Water Conservation and Efficiency

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Tetrachloroethylene (Perc)

2012-02-11T19:00:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Feb 10, 2012 1:27 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Tetrachloroethylene (Perc)
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 1:04 PM
Subject: News Release: EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Tetrachloroethylene (Perc)

CONTACT:
Latisha Petteway (News Media Only)
petteway.latisha@epa.gov
202-564-3191
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2012

EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Tetrachloroethylene (Perc)

Public health protections remain in place

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene – also known as perchloroethylene, or perc – to EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. Perc is a chemical solvent widely used in the dry cleaning industry. It is also used in the cleaning of metal machinery and to manufacture some consumer products and other chemicals. Confirming longstanding scientific understanding and research, the final assessment characterizes perc as a "likely human carcinogen." The assessment provides estimates for both cancer and non-cancer effects associated with exposure to perc over a lifetime.

EPA does not believe that wearing clothes dry cleaned with perc will result in exposures which pose a risk of concern. EPA has already taken several significant actions to reduce exposure to perc. EPA has clean air standards for dry cleaners that use perc, including requirements that will phase-out the use of perc by dry cleaners in residential buildings by December 21, 2020. EPA also set limits for the amount of perc allowed in drinking water and levels for cleaning up perc at Superfund sites throughout the country, which will be updated in light of the IRIS assessment.

"The perc health assessment released today will provide valuable information to help protect people and communities from exposure to perc in soil, water and air," said Paul Anastas, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "This assessment emphasizes the value of the IRIS database in providing strong science to support government officials as they make decisions to protect the health of the American people."

The toxicity values reported in the perc IRIS assessment will be considered in:

• Establishing cleanup levels at the hundreds of Superfund sites where perc is a contaminant
• Revising EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level for perc as part of the carcinogenic volatile organic compounds group in drinking water, as described in the agency's drinking water strategy
• Evaluating whether to propose additional limits on the emissions of perc into the atmosphere, since perc is considered a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act

The assessment replaces the 1988 IRIS assessment for perc and for the first time includes a hazard characterization for cancer effects. This assessment has undergone several levels of rigorous, independent peer review including: agency review, interagency review, public comment, and external peer review by the National Research Council. All major review comments have been addressed.

EPA continues to strengthen IRIS as part of an ongoing effort to ensure the best possible science is used to protect human health and the environment. In May 2009, EPA streamlined the IRIS process to increase transparency, ensure the timely publication of assessments, and reinforce independent review. In July 2011, EPA announced further changes to strengthen the IRIS program in response to recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences. EPA's peer review process is designed to elicit the strongest possible critique to ensure that each final IRIS assessment reflects sound, rigorous science.

More information on the perc IRIS assessment: http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0106.htm

More information on perc: http://epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/perchloroethylene_fact_sheet.html

More information on IRIS: http://www.epa.gov/IRIS

R016
#

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Releases New Tool with Information about Water Pollution

2012-02-08T12:10:00.001-05:00

Keeping tabs on contaminant exposure is getting simpler. Check out the updated EPA ECHO website.
AP

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Jan 25, 2012 3:28 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Releases New Tool with Information about Water Pollution Across the U.S.; Webinar Jan. 26
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 3:05 PM
Subject: News Release (HQ): EPA Releases New Tool with Information about Water Pollution Across the U.S.

CONTACT:
Stacy Kika
Kika.stacy@epa.gov
202-564-0906
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2012

EPA Releases New Tool with Information about Water Pollution Across the U.S.
EPA to host webinar on how to use tool to access information on pollutants released into local waterways

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a new tool that provides the public with important information about pollutants that are released into local waterways. Developed under President Obama's transparency initiative, the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool brings together millions of records and allows for easy searching and mapping of water pollution by local area, watershed, company, industry sector, and pollutant. Americans can use this new tool to protect their health and the health of their communities.

"Transparency leads to greater accountability and better information about pollution in our nation's communities," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "By making the data we collect available in easy to use tools, we are keeping Americans informed about the health of the environment in their neighborhoods."

Searches using the DMR Pollutant Loading Tool result in "top ten" lists to help users easily identify facilities and industries that are discharging the most pollution and impacted waterbodies. When discharges are above permitted levels, users can view the violations and link to details about enforcement actions that EPA and states have taken to address these violations.

Facilities releasing water pollution directly into our nation's waterways, such as wastewater treatment plants or industrial manufacturers, must receive a permit to discharge under the Clean Water Act. Each permit sets specific limits for how much can be discharged. It also requires the permittee to frequently sample their wastewater discharges and report the data to their state or EPA permitting authority.

A link to the new tool can be found on EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) website [ http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ ], which provides information about inspections, facility compliance, and state and federal enforcement actions. EPA has also released several new ECHO features, including a search for criminal enforcement cases and web developer tools that make it easy to tap into ECHO reports and maps.

Information about the webinar:
WHAT: A webinar to demonstrate how to use the new Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool.

WHO: Members of the media, non-profit organizations, industry, business, and citizens interested in learning how to use the tool are encouraged to participate.

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 10 a.m., Eastern Time

HOW: To participate, please use the following dial-in numbers.

Audio Contact Instruction:
(1) Dial the toll-free dial-in number: (866) 358 1366
(2) At the recorded prompt, enter the Conference Code (2025661014) and the "#" sign, using the telephone keypad.
(3) Wait for the Leader to join and the conference to begin.
(4) To disconnect, hang up the telephone.

To access the Webinar use GoToWebinar link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/192410536

*** YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO ACCESS THE WEBINAR***

DMR Pollutant Loading Tool: http://www.epa.gov/pollutantdischarges

ECHO: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo
More information about new features in ECHO: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/recent_additions.html

R011
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

Help needed

2012-02-07T14:43:00.001-05:00

U.S. News - Grand Canyon banning sales of bottled water
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10340196-grand-canyon-banning-sales-of-bottled-water

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Water Headlines for the week of January 30, 2012

2012-01-31T10:53:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Jan 31, 2012 9:46 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Water Headlines for the week of January 30, 2012
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Han [mailto:han.amy@epamail.epa.gov]
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 6:48 PM
Subject: [waterheadlines] Water Headlines for the week of January 30, 2012

Water Headlines for the week of January 30, 2012

Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water

Visit EPA's Water Is Worth It Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/EPAWaterIsWorthIt, and follow our Water Is Worth It tweets at http://twitter.com/epawater

In This Week's Water Headlines:

1) Office of Water Twitter Name Change
2) Water is Focus of Rachel Carson Intergenerational Contest
3) New Tool Provides Access to Water Pollution Data
4) Handbook to Help Water Utilities Plan for Sustainability
5) Listening Session to Focus on Consumer Confidence Report Rule
6) 2010-2011 Climate Change and Water Progress Report Available Online
7) First Community of Homes Earns WaterSense Label
[deletions]

1) Office of Water Twitter Name Change
On January 25, 2012, the Office of Water changed its Twitter name to @EPAwater. Be sure to follow @EPAwater on Twitter for the latest water news, activities, opportunities and resources. Share your thoughts and experiences as we explore the many ways that water is worth it at: http://twitter.com/epawater

2) Water is Focus of Rachel Carson Intergenerational Contest
EPA invites the public to submit creative projects to the 6th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" contest. There are four categories: photography, essay, poetry and dance. This year, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the contest will focus on a "Sense of Water." Contest submissions are encouraged to focus on the various properties of water - how it sounds, feels, tastes and looks - and what water means to the entrants.

The deadline for entries is June 1, 2012, and winners will be announced in September 2012. A panel of judges will select finalists in each category, and the winners will be determined by a public online vote that will begin in August 2012. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm.

3) New Tool Provides Access to Water Pollution Data
EPA announced the release of a new tool that provides the public with important information about pollutants that are released into local waterways. The discharge monitoring report pollutant loading tool brings together millions of records and allows for easy searching and mapping of water pollution by local area, watershed, company, industry sector and pollutant. The public can use this new tool to protect their health and the health of their communities.

Searches using the pollutant loading tool result in "top 10" lists to help users easily identify facilities and industries that are discharging the most pollution and impacted waterbodies. When discharges are above permitted levels, users can view the violations and link to details about enforcement actions that EPA and states have taken to address these violations.

Facilities releasing water pollution directly into our nation's waterways, such as wastewater treatment plants or industrial manufacturers, must receive a permit to discharge under the Clean Water Act. Each permit sets specific limits for how much can be discharged. It also requires the permittee to frequently sample their wastewater discharges and report the data to their state or EPA permitting authority.

The tool is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pollutantdischarges

4) Handbook to Help Water Utilities Plan for Sustainability
EPA has released a comprehensive handbook to help water sector utilities build sustainability considerations into their planning. "Planning for Sustainability: A Handbook for Water and Wastewater Utilities" will help utilities ensure that water infrastructure projects across the nation, including those funded through the state revolving fund programs, are sustainable and support the long-term sustainability of the communities these utilities serve.

