ENVIRO-NEWS

EPA Opens Access to Chemical Information

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 29, 2010 11:37 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Opens Access to Chemical Information
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 11:18 AM
Subject: Research News Release (HQ): EPA Opens Access to Chemical
Information

CONTACT:
Latisha Petteway
petteway.latisha@epa.gov
202-564-3191
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2010

EPA Opens Access to Chemical Information

Searchable database on chemical hazard, exposure and toxicity data now
available

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it
easier to find chemical information online. EPA is releasing a database,
called ToxRefDB < http://epa.gov/ncct/toxrefdb/ > , which allows
scientists and the interested public to search and download thousands of
toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals. ToxRefDB captures 30
years and $2 billion of testing results.

"Tens of thousands of chemicals are in commerce and current chemical
testing is expensive and time consuming. Results from chemical testing
are scattered throughout different sources," said Dr. Robert Kavlock,
director of EPA's National Center for Computational Toxicology
< http://epa.gov/ncct/index.html > .  "ToxRefDB allows the public to
search, find and compare available studies about chemical toxicity and
potential health effects."

ToxRefDB provides detailed chemical toxicity data in an accessible
format. It is a part of ACToR
[ http://actor.epa.gov/ ](Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource),
an
online data warehouse that collects data from about 500 public sources
on tens of thousands of environmentally relevant chemicals, including
several hundred in ToxRefDB. Those interested in chemical toxicity can
query a specific chemical and find all available public hazard,
exposure, and risk-assessment data, as well as previously unpublished
studies related to cancer, reproductive, and developmental toxicity.

ToxRefDB connects to an EPA chemical screening tool called ToxCast.
ToxCast is a multi-year, multi-million dollar effort that uses advanced
science tools to help understand biological processes impacted by
chemicals that may lead to adverse health effects. ToxCast currently
includes 500 fast, automated chemical screening tests that have assessed
over 300 environmental chemicals. ToxRefDB, along with ACToR, allows
users to take advantage of this linkage to find and download these
results.

ToxRefDB contains toxicity information that forms the basis for
pesticide risk assessments when combined with other sources of
information, such as those on exposure and metabolism.

More information on the database:  http://actor.epa.gov/toxrefdb
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***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS

EPA Issues Report on U.S. Climate Change Indicators

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 27, 2010 2:00 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Issues Report on U.S. Climate Change Indicators
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 1:13 PM
Subject: Air News Release (HQ): EPA Issues Report on U.S. Climate Change
Indicators

CONTACT:
Cathy Milbourn (News Media Only)
milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
(202) 564-7849
(202) 564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 27, 2010


EPA Issues Report on U.S.
Climate Change Indicators

WASHINGTON - Heat waves, storms, sea levels, glaciers, and wildlife
migrations are just a few of the environmental indicators that show
measurable signs of climate change.  A U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) report, Climate Change Indicators in the United States,
looks at 24 key indicators that show how climate change impacts the
health and environment of the nation's citizens.

"These indicators show us that climate change is a very real problem
with impacts that are already being seen," said Gina McCarthy, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "The actions
Americans are taking today to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions will help us solve this global challenge."

Some of the key findings include:

*         Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are increasing.
Between 1990 and 2008, there has been about a 14 percent increase in
emissions in the United States.


*         Average temperatures are rising. Seven of the top 10 warmest
years on record for the continental United States have occurred since
1990.

*         Tropical cyclone intensity has increased in recent decades.
Six of the 10 most active hurricane seasons have occurred since the
mid-1990s.

*         Sea levels are rising. From 1993 to 2008, sea level rose twice
as fast as the long-term trend.


*         Glaciers are melting. Loss of glacier volume appears to have
accelerated over the last decade.


*         The frequency of heat waves has risen steadily since the
1960s. The percentage of the U.S. population impacted by heat waves has
also increased.


The information included in this report will help inform future policy
decisions and will help evaluate the success of climate change efforts.
The data used in this report were collected by several government
agencies, academic institutions, and other stakeholder organizations. As
new data and information become available, EPA will update and broaden
the indicators in future reports.

