Colorado:Denver One of Fourteen Communities to Reduce Smog Ahead of Schedule 08/18/2005
The Denver, Colorado area is one of fourteen communities across the country that are ahead of schedule in the effort to reduce smog. Because of the progress these areas have made under Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary Early Action Compacts program, the agency is taking final action to defer certain ozone pollution requirements for those communities until Dec. 31, 2006. Early Action Compacts program member communities have committed to meeting EPA's more stringent 8-hour ozone standard one to two years earlier than required by the Clean Air Act. The program provides a strong incentive for regional governments, civic leaders and business interests to develop innovative, cost-effective strategies to lessen smog in ways that are tailored to individual communities.
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Colorado: New Mobile Vehicle Emissions Testing Available to Denver-Area Motorists 08/16/2005
Over 25,000 Denver-area motorists a year are expected to be eligible to skip their next scheduled visit to an emissions testing facility as a result of new RapidScreen roadside emissions testing in the area. RapidScreen uses infrared and ultraviolet beams of light to analyze the exhaust from a passing vehicle in less than a second. By driving past a RapidScreen van stationed on the roadside, drivers of cleaner-running vehicles can have their emissions screened and approved on the fly. Denver-area motorists can find out when and where RapidScreen roadside testing equipment will be by visiting the program's website.
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Utah: Mayors Meet in Salt Lake to Discuss Climate 07/25/2005
Mayors from around the U. S. met recently in Salt Lake to discuss actions their cities could take to address greenhouse gas emissions. The 46 mayors discussed options such as: promoting energy efficiency with smarter lighting, cleaner vehicles and cleaner operations, such as capturing greenhouse gases from municipal landfills, purchasing wind power and promoting development of other renewable energy sources.
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Montana: Air Testing to Be Done in Livingston 07/18/2005
Air testing is being planned in Livingston to determine if a chemical found in groundwater supplies has evaporated into homes and businesses. Recently, high levels of the chemical tetrachloroethene have been found in the groundwater.
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Federal Agencies Partner to Reduce Home Energy Bills and Protect the Environment 07/11/2005
DOE, HUD, and the EPA have joined together to form a partnership called the Partnership for Home Energy Efficiency in order to provide Americans, including homebuilders, with the latest home energy savings information. The partnership is aimed at reducing household energy costs by 10 percent over the next decade while improving our nation's air.
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Incentives Will Ease Clean Diesel Transition 07/08/2005
EPA is enhancing an early credit program through a direct final rule to produce and distribute ultra-low sulfur highway diesel fuel earlier than required. Under the incentive program, refiners and importers will be given credits for the amount delivered into the distribution system prior to June 1, 2006.
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EPA Encourages Americans to Check Air Quality Forecasts 06/29/2005
EPA is encouraging Americans to check local air quality forecasts during Air Quality Awareness Days (June 29-July 1) and year-round as they plan their daily activities. Air quality forcasts have been improved by the NOAA and EPA and they have made air quality forecasts available online.
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Animal Feeding Operations Air Compliance Agreement Signup Period Extended 06/24/2005
The EPA is extending the deadline for the Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) Air Compliance Agreement signup period to July 29, 2005, in order to provide more time for the AFOs operators to make informed decisions
about participation. The agency has not changed the agreement since it was published in the Federal Register Jan. 31, 2005. The agreement is part of EPA's ongoing effort to minimize air emissions from AFOs and to ensure that they comply with the Clean Air Act and other laws.
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Colorado: Refinery Reaches Agreement to Reduce Pollution 06/17/2005
Valero Refining Company has agreed to add pollution reduction equipment to its Commerce City refinery, according to an agreement reached with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the EPA. As part of the agreement, Valero will reduce nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions at their Commerce City refinery. Valero also agreed to stricter requirements for controlling benzene waste, an enhanced leak detection and repair program and other pollution control measures.
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Final Clean Air Visibility Rule for Haze in National Parks 06/17/2005
The Clean Air Visibility Rule signed by the EPA will help achieve the Clean Air Act's long-term goal to restore visibility in America's national parks and wilderness areas. The states will be required to identify older industrial facilities and power plants that affect visibility in specially protected areas and then determine the types
of emission controls that those facilities must use to control their
emissions, resulting in improved visibility, air quality, and public
health.
