Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – Environmental Quality Commission unanimously adopted a new benchmark concentration for ethyl benzene and more protective benchmarks for lead and manganese at its August 19, 2010 meeting. The benchmark for mercury was clarified but the value unchanged. In response to public comments, DEQ committed to consider shorter term benchmarks, in addition to the annual average benchmarks, and bring a recommendation to the commission sometime next year.
Archive for August, 2010
ODEQ-EQC adopts updated air toxics concentrations
Monday, August 30th, 2010NESHAPS RICE Rule finalized and effective 10/19/2010 (Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines)
Friday, August 20th, 2010SUMMARY: EPA is promulgating national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for existing stationary spark ignition reciprocating internal combustion engines that either are located at area sources of hazardous air pollutant emissions or that have a site rating of less than or equal to 500 brake horsepower and are located at major sources of hazardous air pollutant emissions.
DATES: This final rule is effective on October 19, 2010.
EPA extends the comment period on Federal Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting
Monday, August 16th, 2010SUMMARY: This notice extends the comment period on draft guidance published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2010. The original date that the comment period would end was August 16, 2010. That date will now be extended until September 1, 2010
On October 5, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13514–Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance (74 FR 52117) in order to establish an integrated strategy toward sustainability in the Federal Government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions a priority for Federal agencies. Among other provisions, E.O. 13514 requires agencies to measure, report, and reduce their GHG emissions.
Section 9(a) of E.O. 13514 directed the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Commerce (DOC), and other agencies as appropriate, to develop recommended Federal GHG reporting and accounting procedures. On April 5, 2010, DOE-FEMP submitted the final recommendations on Federal GHG reporting and accounting procedures to the Chair, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Section 5(a) of E.O. 13514 directed that the Chair of CEQ issue guidance for Federal GHG accounting and reporting. Based on the final recommendations, CEQ has prepared a draft guidance document. CEQ is committed to open government principles and leading by example to ensure that the Federal Government is transparent in its processes for accounting and reporting of Federal GHG emissions.
The Federal Government seeks to continually improve both the quality of data and methods necessary for calculating GHG emissions. Over time, additional requirements, methodologies and procedures will be included in revisions to this document and supporting documents to improve the Federal Government’s overall ability to accurately account for and report GHG emissions. In particular, while a detailed approach to accepted and peer-reviewed life cycle methodologies is beyond the scope of the current version of this guidance document, the Federal Government is interested in including such approaches in future versions, and may request comment on inclusion of life cycle methodologies in future versions of this Guidance document.
CEQ provides this draft guidance for public review and comment to ensure accessibility of Federal accounting and reporting requirements and to enhance the quality of public involvement in governmental decisions relating to the environment.
Portland Cement MACT: EPA Sets First National Limits to Reduce Mercury and Other Toxic Emissions from Cement Plants
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010WASHINGTON –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final rules that will protect Americans’ health by cutting emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing, the third-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States. The rules are expected to yield $7 to $19 in public health benefits for every dollar in costs. Mercury can damage children’s developing brains, and particle pollution is linked to a wide variety of serious health effects, including aggravated asthma, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks, and premature death in people with heart and lung disease.
“Americans throughout the country are suffering from the effects of pollutants in our air, especially our children who are more vulnerable to these chemicals,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “This administration is committed to reducing pollution that is hurting the health of our communities. With this historic step, we are going a long way in accomplishing that goal. By reducing harmful pollutants in the air we breathe, we cut the risk of asthma attacks and save lives.”
This action sets the nation’s first limits on mercury air emissions from existing cement kilns, strengthens the limits for new kilns, and sets emission limits that will reduce acid gases. This final action also limits particle pollution from new and existing kilns, and sets new-kiln limits for particle and smog-forming nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
When fully implemented in 2013, EPA estimates the annual emissions will be reduced:
Mercury – 16,600 pounds or 92 percent
- Total hydrocarbons – 10,600 tons or 83 percent
- Particulate Matter – 11,500 tons or 92 percent
- Acid gases – (measured as hydrochloric acid): 5,800 tons or 97 percent
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2)– 110,000 tons or 78 percent
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – 6,600 tons or 5 percent
Mercury in the air eventually deposits into water, where it changes into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish. People are primarily exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. Because the developing fetus is the most sensitive to the toxic effects of methylmercury, women of childbearing age and children are regarded as the populations of greatest concern.
EPA estimates that the rules will yield $6.7 billion to $18 billion in health and environmental benefits, with costs estimated at $926 million to $950 million annually in 2013. Another EPA analysis estimates emission reductions and costs will be lower, with costs projected to be $350 million annually.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html
EPA extends comment period 30 days for compression and spark ignition IC engines
Friday, August 6th, 2010SUMMARY: On June 8, 2010, EPA proposed amendments to the standards of performance for stationary compression ignition and spark ignition internal combustion engines. In this notice, we are announcing a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the proposal.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 8, 2010.
EPA Rejects Claims of Flawed Climate Science
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that climate change is real, is occurring due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, and threatens human health and the environment.
The petitions to reconsider EPA’s Endangerment Finding claim that climate science cannot be trusted, and assert a conspiracy that invalidates the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. Global Change Research Program. After months of serious consideration of the petitions and of the state of climate change science, EPA finds no evidence to support these claims. In contrast, EPA’s review shows that climate science is credible, compelling, and growing stronger.
“The endangerment finding is based on years of science from the U.S. and around the world. These petitions — based as they are on selectively edited, out-of-context data and a manufactured controversy — provide no evidence to undermine our determination. Excess greenhouse gases are a threat to our health and welfare,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Defenders of the status quo will try to slow our efforts to get America running on clean energy. A better solution would be to join the vast majority of the American people who want to see more green jobs, more clean energy innovation and an end to the oil addiction that pollutes our planet and jeopardizes our national security.”
CONTACT: Cathy Milbourn (News Media Only) Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-4355 July 29, 2010