Information about the Climate Change Indicators report:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/indicators.html

Information about climate change: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange

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***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
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ENVIRO-NEWS: WHO Guidelines

WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and other Information

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 15, 2010 3:32 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and other Information
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: Water Sanitation List [mailto:WATERSANITATION@WHO.INT] On Behalf Of Siberry-Dumenil, Janet
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 10:33 AM
To: WATERSANITATION@WHO.INT
Subject: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health, No. 118 (15 April 2010)


Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health
Newsletter N°118 /15 April 2010



WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
In developing the fourth edition of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, the draft chemical background documents have been prepared:

Atrazine and its Metabolites in Drinking-water. Comments on the background document should be sent to gdwq@who.int. Closing date for receiving comments: 28 May 2010.

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/atrazine/en/index.html

Spinosad DT in Drinking-water: Use for Vector Control in Drinking-water Sources and Containers. Comments should be sent to gdwq@who.int. Closing date for receiving comments: 30 May 2010.

http://www.who.int/entity/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/spinosad/en/index.html

The following chemical background documents have been finalized:

Temephos in Drinking-water -  http://who.int/entity/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/temephos/en/index.html

Cyanide in Drinking-water -  http://who.int/entity/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/cyanide/en/

Cyanogen Chloride in Drinking-water  http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/cyanogenchloride/en/


Call for Papers: "Managing Drinking Water Safety for Public Health", Malaysia,  24 November 2010

WHO is co-sponsoring this global conference, organized by IWA and the Malaysian Water Association, focusing on urban, community and household level water management. Water safety interventions within other specific settings, such as health care facilities and schools, are also being addressed. The deadline for receipt of papers is 30 April.

More information at: http://www.iwa-watersafety2010.org/call%20for%20paper.html


Journal of Water and Health
WHO and IWA Publishing collaborate in the Journal of Water and Health.
Click on the links below to view abstracts of some of the papers included in the latest issue of the journal

The degradation of diethyl phthalate (DEP) during ozonation: oxidation by-products study
Yeon Jung Jung, Byung Soo Oh, Kyoung Suk Kim, Minoru Koga, Ryota Shinohara and Joon-Wun Kang
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.301
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080290.htm



A Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak in North-West Wales associated with low oocyst counts in treated drinking-water
B. W. Mason, R. M. Chalmers, D. Carnicer-Pont and D. P. Casemore
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.184
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080299.htm



Detection of Cryptosporidium species and sources of contamination with Cryptosporidium hominis during a waterborne outbreak in north west Wales
Rachel M. Chalmers, Guy Robinson, Kristin Elwin, Stephen J. Hadfield, Euron Thomas, John Watkins, David Casemore and David Kay.......... 311-325
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.185
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080311.htm



Reducing the impact of summer cattle grazing on water quality in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California: a proposal
Robert W. Derlet, Charles R. Goldman and Michael J. Connor
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.171
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080326.htm



Knowledge of measures to safeguard harvested rainwater quality in rural domestic households
David Baguma, Willibald Loiskandl, Ika Darnhofer, Helmut Jung and Michael Hauser
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.030
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080334.htm

Analysis of the evolution in the circulation of HAV and HEV in Eastern Spain by testing urban sewage samples
Jesus Rodriguez-Manzano, Marize Miagostovich, Ayalkibet Hundesa, Pilar Clemente-Casares, Anna Carratala, Maria Buti, Rosend Jardi, Rosina Girones
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.042
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080346.htm



Assessment of E. coli and Salmonella spp. infection risks associated with different fecal sludge disposal practices in Thailand
A. Yajima and T. Koottatep
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.310
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080355.htm


Estimators of annual probability of infection for quantitative microbial risk assessment
N. Karavarsamis and A. J. Hamilton
doi:10.2166/wh.2010.045
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080365.htm



The occurrence and sources of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the Salmon River, British Columbia, Canada
Cassandra C. Jokinen, Hans Schreier, William Mauro, Eduardo Taboada, Judith L. Isaac-Renton, Edward Topp, Thomas Edge, James E. Thomas and Victor P. J. Gannon
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.076
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080374.htm



An international review of the challenges associated with securing buy-in for water safety plans within providers of drinking-water supplies
Corinna Summerill, Jen Smith, James Webster and Simon Pollard
doi:10.2166/wh.2010.047
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080387.htm

Detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts/oocysts in watersheds and drinking water sources in Brazil urban areas
Maria Tereza Pepe Razzolini, Thaís Filomena da Silva Santos and Veridiana Karmann Bastos
doi:10.2166/wh.2009.172
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/008/jwh0080399.htm

