Workers' Compensation: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Showing posts with label United States Environmental Protection Agency. Show all posts

Friday, November 1, 2013

EPA Fines Phoenix-based Company $95,000 for PCB violations

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC to pay a $95,000 civil penalty for failure to properly manage PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) at its Jefferson Avenue facility in Phoenix, Ariz.

The violations stemmed from two inspections in 2008 and 2010. EPA inspectors found the company used PCB-contaminated structures, and improperly stored and disposed of PCBs in violation of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.“Our goal is to safeguard workers and nearby communities from the health hazards of PCBs,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.

“This settlement ensures that Veolia will take necessary steps to improve its storage and disposal practices.”Veolia Environmental Services North America, the parent company of Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC, employs over 5,400 staff generating $1.1 billion in revenues in 2012.

The company specializes in the management, treatment and disposal of waste. PCBs are man-made organic chemicals used in paints, industrial equipment, plastics, and cooling oil for electrical transformers.

More than 1.5 billion pounds of PCBs were manufactured in the United States before the EPA banned the production of this chemical class in 1978, and many PCB-containing materials are still in use today....

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Former Winchester, Idaho hotel owner settles with EPA for asbestos demolition violations

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

(Seattle – October 28, 2013) BBA Winchester LLC, the owner of a former hotel located in Winchester, Idaho has settled with EPA and agreed to pay a $21,000 fine for asbestos safety and environmental violations from improper demolition of the hotel.

“This is an unfortunate example that when asbestos is not properly removed before demolition, the entire debris pile becomes contaminated, putting people at risk, and greatly increasing disposal costs,” said Scott Downey, Manager of the Air and Hazardous Waste Compliance Unit at the EPA Seattle office.

“Because this owner failed to check for asbestos before demolition, their $2,000 demolition project ballooned into a $55,000 asbestos waste cleanup and disposal problem.”In response to public complaints, EPA inspected the demolition site of the former hotel in 2012.

BBA Winchester LLC demolished the 100-year-old hotel in late 2011 or early 2012, without first inspecting the building for asbestos, removing asbestos materials, or notifying EPA, as required by law.

The demolition was in a residential neighborhood and the contaminated debris was unsecured for more than a year, prompting community concerns about asbestos health risks. EPA inspectors collected samples from the site that showed the demolition debris contained regulated asbestos waste. After confirming the debris was...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Cleanup Plan for Maywood Chemical Company Superfund Site

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated soil at the Maywood Chemical Company Superfund site in Maywood and Rochelle Park, New Jersey.

The Agency is extending the comment period, which was set to end on October 22 to November 21.

Previous industrial activity at the site resulted in contamination of the soil and ground water with volatile organic compounds, radioactive waste and metals.

The EPA proposal calls for a combination of removing and treating contaminated soil.

The EPA held a public meeting on September 9, 2013 to explain the proposed plan. For more information and to view the proposed plan, visit http://epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/maywood.

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Updates on America's Persistent Air and Water Pollution Challenges

The dirty little secret in the US is that pollution continues of the nation's air and water supply. Today's post is shared from nytimes.com.

Houston cloaked in a haze of pollution on Oct. 23, 2013. Sources range from cars to oil and gas installations and refineries.

Andrew C. RevkinHouston cloaked in a haze of pollution on Oct. 23, 2013. Sources range from cars to oil and gas installations and refineries.

Air and water problems mainly make headlines these days when extraordinary pulses of pollution surge in places like Beijing and Shanghai. But there are still enormous, if largely hidden, health and environmental costs in many parts of the United States that have failed to meet the goals set decades ago under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act (e.g., see Muller, Mendelsohn, Nordhaus, 2011). Sometimes the issue is visible. I visited Houston briefly this week and snapped the photo above on the airport approach. Not pretty.
Read on for excerpts from two relevant articles. The first, from the Allegheny Front, explores how lessons learned in trying to cut pollution from natural gas facilities in Houston can be applied in Pennsylvania’s fracking zone. The second, by my Pace University colleague and longtime water analyst John Cronin, digs in on the gap between Environmental Protection Agency statements on water pollution and the results in America’s waterways.
Here’s “Houston Air Pollution: Preview for Pennsylvania?” It’s the second article in a planned four-part series, “The Coming Chemical Boom,” that was in part paid for by the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Friday, October 25, 2013

U.S. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Goes Global

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are partnering with the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, to announce the Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action.