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NEW TOOL: Clean Air Markets Data and Maps (EPA) 06/17/2005
This Web site integrates a number of EPA tools and databases to provide easy access to data associated with emissions trading programs. Access data for where you live, view customizable charts and graphs showing trends, access current and historial emissions data with the new query wizard and quick reports interface. The site also includes information about allowances, compliance, facility attributes, air quality and deposition, published reports, environmental assessment maps and more.
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Montana: New Stoves Will Reduce Pollution 06/16/2005
Some residents of the community of Libby and Lincoln County will be receiving free EPA certified wood-burning stoves, chimneys and service in order to get rid of older, polluting stoves. The stove industry is donating about 300 modern stoves that burn wood and produce less pollution at a cost of about $1 million. Roughly 80 percent of Libby and Lincoln County's fine particle pollution comes from residential wood smoke from woodstoves, fireplaces and outdoor wood heaters.
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World Wilderness Conference Highlights Native Lands Issues 06/07/2005
The 8th World Wilderness Congress (WWC) will be held September 30 - October 6, 2005 at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The conference will bring together indigenous groups from the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Africa with the goal of forming an international Native Lands and Wilderness Council. Participating groups will present case studies of indigenous conservation initiatives, and groups that have developed or are developing conservation projects on their traditional wild areas will share their experiences. The Conference is sponsored by the WILD Foundation.
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Tribal Radon Project Funding (EPA) 06/06/2005
EPA Regions 5 and 9 are both soliciting proposals that will reduce exposure to radon in buildings. Proposals will be accepted from federally recognized Tribes and Inter-tribal organizations in these regions and award details vary. For Region 9 the deadline is 6/24/05; contact Louise Hill at hill.louise@epa.gov, refer to Sol# EPA-GRANTS-050305-001. For Region 5 the deadline is 6/27/05; contact the Region 5 EPA at (312) 886-6026, refer to Sol# EPA-GRANTS-051105-001.
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Colorado: Denver Community Has Reduced Smog Ahead of Schedule 06/03/2005
The EPA has announced that several communities across the United States are ahead of schedule in their effort to reduce ground-level ozone, or smog. Because these communities have reached a specific milestone to clean the air sooner than required, the EPA has proposed to defer Clean Air Act requirements for these areas regarding ozone pollution until December 31, 2006. The Colorado community is the Denver-Boulder-Greeley-Ft. Collins-Love area. The EPA will accept comments on this proposal for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
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Environmental Stewardship is a Birthright for Arizona Tribe 05/23/2005
This according to Salt River-Maricopa President Joni M. Ramos. She was speaking on behalf of the tribe in accepting the Environmental Protection Agency's 2005 Environmental Achievement Award. The tribe was honored for partnering with nearby communities to reduce toxic air emissions, protecting Sonoran wetlands, and removing tons of waste from the landfill. Ramos said "We owe it to our children and their children to protect our natural environment. Our ancestors did it for us and it's our responsibility to extend that same concept for future generations."
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Navajo Nation to Regulate Air Emissions 05/23/2005
A new agreement between the Navajo Environmental Protection Agency, the Navajo Generating Station in Page and Arizona Public Service Co., paves the way for the Navajo agency to become the sole regulator of the plant's air quality in six to eight months. The agreement also includes regulatory oversight for the Four Corners Power Plant. This is a landmark agreement for tribal sovereignty.
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Wyoming: Tip Sheets Help Businesses with Pollution Prevention 05/20/2005
Wyoming DEQ's Solid and Hazardous Waste Division has put together a series of educational tip sheets to help businesses with their pollution prevention and waste minimization efforts. The tip sheets cover: hazardous waste, auto body shops, vehicle service facilities, painting, dry cleaning, laboratories, oilfield services, and utility power plants.
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Colorado: Boulder Listed in Green Cities Top 10 05/17/2005
The Green Guide has put together a list of the top ten green cities that list Boulder as number two. The criteria they used included: good water and air quality, efficient use of resources, renewable energy leadership, accessible and reliable public transportation, and green building practices. In addition, they also used parks and greenbelts, access to locally-grown fresh food through farmers' markets and community supported agriculture groups, and affordability in their criteria.
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Exploring Human Health and the Built Environment 05/16/2005
The newly published issue of Environmental Health Perspectives (the Journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) focuses on how the places we live, work and play affect our health. "Substantial scientific evidence gained in the past decade has shown that various aspects of the built environment can have profound, directly measurable effects on both physical and mental health outcomes, particularly adding to the burden of illness among ethnic minority populations and low-income communities." Articles also showcase innovative city efforts that bring health considerations into urban planning (mold, air pollution, lead, diesel, etc.) All articles in the issue are available on-line.