The handbook represents an important milestone in EPA's ongoing efforts to help ensure the sustainability of the nation's water infrastructure based on the Agency's clean water and safe drinking water infrastructure sustainability policy, which was issued in September 2010. In developing the handbook, EPA worked closely with a number of utility and state program managers around the country. The handbook describes four core elements where utilities can explicitly build sustainability considerations into their existing planning processes. Each element contains relevant examples from utilities around the country and other implementation tips for utilities to consider. For additional information and to view a copy of the handbook, please visit: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/sustainable_systems.cfm.

5) Listening Session to Focus on Consumer Confidence Report Rule
EPA will be holding a public meeting via the Internet on February 23, 2012, to obtain stakeholder input on the consumer confidence report rule as part of the Agency's retrospective review of existing regulations. EPA plans to discuss electronic delivery of the reports, resource implications for implementing report delivery certification, use of reports to meet public notification requirements, and how contaminant levels are reported in the consumer confidence reports. EPA invites the public to participate in this information exchange on the consumer confidence report rule. Registration information is found below.

The consumer confidence report is an annual water quality report that a community water system is required to provide to its customers each year. The report lists the regulated contaminants found in the drinking water, as well as health effects information related to violations of the drinking water standards. More information on these reports can be accessed on EPA's website at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/index.cfm

Individuals planning on participating in the listening session must register for the meeting at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/396514342

Individuals planning on participating in the web dialogue discussions must join the community at http://CCRRetrospectiveReview.ideascale.com. The web dialogue will be available from February 23, 2012, to March 9, 2012, for the public to share and post comments on the dialogue.

For more information please email CCRRetrospectiveReview@epa.gov.

6) 2010-2011 Climate Change and Water Progress Report Available Online
EPA has released the "U.S. EPA National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change 2010 - 2011 National and Regional Highlights of Progress." This is the third and final progress report covering the 2008 version of EPA's climate change strategy. Future annual progress reports will reflect activities related to the 2012 version that is under development. The progress report highlights the accomplishments of EPA's water programs during 2010 and 2011, and touches upon EPA activities and efforts undertaken across headquarters, regions, and the large aquatic ecosystem programs to address climate change impacts on our water programs. The report is available at: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/climatechange/implementation.cfm.

7) First Community of Homes Earns WaterSense Label
On January 25, 2012, the zHome community in Issaquah, Wash. was acknowledged as the first community of homes in the nation in which every home had earned the WaterSense label. In addition to the homes each earning the WaterSense label, the community has also received the Forest Stewardship Council's 2011 award for the best residential project in North America. WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services.

To learn more, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/new_homes/zhome.html. For the full press release: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/EE79C979798335AF85257990006206D6
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis

2012-01-05T14:03:00.001-05:00

Toxic chemical releases into surface water increased 9 percent and releases into land increased 28 percent since 2009....

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Jan 5, 2012 1:10 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 1:05 PM
Subject: News Release: EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis

CONTACT:
Latisha Petteway (News Media Only)
petteway.latisha@epa.gov
202-564-3191
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2012

EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its annual national analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), providing all Americans with vital information about their communities. The TRI program publishes information on toxic chemical disposals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. Total releases including disposals for the latest reporting year, 2010, are higher than the previous two years but lower than 2007 and prior year totals. Many of the releases from TRI facilities are regulated under various EPA programs and requirements designed to limit human and environmental harm.


"We will continue to put accessible, meaningful information in the hands of the American people. Widespread public access to environmental information is fundamental to the work EPA does every day," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "TRI is a cornerstone of EPA's community-right-to-know programs and has played a significant role in protecting people's health and the environment by providing communities with valuable information on toxic chemical releases."

Citizens have a right to know what toxic chemicals are being released into their communities. Over the past 25 years, the TRI program has helped citizens, emergency planners, public health officials, and others protect human health and the environment by providing them with toxic chemical release and other waste management data they need to make decisions that affect the safety and welfare of their communities.

The 2010 TRI data show that 3.93 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment nationwide, a 16 percent increase from 2009. The increase is mainly due to changes in the metal mining sector, which typically involves large facilities handling large volumes of material. In this sector, even a small change in the chemical composition of the ore being mined -- which EPA understands is one of the reasons for the increase in total reported releases -- may lead to big changes in the amount of toxic chemicals reported nationally. Several other sectors also reported increases in toxic releases in 2010, including the chemical and primary metals industries.

Total air releases decreased 6 percent since 2009, continuing a trend seen over the past several years. Releases into surface water increased 9 percent and releases into land increased 28 percent since 2009, again due primarily to the metal mining sector.

EPA has improved this year's TRI national analysis report by adding new information on facility efforts to reduce pollution and by considering whether economic factors could have affected the TRI data. With this report and EPA's Web-based TRI tools, citizens can access information about the toxic chemical releases into the air, water, and land that occur locally. Finally, EPA's first mobile application for accessing TRI data, myRTK, is now available in Spanish, as are expanded Spanish translations of national analysis documents and Web pages.

TRI data is submitted annually to EPA and states by multiple industry sectors including manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste facilities. Facilities must report their toxic chemical releases to EPA under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) by July 1st of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires information on waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.

More on the 2010 TRI analysis and TRI Web-based tools: http://www.epa.gov/tri

More on myRTK: http://www.epa.gov/tri/myrtk/

R002
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?

2011-12-29T15:32:00.001-05:00

If you're not doing something to use water more efficiently, you are a part of the problem.
Water conservation isn't in the forefront of the minds of most people and that is fine as long as you do something sometimes. Every drop counts and no effort is to little; in fact any effort is better than no effort.
Improving water efficiency doesn't mean you have to spend money or get elaborate in your efforts. In fact some of the most effective actions are absolutely free. That's right, you can do simple things everyday and it doesn't cost anothing. What can you do? Stop taking water for granted and change some habits. It really is just that simple.
As citizens it is our responsibility to use water wisely in our daily lives. In fact its not even just about how we use water, but how we use power, food, vehicles, etc, etc. Every aspect of how we live our lives, everyday, impacts global fresh water resources.
Remember; every drop counts, and no effort is to little. Do what you can, when you, while you can and tell others to do the same.

I am always interested in hearing about water saving ideas that have worked for others so don't be bashful; share your efforts and successes with others and let me know what you do to help save water.

Here is a tip to help get you started with something that can make a huge impact on a growing global crisis; stop buying bottled water!

Check out my latest audioboo @ Water Matters with AquaPro

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy New Year,
AP

Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo contain known carcinogens

2011-12-15T14:07:00.001-05:00

Parents Alert; please read the following World Wire Report regarding baby shampoo from Johnson & Johnson.
AP

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "WORLD-WIRE@ens-news.net" <WORLD-WIRE@ens-news.net>
Date: Dec 15, 2011 1:51 PM
Subject: Multiple Carcinogens in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo
To: <aquapro@askaquapro.com>

Multiple Carcinogens in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo

CHICAGO, IL, December 15, 2011 –/WORLD-WIRE/– The Cancer
Prevention Coalition today congratulated the Campaign for Safe
Cosmetics for securing a 11/15/11 agreement with Johnson & Johnson
"for reducing or gradually phasing out – trace amounts of
potentially cancer-causing chemicals" from Baby Shampoo, "one of
its signature products." However, this agreement is limited and
restricted to the U.S. market.

"There are two carcinogenic ingredients in Johnson & Johnson's
Baby Shampoo, dioxane and quaternium 15," says Samuel S. Epstein,
M.D., who chairs the Cancer Prevention Coalition.

"Dioxane is a well-recognized contaminant in alcohol ethoxylates, a
group of four ingredients, laureths, oleths, polyethylene glycol and
polysorbates," Dr. Epstein explains. "Quaternium 15 is a precursor
of two carcinogens, formaldehyde and nitrosamine. Johnson & Johnson
has committed to "reducing or gradual phasing out" dioxane and
quaternium-15 in their U.S., but not in their international,
products."

However limited, Dr. Epstein finds Johnson & Johnson's response to
be "in sharp and disturbing contrast to the silence of the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)."

This federal agency has still failed to enforce the explicit
requirements of the 1938 Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, Dr.
Epstein points out. This directs the FDA to require that "the label
of a cosmetic product shall bear a warning statement to prevent a
health hazard that may be associated with the product."

The regulatory failure of the FDA extends to its failure to respond to
the Cancer Prevention Coalition's extensively documented 1996
Citizen Petition "Seeking A Cancer Warning On Cosmetic Products
Containing (the carcinogen) Diethanolamine," says Dr. Epstein.

He says the FDA's regulatory failure extends still further to the
Coalition's 2008 Petition, "Seeking A (ovarian) Cancer Warning On
Talc Products Used By Premenopausal for Women's Genital Dusting."

Both Petitions, endorsed by leading cancer prevention experts,
requested the FDA to ban or suspend approval of these products which
still pose an "Imminent Hazard," or minimally to require their
labeling with a "Caution" or other such warning. However, the FDA
has still failed to respond.

