GreenEnvironmentNews.com | Rhode Island Environment News

E.P.A. Declares $69.3 Million to Clean Up Contaminated Sites and Revitalize Communities / ...

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - Today the E.P.A. (EPA) announced $69.3 million in grants for new investments to provide communities with backing necessary to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and create jobs while protecting public health. "Restored Brownfield properties can serve as cornerstones for rebuilding struggling communities. These grants will be the 1st step in getting pollution out and putting jobs back into neighborhoods across the country," said E.P.A. Ad...

NOAA, BOEM: Historic, 19th century shipwreck discovered in northern Gulf of Mexico

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 +0100

While most of the ship's wood has long since disintegrated, copper that sheathed the hull beneath the waterline as a protection against marine-boring organisms remains, leaving a copper shell retaining the form of the ship. The coppe...

Southern Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Seek to Protect Coastal Water from ...

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - May 4, 2012) - E.P.A. is considering a suggestion to designate the coastal waters of Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and the Islands as a "No Discharge Area." If approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within the town boundaries of Chilmark, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Gosnold, Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Chatham and Nantucket. On behalf of the Commonwealth, the Massachus...

Massachusetts Citizens Gain Prestigious Regional E.P.A. Environmental Awards

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - April 25, 2012) - Twenty-four environmental awards will be given to Massachusetts environmental groups, individuals, businesses, nonprofit and government agencies today in Boston's Faneuil Hall as E.P.A. presented its yearly Environmental Merit Awards for 2012. The merit awards, recognizing valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving, are a unique way that E.P.A. can recognize individuals and groups that are making significant i...

Connecticut Citizens and Organizations Gain Prestigious Regional E.P.A. Environmental Award

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - April 25, 2012) - 11 environmental awards will be given to Connecticut environmental groups, individuals, businesses, nonprofit and government agencies today in Boston's Faneuil Hall as E.P.A. presented its yearly Environmental Merit Awards for 2012. The merit awards, recognizing valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving, are a unique way that E.P.A. can recognize individuals and groups that are making significant impacts on e...

Rhode Island Citizens Gain Prestigious Regional E.P.A. Environmental Awards

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - April 25, 2012) - 4 Rhode Island citizens and a hospital from the Ocean State will be recognized today in Boston's Faneuil Hall as E.P.A. presented its yearly Environmental Merit Awards for 2012. The merit awards, recognizing valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving, are a unique way that E.P.A. can recognize individuals and groups that are making significant impacts on environmental quality in distinct ways. Award...

Mount Hope Bay Seek “No Discharge” Designation to Stem Boat Pollution

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - April 19, 2012) - E.P.A. is evaluating a suggestion from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to designate the state waters of Mount Hope Bay as a "No Discharge Area." If approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within the town boundaries of Dighton, Berkley, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Fall River. Mount Hope Bay is a shared waterbody between Massachusetts and R.I. and in 1998 Rhode Island designated all their state water...

School Bus Company to Implement Anti-Idling Plan and Pay Penalties under the Clean Air Act

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - April 10, 2012) - As part of a settlement for alleged excessive diesel idling in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Durham School Services will commit to reduce idling from its school bus fleet of 13,900 buses operating in 30 states. The anti-idling plan is the result of an E.P.A. New England enforcement action to address excessive school bus idling and reduce school children's exposure to diesel pollution. Durham School Services will pay a $90...

Statement on Passing of Peter Lord, Environmental Reporter for Providence Journal

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - April 6, 2012) - Many of us at E.P.A. New England are saddened at the loss of long-time Providence Journal environmental reporter, Peter Lord. His decades of reporting on environmental issues in Rhode Island and New England illuminated not only local concerns, but also gave context to national and international environmental topics that affect our lives. Its not an overstatement to say Peter helped teach generations of Rhode Islanders about the importance o...

9 New England Organizations Get Energy Star Awards

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - March 15, 2012) - 9 New England organizations have received 2012 awards from the Energy Star Program. Each year, E.P.A. and the D.O.E. (DOE) honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Organizations are acknowledged in one of 3 major award categories: Partner of the Year, Award for Sustained Excellence, and Award for Excellence. These organizations are being acknowledged for their lon...