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Tribal Protocol to Address Regional Haze 05/16/2005
The Western Regional Air Partnership recently released the final guidance for tribal plan development under the Regional Haze Rule. The EPA-Tribal Protocol is intended to facilitate a collaborative process of developing, reviewing and implementing Section 309 Tribal Implementation Plans (TIPs) under the Regional Haze Rule. The protocol contains the commitments and expectations for both the EPA and tribes involved in the TIP process. Deadline for submission of comments was March 11, 2005.
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EPA Releases 2003 Toxic Release Inventory 05/13/2005
The 2003 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data recently released by the EPA shows that the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment by reporting facilities declined from 2002 levels. Out of the 50 facilities with the largest TRI on- and off- site disposal or other releases in 2003, three were located in Region 8.
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National Pollution Prevention Week 05/09/2005
National Pollution Prevention Week, is traditionally celebrated the third full week of September, from Monday to the following Sunday is a time when businesses, environmental groups and citizens can join forces for a common cause. This year, the dates will be September 19-25, 2005. The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, offers tips and activities to celebrate and promote National Pollution Prevention Week.
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EPA Announces Grant Opportunities For Clean Diesel 05/06/2005
The EPA announced under its National Clean Diesel Campaign that it
will be accepting applications for projects that will reduce emissions
from nonroad vehicles and equipment. The EPA anticipates awarding 8-12 grants, ranging from $50,000-$150,000. The deadline for receipt of applications is July 1, 2005. There is also a link for the grant application from the EPA's website.
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Colorado: City Among Winners of 2005 Climate Protection Awards 05/05/2005
The city of Boulder is among the 25 individuals, teams, organizations and companies from around the world that the EPA has recognized for outstanding efforts to protect the Earth's climate and stratospheric ozone layer. Boulder has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and has implemented several programs to accomplish their goals.
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Connecticut Tribe Recognized as Clean Air Excellence Award Winner 04/20/2005
(EPA) The Mohegan Environmental Protection Department was recognized for its Mohegan Integrated Emission Reductions program during the fifth annual Clean Air Excellence Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. the first week of April. The Department collaborated with the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino to develop an environmental policy that reduces pollution and increases energy efficiency. The program addresses building energy, transportation and materials management. The tribe is one of 12 awardees nationwide honored by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
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Colorado, Montana: EPA Recognizes Groups for Excellence and Recognition Awards. 04/14/2005
The EPA has awarded Rocky Mountain Region PEHSU of Denver the Excellence Award for invaluable leadership in the protection of children from environmental health risks. Rocky Mountain Region PEHSU was among 15 winners of the Excellence award. Receiving the Recognition Award were the Montana Pollution Prevention Program of Bozeman for the Lewis and Clark Pollution Prevention Collector Cards, Montana State University Extension, Native AIR (Asthma, Intervention, Reduction), and Montana State University Extension Services, Kids Care About Clean Indoor Air, both from Bozeman.
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Colorado: Two Companies Among Winners in Small Business Awards
04/14/2005
Two Colorado companies were among 14 companies that were awarded a total of nearly $3.2 Million in Small Business Awards for New Environmental
Technologies. ADA Technologies Inc. of Englewood and TDA Research Inc. of Wheat Ridge were the two Colorado companies who will commercialize their newly developed technologies for control and monitoring of air emissions, pollution prevention, hazardous waste treatment, and homeland security.
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Colorado: Mercury Switch Removal Project Has Environmental Benefits 04/13/2005
Colorado's campaign to remove mercury from switches is proving to be a success. Plans to expand the project are also moving forward, thanks to a contribution from Xcel Energy. According to the CDPHE, more than 8,000 mercury-containing electronic lighting switches have been removed from scrapped automobiles.
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EPA Announces Air Excellence Award Winners 04/11/2005
Two Colorado companies combined to win the Community Development/Redevelopment category of EPA's Air Excellence Awards. Transportation Solutions and Nichols Partnership joined together to develop The Cherry Creek Bike Rack. The Bike Rack project is expected to make a reduction of 6,505 vehicle miles traveled (VMT) daily. The purpose of the Bike Rack is to offer secure, indoor bicycle parking free of charge. It also provides bicycle and other transportation information for employees, residents, and visitors. The Clean Air Excellence Awards program, sponsored by EPA, recognizes and honors outstanding, innovative efforts to make progress in achieving cleaner air.
