India-USEC rates hit four-month low amid sagging cargo volumes: forwarders
Sources also noted that some recent sailings on the trade lane have had difficulty filling space at Nhava Sheva and Mundra in line with declared allocation plans.
Employer-labor tensions in North America disrupting more cargo
The disruptions coming out of disagreements during port work contract negotiations in North America have intensified, as seen currently in Western Canada and Montreal, and possibly again on the US East and Gulf coasts come mid-January.
EPA Announces $254,000 in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution in NY as Part of Investing in America Agenda
Rochester, NY – (November 11, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to receive nearly $254,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.
NYSDEC will partner with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT to provide technical assistance to chemical manufacturing, processing, and formulation businesses. Using EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, NYSDEC has identified businesses releasing toxic chemicals (e.g., xylene, toluene, methanol, heavy metals, nitrates) and will focus on green chemistry alternatives and training workers.
"By working collaboratively with NYSDEC and RIT, we are promoting sustainable practices in New York’s chemical industry,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia "This project not only fosters innovation but also prioritizes the health and well-being of communities that are often most affected by pollution."
The project will provide comprehensive technical assistance designed to improve environmental practices during product design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Key components of the initiative include:
A series of workshops focused on green chemistry principles tailored for industry professionals.
An industry-specific green chemistry webinar will be offered to expand reach and accessibility.
Customized projects will be conducted at individual companies to implement green chemistry practices effectively.
This initiative will benefit NY communities by reducing the release of toxic chemicals into the air, water, and land. By applying green chemistry principles, participants will mitigate environmental hazards and enhance human health outcomes in these vulnerable areas.
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT will foster sustainable practices in industries across New York through education, research, and technical assistance.
The application of green chemistry is crucial for reducing air, water, and land releases of toxic chemicals as reported under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. This initiative will not only benefit industry stakeholders but also contribute to healthier communities and a cleaner environment.
In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business’ efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Background
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA’s P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022 and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.
The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Read more about P2 and EPA’s P2 Grant Program.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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NYSDEC will partner with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT to provide technical assistance to chemical manufacturing, processing, and formulation businesses. Using EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, NYSDEC has identified businesses releasing toxic chemicals (e.g., xylene, toluene, methanol, heavy metals, nitrates) and will focus on green chemistry alternatives and training workers.
"By working collaboratively with NYSDEC and RIT, we are promoting sustainable practices in New York’s chemical industry,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia "This project not only fosters innovation but also prioritizes the health and well-being of communities that are often most affected by pollution."
The project will provide comprehensive technical assistance designed to improve environmental practices during product design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Key components of the initiative include:
A series of workshops focused on green chemistry principles tailored for industry professionals.
An industry-specific green chemistry webinar will be offered to expand reach and accessibility.
Customized projects will be conducted at individual companies to implement green chemistry practices effectively.
This initiative will benefit NY communities by reducing the release of toxic chemicals into the air, water, and land. By applying green chemistry principles, participants will mitigate environmental hazards and enhance human health outcomes in these vulnerable areas.
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT will foster sustainable practices in industries across New York through education, research, and technical assistance.
The application of green chemistry is crucial for reducing air, water, and land releases of toxic chemicals as reported under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. This initiative will not only benefit industry stakeholders but also contribute to healthier communities and a cleaner environment.
In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business’ efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Background
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA’s P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022 and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.
The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Read more about P2 and EPA’s P2 Grant Program.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Further Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Final Cleanup Plan at Newark’s Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, Lister Ave. Portion
Newark, N.J. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for its proposal to finalize a cleanup plan for the 80-120 Lister Ave. portion of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site in Newark, N.J. In response to community request, the deadline for submitting public comments has been extended from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26, 2024. The EPA held a public meeting on Sept. 19 to outline details of the plan and address questions from residents and stakeholders.
The proposed plan calls for continued operation of the existing remedy, with improvements including reinstalling and reactivating a total of seven groundwater pumps, upgrading the current groundwater treatment system, and making any necessary repairs to the existing cap covering contaminated materials. This approach builds on the previously completed work and would avoid the short-term risks associated with other options such as digging up and removing the contaminated material outright.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be submitted until Nov. 26, 2024, to Eugenia Naranjo, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email: Naranjo.eugenia@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Diamond Alkali Superfund site page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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The proposed plan calls for continued operation of the existing remedy, with improvements including reinstalling and reactivating a total of seven groundwater pumps, upgrading the current groundwater treatment system, and making any necessary repairs to the existing cap covering contaminated materials. This approach builds on the previously completed work and would avoid the short-term risks associated with other options such as digging up and removing the contaminated material outright.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be submitted until Nov. 26, 2024, to Eugenia Naranjo, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email: Naranjo.eugenia@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Diamond Alkali Superfund site page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Issues Compliance Order to Baltimore Metal Shredding Operation to Address Air Violations
PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 07, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has issued an administrative order on consent to Sims ARG Inc., a scrap metal shedding and recycling facility located at 3000 Vera Street, in Baltimore, Maryland. The order alleged that the facility did not obtain the necessary permit required by the federal Clean Air Act and the Maryland State Air Permitting Program.