"Concerns on the cancer risks of talc, dioxane, formaldehyde,
nitrosamine, and ethylene oxide, besides other prohibited and
restricted carcinogenic ingredients in cosmetics and personal care
products, are not new," Dr. Epstein says. "They were detailed in
my 2001 "Unreasonable Risk: How To Avoid Cancer From Cosmetics and
Personal Care Products," and 2009 "Healthy Beauty" books."

As published in the February 25, 2011 Science Insider editorial,
"Advancing Regulatory Science," FDA Commissioner, Dr. Margaret
Hamburg, claimed that FDA's regulations must be based on "better
predictive models – functional genomics, proteomics, and
metabolomics," rather than "high dose animal
studies – unchanged for decades."

"Dr. Hamburg's dismissal of standard carcinogenicity tests is
bizarre," says Dr. Epstein. "Their scientific validity has been
endorsed by other Federal regulatory agencies, the National Toxicology
Program, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, besides the
April 2010 President's Cancer Panel."

"Furthermore, as stipulated in the 1938 Federal Food Drug and
Cosmetic Act, the FDA is charged with regulating food, drugs, and
cosmetics based on standard toxicology and carcinogenicity tests.
Moreover, the FDA is not charged with, let alone capable of developing
irrelevant 'tests that incorporate the mechanistic underpinnings of
disease,'" Dr. Epstein points out.

As warned by Senator Edward Kennedy at the 1997 Senate Hearings on the
FDA Reform Bill, "The cosmetics industry has borrowed a page from
the playbook of the tobacco industry by putting profits ahead of
public health."

Dr. Epstein emphasizes, "This warning remains current."

Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. is professor emeritus of Environmental and
Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School
of Public Health; Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition; and
former President of the Rachel Carson Trust. His awards include the
1998 Right Livelihood Award and the 2005 Albert Schweitzer Golden
Grand Medal for International Contributions to Cancer Prevention. He
is the author of over 270 scientific articles and 20 books on the
causes and prevention of cancer, including the Unreasonable Risk Book:
How To Avoid Cancer from Cosmetics and Personal Care Products, The
Neways Story (2001, Environmental Toxicology), the groundbreaking The
Politics of Cancer (1979, Doubleday Books), Healthy Beauty: Your Guide
to Ingredients to Avoid and Products You Can Trust (2010, BenBella
Books), and National Cancer Institute And American Cancer Society:
Criminal Indifference to Cancer Prevention and Conflicts of Interest
(2011, Xlibris Publishing).

CONTACT:

Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.

Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition

Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine

University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health

Chicago, Illinois

Tel: 312-996-2297

Email: epstein@uic.edu <javascript:location.href=>

http://www.preventcancer.com

Join CPC on Facebook

--
If you do not wish to receive this newswire anymore please click here,
http://ens-news.net/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=1ad7443eff6dc40cca6b95df3a6a3a11

To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit
http://ens-news.net/lists/?p=preferences&uid=1ad7443eff6dc40cca6b95df3a6a3a11
If you want to share ENS news you may forward an edition to someone
http://ens-news.net/lists/?p=forward&uid=1ad7443eff6dc40cca6b95df3a6a3a11&mid=537

--
Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com --

ENVIRO-NEWS: Members Named to 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Federal Advisory Committee

2011-12-09T20:02:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Dec 9, 2011 4:27 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] Members Named to 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Federal Advisory Committee
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

USDA
Release No. 0510.11
Contact:
Adam Fetcher, DOI, (202) 208-6416
Jim Brownlee, USDA (202) 720-4623

Members Named to 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Federal Advisory Committee

Advisory committee will help build foundation for next generation of conservationists

WASHINGTON, December 8, 2011 - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced an important step in the creation of a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), an organization called for in President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Report. Secretaries Salazar and Vilsack named members of a newly-established federal advisory committee that will provide recommendations on how to build on the important ongoing work of local, state, federal and non-profit youth conservation corps that engage young Americans in hands-on service and job training experiences on public lands and open spaces.

21CSC will empower young people - including low-income, underserved and diverse youth and returning veterans - with valuable training and work experience, while accomplishing important conservation and restoration work for America's great outdoors, waterways and cultural heritage sites.

"The 21st Century Conservation Service Corps will be a way for our nation's young people to work on conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives that drive America's economy and to find new ways to connect to their communities and build their careers," Salazar said. "The conservation-service movement is steeped in rich history dating back to the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. I am confident that this committee of dedicated individuals with vast experience in conservation, outdoor recreation and youth employment will create a system to train and employ the next generation of conservationists."

The committee - composed of representatives of the nation's conservation, service and workforce development groups along with representatives from federal agencies - will provide Salazar and Vilsack advice on a framework for the Conservation Service Corps' organizational structure; certification criteria for Corps providers and members; strategies to overcome existing barriers to successful program implementation; partnership opportunities with outside organizations and pathways for Corps participants to pursue future conservation, community engagement and natural resource careers.

"We heard from people across the country about the importance and urgency of connecting our young people with America's Great Outdoors," said Secretary Vilsack. "Providing meaningful work opportunities on our public lands will help youth gain important skills, develop our next generation of conservation stewards, and accomplish needed work related to our natural and cultural resources. This committee will help the Federal Government to work more effectively and efficiently with our partners to accomplish these goals."

Today's announcement builds on the promise made to the American public during the America's Great Outdoors listening sessions to take their recommendations and move them forward, as well as Secretary Salazar's initiative to establish youth employment and education as a priority for Interior by creating the Office of Youth in the Great Outdoors. Interior is the only federal agency to have a Secretarial-level office dedicated to providing Department-wide leadership, coordination, direction and oversight of youth employment and education programs.

Public lands managed by Interior draw more than 400 million visits a year. According to some recent non-governmental estimates, outdoor recreation, conservation and heritage initiatives support as many as 8.4 million jobs and provide as much as $1 trillion in annual economic benefits. Additionally, one in twenty U.S. jobs are in the recreation economy - more than there are doctors, lawyers, or teachers.

The Secretaries announced the appointment of the following individuals - whose terms begin immediately - to serve on the council.

Mary Ellen Ardouny (The Corps Network)
Henry Bruell (Southwest Conservation Corps)
Michael Collins (REI)
Dr. Quenton Dokken (Gulf of Mexico Foundation)
Laura Herrin (The Student Conservation Association)
Destry Jarvis (Private Consultant)
Na'Taki Osborne Jelks (The National Wildlife Federation)
David Muraki (California Conservation Corps)
Glenn Odenbrett (Great Lakes Education Network)
Daniella Pereira (City of New York Parks and Recreation)
Lee Ramsayer (Monster Worldwide)
Jerrad Schendel (Green Development Coalition)
Dana Valdez (Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks)
Charles Van Genderen (Montana Wildlife and Parks)
Carol Ann Wren (Cook Inlet Tribal Council)
Myra Blakely (Environmental Protection Agency)
Michael Ensch (Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Meryl Harrell (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Justin Johnson (Office of Personnel Management)
Melissa Koenigsberg (U.S. Department of the Interior)
Asim Mishra (Corporation for National and Community Service)
Brian Pawlak (Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

The official Charter for the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Advisory Committee can be found on the 21CSC AC website: www.doi.gov/21CSC

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (Voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

#
[USDA news releases are available in the "Newsroom" section at
http://www.usda.gov/ .]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: Strategy for Reversing Ecosystem Deterioration in the Gulf of Mexico

2011-12-05T11:59:00.000-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Dec 5, 2011 11:33 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] Strategy for Reversing Deterioration of Gulf Ecosystem
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 9:43 AM
Subject: News Release (HQ): Task Force Established by President Obama Releases Final Strategy for Reversing Deterioration of Gulf Ecosystem

CONTACT:
Alisha Johnson
Johnson.alisha@epa.gov
202-564-4373

Jody Fagan
USDA Gulf of Mexico Initiative
202-720-3210

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2011

Task Force Established by President Obama Releases Final Strategy for Reversing Deterioration of Gulf Ecosystem

USDA $50 million financial assistance for restoration projects announced as Task Force efforts shift from planning to action

WASHINGTON – The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force today released its final strategy for long term ecosystem restoration for the Gulf Coast, following extensive feedback from citizens throughout the region. EPA Administrator and Task Force Chair Lisa P. Jackson, partnering with Task Force Co-Chair Garret Graves, made the announcement today during keynote remarks at the 2011 State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit in Houston. Administrator Jackson was joined by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman and several other Task Force members.

The Task Force delivered the final strategy on Friday, Dec. 2 to President Barack Obama, who established the Task Force by executive order, to continue the Administration's ongoing commitment to the Gulf region. The group is made up of representatives from the five Gulf States and 11 federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, White House Council on Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Science and Technology Policy and White House Domestic Policy Council.

The strategy is the first restoration blueprint ever developed for the Gulf to include input from states, tribes, federal agencies, local governments and thousands of involved citizens and organizations across the region. The plan represents a commitment by all parties to continue to work together in an unprecedented collaboration to prepare the Gulf region to transition from response to recovery and address the decades-long decline that the Gulf's ecosystem has endured.