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Tribes Recognized for Clean Air 04/08/2005
EPA recently honored twelve government, industry and community groups with the Clean Air Excellence award. In the Education/Outreach category, an award was made to the Indian Nations Council of Governments for the Tulsa Air Quality Enhancement and Education Program. The Mohegan Environmental Protection Department was awarded a Regulatory/Policy Innovations award for their Mohegan Integrated
Emission Reductions project.
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EPA Launches Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership Program
04/07/2005
The EPA has started a new inititive to tackle energy-environment issues. Colorado is one of the states that will be working with the EPA to develop and implement state-specific Clean Energy-Environment State Action Plans. The purpose is to improve air quality, decrease energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance economic development.
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CARE Announces Funding Availability 04/06/2005
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) is a new EPA initiative to establish multi-media community projects to reduce exposure to toxic pollution. Proposals will be accepted from
local and tribal governments, universities, and non-profit
organizations. CARE will help communities create collaborative stakeholder groups to select and implement local voluntary actions. It also offers technical assistance for risk assessment, funding, and access to a wide range of voluntary programs. The closing date for applications is May 20, 2005. More information about CARE is available at: www.epa.gov/care/.
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Conference to Focus on Achieving Mercury Reductions 03/30/2005
May 23-25, EPA New England, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association are sponsoring the "Achieving Mercury Reduction in Products and Waste" conference. Federal, state, tribal, local government, and university-based mercury reduction program coordinators, staff, and regulators from around the U. S. are invited to attend and share ideas and expertise. The conference will be in Portland Maine and will feature mercury reduction in specific sectors (schools, dental clinics, etc.), policy and legislative issues, and information about mercury added products.
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DOE Seeks Public Comment on New Greenhouse Gas Reporting Guidance 03/23/2005
The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking public comment on revised guidelines for voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. The revised guidelines in the program will allow the DOE to recognize participants who provide an accurate and complete accounting of their greenhouse gas emissions and their activities to reduce, avoid and sequester their greenhouse gas emissions. The guidlines also provide tools and guidance for estimating emissions. The public can comment on the guidelines for a 60-day period. Afterwards, the guidelines are expected to become effective 180 days after publication.
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Colorado: National Park Air Quality Subject at Meeting 03/17/2005
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission will hold a meeting on Friday with representatives from federal and state agencies, scientist and air quality experts. The meetings focus will be on air quality within the Rocky Mountain National Park. Experts from EPA's Region 8 along with CDPHE and Department of Interior's National Park Service will present information about current air quality and environmental conditions. The meeting is open to the public.
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Colorado: CDPHE Offers Pollution Prevention Grants 03/15/2005
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Pollution Prevention Advisory Board is accepting applications for 2005-2006 grants. These grants will be used to fund projects to identify and reduce environmental risks in Colorado. Those wishing to apply have until March 31, 2005 and the applications must be submitted electronically. Applicants may apply for as much as $25,000.
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Colorado, Montana, Utah: EPA Awards $2.6 Million in Small Business Innovation Research Contracts 03/10/2005
Companies from Colorado, Montana, and Utah have received a portion of $2.6 million in Small Business Innovation Research grants from the EPA. The program is awarded to small businesses to control and monitor air and water pollution, manage solid and hazardous waste, prevent pollution, and ensure safe buildings and drinking water security.
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Utah: Campus Becomes More Environmentally Friendly 03/10/2005
The University of Utah has found ways to become more environmentally friendly. One way is the cessation of using coal to provide emergency electricity to many of it's buildings. They will now use natural gas that is shipped to its Main Campus High Temperature Water (HTW) Plant. Other ways include an upcoming agreement that will help reduce the amount of fossil fuel utility companies use to generate electricity for the campus. The university is also in the final stages of negotiating for wind generated electricity, in addition to the hydro-power already being purchased.
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Colorado: EPA Grant to Address Environmental Threats to Older Persons 02/24/2005
Colorado's Alliance for Healthy Homes, was one of 19 organizations that received a portion of EPA's Aging Initiative grants to better understand how to reduce the environmental health hazards associated with older persons. They will receive between $18,900 and $25,000 over a one-year period to help educate older adults about environmental health issues.