This is the first time National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be recognized internationally. More than 35 countries from across the world will take action and hold public awareness activities during this week.“This year’s theme, ‘Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,’ underscores the importance of testing your home for lead and understanding how to prevent harmful exposures.

Given that lead impacts children around the world, we are pleased to help National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week go global this year,” said Jim Jones, EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Joining with other countries to raise awareness about protecting children from the harmful exposure to lead will have a long-term positive effect on the health of children worldwide.”

This year, the partners will work to raise awareness about lead paint poisoning worldwide and the need to eliminate lead in paint. The...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

EPA Hits The Road To Seek Input On New Rules

Today's post was shared by Huffington Post and comes from www.huffingtonpost.com

The U.S. states that already have a plan in place to cut carbon pollution from power plants are likely to make the case to regulators this week that their program offers a viable model for others to follow.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday kicks off an 11-city "listening tour" as part of its effort to craft emissions rules for existing power plants. The tour starts in New York and Atlanta. Meetings will then be held from Boston to Seattle, wrapping up on Nov. 8.

The agency is expected to solicit ideas on how best to regulate carbon emissions from the more than 1,000 power plants now in operation - the cornerstone and arguably the most controversial part of the Obama administration's strategy to address climate change.

The EPA will use a rarely employed section of the federal Clean Air Act, known as section 111(d), and will rely heavily on input from states to craft a flexible rule that can be applied to states with different energy profiles.

President Barack Obama set a June 2014 deadline for the agency to propose its rules, which need to be finalized in June 2015.

Officials from some of the nine northeastern states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) - a carbon trading program targeting power sector emissions - will attend some of the sessions and make the case that the initiative has a "plug and play" option for states to meet future federal...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Thursday, October 24, 2013

EPA Obtains Warrant to Address Over 1000 Drums and Containers at New Jersey Facility; Ongoing Investigation Reveals Presence of Hazardous Materials

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has obtained a federal warrant to do the necessary cleanup work at the Superior Barrel & Drum company facility in Elk Township, New Jersey, where more than a thousand unlabeled or improperly labeled drums and other containers have been left in a state of disrepair. Many of the drums are leaking their contents onto the ground and are exposed to wind and rain. The EPA and the NJDEP are currently investigating the drums and containers at the site under a warrant that was previously issued by a federal judge when the facility owner refused to give the EPA access to the facility. The EPA is working with Elk Township, the local fire and police departments and the NJDEP on the investigation and cleanup of the facility.

“This facility contains a large number of barrels that need to be addressed. The EPA intends to do everything necessary to ensure that hazardous materials at the facility do not harm the public,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. "The EPA’s top priority is preventing a release, fire or explosion that could endanger the community or pollute the environment.”

On August 29, 2013, the EPA was asked by the NJDEP to evaluate the facility and take appropriate actions to remove any threat posed by substances in the drums and other containers. The EPA is currently evaluating what substances are present in the drums and containers and assessing whether they could cause a chemical release or fire. The site is partially in a federally protected wetland.

“Conditions at this facility are inexcusable,” New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. “The DEP will continue to work with the Environmental Protection Agency on the categorization and safe removal of these materials, as well as soil testing and monitoring to ensure the environment and public health are protected. We will also support any legal or enforcement actions deemed necessary to restore this site and protect the public.”

The EPA began its investigation on August 30, 2013. Field tests indicate that some drums contain hazardous materials, including corrosive and flammable chemicals. The preliminary results of samples sent to the laboratory show the presence of volatile organic compounds such as benzene and other hazardous substances such as lead. Exposure to these pollutants can have serious health effects. Benzene is known to cause cancer and lead is a toxic metal that is especially dangerous to children because their growing bodies can absorb more of it than adults. Lead in children can result in I.Q. deficiencies, reading and learning disabilities, reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and other behavioral problems.