"After the Deepwater Horizon disaster, this Task Force brought together people from across the Gulf Coast in unparalleled ways to talk about how we tackle both the immediate environmental devastation, as well as the long-term deterioration that has for decades threatened the health, the environment and the economy of the people who call this place home. It has all come to this moment – when we move from planning and researching to supporting real, homegrown actions aimed at restoring this vital ecosystem," said Administrator Jackson.

With the release of the final strategy today, the Task Force marks the beginning of the implementation phase of the strategy by announcing new initiatives, including $50 million in assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service to help agricultural producers in seven Gulf Coast river basins improve water quality, increase water conservation and enhance wildlife habitat.

USDA's multi-year environmental restoration effort, known as the Gulf of Mexico Initiative, or GoMI, represents a 1,100% increase in financial assistance for Gulf priority watersheds.

"Restoring the Gulf Coast ecosystem needs to begin immediately and USDA's assistance is an important first step in placing the Task Force strategy into action", said USDA Under Secretary Harris Sherman. "This collaborative voluntary effort will leverage contributions and commitments from farmers, communities, and all levels of government to improve water quality. A healthy water supply is not only vital for the people of the Gulf, but also for the estuaries, fisheries, and wildlife that are the foundation of the local economy."

The Task Force has also begun reviewing existing policy, program and regulatory issues that are slowing down restoration progress, particularly in the habitat restoration area. The Task Force will continue to explore innovative ways to implement restoration, measure success and support the restoration with science.

Additionally, the Task Force will also open a local office, headed by Task Force Executive Director John Hankinson, in the Gulf Coast in mid-December.

Representatives from across the Gulf voiced their support for the work of the Task Force.

"To ensure the future health of the Gulf, its economy, and its residents, the nation must start the work of creating a sustainably healthy and productive landscape and seascape – not only stopping the ongoing degradation but beginning the process of reversing that which has already occurred" said Senator Bob Graham and William K. Reilly, Co-Chairs of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. "Working with the people of the Gulf, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force has undertaken the challenge of developing an ecosystem restoration strategy to guide the long term collaboration necessary to reverse the trend of environmental degradation in the Gulf. The country needs to make the commitments called for. And it needs to make them now."

"The Task Force went to great lengths to involve local leaders in the fact finding process leading up to the release of the report" said Mayor Randy Roach of Lake Charles, Louisiana. "When you read the report it is obvious that they listened to what they heard and addressed our concerns in a very straightforward manner. This report is an important document that outlines the challenges of recovery and the opportunities we have to develop a true intergovernmental approach to address the needs and interests of the people of the Gulf Coast region."

"The Task Force's Strategy clearly recognizes the critical importance of the Gulf natural resources to our regional economy and workforce," said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. "In partnership with all Gulf Coast states and several federal agencies and with full input from key parties throughout the region the Task Force has detailed a specific list of coastal restoration priorities that protects the businesses and individual livelihoods along the coast and across the country, in the fishing, shipping, energy production and tourism industries, that are reliant upon a vital Gulf coast."

"For the first time in man's history on earth, what we do, can and will determine the fate of one of the world's great treasures. The choice is ours", said Dr. Larry McKinney, Executive Director of the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The natural resources of the Gulf's ecosystem are vital to many of the region's industries that directly support economic progress and job creation, including tourism and recreation, seafood production and sales, energy production and navigation and commerce. Among the key priorities of the strategy are:

1) Stopping the Loss of Critical Wetlands, Sand Barriers and Beaches
The strategy recommends placing ecosystem restoration on an equal footing with historic uses such as navigation and flood damage reduction by approaching water resource management decisions in a far more comprehensive manner that will bypass harm to wetlands, barrier islands and beaches. The strategy also recommends implementation of several congressionally authorized projects in the Gulf that are intended to reverse the trend of wetlands loss.

2) Reducing the Flow of Excess Nutrients into the Gulf
The strategy calls for working in the Gulf and upstream in the Mississippi watershed to reduce the flow of excess nutrients into the Gulf by supporting state nutrient reduction frameworks, new nutrient reduction approaches, and targeted watershed work to reduce agricultural and urban sources of excess nutrients.

3) Enhancing Resiliency among Coastal Communities
The strategy calls for enhancing the quality of life of Gulf residents by working in partnership with the Gulf with coastal communities. The strategy specifically recommends working with each of the States to build the integrated capacity needed through effective coastal improvement plans to better secure the future of their coastal communities and to implement existing efforts underway.

The final strategy was developed following more than 40 public meetings throughout the Gulf to listen to the concerns of the public. To review the final strategy, please visit: www.epa.gov/gulfcoasttaskforce

R355
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

Heads Up: All cell phone numbers will go public this month

2011-11-30T13:34:00.001-05:00

All cell phone numbers are to be “made public” which means being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls! To prevent this onslaught of unwanted solicitations and use of cell phone “minutes”, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
The number is the National DO NOT CALL registry list. It will only take a minute of your time. This “opt out” system will protect your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have in the do not call registry database.

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON.

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Climate Change and Water News

2011-11-09T12:42:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Nov 9, 2011 11:56 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Climate Change and Water News
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: water_climate_change@epa.gov [mailto:water_climate_change@epa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 5:37 PM
Subject: EPA Climate Change and Water News

EPA Climate Change and Water News

U.S. EPA News

Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force Releases 2011 Progress Report: Federal Actions for a Climate Resilient Nation

The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force has released a report outlining the federal government's progress in expanding and strengthening U.S. capacity to better understand, prepare for, and respond to extreme events and other climate change impacts. The report provides an update on actions in key areas of federal adaptation, including: building resilience in local communities, safeguarding critical natural resources such as freshwater, and providing accessible climate information and tools to help decision-makers manage climate risks. This report follows the Task Force's October 2010 Progress Report to the President that recommended that the federal government strengthen the Nation's capacity to better understand and manage climate-related risks. To read the press release, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/28/taking-action-protect-our-nation-climate-change-impacts .
To view the 2011 Progress Report, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ceq/2011_adaptation_progress_report.pdf .

EPA Posts Presentations from Consequences of Global Climate Change: Water Quality Impacts, Ecological Impacts & Nonlinear Responses Meeting Online

EPA's National Center for Environmental Research, Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grantees gathered on September 20-22, 2011 to discuss and present the objectives, approaches, and plans for their new research projects. A quantitative investigation was taken up by researchers on how climate change, climate variability and land use change: (1) influences the establishment, abundance and distribution of invasive species; (2) interacts with invasive species to create feedbacks that increase their success; (3) interacts with invasive species to cause threshold responses in natural and managed systems; or (4) affects the chemical, biological and mechanical management of invasive species. The challenge to assemble modeling systems capable of capturing important linkages between regional climate drivers and terrestrial hydrologic systems and to apply these modeling systems to improve the overall understanding of the sensitivity of key water

quality of aquatic ecosystem management targets to the types of climate changes anticipated over the next several decades was the basis of several investigators research. The presentations are now online and can be viewed at: http://epa.gov/ncer/events/news/2011/09_20_11_calendar.html .

Other Federal Agency News

White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Releases the Final National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate

In October 2010, the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force published a Progress Report to the President identifying freshwater resources as a priority area for greater attention. In June 2011, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released a draft "National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate," for public review and comment. CEQ has now released the final plan, taking into account public comment. The final national action plan is to be used as the foundation for federal agency efforts to manage freshwater resources as the climate changes. It is designed to help freshwater resource managers assure adequate water supplies, safeguard water quality and aquatic ecosystems, and protect human life, health and property. To read the press release, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/28/taking-action-protect-our-nation-climate-change-impacts . To access the report, visit:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ceq/2011_national_action_plan.pdf .

U.S. Department of the Interior Releases Report: Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States

This report assesses the status of scientific information available to help understand the impacts of climate change and other stressors on U.S. freshwater resources and calls for modernization of systems to help monitor and sustain water supplies. The report also reviews the state of existing science and identifies strategies for improving systems to collect climate-related data and water monitoring information. The improvements are intended to help water managers predict, respond and adapt to the effects of climate change on the nation's freshwater supplies so that they can help ensure adequate water quantity and quality. The report was prepared by a federal interagency panel led by the U.S. Geological Survey and in conjunction with the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To view the full report, visit:

http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=260567 .

Other News

Ceres Develops New Tool - The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management

The Aqua Gauge introduces a new framework and tool for assessing corporate water risk management. The tool was developed through collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Irbaris, and IRRC Institute in consultation with representatives from over 50 financial institutions, companies, and NGOs. The Ceres Aqua GaugeTM builds on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability, and focuses on governance and management, stakeholder engagement and disclosure. This flexible Excel-based tool allows investors to score a company's water management activities against detailed definitions of leading practice. The tool also benefits companies by giving them a resource to inform and strengthen their own water management strategies. Designed to enable both rapid and more comprehensive analysis, the Aqua Gauge gives investors the option to assess the company against a short list - or "Quick Gauge" - of core management practices appropriate to the company's risk prof!
ile as well as assessing a comprehensive set of corporate-level practices that provide a more detailed picture of the company's water management approach. To learn more and to download the tool, visit: http://www.ceres.org/issues/water/aqua-gauge/aqua-gauge .