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Colorado: Regional Air Quality Council Receives Federal Grant 02/23/2005
The EPA announced the award of $1.6 million to 18 grantees for projects designed to demonstrate effective emissions reduction strategies for diesel fleets. Among the grantees was the Regional Air Quality Council of the Denver Area. They won a federal grant worth $75,000 to install diesel oxidation catalysts and closed crankcase filtration systems on nonroad vehicles at construction sites.
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Utah: Efforts to Reduce Haze in National Parks In Doubt 02/23/2005
A federal appeals court rejected a plan by four states including Utah and Wyoming, that would improve visibility in national parks by decreasing pollution. The court sided with a Virginia-based energy coalition concluding that the states' regional program to reduce haze was too similar to an EPA approach that the same court threw out three years ago.
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ACEEE Releases 2005 Green Car Guide 02/17/2005
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) announced this year's "greenest" vehicles, along with the environmental scorings of all model year 2005 cars and passenger trucks. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a "Green Score," a measure that incorporates tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of other gases. For another year, the greenest vehicle of the year is Honda's natural gas-powered Civic GX. Larger vehicles are also included in the "green" guide such as pickups, SUV's, and minivans.
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Colorado: Air Pollution Control System Could Eliminate "Flash" Emissions 02/01/2005
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced that there are plans for a new air pollution control system that is designed to prevent so-called flash emissions. Flash emissions are a result from oil and gas explorations. The company that will design, and implement this system is EnCana Gathering Services. They will install the enclosed gathering system at one of their gas development areas. The new system could eliminate thousands of tons of volatile emissions.
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Utah: State and Interior OK Plan to Clear Air in Parks 01/27/2005
The Department of Interior and Utah agreed to a plan aimed at helping to reduce haze in Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion national parks. The plan would allow the parks to notify state officials if high pollution operations, such as power plants, are not making progress in air quality.
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New NIST/EPA Study Released 01/24/2005
A study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)and the EPA, has concluded that vintilation conditions of newly built buildings are often different than what the building was designed for. The EPA Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE) study was conducted to assess indoor air quality, including ventilation, in a large number of randomly selected office buildings throughout the U.S.
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P2 for Petroleum Refineries 01/24/2005
Petroleum refineries consistently rank among the top ten facilities for Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) emissions and hazardous waste generation in most states in Region 8. With 2003-2004 funding from EPA Region 8, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality evaluated seven oil refineries in Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado to evaluate the industry’s voluntary initiatives to implement pollution prevention and waste minimization. The final report for this project, including a description of ten widely-used voluntary measures identified as well as twenty-one more innovative possibilities, was recently published on the web.
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EPA Announces Air Quality Compliance Agreement for Animal Feeding Operations
01/21/2005
The Environmental Protection Agency announced an air quality compliance agreement to address emissions from certain animal feeding operations. The agreement will ensure that AFOs comply with
environmental requirements and gather scientific data the Agency needs to make informed regulatory and policy determinations. An emissions monitoring program will help provide this information.
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National Tribal Conference on Environmental Managment 01/18/2005
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) is sponsoring the 7th National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management (NTCEM) in Traverse City, Michigan June 7 - 10, 2005. The conference theme is "Sacred Ground: Sustainability for Indian Country and the Earth." The conference will be held at the tribally owned Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The organizing committee is seeking presentation proposals (to be submitted by February 15, 2005).
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EPA Helps Local Governments Use Innovative Tools to Address Environmental Challenges 01/14/2005
Environmental management systems (EMS) are a well established tool to help local governments prevent pollution, operate more efficiently and improve environmental performance within their communities. The EPA is also leading a program to work with non-profit organizations, called EMS Local Resource Centers, to help increase the number of local governments that adopt EMS. These centers provide a range of services to local governments including education, training, workshops and guidance.
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EPA Proposes to Modify Toxics Release Inventory Reporting Requirements 01/14/2005
The EPA announced the first of two proposed rules intended to reduce
the time and resources needed to submit annual reports to EPA’s Toxics
Release Inventory (TRI). The first proposed rule announced is the "Toxics Release Inventory Forms Modification Rule” in the Federal Register.
