NWSA unveils incentive program to boost carrier, rail and terminal performance
The $11 million program that seeks to increase schedule reliability and volumes comes as the Seattle-Tacoma gateway saw its share of US imports from Asia decline year over year in February.
US import surge comes amid restocking, but puts port fluidity in the crosshairs
The import strength goes beyond restocking, showing the impact of a recovery in housing and the US manufacturing resurgence, writes Peter Tirschwell.
EPA Publishes Annual US Greenhouse Gas Inventory
WASHINGTON — Today, April 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its latest annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory), which presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2022. Net U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 5,489 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022, a 1.3% increase in emissions from 2021. The increase is largely due to higher energy use in 2022, reflecting the continued rebound in economic activity following the height of the coronavirus pandemic. However, emissions have declined 17% overall since 2005, which reflects the combined impacts of several factors, including energy market trends, technological changes including energy efficiency improvements, and the carbon intensity of energy fuel choices.
“Through a rigorous development and review process, EPA annually refines and strengthens our greenhouse gas inventory, producing a comprehensive tally of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks,” said Joseph Goffman, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “Reflecting input from hundreds of experts across the government, academia, industry, and consulting, the GHG Inventory report is a model for high-quality and transparent national GHG accounting.”
For this latest release, EPA has made several important improvements, including updates to estimates for oil and gas and incorporation of long-term research into methods for estimating emissions and sinks from forested land.
The GHG Inventory covers seven key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. In addition to tracking U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, the Inventory also calculates carbon dioxide that is removed from the atmosphere through the uptake of carbon in forests and other vegetation.
This impartial, policy neutral report has been compiled annually since 1993 and submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and also the Paris Agreement. The report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with numerous experts from other federal agencies, state government authorities, research and academic institutions, and industry associations. National inventories for developed countries should be provided to the UNFCCC each year by April 15.
To engage the public and researchers across the country, EPA conducts an annual public review and comment process for this document. The document was made available on the EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions website and announced via Federal Register Notice for 30 days. Comments received after the closure of the public comment period are accepted and considered for the next edition of this annual report. Public review of this year’s report occurred from Feb. 15 to March 15, and comments received are posted to the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0004. Responses to comments will be posted to EPA’s website within 2-4 weeks following publication of this report.
Learn more about the report.
“Through a rigorous development and review process, EPA annually refines and strengthens our greenhouse gas inventory, producing a comprehensive tally of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks,” said Joseph Goffman, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “Reflecting input from hundreds of experts across the government, academia, industry, and consulting, the GHG Inventory report is a model for high-quality and transparent national GHG accounting.”
For this latest release, EPA has made several important improvements, including updates to estimates for oil and gas and incorporation of long-term research into methods for estimating emissions and sinks from forested land.
The GHG Inventory covers seven key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. In addition to tracking U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, the Inventory also calculates carbon dioxide that is removed from the atmosphere through the uptake of carbon in forests and other vegetation.
This impartial, policy neutral report has been compiled annually since 1993 and submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and also the Paris Agreement. The report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with numerous experts from other federal agencies, state government authorities, research and academic institutions, and industry associations. National inventories for developed countries should be provided to the UNFCCC each year by April 15.
To engage the public and researchers across the country, EPA conducts an annual public review and comment process for this document. The document was made available on the EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions website and announced via Federal Register Notice for 30 days. Comments received after the closure of the public comment period are accepted and considered for the next edition of this annual report. Public review of this year’s report occurred from Feb. 15 to March 15, and comments received are posted to the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0004. Responses to comments will be posted to EPA’s website within 2-4 weeks following publication of this report.
Learn more about the report.
EPA Fines East Bay Cities and Municipal Utility Districts for Sewage Discharge Violations
SAN FRANCISCO —Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board announced that the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and six East Bay cities will be assessed $372,876 in penalties for violating settlement terms designed to prevent untreated sewage from entering San Francisco Bay.
Under a 2014 Clean Water Act settlement, EBMUD and seven East Bay cities paid a $1.5 million civil penalty for past sewage discharges. They agreed to assess and upgrade their 1,600-mile-long sewer system infrastructure over 21 years. Since then, over 114 miles of sewer main pipe have been rehabilitated or replaced and over 650 miles of private sewer laterals have been certified as leak-free.
“These East Bay cities and utilities made commitments to upgrade aging sewer infrastructure, which is a necessary step for protecting the waters of San Francisco Bay and surrounding communities,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “We’re taking this action to ensure they live up to those commitments and undertake the efforts needed to renew wastewater infrastructure.”
The parties are being assessed the following penalties for violations of the settlement that occurred between July 2021 and June 2023:
City of Oakland - $278,200 - Failure to prevent 67 sanitary sewer overflows from reaching waters.
EBMUD - $28,000 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters and failure to meet effluent limitations for coliform.
Stege Sanitary District (serving El Cerrito, Kensington, and a portion of Richmond) - $25,000 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters.
City of Piedmont - $15,876 - Failure to timely rehabilitate the required footage of sewer mains.
City of Alameda - $200 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters.
City of Albany - $25,000 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters.
City of Berkeley - $600 - Failure to prevent three sanitary sewer overflows from reaching waters.