Syracuse University to Host Growing Green Infrastructure in New York on November 16 - 17, 2011 in Syracuse, NY

This two-day series of events consists of professional development trainings, tours of green infrastructure sites, and a full-day conference on November 17, 2011 with panels, speakers and sessions on green infrastructure in the Northeast. Additional information and registration is available at: http://efc.syracusecoe.org/efc/events.html?skuvar=32 .

California Governor Plans Climate Conference in San Francisco, CA on December 15, 2011

Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies will be the focus of a conference that California Governor Jerry Brown has planned for December 15, 2011 in San Francisco. The California Natural Resources Agency is expected to unveil the agenda for the program, which will be held at the California Academy of Sciences next week. In 2009, the agency released a climate adaptation strategy for the state summarizing potential climate impacts and recommending steps the state can take to manage those threats. More recently, the agency and the California Energy Commission released a web-based climate change adaptation tool, Cal-Adapt, local planning agencies, governments, and the public can use to identify potential climate change risks in specific areas of the state. Cal-Adapt is available at: http://cal-adapt.org .

National Academies to Host Workshop: A National Strategy for Advancing Climate Modeling April 27 - 28, 2011 at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado

Climate models are the foundation for understanding and projecting climate and climate-related changes and are thus critical tools for supporting climate-related decision making. This workshop will discuss developing a national strategy for advancing climate modeling over the next 10-20 years and will draw upon input from leaders within the community to deeply understand these challenges and to gather ideas for how to begin to face them. If you are interested in attending the sessions that are open to the public or would like more information, visit:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingId=5024 .

________________________________________
EPA Climate Change and Water News is produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). For more information on EPA's climate change activities, visit http://epa.gov/climatechange. For an overview of climate change and water issues, visit http://www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange.

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Announces Final Study Plan to Assess Hydraulic Fracturing/Congressionally directed study will evaluate potential impacts on drinking water

2011-11-08T06:54:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Nov 7, 2011 2:27 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Announces Final Study Plan to Assess Hydraulic Fracturing/Congressionally directed study will evaluate potential impacts on drinking water
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 11:10 AM
Subject: News Release: EPA Announces Final Study Plan to Assess Hydraulic Fracturing/Congressionally directed study will evaluate potential impacts on drinking water

CONTACT:
Cathy Milbourn
milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
202-564-7849
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2011
EPA Announces Final Study Plan to Assess Hydraulic Fracturing

Congressionally directed study will evaluate potential impacts on drinking water

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its final research plan on hydraulic fracturing. At the request of Congress, EPA is working to better understand potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Natural gas plays a key role in our nation's clean energy future and the Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that we continue to leverage this vital resource responsibly.

In March 2010, EPA announced its intention to conduct the study in response to a request from Congress. Since then, the agency has held a series of public meetings across the nation to receive input from states, industry, environmental and public health groups, and individual citizens. In addition, the study was reviewed by the Science Advisory Board (SAB), an independent panel of scientists, to ensure the agency conducted the research using a scientifically sound approach.

The initial research results and study findings will be released to the public in 2012. The final report will be delivered in 2014. To ensure that the study is complete and results are available to the public in a timely manner, EPA initiated some activities this summer that were supported by the SAB and provide a foundation for the full study.

The final study plan looks at the full cycle of water in hydraulic fracturing, from the acquisition of the water, through the mixing of chemicals and actual fracturing, to the post-fracturing stage, including the management of flowback and produced or used water as well as its ultimate treatment and disposal. Earlier this year, EPA announced its selection of locations for five retrospective and two prospective case studies.

This administration continues to take steps to ensure that we can rely on this abundant resource for decades to come, including taking steps to fully understand any impacts related to the development of this resource. This study is in line with the priorities identified in the president's Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, and is consistent with the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board recommendations on steps to support the safe development of natural gas resources.

More information: www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing

R325

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

Important changes pending for EPA WaterSense "New Home Specifications"

2011-10-25T20:37:00.000-04:00

Visit WaterSense

WaterSense is announcing its intent to modify certain aspects of the WaterSense single-family new homes specification. WaterSense periodically revisits its specifications and may modify or revise the specification as new information becomes available, new technologies come to market or market conditions change. WaterSense believes there is an opportunity to expand program water savings by taking advantage of improvements in construction forecasts for the multi-family housing sector.

With this notification of intent (NOI), WaterSense outlines several modifications to the specification currently under consideration including: expanding the scope of the specification so that some types of multi-family buildings will qualify for the WaterSense label, modifying the landscape design options, and addressing other minor technical issues.

In addition to describing the potential modifications, the NOI describes technical issues that still need to be more fully defined and resolved. If you have comments, information or suggestions on these issues please contact us at: watersense-homes@erg.com. Currently, WaterSense is only considering modifications to the issues outlined in the NOI. To view the NOI, please visit www.epa.gov/watersense/nhspecs/homes_final.html.

For any questions regarding the WaterSense program in general, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or e-mail watersense@epa.gov.

Because Water Matters

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com
www.AquaProSolutions.com
Aqua Environmental Resource Center
www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com

And the leak goes on and on and on

2011-10-25T20:21:00.000-04:00

And the leak goes on, and on, and on!

Readers may recall a story posted in February 2010 wherein I attempted to bring attention to the challenges of Asheville’s aging Asheville water distribution system infrastructure. The story focused on a particular section of large diameter iron pipe with lead packed joint seals. This pipe is part of the primary water distribution system that transmits water from the North Fork and or Bee Tree reservoirs to Asheville and beyond.

In my previous reporting the visible water leak from this pipe was calculated at approximately 200,000 gallons per year. During my most recent inspection, on September 5th 2011, I again found a leak, considerably worse than I had seen during any of my prior inspections. The current rate of leak was measures at approximately 650,000 gallons per year or 1780 gallons per 24 hour period. On September 4th 2011, I measured the rate of leak at approximately 630,000 gallons per year. Clearly the leak is worsening on a daily basis. Keep in mind the rate of leakage increase as water usage diminishes at night which and pressure builds within the system.

Asheville 's water maintenance department has again been alerted of the condition and they will certainly act to address the leak. The effort will likely be no more than previous, which is to re-pack the existing lead seal rather than replace the failing pipe joint. During the 8 years that I have been monitoring the section of piping, this routine has played out several times, and each time the leak has resumed worse than the previous. This type of repair is a temporary fix and will not last; the leak will reoccur with a couple months. Sections of Asheville’s antiquated system can not accommodate the pressures necessary to meet growing consumer demands.

As this system continues to age, the risk of catastrophic failure rises. If we take into consideration the added potential stresses caused by recent movements in Eastern fault lines that have been quite for decades, our worry is even greater. Asheville’s 10 year strategic plan does not include replacement of this failing water distribution infrastructure. Surely Asheville has this in their Planned Obsolescence Strategy? Even if this necessary upgrade were in their plan, current financial conditions would almost certainly prevent implementation for many years to come. Catastrophic failure is likely to be the catalyst that will bring about upgrading Asheville’s failing water system.

I wonder if they are better prepared for such an occurrence than they were when flooding of Asheville occurred in September 2004. The severity of the flooding that occurred in 2004 was due to the failure of a primary transmission line that draws from the North Fork reservoir. Emergency release of water from the reservoir washed washed away a section of this very old pipe. As I recall the majority of Asheville residents were without water for a more than week. The reason it took so long to repair the pipe was due to a lack of available materials due to it’s age. Does Asheville have a stock of materials to make emergency repairs to this section of piping when we have the next catastrophic failure?

AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
www.AquaEnvi.org
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Climate Change and Water News

2011-10-06T16:56:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Oct 6, 2011 4:50 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Climate Change and Water News
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: water_climate_change@epa.gov [mailto:water_climate_change@epa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 4:04 PM
Subject: EPA Climate Change and Water News

EPA Climate Change and Water News

U.S. EPA News

U.S. EPA Releases Report: An Assessment of Decision-Making Processes: Evaluation of Where Land Protection Planning can Incorporate Climate Change Information

This report, prepared by the Global Change Research Program (GCRP) in the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the U.S. EPA, is a review of decision-making processes of selected land protection programs. The goal of this report is to assess the feasibility of incorporating climate change impacts into the evaluation of these programs. The assessment revealed that there are several strategies that might be useful for incorporating climate change into decision making. As part of a portfolio of adaptation strategies, land protection may become more important for jurisdictions, particularly to ameliorate climate change impacts on watersheds and wildlife. To view the report, visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/global/recordisplay.cfm?deid=238091 . To view the Federal Register notice, visit: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-22/html/2011-24365.htm .