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Montana: Economic Effects of Increased Ethanol Use 01/10/2005
The use of ethanol blend fuel is increasing in Western states and in the U.S. as a whole. The economic effects are described in this paper for four categories that include effects on the gasoline consumer and effects of indirect benefits to Montana from increased ethanol fuel usage.
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Wyoming: New Generating Plant Planned 12/20/2004
Basin Electric Power Cooperative plans to build a new power plant near Gillette by 2011, and it will consider a low-emissions coal-gasification plant design. Basin Electric's promise to give coal-gasification serious consideration puts pressure on their competition because the industry hasn't formally considered gasification here before. Also, State and federal officials must limit the degradation of air quality in the region, so there's a limited amount of room for new pollution emissions.
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EPA Announces Final Designations for First Fine Particle Standard 12/17/2004
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated areas for the Fine Particle National Air Quality Standards. These designations play an important role in letting the public know whether air quality in their area is healthy. When designations take effect, they become an important component of state and local governments' efforts to reduce fine particle pollution. By law, nonattainment areas are subject to a number of requirements to reduce particles and the pollutants that form them. With one exception, Region 8 has met the new health standards.
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2003 Particle Pollution Report Shows Major Improvements in Air Quality 12/14/2004
According to an EPA report, levels of fine particle pollution also known as PM 2.5, were the lowest in 2003 since nationwide monitoring began in 1999. The improved air quality can be largely attributed to EPA’s Acid Rain Program, along with other programs that reduced emissions that contribute to fine particle formation. The report looks at recent and long-term trends in air quality and emissions.
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DOE Asks Regional Partners to Validate Carbon Sequestration Technologies 12/14/2004
The Department of Energy announced the release of a solicitation for the second phase of its Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships program. The program will provide up to $100 million over 4 years in federal funds for partnerships of state agencies, universities, private companies, and national laboratories that will field test and validate promising carbon sequestration technologies. Carbon sequestration is the term given to a variety of methods for removing greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), from power plant emissions or from the air itself. The gases are then securely stored in some form of geologic formations.
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Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between DOE and Power Partners 12/13/2004
The Department of Energy and Power Partners have signed an MOU establishing a voluntary framework for reducing the greenhouse gas emission intensity of the power generation sector. Power Partners is one of 13 trade associations or business groups taking part in the Climate VISION (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now) program, a Presidential initiative established on February 12, 2003. Under the MOU, DOE and Power Partners will work together to develop a process for identifying high-priority areas for the research, development, demonstration & deployment of technologies to reduce greenhouse gases.
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Wyoming: New Clean Coal Processing Plant Being Built 12/08/2004
The KFx company of Denver has begun the construction of a 50 million dollar clean coal plant in Gillette, Wyoming. K Fuel technology is different than normal coal processing. It uses a combination of heat, pressure, and time in order to extract the water out of the coal. As a result, the coal's heating capacity will increase while the mercury and sulfer will decrease. Normal coal processing uses just heat to remove the water. The plant is expected to be completed by this summer.
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South Dakota: School Wins EPA Excellence Award 12/02/2004
The Rapid City Area School District No. 51-4, Rapid City, South Dakota
has been awarded the 2004 Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Excellence Award along with 11 other schools from across the nation. The EPA recognizes their efforts to protect indoor air quality for kids at school. These award winners have implemented effective programs in their schools ranging from designing a new school building free of toxins and other hazards to developing district-wide policies for continuous training and maintenance.
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Washington: Tighter Vehicle Standards Being Proposed by the State 12/02/2004
New automobile emissions standards are being proposed by Washington state that would come in line with California's tough emission standards. The effort would put Washington in the forefront of other states in the battle to reduce global warming.
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EPA Releases Mercury Information 12/01/2004
The EPA has issued the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) concerning the clean air mercury rule. The NODA summarizes public comments from which the EPA has received over 680,000. The EPA will continue taking public comments on forms of mercury emitted by coal-fired power plants.
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EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program Is Now Available Online 11/29/2004
On November 23, the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program has been made available online. The public can access Form R and Form A Certification Statement information for TRI Reporting Year (RY) 2003 on a form-by-form, facility-by-facility basis through the EPA Envirofacts internet database. The Public Data Release (PDR), which will include national analysis and trends, is expected Spring 2005.