The permit is required in order to limit emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can contribute to ground-level ozone that can be harmful to human health. The young, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma are especially vulnerable to the effects of ground-level ozone pollution. Test data has shown that metal shredding operations emit VOCs at rates up to 200 pounds per hour.
“For far too long, metal shredding and recycling facilities have polluted the air, especially in underserved communities in urban areas,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This action demonstrates that EPA will hold facilities accountable when they fail to take the actions necessary to meet health-based air quality standards.”
The order requires the company to submit a complete permit application to the State of Maryland within 60 days of the effective date of the order.
Get more information about reducing pollution from metal recycling facilities.
The permit is required in order to limit emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can contribute to ground-level ozone that can be harmful to human health. The young, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma are especially vulnerable to the effects of ground-level ozone pollution. Test data has shown that metal shredding operations emit VOCs at rates up to 200 pounds per hour.
“For far too long, metal shredding and recycling facilities have polluted the air, especially in underserved communities in urban areas,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This action demonstrates that EPA will hold facilities accountable when they fail to take the actions necessary to meet health-based air quality standards.”
The order requires the company to submit a complete permit application to the State of Maryland within 60 days of the effective date of the order.
Get more information about reducing pollution from metal recycling facilities.
EPA Emergency Order Compels Havasu Water Company to Act to Protect Public Health, Ensure Safe Drinking Water
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an Emergency Administrative Order under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to the Havasu Water Company. The Order, based on EPA’s mission to protect human health, comes after frequent water outages that may endanger public health because of the high potential for bacteria or other disease-causing organisms to be introduced into the company’s water distribution system.
“Ensuring the safety and reliability of drinking water across all communities, regardless of their size or economic status, is a primary focus for our agency,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "We will continue to use our full authority to protect public health and ensure compliance with drinking water standards."
The emergency order compels the Havasu Water Company to make alternative water available during any incident where EPA requires distribution of Boil Water Notices, such as water outages. Since March 2022, Havasu Water Company has been under a Boil Water Notice for approximately 300 days due to water line breaks, power outages, or other incidents causing water outages and loss of pressure.
The company must also develop standard operating procedures to appropriately respond to pressure loss incidents, have a third-party contractor assess the water distribution system and correct major deficiencies, and ensure certified personnel conduct essential operator duties.
The order also requires Havasu Water Company to issue EPA-approved Boil Water Notices in accordance with EPA regulations and during any loss of pressure incident. During four previous water outage incidents the company did not issue such a notice, even though there was a loss of pressure in the system. The company failed to issue a timely Boil Water Notice to all customers on both occasions where EPA explicitly required it. In several instances, the company distributed misinformation to customers by using language that nullified the purpose of the required notice and by physically covering a notice posted in a public place with a letter with misinformation, despite EPA providing a template and direction for the issuance of a Boil Water Notice.
This emergency action follows an administrative order issued by EPA to the Havasu Water Company on May 28, 2024, for violations of the SDWA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. These violations included exceedance of the maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes, which are byproducts that may form during the disinfection process. The regulations set a maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes at 80 micrograms per liter. Long-term exposure to levels above that may lead to increased risk of cancer, along with liver, kidney, or central nervous problems. Additional Havasu Water Company violations included the company’s failure to have qualified personnel operate the water system, failure to provide required public notifications, failure to correct significant deficiencies with the system, and failure to report appropriate surface water treatment data.
The Havasu Water Company is a privately-owned community water system located along the western shore of Lake Havasu and within the boundaries of the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation. The system relies on surface water filtration treatment and chlorination to serve drinking water to approximately 361 people.
EPA can issue an Emergency Administrative Order to address public health endangerments concerning public water systems and underground sources of drinking water. For more information about this order and EPA’s actions, visit this website about regulatory oversight.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
“Ensuring the safety and reliability of drinking water across all communities, regardless of their size or economic status, is a primary focus for our agency,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "We will continue to use our full authority to protect public health and ensure compliance with drinking water standards."
