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The article offers updates related to environmental protection initiatives in the U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration has expressed their intention to strengthen air pollution and mercury policies for the optimization of environmental enforcement. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed implementation of the 1997 8-Hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality standards. The McIlvaine Co. reveals that the $6 billion stimulus package for water industry is expected to improve and expand water infrastructure projects which includes clean and purified water.

The article discusses issues related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) use of cost figures when calculating the benefit versus the cost of a proposed rule or to establishing standards. A study conducted by the Associated Press revealed that the EPA has lowered the cost of a proposed rule by almost $1 million over the last five years in their calculations. According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the EPA overstepped its authority by implementing the cap-and-trade rule for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

The article discusses the significance of the Pollution Prevention Act establish by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1990. According to the article, the act is the national policy created to prevent or reduce pollution at the source whatever feasible. The Congress states that the U.S. emits millions of tons of pollution annually and spends tens of billions of dollars per year controlling it. When the law is enacted, it further admitted that there had been a lack of attention to source reduction historically, but that it was fundamentally more desirable than waste management and pollution control.

The article offers information on how to help ensure accuracy and stability of protocol gases in the U.S. Ten tips are suggested in preventing problems with calibration gases. The first tip suggests reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency list of approved Protocol Gas Verification Program vendors. Furthermore, it implies to make sure that gases are within the expiration dates, as well as to ask the vendors to make gases directly traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or the national measurement institute (NMi) gases. It was believed that proper planning and handling of protocol gases could potentially save costs. INSET: Seven Tips for Understanding and Implementing the EPA's….

The article highlights the impact of the changes to Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead in the U.S. It states that proximity of the sampler to source emissions and populations, meteorological conditions and background conditions must be considered to assess the potential risks of airborne lead. It notes that the changes in federal regulations will require majority of facilities to reassess their monitoring programs to ensure compliance.

The article reports on the claim of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that scientists are wrong about perchlorate causing health risks and that it is not necessary to treat it. The agency ruled out that perchlorate will not result in health risk reduction for persons served by public-water systems. Opponents of the decision argue that EPA's decision was driven by pressures from the Pentagon. Meanwhile, two companies have been fined by EPA for failure to comply with a provision of the Clean Air Act.

The article focuses on the establishment of a new maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency for chemical manufacturers in the U.S. The author discuss the importance of making new system for chemical companies to meet the new MACT standards and installation of several equipment to upgrade the current system used by chemical companies. Moreover, he talks about the options in complying with the standards as well as the proposals for installing a venturi or hydrop scubber in wet electrostatic precipitator.

The article discusses the new protocol for gas verification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It explores on the necessity of the regulation to be mandated in every gas vendor to supply products that is at least ±2 percent accurate from the tag value of the cylinder contents, however, the user needs of the EPA protocol gas has to make a contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Moreover, it notes on how the program works including a payment for the participation of gas manufacturers and vendors in the Protocol Gas Verification Program (PGVP).

The article offers information about Environmental Protection Agency's clean fuels programs in the U.S. It revealed that the scheme exceeded expectation in their ability to reduce ozone pollutants and other air toxics. Data collected between 1995 and 2005 show that emission reductions were significantly greater than the regulatory requirements which was attributed to reformulated gasoline (RFG) and anti-dumping programs EPA instituted. Topics tackled on the report include gasoline sulfur decreases, RFG nitrogen oxide reductions exceed requirements, RFG toxics reductions exceed requirements and conventional gasoline NOx.

The article reports on the lawsuit filed by several U.S. states against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over a dozen states have joined in a case against the agency, which seeks to demand the agency to lower the allowed soot levels from smokestacks and exhaust pipes. According to Eliot Spitzer, New York attorney-general, the states were responding to studies that showed the fine material from soot contributes to premature death, asthma attacks and chronic respiratory disease, leading to higher health costs. Furthermore, the states want to reduce the limit by 1 microgram or 2 micrograms of soot allowed per cubic foot of air.

The article reports on the proposal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding toxic air reduction in the country. EPA has proposed an amendment to the air toxics standards general provisions section to invite industrial facilities to reduce air toxic emissions and change their designation as a primary source. In addition, the proposed amendment would allow a major source to become an area source at any time by limiting its potential to emit hazardous air pollutants to below the major source thresholds.