U.S. EPA Releases Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan 2011

The Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan 2011 is a collaborative product of the EPA and State and Federal partners, with input from non-governmental organizations. State partners include both the Association of Clean Water Administrators and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The Action Plan presents a clear, consistent framework for action, both internally among EPA's own programs and externally in working with partners. The Action Plan describes the HWI, including its vision, guiding principles, goals and objectives; and presents an implementation framework for actions by EPA and States. To view the Action Plan, please visit: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/hwi_action.cfm?CFID=6186452&CFTOKEN=50855028.

Save the Date - U.S. EPA, the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry to Host Conference: Climate Change in the Caribbean: Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 15 - 16, 2011 at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Law

This free two-day conference will provide participants the opportunity to learn directly from experts in the field about climate change impacts and projections for the U.S. Caribbean, strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and steps that can be taken in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to increase resilience in the face of a changing climate. For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/arn/recursosvivientes/costasreservasrefugios/pmzc/cc-conference/Invitation.pdf .

Other Federal Agency News

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Seeks Public Comment until November 29, 2011 on 2012 - 2021 Strategic Plan

On September 30, 2011, a Federal Register Notice announced the opening of the public comment period for the U.S. Global Change Research Program's 2012-2021 Strategic Plan. Every ten years, in accordance with the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (Sec 104, P.L. 101-606), the USGCRP must produce a 10 year National Global Change Research Plan (i.e., a Strategic Plan for the USGCRP). For further information on USGCRP, visit: http://www.globalchange.gov. The public comment period for the 2012-2021 Strategic Plan is open for 60 days and comments are due by November 29, 2011. All comments are encouraged to be submitted through this website: http://strategicplancomments.globalchange.gov/ . Comments may also be addressed to strategicplancomments@usgcrp.gov. Please read the [guidelines] (http://strategicplancomments.globalchange.gov/email-guidelines ) on the 2012-2021 USGCRP Strategic Plan before emailing them.

U.S. Department of the Interior Releases Report: Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States

The report, released October 3, 2011, assesses the status of scientific information available to help understand the impacts of climate change and other stressors on U.S. freshwater resources and calls for modernization of systems to help monitor and sustain water supplies. The report was prepared by a federal interagency panel led by USGS and developed in concert with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), NOAA, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The report reviews the state of existing science and identifies strategies for improving systems to collect climate-related data and water monitoring information. The improvements are intended to help water managers predict, respond and adapt to the effects of climate change on the nation's freshwater supplies so that they can help ensure adequate water quantity and quality. For more information and to view the report, visit: http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Interior-Report-Assesses-Scientific-Water-Monitori!
ng-and-Modeling-Systems-and-Calls-for-Modernization-to-Help-Sustain-Water-Supplies.cfm . [or http://go.usa.gov/91V ]

Other News

Save the Date - The German Federal Government to Host Bonn2011 Conference: The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus, Solutions for the Green Economy on November 16 - 18, 2011 at the World Conference Center, Bonn

The German Government has recognized a clear need for new approaches which address the interconnections within the water, energy and food security nexus. The conference will focus on the three action fields of sustainable development: The social dimension: Accelerating Access, integrating the bottom of the pyramid; The economic dimension: Creating more with less; and, The ecologic dimension: Investing to sustain ecosystem services. The conference will put a nexus lens on the three action fields while focusing on better understanding the interlinkages between the three securities. Further, the discussions will focus on identifying enabling conditions which facilitate the transition to a greener economy. For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.water-energy-food.org/en/conference/home.html.

The Clean Water America Alliance Releases Report: Barriers and Gateways to Green Infrastructure

The report summarizes the results of a survey of utilities, academics, and government officials regarding barriers to green infrastructure, informed by the ongoing green infrastructure research and education programs of The Clean America Water Alliance. Recommendations were developed and refined through conversations with partner organizations including American Rivers, The Conservation Fund, Low Impact Development Center, Smart Growth America, and the Alliance's Urban Water Sustainability Council. To read the report, please visit: http://bit.ly/gireport.

State of Massachusetts Releases Report: Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report, September, 2011

This report, prepared by the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee, is the first broad overview of climate change as it affects Massachusetts, the impacts of this change, vulnerabilities of multiple sectors ranging from natural resources, infrastructure, public health, and the economy. It also provides an analysis of potential strategies. To read the report, please visit: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Air,+Water+%26+Climate+Change&L2=Climate+Change&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=eea_energy_cca-report&csid=Eoeea .

________________________________________
EPA Climate Change and Water News is produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). For more information on EPA's climate change activities, visit http://epa.gov/climatechange. For an overview of climate change and water issues, visit http://www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange.

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Trichloerethylene (TCE)

2011-09-28T17:06:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Sep 28, 2011 4:37 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for TCE
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 4:22 PM
Subject: Research News Release (HQ): EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for TCE

CONTACT:
Latisha Petteway (News Media Only)
Petteway.latisha@epa.gov
202-564-3191
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2011

EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for TCE

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the final health assessment for trichloroethylene (TCE) to the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates the latest science on chemicals in our environment. The final assessment characterizes the chemical as carcinogenic to humans and as a human noncancer health hazard. This assessment will also allow for a better understanding of the risks posed to communities from exposure to TCE in soil, water and air. It will provide federal, state, local and other policy makers with the latest scientific information to make decisions about cleanup and other actions to protect people's health.

"This assessment is an important first step, providing valuable information to the state, local and federal agencies responsible for protecting the health of the American people," said Paul Anastas, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Research and Development. "It underscores the importance of EPA's science and, in particular, the critical value of the IRIS database for ensuring that government officials and the American people have the information they need to protect their health and the health of their children."

TCE is one of the most common man-made chemicals found in the environment. It is a volatile chemical and a widely used chlorinated solvent. Frequently found at Superfund sites across the country, TCE's movement from contaminated ground water and soil, into the indoor air of overlying buildings, is of serious concern. EPA already has drinking water standards for TCE and standards for cleaning up TCE at Superfund sites throughout the country.

TCE toxicity values as reported in the assessment will be considered in:

•         Establishing cleanup methods at the 761 Superfund sites where TCE has been identified as a contaminant
•         Understanding the risk from vapor intrusion as TCE vapors move from contaminated groundwater and soil into the indoor air of overlying buildings
•         Revising EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level for TCE as part of the carcinogenic volatile organic compounds group in drinking water, as described in the agency's drinking water strategy
•         Developing appropriate regulatory standards limiting the atmospheric emissions of TCE – a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act

This assessment has undergone several levels of peer review including, agency review, interagency review, public comment, external peer review by EPA's Science Advisory Board in January 2011, and a scientific consultation review in 2006 by the National Academy of Sciences. Comments from all reviewers are addressed in the final assessment.

EPA continues to strengthen IRIS as part of an ongoing effort to ensure concrete research and science are used to protect human health and the environment. In May 2009, EPA restructured the IRIS program to reinforce independent review and ensure the timely publication of assessments. In July 2011, EPA announced further changes to strengthen the IRIS program in response to recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences. EPA's peer review process is designed to elicit the strongest possible critique to ensure that each final IRIS assessment reflects sound, rigorous science.

More information on IRIS: http://www.epa.gov/IRIS

R293
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Water Headlines for the week of September 26, 2011

2011-09-27T12:57:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Sep 27, 2011 11:25 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Water Headlines for the week of September 26, 2011
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Han [mailto:han.amy@epamail.epa.gov]
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 6:24 PM
Subject: [waterheadlines] Water Headlines for the week of September 26, 2011

Water Headlines for the week of September 26, 2011

Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water

In This Week's Water Headlines:

1) EPA Announces the Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action Plan, 2011
2) Proposed Renewal of Reporting Requirements for BEACH Act Grants
[deletions]

1) EPA Announces the Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action Plan, 2011

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the release of the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan. The HWI is intended to protect the nation's remaining healthy watersheds, prevent them from becoming impaired, and accelerate restoration successes. The HWI National Framework and Action Plan aims to provide a clear consistent framework for action, both internally among EPA's own programs and externally in working with the Agency's partners. EPA will work with states and other partners to identify healthy watersheds at the state scale and develop and implement comprehensive state healthy watersheds strategies that set priorities for protection and inform priorities for restoration.

Healthy watersheds provide many ecological services as well as economic benefits. If successfully implemented, the HWI promises to greatly enhance our nation's ability to meet the Clean Water Act Section 101(a) objective of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. The HWI National Framework and Action Plan is available at www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds .

2) Proposed Renewal of Reporting Requirements for BEACH Act Grants

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to eligible states, territories and authorized tribes. EPA is requesting comment on its proposed renewal of the reporting requirements for the BEACH Act Grants Information Collection Request (ICR). As a grant condition, grant recipients are required to collect and submit beach monitoring and notification information to the EPA. Collection of this information allows EPA to evaluate the extent to which grant recipients fulfill the requirements of the BEACH Act.

The proposed renewal is available for public comment through November 21, 2011 at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0357.