The EPA is continuing to sample the contents of containers and drums at the site. The first set of final laboratory data is expected in the next few weeks. The EPA has secured the facility by installing fencing, warning signs and round the clock surveillance.
Once it completes its investigation, the EPA will work with state and local agencies to take appropriate steps to remove the hazardous waste and protect the public. The EPA is monitoring the air near the work areas. The EPA will secure the materials and make arrangements for their transport and proper disposal out of the area. Prior to removal of any of the hazardous materials, the EPA will develop a contingency plan to ensure that the removal of the chemicals is done safely. Fire department and hazardous materials response teams will be consulted and prepared to respond to the site if necessary. Throughout the cleanup, the municipal government and local community will be kept informed.

For photos and information about the EPA’s work at the Superior Barrel & Drum site, visit:http://epa.gov/region02/superfund/removal/superiorbarrel.

Found on

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Choosing Chemical Hand Protection

There has been a shift in manufacturing operations, creating an even greater need for proper hand protection. Within the last 10 years, robotics and automated processes have taken over much of the handling, pouring and manipulation of hazardous chemicals in the industrial workplace. However, the risk of harm to workers' hands has not diminished.
In fact, this passive attitude toward hand protection from workplace chemicals may contribute to the major threat of hand injury. Users are not as eager to protect themselves, relying on machines to do this for them. In addition, workers often do not use the protective equipment that the specific task requires.
To further magnify the problem, the chemical retains its characteristics whether exposure comes from outright submersion or an incidental splash. Any skin contact – whether from a splash or from residual chemicals – can result in chemical burns. That exposure remains in almost every work environment where chemicals are used. At the same time, many jobs still require that workers pour chemicals into containers, apply chemicals manually, mix chemicals or transport chemicals and deal with accidental leakage on a daily basis.
For all of these reasons, it is essential that users don the proper protection, as there isn't a single glove that protects against the thousands of chemicals and chemical combinations to which workers may come in contact.
With the magnitude of...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Friday, October 11, 2013

Safety Agency Cites Owners in Texas Plant in Explosion

Todays's post shared from the NYTimes.com

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the owners of a fertilizer plant in West, Tex., that blew up in April, killing 15 people, with 24 “serious violations,” Senator Barbara Boxer, of California, said on Thursday. But the agency has not announced the action because its public affairs staff has been furloughed by the government shutdown, Ms. Boxer said.

Democrat
The violations included unsafe handling and storage of explosive and flammable chemicals, missing labels on storage tanks, failing to pressure-test hoses, bad or missing valves, and failing to have an emergency response plan. The agency also said that some workers were not trained for their jobs.

OSHA, which also proposed a fine of $118,300, decided to issue the citations now, during the government shutdown, to avoid a statute of limitations problem, Ms. Boxer said. She said that while the fine was disproportionately small, considering the deaths, injuries and widespread damage, other federal agencies were also investigating the explosion. Some of those investigations have been delayed by the shutdown, however.

Ms. Boxer is chairwoman of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, which does not oversee OSHA but does oversee another agency with jurisdiction at the Texas plant, the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ms. Boxer said that despite the shutdown, news of the enforcement action should be disseminated to...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Thursday, October 3, 2013

What Happens When The Government Shuts Down 94 Percent of the EPA

Today's post was shared by Mother Jones and comes from www.motherjones.com

Tuesday morning, 94 percent of the Environmental Protection Agency's 16,000 workers were furloughed due to the government shutdown.

"They basically lock things up, batten things down, which takes a few hours, then a vast majority of people are sent home," says consultant Dina Kruger, who worked at the EPA during the 1996 government shutdown.

To make sense of what it means that over 15,000 EPA employees are now sitting at home instead of working, consider how many facets of the environment the agency has its hands in: The EPA monitors air quality, regulates pesticides and waste, cleans up hazardous chemical spills, and ensures that people have safe drinking water, among other things. Now, according to the plan it laid out for the shutdown, only some workers will be on hand to respond to emergencies and to monitor labs and property.

That means the EPA will temporarily halt cleanup at 507 superfund sites across the country, the agency told the Huffington Post. Sites where the EPA was cleaning up hazardous chemicals are shuttered in any situation where closing them down won't be an immediate threat to the surroundings.

