EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide (posted 11/24/09)

New standard to protect millions of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens

WASHINGTON – For the first time in nearly 40 years, EPA is proposing to strengthen the nation’s sulfur dioxide (SO2) air quality standard to protect public health. Power plants and other industrial facilities emit SO2 directly into the air. Exposure to SO2 can aggravate asthma, cause respiratory difficulties, and result in emergency room visits and hospitalization. People with asthma, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to SO2’s effects.

“Short-term exposures to peak SO2 levels can have significant health effects – especially for children and the elderly – and leave our families and taxpayers saddled with high health care costs,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re strengthening clean air standards, stepping up monitoring and reporting in communities most in need, and providing the American people with protections they rightly deserve.”

EPA is taking comment on a proposal to establish a new national one-hour SO2 standard, between 50 and 100 parts per billion (ppb). This standard is designed to protect against short-term exposures ranging from five minutes to 24 hours. Because the revised standards would be more protective, EPA is proposing to revoke the current 24-hour and annual SO2 health standards.

EPA also is proposing changes to monitoring and reporting requirements for SO2. Monitors would be placed in areas with high SO2 emission levels as well as in urban areas. The proposal also would change the Air Quality Index to reflect the revised SO2 standards. This change would improve states’ ability to alert the public when short-term SO2 levels may affect their health.

The proposal addresses only the SO2 primary standards, which are designed to protect public health. EPA will address the secondary standard – designed to protect the public welfare, including the environment – as part of a separate proposal in 2011.

EPA first set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for SO2 in 1971, establishing both a primary standard to protect health and a secondary standard to protect the public welfare. Annual average SO2 concentrations have decreased by more than 71 percent since 1980.

The public comment period will be open for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. The agency will hold a public hearing on Jan. 5, 2010 in Atlanta. EPA must issue final standards by June 2, 2010.

More information about the proposal: http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide

EPA expected to act in regulating carbon dioxide (posted 2/25/09)
By John M. Broder
Thursday, February 19, 2009 International Herald Tribune

WASHINGTON: The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to act for the first time to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that scientists blame for the warming of the planet, according to top Obama administration officials.

The decision, which most likely would play out in stages over a period of months, would have a profound impact on transportation, manufacturing costs and how utilities generate power. It could accelerate the progress of energy and climate change legislation in Congress and form a basis for the United States' negotiating position at United Nations climate talks set for December in Copenhagen.

The environmental agency is under order from the Supreme Court to make a determination whether carbon dioxide is a pollutant that endangers public health and welfare, an order that the Bush administration essentially ignored despite near-unanimous belief among agency experts that research points inexorably to such a finding.

Lisa Jackson, the new EPA administrator, said in an interview that she had asked her staff to review the latest scientific evidence and prepare the documentation for a so-called endangerment finding. Jackson said she had not decided to issue such a finding but she pointedly noted that the second anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, is April 2, and there is the wide expectation that she will act by then. Click here for the story.

EPA Sued by 14 States (Posted 5/30/08)

The public interest law firm Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on May 27, 2008 challenging the U.S. EPA regarding smog regulations. In addition, fourteen states have also challenged the EPA smog standards, saying smog regulations issued in March watered-down standards for ground-level ozone and air pollution. The states — New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island — were joined by New York City and the District of Columbia.

A copy of the lawsuit filed by Earthjustice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit can be found here: www.earthjustice.org/library/legal_docs/petition-for-review.pdf.

On October 29, 2007, the NJDEP submitted its State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to implement the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) to the USEPA. The core of this SIP revision is the State's demonstration that its two multi-state 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas will attain the 8-hour ozone NAAQS by their mandatory attainment date of June 15, 2010. The remainder of the SIP revision addresses the other mandatory SIP elements for 8-hour ozone (with the exception of a Reasonable Available Control Technology (RACT) analysis, which the Department submitted final to the USEPA on August 1, 2007) and other related issues. (Posted 11/15/07)

The final SIP revision is available online at:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/baqp/8hrsip/8hrsip.html and
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/baqp/sip/siprevs.htm

Utility Energy Efficiency Vision Can Save Billions of Dollars While Fighting Climate Change (Posted 11/15/07)

More than 60 organizations have collaborated on an EPA report that could save Americans more than $500 billion in energy costs over 25 years. This report, the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Vision for 2025, provides a framework for states, utilities and other stakeholders to consider when seeking policies and programs to achieve all cost effective energy efficiency measures. http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/actionplan/resources.htm

A recently released French study which concluded that biomethane transport fuel was the highest and best use of organic wastes. The study can be downloaded here (posted 10/17/07):
http://www.ngvglobal.com/technology/biogas-for-transport-best-use-of-organic-waste-french-study.html

New Record Keeping Requirements and Rule for Emergency Generators (Posted 3/7/07)Any facility which operates an emergency generator with a rated capacity larger then 37 kilowatts
(Kw) is affected by these changes even if no air pollution permit is required. As an example, a 37
Kw generator is equivalent to 50 horsepower and is typically used as emergency back up power at
small businesses.