For subscription information on the journal:
http://www.iwaponline.com/jwh/subscriptions.htm
For a samplecopy:http://www.iwaponline.com/sample.htm
To register for ContentsAlert:http://www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=mailings
*-*-*-*
[deletions]


***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
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ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Water Headlines for the week of April 19, 2010

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 20, 2010 10:30 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Water Headlines for the week of April 19, 2010
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Han [mailto:han.amy@epamail.epa.gov]
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 5:53 PM
Subject: [waterheadlines] Water Headlines for the week of April 19, 2010

Water Headlines for the week of April 19, 2010

Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces
publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Water

In This Week's Water Headlines:
1) Nation's Top Collegiate Debaters Tackle Key Environmental Issues on
Earth Day
2) EPA Meets with Federal Agencies on the Urban Waters Initiative
[deletions]

1) Nation's Top Collegiate Debaters Tackle Key Environmental Issues on
Earth Day

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Water, the
Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History and the nation's top
collegiate debaters will participate in lively and educational debates
on two key environmental issues facing the U.S.  The morning debate will
be between Michigan State University and the University of Mary
Washington on the topic: "Should Congress adopt the Clean Water
Restoration Act," and the afternoon debate will be between Harvard
University and the University of Southern California on "Should EPA set
binding limits on U.S. carbon emissions consistent with the 2010
Copenhagen principles."  The debates are free and open to the public.

Featured speakers: Peter S. Silva, EPA Assistant Administrator for the
Office of Water (morning debate) and Michael H. Shapiro, EPA Deputy
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water (afternoon debate)
Location: Baird Auditorium, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of
Natural History, located at the intersection of 10th Street and
Constitution Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. (Metro accessible via
Smithsonian Station and Federal Triangle Station)
Date and time: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 10:30 am to12:30 pm (first
debate) and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (second debate)
More information on the debate and other Earth Day events:
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2010/04/what-are-you-doing
-for-earth-day/ [or http://tinyurl.com/y2l66qy ] or
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm , or contact Bryan "Ibrahim"
Goodwin, 202-566-0762, goodwin.bryan@epa.gov

2) EPA Meets with Federal Agencies on the Urban Waters Initiative
On April 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Interior co-convened a
federal partnership meeting with other federal agencies, in coordination
with the White House Domestic Policy Council, to build a federal
partnership that will support the launch of EPA's Urban Waters
initiative. The Urban Waters initiative is an effort to reconnect
communities with urban waterways and restore critical resources by
making programs more relevant to urban and underserved communities. At
the meeting, the federal agencies shared ideas and agreed to establish
and implement a partnership that will restore, improve and protect urban
waterways and engage local communities in this effort.
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

ENVIRO-NEWS

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Recovery Act Water System Improvement Projects to Improve Health and Sanitation in Communities in 12 States

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 19, 2010 11:37 AM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Recovery Act Water System Improvement Projects to Improve Health and Sanitation in Communities in 12 States
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

USDA
Release No. 0182.10

Contact: Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Recovery Act Water System
Improvement Projects to Improve Health and Sanitation in Communities in
12 States

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today
announced the funding of 18 projects designed to protect public health
by improving water quality and public sanitation services in 12 states.
The projects, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,
are expected to provide construction jobs and create infrastructure
needed to support community growth.

"Through these Recovery Act projects announced today, we are helping to
achieve the Obama Administration's economic recovery goals to rebuild
and revitalize the nation's infrastructure." Vilsack said. "These
investments in water and wastewater infrastructure will deliver safe
drinking water and protect the quality of our environment."

For example, in rural Connecticut, the Town of Woodstock has been
selected to receive a $786,000 loan and a $614,000 grant to provide
wastewater system improvements for the Woodstock Academy. The Academy
serves as the public high school for residents of Woodstock, Eastford,
Brooklyn, Pomfret, Canterbury, and Union, Connecticut. Other communities
from Connecticut and neighboring states enroll their students as well.
As the population and student enrollment increases, additional capacity
for sanitary disposal will be needed. The existing on-site wastewater
system was designed for a maximum flow of 6,000 gallons per day and the
current flow has reached 5,800 gallons per day. This project will
connect the Woodstock Academy wastewater system to the Town of Woodstock
wastewater system, accommodating the growing needs of the system.

