects how you live and breathe. Like the weather, it can change from day to day or even hour to hour. The New York University School of Medicine (NYUSM) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDHMH), just received $494,551 in grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop models to predict respiratory illnesses, including asthma attacks using near-real time weather data, air quality conditions, and emergency room visits in New York City.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the first round of sampling results from its Lower Manhattan Test and Clean program, established to identify the possible presence of contaminants associated with the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings.
Ever used your computer to "fly" through the mountains, or zoom in on a satellite picture of your house? Now you can use the same technology to learn more about emissions and air quality across the country and where you live.
A new national regulation will help further reduce smog-forming emissions from aerosol spray paints – paints such as clear coatings, nonflat coatings, and primers used by the consumer.
More than 60 energy, environmental and other organizations have collaborated on a new report that could save Americans more than $500 billion in energy costs over 25 years and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 90 million vehicles.
BP Products North America, Inc. agreed to pay a total criminal fine of more than $60 million for violations of federal environmental regulations in Texas and Alaska. In addition to the penalty, the company will spend approximately $400 million on safety upgrades and improvements to prevent future chemical releases and spills.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing revisions to certain regulatory requirements for facilities subject to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule. The revisions will tailor and streamline requirements to particular industry sectors and facility owners or operators subject to the rule.
Estimating the carbon footprint of commercial buildings has just become easier. Portfolio Manager, EPA's on-line energy rating system for commercial buildings, now includes greenhouse gas emission factors. The updated ratings show that Energy Star buildings, which use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings, also emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
(1) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has modified procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, which established the U.S. government’s policy for environmental protection.
(2 )As the U.S. population continues to become more diverse, EPA is taking steps to inform minority older adults and their caregivers about simple actions they can take to reduce environmental health hazards. EPA's Aging Initiative has developed six fact sheets on the health impacts of air pollution, water contaminants, pesticides, and extreme heat on the most common chronic health conditions that can be worsened by environmental contaminants.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the first set of Hazard Characterizations on 101 High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals. These characterizations are based on EPA’s scientific review of the screening-level hazard, or toxicity, data that was submitted by the U.S. chemical industry through EPA’s HPV Challenge Program or other information previously collected by the agency.
The United States, Canada and Mexico are strengthening their efforts to ensure the safe manufacture and use of industrial chemicals by developing a regional partnership for assessing and managing potential risks. This regional partnership, announced today in Montebello, Quebec, is the result of discussions between President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Leaders' Summit.
Region 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently unveiled a new online media center at http://www.epa.gov/region2/mediacenter/.
New York City Noise Control
New York City has amended the Administrative Code Title 24, Chapter 2, Noise Control. This regulation becomes effective on 7/1/2007 and will have an impact on a number of industries. The construction industry will prbably feel the impact more then others. The Administrative Code of New York City can be found on the New York State Legislature Web site. Click on Laws of New York at the bottom of the page. Scroll down to the bottom of the resulting page and click on ADC New York City Administrative Code under Miscellaneous.
Safety Executives of New York member Susan Fahmy has provided a PowerPoint presentation that can be utilized to discuss the impact of noise and its control with management and employees. Click here to view or download.