For more information on BEACH Act grants, see http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/beachgrants/ .

[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

My water smells like rotton eggs

2011-09-26T18:45:00.000-04:00

What is that awful smell in my water?

This is a pretty common complaint/inquiry in many regions of the US. I was first exposed to this water condition as a child. I remember distinctly the foul odor of rotten eggs as I attempted to drink from a public drinking fountain in upstate NY. I was immediately disgusted by the odor from the water and curious why it smelled that way.

The “rotten egg” smell in water is the caused by the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). This gas, has an offensive odor, can be toxic and is corrosive. Hydrogen sulfide gas in water occurs as a byproduct of decaying organic compounds within the water source. Any presence of Hydrogen Sulfide in your water supply should be promptly corrected.

Most Hydrogen Sulfide conditions are the result of source contamination. Something occurs in your well or spring that introduces organic compounds that decay and create the gas. Another common situation is the presence of sulfate eating bacteria which can live in the water heater, water softener or other water treatment device if one is present. Your first step should be to have the water tested to determine the level of contamination and to determine if any other treatable conditions are present. It is relevant to know the full scope of what is in the water as it will impact how the condition is treated.

Toxicity

Hydrogen sulfide is considered a broad spectrum poison, meaning that it can affect several different systems within the body. It forms a complex bond with Iron in mitochondrial cytochrome enzymes, which results in inhibiting cellular respiration.

Safety

Hydrogen Sulfide gas is a highly toxic and combustible. Heavier than air, the gas tends to accumulate at the bottom of poorly ventilated spaces. Although it has a very recognizable odor at first, it will quickly deaden ones sense of smell, potential victims may be unaware of its presence until it is too late.

The quality of the water you drink, cook with and bathe in is very important to a healthy lifestyle. Don't take the risks; get your water tested.

AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com
www.AquaProSolutions.com
www.AquaEnvi.org
www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com

Warming Oceans Encourage Explosion of Dangerous Bacteria

2011-09-17T08:25:00.001-04:00

Climate change is warming ocean waters, causing the spread of bacteria predicted to cost millions in health care as people are exposed to contaminated food and water and to marine diseases at ...

<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2011/ 2011-09-13-01.html>

Investigation Finds BP 'Ultimately Responsible for Gulf Oil Disaster

2011-09-17T08:16:00.001-04:00

A U.S. investigation board blames the worst offshore oil spill in the nation's history on British oil giant BP and points to BP contractors who contributed to ...

Contractors to Blame <http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/ sep2011/2011-09-16-01.html>

Article Ice Report 2011

2011-09-16T10:33:00.001-04:00

Media Advisory: Arctic sea ice reaches lowest extent for 2011 The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. NSIDC scientists provide Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis < http:// nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/ > content, with partial support from NASA. The blanket of sea ice that floats on the Arctic Ocean appears to have reached its lowest extent for the year. Arctic sea ice extent fell to 4.33 million square kilometers (1.67 million square miles) on September 9, 2011. This year's minimum was the second lowest in the satellite record, which started in 1979. The lowest extent was recorded in 2007.
complete press release at http://nsidc.org/news/press/ 20110915_minimum.html

Fwd: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Climate Change and Water News

2011-09-14T15:48:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Sep 14, 2011 1:30 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Climate Change and Water News
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: water_climate_change@epa.gov [mailto:water_climate_change@epa.gov]
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 11:20 AM
Subject: EPA Climate Change and Water News

EPA Climate Change and Water News

U.S. EPA News

U.S. EPA Hosts Discussion Open to the Public: Consequences of Global Climate Change: Water Quality Impacts, Ecological Impacts & Nonlinear Responses on September 20-22, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

The public is invited to attend or connect online to listen to a discussion on the Consequences of Global Climate Change: Water Quality Impacts, Ecological Impacts & Nonlinear Responses on September 20-22, 2011. The EPA will be gathering university scientists, EPA scientists, and policy makers to highlight EPA supported research on the consequences of global climate change. The topics will include the effects of climate change on ecosystem services, invasive species, pathogens, coastal habitat, and water quality. This meeting is free and open to the public. One can join for one or all three days either in person or via the Internet. If you plan to attend in person, please email your name, contact information, and institution to Michael Hiscock (hiscock.michael@epa.gov) by September 13. The session will be held at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 1153, Washington, D.C. 20460. Visitors will need to check in at the security desk!
when they arrive. A list of attendees is needed at least one week prior to the meeting. To connect online, please register for the webinar using the following link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/223362878. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/events.

Other Federal Agency News

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Program Office Currently Soliciting Proposals until October 3, 2011

NOAA's Climate Program Office (CPO) manages competitive research programs in which NOAA funds high-priority climate science, assessments, decision support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities designed to advance our understanding of Earth's climate system, and to foster the application of this knowledge in risk management and adaptation efforts. In FY 2012, NOAA will accept individual applications for twelve competitions, organized around CPO's four major programs. One of those is the solicitation of the Climate and Societal Interactions Research which addresses: (a) climate impacts on water resources, (b) coasts and climate resilience, (c) sustainability of marine ecosystems, (d) changes in extremes of weather and climate, and (e) information for mitigating climate change. Two specific water programs are: 1) the Sectoral Applications Research Program (SARP) - with two foci, Water Resource Planning and Coping with Drought and the National Integra!
ted Drought Information System (NIDIS); and 2) Coastal and Ocean Climate Applications (COCA) with a focus on coastal and marine resilience.

Proposals are due to NOAA by 5:00 pm EST on October 3, 2011. For information on SARP, contact Nancy Beller-Simms (nancy.beller-simms@noaa.gov); for information on COCA, contact Adrienne Antoine (adrienne.antoine@noaa.gov).
For more information regarding this solicitation and how to apply, visit: http://www.cpo.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./opportunities/opp_index.jsp&opp=grants. For more information on the Climate Societal and Interactions Program, visit: http://www.cpo.noaa.gov/cpo_pa/index.jsp#csip.

U.S. Department Of Energy (DOE) Re-launches its Energy.gov Website

DOE has re-launched the Energy.gov website as an interactive information platform offering localized data and resources to save energy and money. Energy.gov modernizes how consumers and businesses access energy information and resources. The new website makes it easier for users to get information specific to their cities, counties, and states, including information about energy tax credits, rebates, energy saving tips, and grant opportunities. To view the site, visit: http://www.energy.gov.

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Releases Report - Climate Engineering: Technical Status, Future Directions, and Potential Responses

Reports of rising global temperatures have raised questions about responses to climate change, including efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, adapt to climate change, and design and develop climate engineering technologies for deliberate, large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate. In this report, GAO assesses climate engineering technologies, focusing on their technical status, future directions for research on them, and potential responses. To perform this technology assessment, GAO reviewed the peer-reviewed scientific literature and government reports, consulted experts with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints, and surveyed adults across the United States. To view the report, visit: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-71.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Posts CoreCast Series Video Online - Climate Connections: Questions from North and South Carolina
In this episode of Climate Connections, USGS scientists answer questions gathered from North and South Carolina about the effects of climate change on coastal areas and on water resources. To view the video, please visit: http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/429.

Other News

Global Conference on Oceans, Climate and Security (GCOCS) - May 2012 in Boston, MA - Call for Abstracts and Sponsors Deadlines Extended to September 15 and October 15, 2011

The Global Conference on Oceans, Climate and Security (GCOCS) is designed to: raise the awareness level of the threat of climate change to our oceans and the consequent threat to our human and national security; identify and prioritize the knowledge gaps in science and technology which inhibit understanding, response, and adaptation to future threats; and, generate comprehensive human security policy and governance recommendations reflecting the climate, ocean, and security continuum. Over three days, GCOCS attendees will explore complex, cross-sector topics and strategies through interactive methods such as multi-disciplinary plenary and World cafe sessions. The deadline for abstracts has been extended to September 15, 2011. Sponsors and exhibitors will be accepted until October 15, 2011. For more information, visit: http://www.gcocs.org/.

Carpe Diem West Academy Launches Webinar Series Beginning September 27, 2011, 1:00PM (PST) - Running the Climate Rapids: Using the Iterative Risk Management Road Map

Carpe Diem West is a non-profit organization that engages a broad-based network of experts, advocates, decision makers and scientists to address the profound impacts the growing climate crisis is having on water in the American West. It was started in 2007 by a group of western water leaders acting on a shared belief that the growing climate crisis requires everyone in the field to think in new ways. The webinar series, Running the Climate Rapids: Using the Iterative Risk Management Road Map, is presented by the Academy to support western water managers, non-governmental organizations, and government agency staff to more effectively use climate science and emerging technology in operations and decision making. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.carpediemwestacademy.org/whats-new.