The article reports on the plan of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to gather data on air emissions on 6,000 animal feeding operations (AFO's) in the U.S. According to Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA assistant administrator, the AFO's agreements would ensure air compliance faster than its enforcement action. The AFO's would pay penalty based on the number of animals maintained at the operation and must comply with regulations such as Clean Air Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

The article reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving into two so-called green buildings. Living up to its core mission to protect human health and the environment, the agency is moving its operations and more than 1,600 employees in two state-of-the-science, environment-friendly buildings in Arlington, Virginia. The agency insisted on making large and small innovations during the design and planning stages. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said the agency is heeding President George W. Bush's call to green the nation's building practices. The buildings have received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification.

The article reports on the proposal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lower standards for particulate matter (PM). The proposed modifications will substantially tighten short-term exposure to high levels of fine PM by almost 50%. Inhalable PM 24-hour standard is also being proposed for reduction to 70 micrograms per cubic meter. Research has demonstrated a link between PM and various cardiovascular and respiratory problems. The Clean Air Act mandates the EPA to undertake a periodic review of air quality standards. Particle standards were last updated in 1997.

The article reports on the proposed cleanup of the Great Lakes. An accord among local, state and federal officials proposed a $20 billion budget over a 15-year period for the project cleanup. The project proposes to restore wetlands and critical natural habitats, upgrade municipal sewerage systems, control invasive species, and remediate environmental toxic hot spots, tainted wetlands and tributaries. The proposal stemmed from a decision of the Environmental Protection Agency in 2005 to form a venture to coordinate the cleanup.

The article offers practical steps for manufacturing facilities to avoid having to obtain a stormwater permit in the United States. It discusses the main purpose of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) stormwater management program. Manufacturing facilities should demonstrate to EPA or the state agencies that their activities do not actually impact the stormwater quality. The EPA's no-exposure exclusion is applicable to industrial facilities located in states or territories where EPA is the permitting authority. The article discusses how to determine if a manufacturing facility is truly qualified for no-exposure with respect to stormwater.

The article elucidates on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) policy entitled "Policy Regarding Acceptance of New Commitments to the High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program," which focuses on how companies can commit to sponsor one of the remaining orphan chemicals which currently have no sponsors under the HPV Chemical Challenge Program. For producers of orphan chemicals, the failure to sponsor such chemicals will cause the issuance of final and effective Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) and 8(d) rules. Failure to submit the information required could trigger EPA to initiate enforcement action. After the review of submitted data, EPA may take steps to regulate a particular chemical if needed.

The staff of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made recommendations for the agency management to revise the current particulate matter standards for fine particles and the inhalable portion of coarse particles, based on evidence that suggests to EPA scientists that more protection is needed than is provided under current air standards. The air quality standards for PM under the Clean Air Act were first established in 1971. The agency significantly changed the standards in 1987, when they changed the indicator of the standards to regulate inhalable particles smaller than, or equal to, 10 micrometers in diameter. In 1997, EPA again revised the PM standards and established a separate standard for fine particles. EPA released its second draft staff paper on the assessment of PM standards in January 2005 which recommends changing EPA's health-based standards for coarse particles to avoid double-regulating fine particles.

Reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to provide $1.6 million in grants for diesel engine retrofit projects. EPA Clean Diesel Campaign grants; Wide variety of projects, including construction, agriculture and port equipment, waste haulers, locomotives, fire trucks and ambulances; Grant recipients located in large and small communities across the country.

Focuses on the policy statement purposely for environmental management systems (EMS) issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Definition of EMS according to EPA; Initiatives aimed at testing EMS to achieve superior environmental performance; Potential benefits associated with EMS.

Offers ways to use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) web site, www.epa.gov. Interpretation of EPA regulations; Obtaining of copies of EPA's compliance audit protocols; EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online; EPA's Self Audit Policy; Official policy on the Environmental Management System; Links on EPA's web site.

Focuses on various environmental activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Information on the RCRA Brownfields Prevention Program of the EPA; Action of the EPA on the case of subsurface hydrocarbon contamination caused by the operation of the Texas Refinery; Action of EPA on the case of the University of Virginia as a suspected lead contaminated facility; Information on EPA's Brownfields Technology Support Center program; On-line database of EPA.

Reports on the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to delay the release of an Internet database designed to provide computer access to facility-specific data. EPA's compilation of a comprehensive collection of data on regulated facilities in a database called Envirofacts Data Warehouse; Importance and aim of the EPA's Sector Facility Indexing Project.

The article offers news briefs related to environmental finance in the U.S. in 2009. The Arkansas State Plant Board was granted 226,593 dollars by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Pueblo Nation of Santa Ana was awarded 85,000 dollars to offer continued support for their water pollution control programs. Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma has been awarded 200,000 dollars to continue enforcing a Lead-Based Paint Program sanctioned by the EPA.

