California drayage operators seek help meeting zero-emission regulations
Drayage companies in the state say existing incentive programs will not be enough to enable them to meet regulations that mandate a zero-emission drayage fleet by 2035.
QB 23-306 2024 Specialty Sugar Period 2
Commodity:
Specialty Sugar provided for in Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 5
Quota Period:
October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024
Opening Date:
Tuesday October 10, 2023 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) for all time zones.
Restraint…
Specialty Sugar provided for in Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 5
Quota Period:
October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024
Opening Date:
Tuesday October 10, 2023 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) for all time zones.
Restraint…
MEDIA ADVISORY: Public meeting scheduled to address cleanup plan for Applegate Lane property in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the Louisville Metro Emergency Services (LMES) and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KYDEP), will host a public meeting on Thursday, October 5, 2023, to introduce the plan to clean up hazardous materials found at a home on Applegate Lane in Louisville and answer questions.
Protecting the health and safety of workers and surrounding residents during this process is the top priority for the agencies involved. EPA, in coordination with LMES and KYDEP, plans to demolish the property using a controlled, mechanical approach that will remove and destroy the hazardous materials. EPA will discuss the plan and will also address safety measures being taken to ensure the community is protected.
WHO: EPA, LMES and KYDEP
WHAT: Public meeting
WHEN: Thursday, October 5, 2023, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
WHERE: Highview Baptist Church
7711 Fegenbush Lane
Louisville, KY 40228
***5:30 p.m. - Press Availability*** Interested credentialed media should e-mail an RSVP to region4press@epa.gov. Please include your name, media affiliation and contact information.
Protecting the health and safety of workers and surrounding residents during this process is the top priority for the agencies involved. EPA, in coordination with LMES and KYDEP, plans to demolish the property using a controlled, mechanical approach that will remove and destroy the hazardous materials. EPA will discuss the plan and will also address safety measures being taken to ensure the community is protected.
WHO: EPA, LMES and KYDEP
WHAT: Public meeting
WHEN: Thursday, October 5, 2023, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
WHERE: Highview Baptist Church
7711 Fegenbush Lane
Louisville, KY 40228
***5:30 p.m. - Press Availability*** Interested credentialed media should e-mail an RSVP to region4press@epa.gov. Please include your name, media affiliation and contact information.
Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Transmission Authority (WWTA) agrees to major sewer system upgrades
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Sept. 29, 2023) - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced today a Clean Water Act settlement with the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority (WWTA). A consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Chattanooga and resolves the claims identified in a joint federal and state complaint filed with the consent decree. The settlement will resolve WWTA’s liability for Clean Water Act violations, including unauthorized overflow of untreated raw sewage at locations in the WWTA wastewater collection and transmission system and bypasses of treatment at WWTA’s Signal Mountain wastewater treatment plant. Under the consent decree, WWTA will undertake a thorough assessment of, and implement extensive improvements to, its sanitary sewer system and the wastewater treatment plant. In addition, WWTA will pay a civil penalty of $598,490 to be equally divided between the United States and the State of Tennessee.
“Sewage overflows and sewage bypasses are major problems that affect water quality in the Southeast and across the entire country,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “Bringing systems like Hamilton County WWTA’s into compliance is one of EPA's top enforcement priorities.”
“This settlement will protect water quality in the Tennessee River and its tributaries in Hamilton County,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “I commend WWTA for resolving this case and ensuring cleaner water for Tennesseans to enjoy.”
WWTA owns and operates a sanitary sewer system serving over 30,000 sewer customers. The system includes one sewage treatment plant, the Signal Mountain wastewater treatment plant, and a wastewater collection system that is composed of over 5,000 miles of sewer collection lines, 60 pump stations, and associated equipment.
Inadequacies in WWTA’s separate sewer systems’ infrastructure and management programs have resulted in unlawful discharges of millions of gallons of untreated and partially treated sewage into streams in the Hamilton County area. The sewage discharges have affected the Tennessee River and many streams that drain to the Tennessee River.