This will slow down cleanups and tack on additional costs that will accrue as these contaminated sites are left to their own devices, says Scott Slesinger, legislative director at the National Resources Defense Council and a former EPA employee. "The only sites that would be exempted would be those that, if they stopped working...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Gowanus Canal Superfund Site in Brooklyn, New York; $506 Million Cleanup Will Remove Contaminated Sediment and Create Jobs

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a plan to clean up the Gowanus Canal Superfund site in Brooklyn, New York, one of the nation’s most seriously contaminated bodies of water. The final plan, announced today on the banks of the canal by EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck with Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, state and local officials and community representatives, will require the removal of contaminated sediment and the capping of dredged areas.

The plan also includes controls to reduce sewage overflows and other land-based sources of contamination from compromising the cleanup. With community input, EPA has decided on the option in the proposed plan that will require the disposal of the least contaminated sediment at a facility out of the area rather than building a disposal facility in the water near Red Hook. The cost of the cleanup plan is currently estimated to be $506 million.

“More than 150 years of industrial waste, storm water runoff and sewer overflows turned the Gowanus Canal into one of the most extensively contaminated water bodies in the nation, threatening people’s health and the quality of their daily lives,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator.

“The cleanup plan announced today by EPA will reverse the legacy of water pollution in the Gowanus. The plan is a...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Found on

Friday, September 27, 2013

EPA Announces the start of Sampling Activities at the CTS of Ashville, Inc. Superfund Site in Ashville,North Carolina

September 20, 2013) Today, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials announced sampling activities for the Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) Confirmation Sampling and Analysis Plan and the Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPL) Investigation will begin on Monday, September 23, 2013 at the CTS of Ashville Inc. Superfund Site in Ashville, NC.

The work will include collecting soil and water samples to better understand how deep and wide the highest concentrated contamination exists on and adjacent to the former plant property.

The NAPL Work Plan requires that samples also be collected on adjacent properties to the east of the Site, and if data indicates the need sampling may proceed to properties on the west of the Site. Specialized equipment will be used and the sampling area may be expanded as data is collected. This work is essential to determine the best cleanup plan for the Site.

The sampling event is projected to take about 3 months. EPA and/or its contractor will provide oversight of the sampling activities.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Breathe Deep....on the airplane OR not?

Welcome sulfur dioxide,

Hello carbon monoxide

The air, the air is everywhere

Breathe deep, while you sleep, breathe deep

Lyrics from HAIR, The Broadway show

This post is shared from OH-world.org.

A review of chemical exposures associated with "fume events" on aircraft hears about two UK studies that found low levels of organophosphate contamination.

I attended a meeting of the UK Committee on Toxicity (COT) of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment to discuss our work on oil contamination in aircraft. This was one of a number of projects that were commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) following an earlier review, which included: a pilot study to scope methods for measuring air concentrations, analysis of data on the occurrence of fume events in British commercial aircraft, the main study measuring contaminant levels in cabin air and our study of residues on surfaces in aircraft.

Back in 2007 the COT reviewed information submitted by the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) about the possible effects on aircrew health from hydraulic fluid smoke/fume contamination incidents in commercial aircraft. These incidents occur infrequently because of small leaks in the engine, which result in a very fine oil mist being carried into the aircraft ventilation system. A key concern is the small amounts of organophosphate compounds present in the hydraulic oils. In their review the COT concluded there was insufficient evidence to show there was a causal association between cabin air exposures, either generally or following incidents, and ill-health in commercial aircraft crews.

Read more:

Oil contamination in aircraftA review of chemical exposures associated with "fume events" on aircraft hears about two UK studies that found low levels of organophosphate contamination.http://johncherrie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/oil-contamination-in-aircraft.html

Thursday, September 12, 2013

EPA Orders Public Water System on Indian Reservation in Riverside County to Address Arsenic in Drinking Water

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week ordered D&D Mobile Home Park to address violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. D&D, located on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Reservation in Riverside County, was found to have high levels of arsenic in its public system that provides drinking water to its 300 mobile park residents.