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Moving Forward With Pollution Prevention in North America: A Progress Update 11/29/2004
In association with the Commission on Environmental Cooperation, the North American Pollution Prevention Partnership has issued an update to the original paper of 1996 that highlights pollution prevention policies in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
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EPA Administrator Joins Representatives from 13 Countries in Methaneto Markets Partnership 11/16/2004
U.S. EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt announced that the United States will join efforts with several countries to develop and promote cooperation on the recovery and use of methane. The Methane to Markets Partnership will deliver significant energy, safety, and environmental benefits through the recovery and use of methane, while reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The actual signing of the agreement with representatives from the 13 countries creating the partnership will occur on Tuesday, November 16, 2004.
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Study Suggests Air Pollution Decreases Snowfall 11/15/2004
A Professor from Stanford University has conducted a study that suggests urban pollution might be reducing rainfall in lower elevations and snow fall in upper elevations. Researchers at the University of Nevada’s Desert Research Institute has come to a similar conclusion. Pollution-contaminated clouds produced half the snow that clean clouds did, and the snow that did fall held only about half the mass than non-polluted clouds.
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Utah: Air Quality Program Began on Monday 11/05/2004
The Department of Environmental Quality’s “Red Light Green Light” Choose Clean Air program, which curtails wood burning along the Wasatch Front during winter inversions, started its 12th season Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, and continues until March 1, 2005. Wood-burning conditions are identified as “RED, YELLOW, GREEN.” A red light indicates burning is prohibited, yellow means a voluntary no burn, and green means burning is allowed. Pollution conditions are announced daily by newspapers, television and radio stations.
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Air Quality Criteria For Particulate Matter 11/03/2004
This present external review draft from the EPA critically assesses the latest scientific information relative to determining the health and welfare effects associated with exposure to various concentrations of PM in ambient air. The air quality criteria found in this document reflects the latest scientific information useful in indicating the kind and extent of all exposure-related effects that may be expected from the presence of the pollutant in ambient air.
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Colorado: Corporation Secures Funding to Test Clean Vehicle Technology 10/28/2004
EnviroFit International Ltd., a Colorado non-profit corporation announced that it has received a pledge of $500,000 from the Bohemian Foundation to fund a field test of its clean vehicle technology in Asia. During the field test, a fleet of low-emission, three-wheeled tricycles will operate on the streets of the Philippines in 2005 using technology developed at Colorado State University. The field test is expected to confirm that the vehicles will achieve the same 90 percent pollution reduction and 35 percent fuel savings as the prototypes.
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Colorado: Project Provides Cleaner School Buses This Winter 10/28/2004
School buses in the St. Vrain Valley School District will deliver both students and improved air quality in North Boulder County this winter, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Dozens of buses will be outfitted with oxidation catalysts to significantly reduce emissions. The district also will install some anti-idling block heaters, implement a biodiesel fuel program, and create driver and family education and training programs as part of the approximately $150,000 project.
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Colorado: University Hosts Environmental Research Colloquium 10/27/2004
Colorado State University is hosting an environmental research colloquium November 9-10, 2004. Session topics will include recent climate change, air pollution in the national parks, the university's role in developing and disseminating air quality solutions, and emerging issues in drinking water quality.
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Utah: Bioneers Conference Recognizes Biological Pioneers 10/22/2004
Conference coordinators have recognized businesses and individuals as "Bio-neers," biological pioneers who have worked to improve the quality of human life while protecting the environment. Utah State supports the conference in an effort to foster discussion among scolars and members of the community about issues involving local air, water, land and economic resources.
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Utah: Intermountain Weather Workshop 10/18/2004
The University of Utah will host a workshop that will focus on high-pressure weather systems and how they help trigger inversions with winter air pollution episodes in places like Utah's Salt Lake and the San Joaquin Valley in California. There are several other lectures and an awards presentation as well. The workshop is being sponsored by the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Regional Prediction (CIRP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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EPA And The Urban League Join Forces to Protect Children 10/11/2004
The EPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Urban League to work together on protecting children in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities from environmental health risks. This action will help the Urban League gain access to information and to work collaboratively with the EPA to safeguard the nation's resources and protecting children's health.
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Colorado: International Policy Makers, Educators And Industry Focus On Air Quality At Colorado State Conference October 5-8, 2004 10/05/2004
Environmental policy makers, educators and industry representatives from the United States as well as Europe, Canada and Australia are expected to attend the Clean Air Conference on October 5-8 at the Copper Mountain Resort and Conference Center. The focus will be on vehicle emissions, in particular diesel and two-stroke engines in developing countries. There will also be a session on hydrogen as an alternative energy source. The conference is sponsored by the National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety, a research and training center at Colorado State University.