E.P.A. Celebrates New England ENERGY STAR Leaders and Labeled Buildings

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - Feb. 22, 2012) - E.P.A. is pleased to recognize the 9 companies in New England that have been named as ENERGY STAR Leaders over the past 7 years, as well as the 207 buildings in New England that have received the prestigious ENERGY STAR label in 2011. ENERGY STAR Leaders must meet one of 2 energy efficiency improvement milestones. The 1st milestone requires a ten percent improvement in energy performance across their entire building portfolio, and subsequen...

Westerly, R.I. Company Ordered to Comply with Hazardous Waste Requirements

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - Feb. 17, 2012) - A Rhode Island company that conducts printing, coating and finishing of specialty fabrics has been ordered by E.P.A. to come into compliance with federal hazardous waste management regulations. Bradford Printing and Finishing, LLC of Westerly was ordered to comply with the regulations it had violated. According to EPA, Bradford violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) by failing to determine whether numerous wastes bein...

6 New England Communities Will Get E.P.A. Smart Growth Assistance

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - Feb. 7, 2012) - 6 New England communities will benefit from E.P.A. technical assistance through the "Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities" program. The communities, Simsbury, Conn., Fall River, Holyoke, Northampton and Roxbury, Mass., and Burlington, Vt. were among 56 communities in 26 states that will gain technical assistance under this program. Each community will gain the assistance from EPA-funded private-sector experts. The technical exper...

Arrangement Reached to Address Contamination at CTS Location in Asheville, North Carolina

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(ATLANTA - January 26, 2012) The E.P.A. (EPA) and CTS Corporation have reached an agreement, an Administrative Order and Settlement Arrangement on Consent (AOC), to conduct a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at the CTS of Asheville, Incorporated Location in Asheville, NC. The Rhode Island serves as the mechanism for collecting data to characterize Location conditions, determine the nature and extent of contamination, assess risks to human health and the environm...

Narragansett Bay Commission Acknowledged for Excellence

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston-January 23, 2012) The Narragansett Bay Commission's (NBC) Fields Point Wastewater Treatment Plant was recently selected by E.P.A. for a 2011 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award. The entire staff of Narragansett Bay Commission, led by Executive Director Raymond Marshall, was acknowledged by EPA's New England Office for exceptional work in operating and maintaining its wastewater treatment facility. The plant was among 3 specific...

Warwick, Rhode Island Sewer Authority Executive Director Acknowledged for Outstanding Service

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston-January 23, 2012) Janine Burke, Executive Director of the Warwick, Rhode Island Sewer Authority Treatment Plant was recently recognized with a "2011 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Excellence Award" by EPA. The E.P.A. Regional Wastewater awards plan acknowledges municipal personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England. The Rhode Island Department of E...

Connecticut University Achieves E.P.A. Recycling Challenge

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - Jan. 11, 2012) - Central Connecticut State University was among 5 schools nationwide to win the E.P.A. 2011 Game Day Challenge, a competition among colleges and universities nationwide with the goal of lowering waste generated at college football games and increasing participation in waste reduction programs. As part of the challenge, 7 schools in New England and in excess of 75 schools across the nation designed a waste reduction project for one 2011 re...

$372K in E.P.A. Grants Awarded to Enhance Health in New England Communities

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - 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 plans addressing environmental and public health issues. The plans funded through this plan will result in reduced environmental risk, protection and improvement of human health, and enhancements to the quality of life for communities across New England. The Healthy Comm...

E.P.A. Analysis Shows Decrease in 2010 Toxic Chemical Delivers in Rhode Island

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - Jan. 5, 2012) - EPA's most recent Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data is now accessible for the reporting year of 2010. TRI reporting provides Americans with vital information about their communities by publishing information on toxic chemical disposals and delivers into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. In Rhode Island, the reporting data show that ...

E.P.A. Reaches Settlement on Groundwater Cleanup at the Davis Liquid Waste Superfund Location ...

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0100

(Boston, Massachusetts - December 29, 2011) - The E.P.A. has reached a settlement with respect to the Davis Liquid Waste Superfund Location in Smithfield, R.I. Pursuant to the settlement, the Settling Defendants will implement the groundwater cleanup at the Site. They also will be financially responsible for 100 percent of future response costs, including oversight costs. The settlement arrangement was signed by multiple Settling Defendants, the EPA, the State of Rhode Island and the U.S. ...