Copyright

(c) 2010-2026 Jon L Gelman, All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Internal EPA report highlights disputes over fracking and well water

Today's post was shared by FairWarning and comes from www.latimes.com

WASHINGTON — One year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency finished testing drinking water in Dimock, Pa., after years of complaints by residents who suspected that nearby natural gas production had fouled their wells. The EPA said that for nearly all the 64 homes whose wells it sampled, the water was safe to drink.

Yet as the regulator moved to close its investigation, the staff at the mid-Atlantic EPA office in Philadelphia, which had been sampling the Dimock water, argued for continuing the assessment.

In an internal EPA PowerPoint presentation obtained by the Tribune/Los Angeles Times Washington Bureau, staff members warned their superiors that several wells had been contaminated with methane and substances such as manganese and arsenic, most likely because of local natural gas production.

The presentation, based on data collected over 4 1/2 years at 11 wells around Dimock, concluded that "methane and other gases released during drilling (including air from the drilling) apparently cause significant damage to the water quality." The presentation also concluded that "methane is at significantly higher concentrations in the aquifers after gas drilling and perhaps as a result of fracking [hydraulic fracturing] and other gas well work."

Critics say the decision in July 2012 by EPA headquarters in Washington to curtail its investigation at Dimock over the objection of its on-site staff fits a troubling pattern at a time when the Obama...

[Click here to see the rest of this article]

Posted by at

Who is looking out the American Worker? -- "Nobody"

This post is shared from RADIUS.twc


"A passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, INEQUALITY FOR ALL features Robert Reich—professor, best-selling author, and Clinton cabinet member—as he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy. 

 The film is an intimate portrait of a man who's overcome a great deal of personal adversity and whose lifelong goal remains protecting those who are unable to protect themselves.

 Through his singular perspective, Reich explains how the massive consolidation of wealth by a precious few threatens the viability of the American workforce and the foundation of democracy itself. In this INCONVENIENT TRUTH for the economy, 

 Reich uses humor and a wide array of facts to explain how the issue of economic inequality affects each and every one of us.

Related articles

Posted by at

How the Paint Industry Escapes Responsibility for Lead Poisoning

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

Sherwin Williams logoThis story was produced by FairWarning, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit news organization focused on public health and safety issues.

In April, based on new toxicity estimates, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised to 535,000 its estimate of the number of children with potentially dangerous levels of lead in their blood. But the communities trying to tackle the problem may not see another cent from what somepublic officials say is the prime culprit: the manufacturers of lead pigments whose products infuse the flaking paint still found in millions of American dwellings. The lead-paint industry may, in fact, be on the verge of defeating the last major legal assault by municipalities and states seeking damages to pay for lead removal.

Some experts had expected such lawsuits to follow the path of tobacco litigation during the 1990s, when states wrested a $248 billion settlement from cigarette makers to cover smoking-related health costs. "My prediction was that lead would be the next big toxic tort litigation," says Jed Ferdinand III, a Connecticut lawyer who is familiar with the issue. "That really hasn't happened."

Indeed, apart from one settlement,the industry has successfully fended off roughly 50 lawsuits by states, cities, counties, and school districts over the past quarter century. Now, in a trial under way in San Jose, California, industry lawyers are seeking a final victory in a case brought by 10 agencies, including the cities of San Francisco, Oakland...

[Click here to see the rest of this article]

Posted by at

Springfield, Mass. Housing Authority Settles Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Case

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that the Springfield, Mass. Housing Authority will pay an $11,000 penalty for failing to inform tenants their apartments may contain lead-based paint, as required by law. 

 In addition, the housing authority agreed to render apartment buildings at four of its properties lead safe at a cost of more than $49,500.According to HUD and EPA, the Springfield Housing Authority violated the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Residential Lead Act) by failing to inform people seeking to rent pre-1978 housing that their homes may contain potentially dangerous amounts of lead. 