The major features of the consent decree relating to the sanitary sewer system will require WWTA to evaluate the capacity, design, and condition of the components of its sanitary sewer system and develop and implement remedial measures to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). Prior to implementing these measures, the public will be given the opportunity to comment WWTA’s proposed plans. In addition, the consent decree requires that WWTA take remedial action to eliminate bypasses at the Signal Mountain treatment plant. All work under the Consent Decree must be completed within 20 years. WWTA is further required to upgrade its management, operation and maintenance programs to prevent future overflows and respond to overflows when they occur. The total estimated cost of remedial and compliance measures required under the Consent Decree is $300 million.
The proposed consent decree with WWTA is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the consent decree lodged today is available on the Department of Justice Web site at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
“Sewage overflows and sewage bypasses are major problems that affect water quality in the Southeast and across the entire country,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “Bringing systems like Hamilton County WWTA’s into compliance is one of EPA's top enforcement priorities.”
“This settlement will protect water quality in the Tennessee River and its tributaries in Hamilton County,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “I commend WWTA for resolving this case and ensuring cleaner water for Tennesseans to enjoy.”
WWTA owns and operates a sanitary sewer system serving over 30,000 sewer customers. The system includes one sewage treatment plant, the Signal Mountain wastewater treatment plant, and a wastewater collection system that is composed of over 5,000 miles of sewer collection lines, 60 pump stations, and associated equipment.
Inadequacies in WWTA’s separate sewer systems’ infrastructure and management programs have resulted in unlawful discharges of millions of gallons of untreated and partially treated sewage into streams in the Hamilton County area. The sewage discharges have affected the Tennessee River and many streams that drain to the Tennessee River.
The major features of the consent decree relating to the sanitary sewer system will require WWTA to evaluate the capacity, design, and condition of the components of its sanitary sewer system and develop and implement remedial measures to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). Prior to implementing these measures, the public will be given the opportunity to comment WWTA’s proposed plans. In addition, the consent decree requires that WWTA take remedial action to eliminate bypasses at the Signal Mountain treatment plant. All work under the Consent Decree must be completed within 20 years. WWTA is further required to upgrade its management, operation and maintenance programs to prevent future overflows and respond to overflows when they occur. The total estimated cost of remedial and compliance measures required under the Consent Decree is $300 million.
The proposed consent decree with WWTA is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the consent decree lodged today is available on the Department of Justice Web site at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA Monitoring Radium Concentrations in Silex, Missouri, Public Water System
LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 29, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is aware that the city of Silex, Missouri, has declared a city-wide emergency regarding the presence of naturally occurring radionuclides in the city’s groundwater source for its water supply. EPA is aware that this declaration has caused concern among members of the community regarding the safety of the public drinking water.
EPA is working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MoDHSS) to address the elevated radionuclides in the Silex Public Water System by providing the community with information about the potential risks associated with radium. EPA has also directed the city to prepare a plan to provider residents with alternative water.
The city of Silex has a history of radionuclide violations. The most recent Notice of Violation, issued Aug. 11, 2023, was for a radionuclide running annual average of 5.75 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for the radionuclides – radium-226 and radium-228 (combined) – for drinking water is 5 pCi/L. All MCL violations require public notice.
EPA’s risk associated with this level of radionuclides in the Silex PWS is not an immediate threat, but rather one that could come from consistent, long-term exposure.
As the levels of radionuclides in the Silex PWS have been persistently elevated for numerous years, EPA encourages members of the Silex community who are concerned about their water to use alternative sources of drinking water, such as bottled water, for drinking and cooking. Our goal is to work with the city to find other long-term solutions as quickly as possible.
The Toxicological Profile of radium from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), notes that there are no known health effects of radium from dermal exposure. Therefore, activities like bathing, washing dishes, and laundry do not pose a risk or require bottled water.
Water Distribution by SEMA
SEMA routinely works with its partners to coordinate distribution of alternate drinking water upon request by local communities, on a temporary basis.
Twenty-four pallets of bottled water (approximately 5,760 gallons) were delivered to Silex today, and SEMA is assisting the Mayor’s Office in coordinating a point of distribution for residents. SEMA staff are also working closely with local emergency management partners to assess any ongoing needs.