Knowing poplar's DNA is expected to yield biofuel advances and more (Posted 9/28/06)

Looking for innovative ideas for water reuse? Try this site: http://www.watereuse.org

DEP Easy Access lists DEP Staff Members.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/easyaccess/

Water Quality

Proposed Revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Rules (posted 3/19/09)
Below are 'bullets' from Michele Putnam related to the upcoming proposed revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Rules. The current rules can be found from the DEP website at http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/sdwarule.pdf

With regard to the Licensing rules, N.J.A.C. 7:10A-1.12 which addresses operator "Duties, records and reports" here is a website that might help answer the question raised by Dan Van Abs. The link is http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/NJAC7_10A.pdf
Michele Putnam's Bullets

Final Rule on Lead and Copper in Drinking Water
EPA issued a final rule intended to improve requirements in the areas of monitoring, customer awareness, and lead service line replacement In the Oct. 10 Federal Register. The final rule makes several targeted regulatory revisions to the existing national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper (see related story in Sept. 28 issue). The final rule is effective on Dec. 10. A copy of the rule and more information on lead in drinking water are available at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/index.html.

Fuss about Drugs in Drinking Water Unnecessary, Scientists Say
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/572522.html

Hearing on the Integrated WQ Report July 24th
Please also be advised that the Draft 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Methods Document (Methods Document) is now available for public review and comment. The Methods Document is intended to provide a description of the methodology to be used to develop the 2008 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies, a key component of the 2008 Integrated Report. A public notice announcing the availability of the draft Methods Document for review and comment was published in the New Jersey Register on July 2, 2007 (see 39 N.J.R. 2548(a).). (posted 7/16/07)

Authorities no longer will prepare
WMPs under proposed rule (posted 5/23/07)

Water Quality Management Planning rules, N.J.A.C. 7:15
Proposal Date: 5/21/2007
Comment Period closed: 8/20/2007
View copy of the proposal (PDF)

The rule amendments will affect New Jersey Authorities, Municipalities and Counties and propose the following: click here

w6726.htm.

DEP Releases Results of Drinking-Water Study (Posted 2/20/07)
PFOA is used to make fluropolymers-substances with special properties used in many industrial applications, including the manufacture of consumer products such as non-stick cookware and all-weather clothing.

To view DEP's occurrence study and the report establishing a guidance level,
visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/pfoa.htm

Public can instantly learn Progress of Permit Applications through new feature on DEP Web Site
(Posted 2/20/07)
To use the new Permit Progress Report, visit: http://datamine.state.nj.us/DEP_OPRA/OpraMain/report?report=Pending+Permit+Progress+Report

Revised Rule Proposed for Lead in Drinking Water (Posted 7/10/06)

Draft Guidance for Implementing the Methylmercury Water Quality Criterion (posted 8/15/06)
In January 2001, EPA published ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) recommendations for methylmercury for the protection of people who eat fish and shellfish. This criterion, 0.3 mg methylmercury/kg fish tissue wet weight, marks EPA's first issuance of a water quality criterion expressed as a fish and shellfish tissue value rather than as an ambient water column value.

This document provides technical guidance to states and authorized tribes exercising responsibility under section CWA 303(c) on how to use the new fish tissue-based criterion recommendation as they develop their own water quality standards for methylmercury.

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/methylmercury/guidance-draft.html

AEA's comments on Section 303 list and methods (Posted 6/5/06)

Periphyton Standing Crop and Diatom Assemblages in the Wissahickon pdf (Posted 6/5/06)

For information on pesticides go to http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/

The report regarding pesticides in the nation's streams and ground water is out and can be downloaded for free. Go to either: www.usgs.gov (Posted 3/6/06)

CADDIS: Helping Scientists Identify the Causes of Biological Impairments
EPA site to help with impaired water bodies. http://cfpub.epa.gov/caddis/ (Posted 1/27/06)

Surface Water Quality Comments - Final (posted 3/1/06)
Final AEA Comments (pdf)
December 14 Supplemental Comments

Click below for a copy of the presentations from the September 26, 2005 Permittees Meeting held at the Middlesex County UA.
Debra Hammond's Slides John Hall's Slides

EPA Releases Draft Metals Risk Assessment Framework (Posted 1/5/05)

The Draft Framework for Inorganic Metals Risk Assessment, designed to provide guidance to scientists in assessing

the human health and ecological risks associated with inorganic metals and metal compounds, is available for public

comment through Jan. 18, 2005.  Many EPA programs make decisions on whether and how to regulate metals,

particularly controlling releases to the environment and establishing acceptable levels in air, water, land and other

media. The framework presents recommendations for conducting metals risk assessment; including tools, methods

and data for conducting human exposure and health assessments. The draft is available at:

http://cfpub2.epa.gov/ncea/raf/recordisplay.cfm?deid=88903.

TMDL Report for PCBs in the Delaware River now available
The stage 1 TMDL, an executive summary , and associated reports are available on EPA Region III website via the following link: http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/index.htm

EPA's National Water Program Strategic Plan, 2004-2008

Phosphorus: Marvel or Menace?
Diane Alexander, Maraziti, Falcon & Healey

All NJPDES permit holders and water purveyors
Please note the site below for a new Supreme Court Ruling which prohibits lesser quality waters to be discharged into C1 designated water bodies. You may recall that AEA raised this issue with our comments to DEP regarding the last listings of water bodies that were raised to C1.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/08
mar20041130/www.supremecourtus.gov/o
pinions/03pdf/02-626.pdf.