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North Dakota: October is Home Indoor Air Quality Month 10/01/2004
Governor Hoeven of North Dakota has proclaimed October as Home Indoor Air Quality Month, in order to encourage state residents to learn more about indoor air quality issues. Many people in North Dakota, such as the young, elderly, and the chronically ill are more susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution because of the amount of time spent indoors.
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Utah: Ecology Team Receives $6 million Grant To Form the National Ecological Observatory Network 10/01/2004
Utah State University biology professor Jim MacMahon and a team of scientists representing the American Institute of Biological Sciences has received a $6 million grant to form the National Ecological Observatory Network, whose purpose is to study ecological issues confronting society. The Environmental Protection Agency and Congress may use the data from NEON when making rules or laws. NEON will be based in Washington, D.C. and not affiliated with just one university, and will be open to all scientists who wish to participate.
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Colorado: Cleaner Air in Denver 09/22/2004
Favorable weather led to healthier air throughout the Denver-metropolitan area this summer as monitors failed to record a single day out of compliance with the federal health-based air quality standards for the first time since 1997.
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Utah: Student 09/17/2004
Kori Moore, a Utah State University engineering student, won first place in the Undergraduate Division of the Air and Waste Management Association’s 2004 Student Poster/Paper Competition. Moore’s research found that there is a strong correlation between a strong, winter-time temperature inversion and high pollution episodes, such as those experienced in Cache Valley in January and February 2004.
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Utah: Clean air called achievable 09/09/2004
Controlling air pollution can prevent disease. And Americans have been making progress in cleaning up the air, despite the fact that more cars are on the road burning fuels. The bad news is that even after all the improvements, health still suffers according to an overview about pollution, written by Brigham Young University professor and epidemiologist C. Arden Pope.
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Colorado: Air Pollution in the Front Range 08/30/2004
Park researchers in Rocky Mountain National Park have concluded that a critical threshold of nitrogren deposition has been reached in that ecosystem. They have begun meeting with state health officials to look for solutions. One possibility is to add nitrogen deposition to existing ozone- and haze-reduction programs at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
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Comments Requested on Winter Use in National Parks 08/23/2004
The Park Service released a temporary winter use plan describing various options for winter use management in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway (JDR). The preferred alternative would allow 720 snowmobiles per day in Yellowstone, all commercially guided and all with best available technology. Comments can be made on-line and are due by September 20, 2004.
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Colorado: TCE Policy Established 08/20/2004
The Department of Public Health and Environment adopted a policy that trichloroethylene (TCE) in indoor air at or above .016 micrograms per cubic meter will require cleanup. This is the most stringent screening level currently in use for TCE, a non-flammable, colorless liquid used mainly as a cleaner in automotive and metals industries and in cleaning fluids for rugs, paint removers and cleaning solvents.
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Colorado: Ozone Reduction Earns EPA Recognition 08/18/2004
Air Pollution Control Division staff at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment received Enviornmental Achievement Awards from EPA for innovatively achieving signficant, early reduction of ozone emissions in the Denver-metropolitan and northern Front Range area.
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Utah: Clean Up of Asbestos Contamination at PacifiCorp Substation 08/16/2004
PacifiCorp recently began cleanup of the site in downtown Salt Lake City where asbestos-bearing ore from the Vermiculite Mine in Libby, Montana was processed from the early 1940s until the early 1980s. The site is expected to be restored to its original condition by mid-October.
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New Information Portal for Allergy Sufferers 08/13/2004
EMSL Analytical, the largest network of accredited environmental testing laboratories in the nation, announced it has launched a new website - AllergenTesting.com for people who want to test for potential allergens in their homes or businesses.
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North Dakota: Health Department Schedules Air Quality Hearing 08/06/2004
Testimony about proposed revisions and additions to the Air Pollution Control Rules for North Dakota will be heard. The hearing will be held August 12, 2004, at the Environmental Training Center in Bismarck.
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EPA Certifies First Hybrid SUV 08/05/2004
The EPA has certified the first Hybrid SUV for sale in the United States. The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid complies with the EPA's new emission standards for light-duty vehicles and trucks. Hybrid vehicles make use of an electric motor that supplements or, at times, takes over as the power source.
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