When wastewater infrastructure is not properly maintained, untreated sewage can escape and be discharged to the bay. Older sewer systems in particular can be overwhelmed during rainstorms, releasing untreated sewage. In addition to polluting waterways, untreated sewage can spread disease-causing organisms, metals and nutrients that threaten public health. Sewage can also deplete oxygen in the bay, threatening fish, seals and other wildlife.
Read the settlement on EPA’s website.
Learn more about efforts to protect San Francisco Bay.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Under a 2014 Clean Water Act settlement, EBMUD and seven East Bay cities paid a $1.5 million civil penalty for past sewage discharges. They agreed to assess and upgrade their 1,600-mile-long sewer system infrastructure over 21 years. Since then, over 114 miles of sewer main pipe have been rehabilitated or replaced and over 650 miles of private sewer laterals have been certified as leak-free.
“These East Bay cities and utilities made commitments to upgrade aging sewer infrastructure, which is a necessary step for protecting the waters of San Francisco Bay and surrounding communities,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “We’re taking this action to ensure they live up to those commitments and undertake the efforts needed to renew wastewater infrastructure.”
The parties are being assessed the following penalties for violations of the settlement that occurred between July 2021 and June 2023:
City of Oakland - $278,200 - Failure to prevent 67 sanitary sewer overflows from reaching waters.
EBMUD - $28,000 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters and failure to meet effluent limitations for coliform.
Stege Sanitary District (serving El Cerrito, Kensington, and a portion of Richmond) - $25,000 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters.
City of Piedmont - $15,876 - Failure to timely rehabilitate the required footage of sewer mains.
City of Alameda - $200 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters.
City of Albany - $25,000 - Failure to prevent a sanitary sewer overflow from reaching waters.
City of Berkeley - $600 - Failure to prevent three sanitary sewer overflows from reaching waters.
When wastewater infrastructure is not properly maintained, untreated sewage can escape and be discharged to the bay. Older sewer systems in particular can be overwhelmed during rainstorms, releasing untreated sewage. In addition to polluting waterways, untreated sewage can spread disease-causing organisms, metals and nutrients that threaten public health. Sewage can also deplete oxygen in the bay, threatening fish, seals and other wildlife.
Read the settlement on EPA’s website.
Learn more about efforts to protect San Francisco Bay.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
EPA Announces 2024 Pollution Prevention Recognition Program for Pacific Southwest Region
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Recognition Program for the Pacific Southwest region of the United States. The program will recognize environmental leaders in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands territories and 128 Tribal Nations within the boundaries of those states for innovative P2 practices.
“Preventing pollution at its source is integral to protecting public health and the environment in the Pacific Southwest,” said Claire Trombadore, Director of the Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Office. “We look forward to celebrating innovative P2 practices across our region that can serve as models for industry, governments, Tribes and non-profits to reduce pollution in local communities.”
P2, as defined in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, is any practice that reduces environmental releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants prior to entering a waste stream for recycling, treatment or disposal. P2 conserves natural resources, including water and energy, by focusing industry, government and public attention on reducing pollution through the implementation of cost-effective changes in production, operation and the use of raw materials.
This is an annual, voluntary, and non-monetary recognition program. Organizations eligible to apply or be nominated include non-profit and for-profit entities, Tribal businesses, and companies assisted by P2 grant recipients. To be considered for recognition, entities must submit an application describing the nominee’s P2 efforts, activities, cost savings, pounds of hazardous chemicals reduced, energy conserved, or gallons of water saved, as well as the replicability of their approach. The application deadline is May 24, 2024.
Read about how to apply for the 2024 P2 awards program on EPA’s website.
Read about the 2023 P2 program winners.
Read more about the P2 program.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
“Preventing pollution at its source is integral to protecting public health and the environment in the Pacific Southwest,” said Claire Trombadore, Director of the Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Office. “We look forward to celebrating innovative P2 practices across our region that can serve as models for industry, governments, Tribes and non-profits to reduce pollution in local communities.”
P2, as defined in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, is any practice that reduces environmental releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants prior to entering a waste stream for recycling, treatment or disposal. P2 conserves natural resources, including water and energy, by focusing industry, government and public attention on reducing pollution through the implementation of cost-effective changes in production, operation and the use of raw materials.
This is an annual, voluntary, and non-monetary recognition program. Organizations eligible to apply or be nominated include non-profit and for-profit entities, Tribal businesses, and companies assisted by P2 grant recipients. To be considered for recognition, entities must submit an application describing the nominee’s P2 efforts, activities, cost savings, pounds of hazardous chemicals reduced, energy conserved, or gallons of water saved, as well as the replicability of their approach. The application deadline is May 24, 2024.
Read about how to apply for the 2024 P2 awards program on EPA’s website.
Read about the 2023 P2 program winners.
Read more about the P2 program.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Finalized Science-Driven Updates to Foods Provided Through WIC
On Tuesday, April 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced finalized updates to the foods prescribed to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC.
Spectacle of shipping disruptions overshadows manageable impact to cargo
The shipping industry’s ability to overcome physical disruptions such as the Port of Baltimore’s closure shouldn’t lull it into complacency because growing geopolitical threats could provide new obstacles that can’t be as easily managed, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Norfolk expands hours to handle cargo volumes shifted from Baltimore
The US DOT has also offered some relief, granting an exemption that permits truck drivers to work an additional two hours of drive time beyond federal limits if the cargo is connected to the Port of Baltimore closure.