The article reports on the announcement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the next steps on two hazardous waste rules issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). It notes that the proposal will address the definition of solid waste and emission-comparable fuel. Moreover, it mentions that the rules will have an impact on facility operations and RCRA compliance costs.

The article reports on the announcement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifying the nonattainment areas in some states that do not meet the agency's daily standards for fine particle pollution also known as PM 2.5. It states that affected states and tribes will be required to take steps to reduce the pollution that form fine particles.

The article discusses the two documents released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory Reset initiative ensures that the inventory is current and reflects those substances that are manufactured or processed in the U.S. Another is the Inorganic High Production Volume (IHPV) Challenge Program which is designed to regulate to the metals and inorganic chemicals community. 09095641032

The article focuses on the redefinition of solid waste by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulation. The rule establishes an exclusion which streamlines management requirements for hazardous secondary materials reclaimed under the generator's control and those which are transferred for legitimate reclamation. Its final rule contains significant provision in determining legitimate recycling.

The article reports on the development of a new product to keep up with prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) and new source review (NSR) regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The product was developed by the joint forces of RTP Environmental Associations and Citation Technologies. It covers over 1,000 documents and 13,300 pages of NSR and PSD policy documents and related materials issued since 1974.

The article reports on the changes that will be implemented by the government of U.S. President Barack Obama to address the various issues facing the country. It reveals that the government should develop effective legislation aimed at overcoming environmental issues and the challenges facing business enterprises. The people stress that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays essential role in providing solutions to the problems.

The article focuses on the move of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revisit the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP). EPA has called a public meeting to discuss possible changes to the program. The agency plans to use the VCCEP changes under the Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP). One of the changes in VCCEP concerns chemical selection.

The article reports on the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to the Natural Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) petition for review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2006 national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for the synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry (SOCMI). In December 2006, the EPA released a final rule affirming the existing NESHAP for the SOCMI. The NRDC challenged the EPA review claiming that the agency was required to revise the NESHAP so that the lifetime excess cancer risk to exposed persons would be no greater than one in a million. On June 6, 2008, the court denied the NRDC's petition.

The article reports on the proposed revisions made by the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead. The proposal seeks to improve the existing lead monitoring network which requires monitors to be located near large sources of lead emissions an in urban areas with more than one million people. The proposal may serve as a precursor of other things to come with regard to EPA's treatment of non-threshold criteria pollutants as lead is an important criteria air pollutant.

The article discusses on the low approach of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carbon emission control in respect to the order made by the Supreme Court to determine if emissions from cars & trucks are harmful to human health and environment. Steven L. Johnson, administrator of EPA, states in a letter to House and Senate Environmental Committees that the agency needed to gather information before they will rush into a decision. Praticular focus on the statement of Edward Markey, representative and chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is given. It is inferred that if the EPA found out that the emissions cause harm, they will regulate other sources of gasses & it should be coordinated with other agencies & would impact on many industries.

The article reports on a delayed announcement of Steven Johnson, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) on a new smog standard that lowered the acceptable ozone levels from 80 to 75 part per billion released by EPA in March 2008. It is stated that EPA wanted to make the standard tougher and that Office of the Management and Budget objected with regards to its cost that caused the standard to be weakened. Furthermore, setting new standards confused the agency. Johnson states that U.S. President George Bush let him made the final determination.

The article offers information about the on-site audits of the municipal stormwater programs in Los Angeles and Long Beach in California. On May 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board conducted an on-site audit of the municipal stormwater programs in the area wherein they carried out 55 individual stormwater inspection of port tenants. After which, the agency issued an audit report followed by 20 administrative orders to facilities at the ports for non-compliance with the state's industrial general permit and it mandated port tenants to correct all their deficiencies within 30 days and submit a revised stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) to EPA within 60 days.

The article offers information on the Semiannual Regulatory Agenda of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The document is issued twice a year which contains EPA regulations, existing policy initiatives and policies completed/cancelled in the previous agenda. The author expresses that the agenda condense and organize the information into useful, accessible resource. She adds that the agenda are organized according to pre-rulemaking, proposed rulemaking, final rulemaking and long-term rulemaking so that people may be aware of the policies and actions developed by EPA.

The article discusses the changes proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. It states that the proposal aims to prevent the discharge of oil spills to waters which may cause harmful effects to aquatic species. These include exemptions on the use of hot-mix asphalt, equipment which uses pesticide, residential heating oil containers, considering requirements on the construction of facility, carry out revision on the definition of oil production facility and enhance the testing requirements for companies.