The order requires D&D to come into compliance with the arsenic drinking water standard as well as conduct more consistent arsenic monitoring.Sampling data showed arsenic at concentrations as high as 0.059 milligrams per liter—almost six times the EPA’s maximum contamination levels for arsenic. Sampling data also showed the presence of coliform bacteria. D&D is a privately owned and operated system on the Indian Reservation.

The order requires D&D to submit, within 90 days, a written plan for EPA review that will demonstrate the mobile park’s strategy to bring the water system into compliance with the federal arsenic standard by December 31, 2014. Quarterly arsenic water sampling is also required.

The penalty for not complying with the terms of the order can be up to $37,500 per day based on federal statutory law.

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Out of sight, out of mind: Carcinogenic chemical spreads beneath Michigan town

Today's post was shared by FairWarning and comes from www.environmentalhealthnews.org

When state and federal environmental officials visited the tucked-away town of Mancelona, Mich., 15 years ago, their presence surprised local residents.

“My heart and most of my life has been spent here in Antrim County,” said Gary Knapp, a long-time resident. “And I knew nothing of its environmental problems.”While removing metal contamination from local groundwater, officials had stumbled upon one of the nation’s largest plumes of an industrial solvent called trichloroethylene, or TCE.

Drinking-water wells tap into this aquifer, so the state asked the town’s help in preventing the chemical from flowing out of people’s taps.“People were helpless, frustrated and angry,” said Knapp, who was recruited by the state to start a regional water authority.Fifteen years later, the underground plume of the carcinogenic chemical is now six miles long and continues to grow.Over the past decade, new wells have been built and millions of dollars have been spent to ensure the 1,390 residents of Mancelona – known for its deer-hunting contests and bass festivals – aren’t drinking toxic water.

But the TCE swirling beneath this remote, low-income town continues to vex state officials and residents as it creeps toward new wells that Knapp and others dug to replace tainted ones. The plume is another industrial scar in Michigan – one that is seemingly not going away.“There’s no silver bullet to take care...

[Click here to see the rest of this post]

….

Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

Carcinogenic Chemical Spreads Beneath American Town (scientificamerican.com)
Fire near Mancelona under control (record-eagle.com)
Mancelona theft investigated (record-eagle.com)
Contaminated Soil and Debris to Be Removed From Superfund Site in South Plainfield, New Jersey (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety and Health Topics: Heat Stress (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Nation's Biggest Assisted Living Chain Agrees to Pay $2.2 Million to Settle Claims of Cheating on Wages (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)

Found on

Copyright

Friday, November 1, 2013

EPA Fines Phoenix-based Company $95,000 for PCB violations

Former Winchester, Idaho hotel owner settles with EPA for asbestos demolition violations

EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Cleanup Plan for Maywood Chemical Company Superfund Site

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Updates on America's Persistent Air and Water Pollution Challenges

Friday, October 25, 2013

U.S. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Goes Global

EPA Hits The Road To Seek Input On New Rules

Thursday, October 24, 2013

EPA Obtains Warrant to Address Over 1000 Drums and Containers at New Jersey Facility; Ongoing Investigation Reveals Presence of Hazardous Materials

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Choosing Chemical Hand Protection

Friday, October 11, 2013

Safety Agency Cites Owners in Texas Plant in Explosion

Thursday, October 3, 2013

What Happens When The Government Shuts Down 94 Percent of the EPA

EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Gowanus Canal Superfund Site in Brooklyn, New York; $506 Million Cleanup Will Remove Contaminated Sediment and Create Jobs

Friday, September 27, 2013

EPA Announces the start of Sampling Activities at the CTS of Ashville, Inc. Superfund Site in Ashville,North Carolina

Monday, September 23, 2013

Breathe Deep....on the airplane OR not?

Thursday, September 12, 2013

EPA Orders Public Water System on Indian Reservation in Riverside County to Address Arsenic in Drinking Water

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Out of sight, out of mind: Carcinogenic chemical spreads beneath Michigan town

Get new posts by email:

Copyright

Friday, November 1, 2013

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Related articles

Friday, October 25, 2013

Related articles

Related articles

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Related articles

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Related articles

Friday, October 11, 2013

Related articles

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Related articles

Related articles

Friday, September 27, 2013

Related articles

Monday, September 23, 2013

Related articles

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Related articles

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Related articles