What is radium?
Radium is a naturally occuring radioactive metal that can exist in several different forms, called isotopes. Radium is formed when uranium and thorium break down in the environment. Small amounts of uranium and thorium are found in most rocks and soil.
High concentrations of naturally occurring radium are found in some areas of the United States.
According to ATSDR, populations at greatest risk of exposure from the consumption of drinking water with a high radium content are located in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain province in New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has reported that oxygen levels and dissolved minerals are among the factors responsible for high concentrations of radium in untreated water from an aquifer that underlies six states, including Missouri.
What are the risks associated with exposure to radium?
There is no immediate risk from consumption of water from the Silex public system. However, radium is a known human carcinogen and drinking water with levels of radium above MCLs for numerous years can increase the risk of developing certain cancers.
What can I do to protect myself, my family, and my friends from radium?
Radium in water, at levels above the MCL, poses a potential hazard to human health when the water is used for drinking or cooking over many years. EPA recommends that residents use alternative sources of water, such as bottled water, for drinking and cooking.
Points of Contact
EPA Region 7
Kellen Ashford
816-610-2132
ashford.kellen@epa.gov
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR)
Brian Quinn
573-751-1010
brian.quinn@dnr.mo.gov
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MoDHSS)
Lisa Cox
lisa.cox@health.mo.gov
Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)
Katy Linnenbrink
573-751-6294
katy.linnenbrink@sema.dps.mo.gov
EPA is working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MoDHSS) to address the elevated radionuclides in the Silex Public Water System by providing the community with information about the potential risks associated with radium. EPA has also directed the city to prepare a plan to provider residents with alternative water.
The city of Silex has a history of radionuclide violations. The most recent Notice of Violation, issued Aug. 11, 2023, was for a radionuclide running annual average of 5.75 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for the radionuclides – radium-226 and radium-228 (combined) – for drinking water is 5 pCi/L. All MCL violations require public notice.
EPA’s risk associated with this level of radionuclides in the Silex PWS is not an immediate threat, but rather one that could come from consistent, long-term exposure.
As the levels of radionuclides in the Silex PWS have been persistently elevated for numerous years, EPA encourages members of the Silex community who are concerned about their water to use alternative sources of drinking water, such as bottled water, for drinking and cooking. Our goal is to work with the city to find other long-term solutions as quickly as possible.
The Toxicological Profile of radium from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), notes that there are no known health effects of radium from dermal exposure. Therefore, activities like bathing, washing dishes, and laundry do not pose a risk or require bottled water.
Water Distribution by SEMA
SEMA routinely works with its partners to coordinate distribution of alternate drinking water upon request by local communities, on a temporary basis.
Twenty-four pallets of bottled water (approximately 5,760 gallons) were delivered to Silex today, and SEMA is assisting the Mayor’s Office in coordinating a point of distribution for residents. SEMA staff are also working closely with local emergency management partners to assess any ongoing needs.
What is radium?
Radium is a naturally occuring radioactive metal that can exist in several different forms, called isotopes. Radium is formed when uranium and thorium break down in the environment. Small amounts of uranium and thorium are found in most rocks and soil.
High concentrations of naturally occurring radium are found in some areas of the United States.
According to ATSDR, populations at greatest risk of exposure from the consumption of drinking water with a high radium content are located in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain province in New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has reported that oxygen levels and dissolved minerals are among the factors responsible for high concentrations of radium in untreated water from an aquifer that underlies six states, including Missouri.
What are the risks associated with exposure to radium?
There is no immediate risk from consumption of water from the Silex public system. However, radium is a known human carcinogen and drinking water with levels of radium above MCLs for numerous years can increase the risk of developing certain cancers.
What can I do to protect myself, my family, and my friends from radium?
Radium in water, at levels above the MCL, poses a potential hazard to human health when the water is used for drinking or cooking over many years. EPA recommends that residents use alternative sources of water, such as bottled water, for drinking and cooking.