USGS Releases Water Quality Reports
To read more information about the reports go to http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/fs/2004/3045/.

Water Supply

New Jersey Drinking Water Running Out (Posted 10/25/07)
Click here

Water Is Life, and Infrastructure Makes It Happen™ (Posted 2/21/07) is a program to help communities build, maintain and improve life-sustaining water and wastewater systems. A toolkit including PowerPoint presentations, media releases and other materials is available to assist you in educating the community – visit www.WaterIsLife.Net to find these and other tools:

Talking Points for a Citizen Presentation
Fact Sheets
Frequently Asked Questions

After 60 years, debate over fluoride still rages

USGS Releases First Annual Streamflow Summary (Posted 1/31/07)
Streamflow conditions last year reached record-breaking highs in the Northeast and
near-record lows in other areas of the country, according to a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), “Streamflow of 2006 – Water Year Summary. ”The report compares changes in streamflow conditions over the course of 2006 to conditions over the past 75 years. “Despite these regional highs and lows, however, streamflow conditions nationwide were relatively typical,” says Harry Lins, hydrologist with the USGS surface-water program. “We expect in any given year that one percent of streamgages will experience a new all-time record high or all-time record low streamflow. In 2006, two percent of streamgages reported new record high streamflow, most of which were in New England, and one percent of streamgages experienced new record lows.” Below normal conditions were prevalent in Texas and other states in the central and southern Great Plains, parts of the Southeast, and Alaska. USGS plans to provide similar summaries every year and collects data from more than 7,400 streamgages. The summary report is available at http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/2006summary/.

U.S. National Academies Launches Water Information Center on the Web (Posted 9/12/05)
The U.S. National Academies this week announced the launch of its web-based Water Information Center, containing more than 100 peer-reviewed reports from the National Academies on water-related issues. The goal of the Center is to assist the work of water scientists, engineers, managers, policy-makers, and students throughout the world by providing reports that represent independent and objective consensus among experts from academia, industry, and other entities. The website features the following major topics: Water Supply and Sanitation, Water and Soil Remediation, Hydrologic Hazards, Water Quality in the Natural Environment, River Basin Systems Management, Environmental Assessment, Management, and Restoration, and Water Science and Research. All of the reports are free on-line and summaries can be downloaded as PDF documents. The web address is http://water.nationalacademies.org

After 60 years, debate over fluoride still rages

EPA Releases Report on Source Water Assessment Program Obstacles (Posted 4/6/05)
On March 28 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA OIG) released a report reviewing the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) and Source Water Protection Program (SWPP). Although some states are using these programs to improve their drinking water protection programs and to prioritize efforts and resources, assessment use is limited at the local level, according to OIG. In the report, OIG points to a lack of consistent funding as a program weakness and stresses the need for more collaborative partnerships “to leverage human and financial resources, technical assistance, and outreach to utilities and communities.” OIG recommended that EPA provide additional guidance to States on how to leverage resources and to improve cooperation and coordination between States and EPA. A copy of the report is available at http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2005/20050328-2005-P-00013.pdf

EPA Published List of Contaminants for Possible Future Drinking Water Regulations (Posted 3/2/05)
In February 2008, EPA announced the draft third Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 3) and described the process and rationale used to develop the list.

Looking for innovative ideas for water reuse? Try this site: http://www.watereuse.org

Watershed

Watershed Tool of the Month
Enviromapper for Water (Posted 3/19/07)
Enviromapper for Water (http://map8.epa.gov/enviromapper/) is a GIS based application that allows users to visualize and display geographic water information, including a wealth of information stored in EPA’s databases (e.g. Water Quality Standards, Impaired Waters/TMDLs, Waterbody Assessments, Water Quality Monitoring, and Point Source Information). To learn more about EPA’s tools, sign up for the March 28th Webcast on Key EPA Tools for Watershed Management (see below).

The latest Wanaque Report now available (Posted 6/30/05)
Click here to view the report (pdf)

New federal guidelines for 319 grant program funding

DEP Division of Watershed Management

New Jersey Watershed Management Areas
Detailed maps showing specific watershed management areas by county, provided by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Watershed Management.

Purdue's "Know Your Watershed" Site
http://www2.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/Brochures/GetToKnow.html

Knowing poplar's DNA is expected to yield biofuel advances and more (Posted 9/28/06)

DEP Easy Access lists DEP Staff Members. http://www.nj.gov/dep/easyaccess/

Security Training Modules for Water Utilities For more security resources check the WEF Security page http://www.wef.org/watersecurity/

Revised Rule Proposed for Lead in Drinking Water (Posted 7/10/06)

DEP Easy Access lists DEP Staff Members.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/easyaccess/

Security Training Modules for Water Utilities

For more security resources check the WEF Security page
http://www.wef.org/watersecurity/