 This action was based on compliance inspections of the Springfield Housing Authority by EPA in 2007 and 2009.“

 Today's settlement should remind landlords and property owners that they have a legal responsibility to tell their tenants about known as well as potential lead-based paint hazards in their homes,” said Jon L. Gant, Director of HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. “HUD is committed to working with public housing authorities and other housing providers to make certain we protect...

[Click here to see the rest of this article]

Related articles

Posted by at

The FMLA: 20 Years On and Keeping America’s Families Strong

Today's post was shared by US Dept. of Labor and comes from social.dol.gov

Today we announced that national restaurant chain T.G.I. Fridays has agreed to change its employee leave policy to be in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act. The move affects thousands of employees at locations across the U.S.

The company has also agreed to pay back wages to an employee in Louisiana after failing to reinstate the employee to the same or equivalent position following FLMA-covered leave, and not allowing the employee to return to work immediately.
Younger man caring for an older manWorkers should not have to choose between their jobs, and their health or the health and welfare of family members who need their care.

That is the core belief behind the FMLA, which provides America’s workers the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave for up to 12 weeks to care for themselves or a loved one while maintaining full health care coverage. It also guarantees that a worker can return to the job at the same level with the same pay and benefits.

Millions of American workers and their families have benefited since the FMLA’s provisions became effective 20 years ago this week. In the first year-and-a-half after it became available, it’s estimated that between 1.5 and 3 million Americans took FMLA-covered leave to care for themselves or a loved one.

Twenty years later, FMLA leave has been used nearly 100 million times, and research shows that the FMLA has not imposed an undue burden on employers.
But the FMLA must evolve to keep pace with the changing face of the modern family....
[Click here to see the rest of this article]

Related articles

Posted by at

Improving Patient and Worker Safety: Opportunities for Synergy, Collaboration and Innovation

Today's post was shared by US Dept. of Labor and comes from www.osha.gov

What is healthcare?

Healthcare is involved, directly or indirectly, with the provision of health services to individuals. These services can occur in a variety of work settings, including hospitals, clinics, dental offices, out-patient surgery centers, birthing centers, emergency medical care, home healthcare, and nursing homes.

What types of hazards do workers face?

Healthcare workers face a number of serious safety and health hazards. They include bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards, potential chemical and drug exposures, waste anesthetic gas exposures, respiratory hazards, ergonomic hazards from lifting and repetitive tasks, laser hazards, workplace violence, hazards associated with laboratories, and radioactive material and x-ray hazards. Some of the potential chemical exposures include formaldehyde, used for preservation of specimens for pathology; ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, and paracetic acid used for sterilization; and numerous other chemicals used in healthcare laboratories.

How many workers get sick or injured?

More workers are injured in the healthcare and social assistance industry sector than any other. This industry has one of the highest rates of work related injuries and illnesses. In 2010, the healthcare and social assistance industry reported more injury and illness cases than any other private industry sector -- 653,900 cases (Table 2 [268 KB PDF, 29 pages]). That is 152,000 more cases than the next industry sector: manufacturing. In 2010, the...

[Click here to see the rest of this article]

Posted by at

Wal-Mart signs corporate-wide settlement with US Labor Department

Today's post was shared by US Dept. of Labor and comes from www.dol.gov

Wal-Mart signs corporate-wide settlement with US Labor Department

Agreement resolves OSHA citations at Rochester, N.Y., store following 2011 inspections

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., has entered into a corporate-wide settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to improve safety and health conditions in all 2,857 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores under federal jurisdiction.  The settlement, which resolves two enforcement cases that began in 2011, includes provisions for the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer to enhance safety and health practices and training related to trash compactors, cleaning chemicals and hazard communications corporate-wide.

“This settlement will help to keep thousands of exposed Wal-Mart workers safe and healthy on the job,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “We hope this sends a strong message that the law requires employers to provide safe working conditions, and OSHA will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure that all employers follow the law.”

Under the settlement, trash compactors must remain locked while not in use, and may not be operated except under the supervision of a trained manager or other trained, designated monitor.  Wal-Mart will also improve its hazard communications training; and, for...

[Click here to see the rest of this article]

Related articles

Posted by at
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)