Points of Contact
EPA Region 7
Kellen Ashford
816-610-2132
ashford.kellen@epa.gov
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR)
Brian Quinn
573-751-1010
brian.quinn@dnr.mo.gov
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MoDHSS)
Lisa Cox
lisa.cox@health.mo.gov
Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)
Katy Linnenbrink
573-751-6294
katy.linnenbrink@sema.dps.mo.gov
EPA Further Extends Comment Period for Proposed Cleanup of Contaminated Sediment at Quanta Resources Superfund Site in Edgewater, NJ
NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated sediment and surface water at the Quanta Resources Superfund site in Edgewater, New Jersey to November 6, 2023. The original public comment period was scheduled to end on October 6, 2023. EPA previously held a public meeting at the Edgewater Community Center on July 25, 2023, to explain the new cleanup proposal to the public.
The cleanup outlined in the proposed plan will address the sediment and surface water contamination in an area of the site called Operable Unit 2 (OU2). Sediment in OU2 is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), highly concentrated tar-like material referred to as non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), and arsenic. Under the proposed plan, EPA would oversee work to:
Demolish the 115 River Road pier structure and remove other pilings and structures within the contaminated area, to access and remove contaminated sediment underlying the pier structure.
Remove contaminated sediment to depths ranging from 10 to 30 feet and take it to a licensed facility off-site for disposal.
Place a cap over less contaminated areas of the river bottom to lock in residual contamination.
Establish “institutional” controls such as navigational restrictions, signs prohibiting swimming, wading, or fishing, and other use restrictions to protect the cap.
Monitor sediment and surface water long-term to assess the effectiveness of the cleanup in preventing the migration of contaminants from sediment to surface water and maintaining the cap as needed.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed by November 6, 2023, to Thomas Dobinson, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: Dobinson.Thomas@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Quanta Resources Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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The cleanup outlined in the proposed plan will address the sediment and surface water contamination in an area of the site called Operable Unit 2 (OU2). Sediment in OU2 is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), highly concentrated tar-like material referred to as non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), and arsenic. Under the proposed plan, EPA would oversee work to:
Demolish the 115 River Road pier structure and remove other pilings and structures within the contaminated area, to access and remove contaminated sediment underlying the pier structure.
Remove contaminated sediment to depths ranging from 10 to 30 feet and take it to a licensed facility off-site for disposal.
Place a cap over less contaminated areas of the river bottom to lock in residual contamination.
Establish “institutional” controls such as navigational restrictions, signs prohibiting swimming, wading, or fishing, and other use restrictions to protect the cap.
Monitor sediment and surface water long-term to assess the effectiveness of the cleanup in preventing the migration of contaminants from sediment to surface water and maintaining the cap as needed.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed by November 6, 2023, to Thomas Dobinson, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: Dobinson.Thomas@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Quanta Resources Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Settles with Integrated DNA Technologies over San Diego-Area Air Emissions, Hazardous Waste Claims
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Integrated DNA Technologies Inc. for claims of violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act tied to emissions at the company’s San Diego, California facility. The company has agreed to pay a $15,890 civil penalty and has certified it is now in compliance with the requirements of federal law. Additionally, as part of the settlement, the company agreed to perform a supplemental environmental project valued at $61,388 to purchase equipment for the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s use in safely responding to emergencies involving airborne contaminants.
“Failure to prevent emissions tied to hazardous waste and leaky equipment can pose a serious health risk to nearby communities. It’s imperative that companies meet their obligations to properly manage hazardous waste,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This settlement helps protect workers, emergency first responders, and the environment in the greater San Diego region.”
Integrated DNA Technologies Inc. develops and manufactures custom synthetic DNA that supports the life sciences industry and is a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. During a 2022 inspection, EPA determined that the company violated federal law by failing to comply with hazardous waste regulations related to air emissions standards for equipment leaks and tanks.
Hazardous waste that is improperly managed poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, passed in 1976, was established to set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste. The act requires effective monitoring and control of air emissions from hazardous waste storage tanks, pipes, valves, and other equipment.