National Wildlife Federation Releases Report - Facing the Storm: Indian Tribes, Climate-Induced Weather Extremes, and the Future for Indian Country

North American Indian Tribes are harmed by climate change, as more ecological shifts and more frequent, more extreme weather events occur, a new study concludes. Because Tribes are heavily dependent on natural resources, severe weather events like droughts, floods, wildfires, and snowstorms make tribal communities particularly vulnerable. In collaboration with the Tribal Lands Program, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, National Congress of American Indians, Native American Fish & Wildlife Society, National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Rights Fund, and University of Colorado Law School, the National Wildlife Federation has released Indian Tribes, Climate-Induced Weather Extremes, and the Future for Indian Country. The report details how climate change is adversely and disproportionately affecting Indian Tribes in North America, people who rely on a healthy environment to sustain their economic, cultural, and spiritual lives. To view the pr!
ess release and full report, visit: http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/Media-Center/News-by-Topic/Global-Warming/2011/08-03-11-Climate-Change-Hurts-Indian-Tribes-Disproportionately.aspx.

________________________________________
EPA Climate Change and Water News is produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). For more information on EPA's climate change activities, visit http://epa.gov/climatechange. For an overview of climate change and water issues, visit http://www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange.

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

The Mystery of Water

2011-09-09T17:09:00.000-04:00

The Mystery of Water

Many people regard water as a bland and boring drink, existing in such abundance as it does without causing a fuss; it’s always there, quite literally, ‘on tap’. So water is tasteless, and we enhance it by adding artificial flavours and sugars, mixing it with coffee or tea, or turning it into beer – great with pizza! We even see water as ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ and change it with machines like water softeners. It is the ultimate irony that this abundant fluid is seen as bland. We see things like water as neither rare nor precious, but generic and unimportant.

But think about water for second – or perhaps a bit longer. Contemplate what it is and you’ll find answers to the mystery of life. The human body, for instance, is comprised of roughly 65% water, and we can dehydrate quickly and easily. Without water, there can be no life on Earth, and evolution would not have occurred without this special substance.

The Composition of Water

Arguably the most famous chemical formula on earth is H20. This translates into two hydrogen molecules and one of oxygen. The essence of water is truly molecular. But look at where these molecules originate from and you’ll find that water is not bland and boring, but can be traced back to cataclysmic events that shaped the universe. Hydrogen, for example, is the primary fuel of stars.

Water is also extremely flexible. It can exist in three forms: a solid, a liquid and a gas – or, you could argue, in strong to weak states. The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, once said, ‘in the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it’. How relaxing is a warm bath, yet how destructive is violent tsunami?

We need water

Needless to say, we should respect water, and to do so would be to respect our very humanity. There are far too many contaminants, pollutants and chemicals that ravage our water supplies in urban environments. The EPA, for example, sets out rigorous standards for water safety, but these are all too frequently ignored.

The next time you grab a glass and fill it with water, don’t see it as bland and boring; see it as a wonder of the universe, or a wonder of earth and life. Let’s drink to life. Cheers!

Further resources about water can be found here:

· Philip Ball’s H2O: A Biography of Water is a great introduction to water and its importance

· The EPA website, United States Environmental Protection Agency

Post provided by guest blogger: Paul Gardner

My thanks to Paul for sharing his thoughts on AskAquaPro.com
AP

www.AquaEnvi.org
www.AskAquaPro.com

AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com

ENVIRO-NEWS: New USGS study on Trace Elements in U.S. Groundwater

2011-09-01T12:51:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Sep 1, 2011 11:34 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] New USGS study on Trace Elements in U.S. Groundwater
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: Neil M Dubrovsky [mailto:nmdubrov@usgs.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 1:29 PM
Subject: New USGS study on Trace Elements in U.S. Groundwater

A new USGS study evaluates the occurrence of 23 trace elements and radon in groundwater samples from over 5,000 wells collected nationwide from 1992-2003. The report presents trace element occurrence, describes factors that influence the spatial distribution of trace elements, and compares concentrations to human-health benchmarks. A news release and the full report can be accessed online at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/trace/pubs/sir2011-5059/index.html .

Selected Highlights:

o About 20% of untreated water samples from public, private, and monitoring wells contain concentrations of at least one trace element, such as arsenic, manganese and uranium, at levels of potential health concern.

o Differences in the concentration of trace elements are related to the climatic conditions and land use of the area.

o Basic geology and geochemistry of water samples helps to predict risk of trace elements exceeding human-health benchmarks.

o About 10 percent wells that had a trace element concentration in excess of human health benchmarks actually contained two or more trace elements exceeding human health benchmarks.

This study is part of the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program, which has assessed the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams, rivers, and groundwater across the Nation since 1991.

Neil M. Dubrovsky, PhD.
Nutrients and Trace Elements National Synthesis Project Chief
National Water-Quality Assessment Program
U.S. Geological Survey
916-278-3078
nmdubrov@usgs.gov

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS: Position Vacancies: Fish & Wildlife Administrator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska

2011-08-22T10:42:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Aug 22, 2011 10:35 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] Position Vacancies: Fish & Wildlife Administrator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

Forwarded from
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=101815918&aid=86173283-2081
1&WT.mc_n=125

Job Title: Fish & Wildlife Administrator (LCC Coordinator)
Department: Department Of The Interior
Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Job Announcement Number: R7-11-523790-MA

SALARY RANGE:
$83,472.00 - $128,227.00 /year
OPEN PERIOD:
Friday, August 19, 2011 to Tuesday, September 06, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:
GS-0480-13/14
POSITION INFORMATION:
Full Time Career/Career Conditional
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
14
DUTY LOCATIONS:
Few vacancies - Anchorage, AK; Few vacancies - Fairbanks, AK
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:
United States Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:
Working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is more than a career. It
is a commitment shared by more than 9,000 men and women representing a
diverse range of professions, backgrounds, and specialties who are
dedicated to conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife,
plants, and their habitats. From the Arctic Ocean to the South Pacific,
from the Atlantic to the Caribbean, Service personnel are working hard
to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy nature's beauty and
bounty.

In addition to the base salary range and locality rate as previously
stated, you will receive a 10.56% cost of living allowance for Anchorage
or Fairbanks. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment and
gradual decrease.

For additional information about the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service in
Alaska, visit: FWS < http://alaska.fws.gov/ >.

This position is located in Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska. Information
about locations within Alaska can be found at: Alaska <
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_COMDB.htm >.

The Northwestern Interior Forest Landscape Conservation Cooperative
(LCC) spans western boreal forest biome in Alaska, the Yukon Territory
and northern British Columbia. The region includes vast natural
resources including globally significant fish and wildlife populations,
and human communities intricately tied to these natural resources for
economic and cultural purposes. The region is already experiencing
effects from changing climate patterns (e.g. changes in fire regimes,
permafrost stability, glacial melt etc.). The LCC Coordinator for this
geographic area will work with new and existing partnerships to help
facilitate collaborative science and leverage resources to address
climate change and other stressors to this important landscape.

This vacancy is being concurrently advertised under merit promotion
procedures for status candidates under R7-11-523161-MA.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

U.S. Citizenship Required
Be sure to read the "How to Apply" & "Required Documents" Sections.
Relocation expenses are authorized.
Appointment may include a requirement for one year probationary
period.
Background and/or Security Investigation required.

Duties
Additional Duty Location Info:

Few vacancies - Anchorage, AK; Few vacancies - Fairbanks, AK

As a LCC Coordinator, you will:

Play a key role in collaboratively developing, maintaining, and
advancing a strategic, landscape oriented, partnership-driven approach
to integrated fish and wildlife conservation by assuming principal
responsibilities for initiating, facilitating, integrating,
coordinating, and communicating the Service's and Landscape Conservation
Cooperatives (LCCs) work and activities through the cooperative
conservation community.

National and International Coordination:

Ensure landscape conservation efforts are coordinated across geographic
areas and other boundaries; collaborates within a seamless national
network of LCCs. Represent the interest of the partners in various
national meetings associated with the implementation of landscape
conservation initiatives and other national efforts associated with
specific fish and wildlife conservation issues.

Science and Technology Support:

Provide scientific and technical coordination support in progressively
refining the scientific and technical underpinning of fish and wildlife
conservation strategies and plans for species of priority for the
assigned geography. Collaborate and explore innovative means to
leverage human and financial assets among agencies, organizations, and
partnerships to implement the functional elements of the SHC work in
pursuit of a sustainable landscape.

Partnership Development and Coordination:

Provide leadership in creating, guiding, facilitating, and nurturing an
interdependent network among the State conservation agencies, sister
bureaus in the Department of Interior, and Service programs as well as
other agencies, organizations, and partnerships sufficient to support
the iterative, interagency application of the SHC Framework. Serve as a
liaison and provide a forum for private, state, and federal entities
interested in a sustainable assigned geography to exchange ideas,
information, and technology; and to actively engage in leveraging and
targeting their collective assets to achieve desired landscape
conditions.

For more information on the duties of this position contact the
supervisor, Cynthia Jacobson at (907) 786-3508.

[deletions; more information at
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=101815918&aid=86173283-2081
1&WT.mc_n=125
or
http://go.usa.gov/k9Y ]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library. The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************