The article reports on the promulgated significant new use rules (SNUR), which focus on the use of chemicals for other applications, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It states that the rule is under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and addresses 38 chemical substances which are the focus of pre-manufacture notices. The EPA stresses that the rule requires companies to inform the agency 90 days on the use of such chemicals before carrying out the activity. It is expected that the move will help the agency to effectively evaluate the environmental risks which may develop during the process.

The article announces the creation of the draft entitled "Scientific and Ethical Approaches for Observational Exposure Studies" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on October 4, 2007. The draft focuses on the significance of the observational exposure research of scientists with considerations on ethical standards. It states that the draft aims to educate individuals and enhance their knowledge on the risks posed by chemical exposure. Furthermore, the comment period of EPA's proposal was on November 19, 2007.

The article offers news briefs in the U.S. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently closed the public comment period on the state's request for a waiver of federal authority over vehicle emissions standards. The Kansas Department of Health and the Environment is in the process of amending solid waste regulations aimed primarily at waste tires.

The article discusses the issue with regards to the water quality in the U.S. According to a report done by the Sierra Club, the water quality of the country is threatened due to the decision of the Supreme Court, together with a guidance document promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineer, to open headwaters and seasonal streams to pollution. The report indicates the five states potentially at risk, namely, Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Maryland.

The article reports on the effort of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognized the differences in announcing the availability of its final Framework for Metals Risk Assessment. On announcing the framework's availability, EPA stated that its purpose was to present key guiding principles based on the unique attributes of metals and to described how those metals-specific attributes and principles can be applied in the context of existing EPA risk assessment guidance. Moreover, the agency notes that the framework is not a prescriptive guide on how any particular type of assessment should be conducted within an EPA program or regional office.

The article reports on the five-four decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. However, the court seemed displeased with the agency's arguments that foreign policy and economic consideration should give the EPA discretion as to whether it should regulate such emissions, and the President George W. Bush Administration was asked by the court to reevaluate its reasoning for the assertion. Moreover, the Supreme Court rendered an unanimous decision in the Duke Energy case, one of several high-profile legal battles concerning energy companies accused of violating the New Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The article offers news briefs related to environmental laws in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to approve the revisions in the Arizona State Implementation Plan that would exempt collectible vehicles in Phoenix and Tucson areas from emission testing. A regulation to limit small engine emissions has been approved in California. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has approved the plan to reduce mercury pollution in Illinois.

The article presents the issuance of the final amendments to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan requirements, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December 2006. Such changes include the alternative compliance option for qualified facilities, revised definition for oil-filled operational equipment, and the exemption from the SPCC rule for certain motive power containers. Meanwhile, the EPA has requested comment on extending the date of the preparation or amendment of the SPCC plans for implementation. Such proposal will allow the facility in operation to make further revisions in 2007 to the SPCC rule.

The article reports on the supervision of drinking water by nearly 4,000 public water treatment systems in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is said to be focusing on the concentrations and frequency of unregulated chemicals in the water systems. Such a move is considered as the second review under the unregulated contaminant monitoring rule. The rule requires the EPA every five years to bring forth 30 contaminants that are not currently monitored for testing. At present, the agency lists 90 contaminants that require monitoring control. More information is being referred to the Web site www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2.

The article focuses on the issue of co-generation in tracking hazardous waste in the U.S. It is a lesser known fact that if a contractor operates a manufacturing process for a company and that process generates hazardous wastes, the generator and contractor will be considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be co-generators of those wastes. As the owner of the manufacturing process, the generator also owns the wastes from the process. In other words, generators could also be liable for the wastes they have produced and be fined if they fail in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The author concludes that the best way to protect the generator is to have an agreement that clearly states the contractor's responsibilities for managing waste.

The article reports on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) newly launched Web site which is designed to accept tips and complaints from online users. When EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) released the newly redesigned and more user friendly site, it has received an estimate of 4,500 tips involved civil or administrative claims and nearly 500 possible criminal activities. With its success, EPA's immediate receipt of the information and its commitment to process complaints suggest that the agency is serious about the site.

The article reports on the announcement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its withdrawal on the 2005 proposal to change Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting frequencies. However, the agency is going ahead with a plan to free one third of companies from reporting requirements, allowing them to use the much shorter Form A rather than the much longer Form R. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush proposed easing air regulations to exempt some companies from having to tell the EPA about what it considered to be small releases of toxic pollutants in October 2005.