Learn more about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Learn more about EPA's enforcement program, Supplemental Environmental Projects, and how to report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations to the EPA.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
“Failure to prevent emissions tied to hazardous waste and leaky equipment can pose a serious health risk to nearby communities. It’s imperative that companies meet their obligations to properly manage hazardous waste,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This settlement helps protect workers, emergency first responders, and the environment in the greater San Diego region.”
Integrated DNA Technologies Inc. develops and manufactures custom synthetic DNA that supports the life sciences industry and is a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. During a 2022 inspection, EPA determined that the company violated federal law by failing to comply with hazardous waste regulations related to air emissions standards for equipment leaks and tanks.
Hazardous waste that is improperly managed poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, passed in 1976, was established to set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste. The act requires effective monitoring and control of air emissions from hazardous waste storage tanks, pipes, valves, and other equipment.
Learn more about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Learn more about EPA's enforcement program, Supplemental Environmental Projects, and how to report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations to the EPA.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
EPA Cleanup Plan Will Address Contaminated Soil at the Olean Well Field Superfund Site in Cattaraugus County, New York
NEW YORK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its cleanup plan to excavate and remove soil contaminated with volatile organic compounds on the former AVX Corporation (AVX) property at the Olean Well Field Superfund site in Olean, New York. This action will protect those at risk and remove a source of groundwater contamination.
“Following a public meeting, and the opportunity to hear directly from the community, EPA has finalized its cleanup plan for the Olean Well Field Superfund site,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This plan will enable us to remove soil that is a source of contamination at this site and advance our over overall cleanup of the site.”
The finalized plan will address soil contamination that was not fully addressed by prior cleanup actions. The contamination is under and near the former manufacturing building on the AVX Property. Under the plan, contractors will:
demolish and remove the concrete slab floor and foundation.
dig out the polluted soil that is above the water table.
take the dug-out material off site.
restore the area with clean fill.
The Olean Well Field site is an approximately 1.5 square-mile area in Cattaraugus County that contains various wells, homes, and manufacturing facilities. Earlier industrial operations at the AVX property, as well as at three other facilities that EPA considers sources of site contamination, resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, and other volatile organic compounds. As a result of the contamination at all four facilities, EPA added the site to the Superfund list in 1983. Since that time, several investigations have led to cleanup remedies for the four source facilities impacting soil and groundwater, most of which are being carried out by parties responsible for the site.
On July 27, 2023, EPA proposed this cleanup plan to the public and held a public meeting on August 8, 2023, to explain the plan and take comments. The finalized plan, called a Record of Decision, released today, addresses the comments received and formalizes EPA’s selected cleanup plan for the contaminated soil at the site.
Visit the Olean Well Field Superfund site profile page for additional background and to view the Record of Decision.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter now known as X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“Following a public meeting, and the opportunity to hear directly from the community, EPA has finalized its cleanup plan for the Olean Well Field Superfund site,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This plan will enable us to remove soil that is a source of contamination at this site and advance our over overall cleanup of the site.”
The finalized plan will address soil contamination that was not fully addressed by prior cleanup actions. The contamination is under and near the former manufacturing building on the AVX Property. Under the plan, contractors will:
demolish and remove the concrete slab floor and foundation.
dig out the polluted soil that is above the water table.
take the dug-out material off site.
restore the area with clean fill.
The Olean Well Field site is an approximately 1.5 square-mile area in Cattaraugus County that contains various wells, homes, and manufacturing facilities. Earlier industrial operations at the AVX property, as well as at three other facilities that EPA considers sources of site contamination, resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, and other volatile organic compounds. As a result of the contamination at all four facilities, EPA added the site to the Superfund list in 1983. Since that time, several investigations have led to cleanup remedies for the four source facilities impacting soil and groundwater, most of which are being carried out by parties responsible for the site.
On July 27, 2023, EPA proposed this cleanup plan to the public and held a public meeting on August 8, 2023, to explain the plan and take comments. The finalized plan, called a Record of Decision, released today, addresses the comments received and formalizes EPA’s selected cleanup plan for the contaminated soil at the site.
Visit the Olean Well Field Superfund site profile page for additional background and to view the Record of Decision.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter now known as X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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