The emergency order compels the Havasu Water Company to make alternative water available during any incident where EPA requires distribution of Boil Water Notices, such as water outages. Since March 2022, Havasu Water Company has been under a Boil Water Notice for approximately 300 days due to water line breaks, power outages, or other incidents causing water outages and loss of pressure.
The company must also develop standard operating procedures to appropriately respond to pressure loss incidents, have a third-party contractor assess the water distribution system and correct major deficiencies, and ensure certified personnel conduct essential operator duties.
The order also requires Havasu Water Company to issue EPA-approved Boil Water Notices in accordance with EPA regulations and during any loss of pressure incident. During four previous water outage incidents the company did not issue such a notice, even though there was a loss of pressure in the system. The company failed to issue a timely Boil Water Notice to all customers on both occasions where EPA explicitly required it. In several instances, the company distributed misinformation to customers by using language that nullified the purpose of the required notice and by physically covering a notice posted in a public place with a letter with misinformation, despite EPA providing a template and direction for the issuance of a Boil Water Notice.
This emergency action follows an administrative order issued by EPA to the Havasu Water Company on May 28, 2024, for violations of the SDWA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. These violations included exceedance of the maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes, which are byproducts that may form during the disinfection process. The regulations set a maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes at 80 micrograms per liter. Long-term exposure to levels above that may lead to increased risk of cancer, along with liver, kidney, or central nervous problems. Additional Havasu Water Company violations included the company’s failure to have qualified personnel operate the water system, failure to provide required public notifications, failure to correct significant deficiencies with the system, and failure to report appropriate surface water treatment data.
The Havasu Water Company is a privately-owned community water system located along the western shore of Lake Havasu and within the boundaries of the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation. The system relies on surface water filtration treatment and chlorination to serve drinking water to approximately 361 people.
EPA can issue an Emergency Administrative Order to address public health endangerments concerning public water systems and underground sources of drinking water. For more information about this order and EPA’s actions, visit this website about regulatory oversight.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
FRIDAY: EPA to announce shore power grant award for Georgia Ports
SAVANNAH, Ga. (November 6, 2024) – Local media are invited to hear comments from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle, GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch and local officials at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Port of Savannah, Garden City Terminal.
Acting Regional Administrator Gettle will announce the amount of a federal grant that will help cover the cost of providing electric power to vessels calling on the Port of Savannah. The project will give vessel operators the option of shutting off vessel engines at dock to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Media are invited to attend the announcement and interview officials. Due to the nature of this event, we ask that all media arrive at the event location no later than 10 a.m. Nov. 8.
Members of the media should gather at the GPA Administrative Office, 2 Main St., Garden City, GA 31408. A port escort will guide reporters to the on-terminal event site.
WHO: EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle
GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch
Mayor Van R. Johnson II, Mayor of Savannah
Chester A. Ellis, Chatham County, Chairman
WHAT: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant Announcement
WHEN: 11 a.m., FRIDAY, NOV. 8 (Media arrival 10 a.m.)
WHERE: 2 Main St., Garden City, GA 31408
MEDIA: Media representatives, please RSVP to Edward Fulford at 912.964.3806 or efulford@gaports.com.
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Acting Regional Administrator Gettle will announce the amount of a federal grant that will help cover the cost of providing electric power to vessels calling on the Port of Savannah. The project will give vessel operators the option of shutting off vessel engines at dock to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Media are invited to attend the announcement and interview officials. Due to the nature of this event, we ask that all media arrive at the event location no later than 10 a.m. Nov. 8.
Members of the media should gather at the GPA Administrative Office, 2 Main St., Garden City, GA 31408. A port escort will guide reporters to the on-terminal event site.
WHO: EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle
GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch
Mayor Van R. Johnson II, Mayor of Savannah
Chester A. Ellis, Chatham County, Chairman
WHAT: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant Announcement
WHEN: 11 a.m., FRIDAY, NOV. 8 (Media arrival 10 a.m.)
WHERE: 2 Main St., Garden City, GA 31408
MEDIA: Media representatives, please RSVP to Edward Fulford at 912.964.3806 or efulford@gaports.com.
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Ships waiting out BC port closures in hopes of quick deal with longshore union
The work stoppage along Canada’s West Coast has also shut down rail operations, with CN suspending westbound rail service to British Columbia ports and CPKC halting acceptance of export and empty containers for the province.