Also, in rural Wisconsin, the Village of Cochrane has been selected to
receive a $1 million loan to provide wastewater system improvements. The
existing system consists of a two-cell stabilization pond system with
effluent disposal in two seepage cells. Together with $100,000 of
borrower contribution, this project will address issues related to
stabilization pond leakage, improvement of the fill and draw operation
of the stabilization pond, sludge accumulation in the stabilization
pond, and encroachment of nearby residential development. The proposed
project will include lining existing stabilization ponds and increasing
the ponds' depth to six feet.

The loan and grant funding announced today totals $48.6 million and will
leverage an additional $13.4 million of recipient contributions to
complete water and wastewater system projects. To date, USDA has
announced $2.46 billion in Recovery Act funds for water and
environmental projects. The Recovery Act was signed into law by
President Obama one year ago.

The ARRA funding announced today is being administered by USDA Rural
Development's Water and Environmental Program which provides loans and
grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and
wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the
environment in rural areas.

Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the
terms of the loan or grant agreement. Below is a complete list of award
recipients, by state:

Alaska
*       Gulkana Village Council: $1,200,000 grant. The funding will
provide wastewater system improvements.

California
*       City of Ferndale: $5,000,000 loan and $3,738,000 grant. The
funding will provide wastewater system improvements.

Connecticut
*       Town of Woodstock: $786,000 loan and $614,000 grant. The funding
will provide wastewater system improvements.

Delaware
*       Sussex County Council: $5,582,000 loan and $2,999,847 grant. The
funding will provide wastewater system improvements.

Maine
* City of Brewer: $800,000 loan and $620,000 grant. The funding will
provide wastewater system improvements.

Missouri
* City of Bismarck: $2,500,000 loan and $3,564,790 grant. The funding
will provide wastewater system improvements.

* City of Bucklin: $151,000 loan and $346,200 grant. The funding will
provide water system improvements.

* Chariton-Linn Park Water and Sanitation District (PWSD) #3: $351,000
loan and $335,000 grant. The funding will provide water system
improvements.

* Village of Dadeville: $420,000 loan. The funding will provide water
system improvements.

* City of Diamond: $650,000 loan. The funding will provide wastewater
system improvements.

* Washington County Park PWSD #1: $538,000 loan and $1,209,990 grant.
The funding will provide wastewater system improvements.

North Carolina
* Town of Cofield: $543,000 loan and $462,000 grant. The funding will
provide water system improvements.

* Edgecombe Water & Sewer District #4: $3,615,000 loan and $2,509,400
grant. The funding will provide water system improvements.

Ohio
* Portage County: $577,000 loan and $1,505,000 grant. The funding will
provide wastewater system improvements.

South Carolina
* St. John's Water Company, Inc.: $4,604,000 loan. The funding will
provide water system improvements.

Tennessee
* South Blount Utility District: $769,000 loan. The funding will provide
water system improvements.

West Virginia
* Mingo County PSD Marrowbone Creek: $763,000 loan and $900,000 grant.
The funding will provide water system improvements.

Wisconsin
* Village of Cochrane: $1,000,000 loan. The funding will provide
wastewater system improvements.

President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation's
economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on
addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the
21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's
infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational
opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax
relief, and protect those in greatest need.

More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at
www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government's
efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov .

#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a
complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

#

[USDA news releases are available in the "Newsroom" section at
http://www.usda.gov/ .]


***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
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ENVIRO-NEWS EPA Finalizes the 2008 National U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 15, 2010 1:25 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Finalizes the 2008 National U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 12:24 PM
Subject: Air News Release (HQ): EPA Finalizes the 2008 National U.S.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory

CONTACT:
Cathy Milbourn
milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
202-564-7849
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2010


EPA Finalizes the 2008 National U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released
the15th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory report, which shows a drop
in overall emissions of 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. The downward
trend is attributed to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated
with fuel and electricity consumption.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2008 were equivalent
to 6,957 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. The gases include carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons
and sulfur hexafluoride. Though overall emissions dropped in 2008,
emissions are still 13.5 percent higher than they were in 1990.

The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2008 is
the latest annual report that the United States has submitted to the
Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. The convention sets an overall framework for intergovernmental
efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. EPA prepares
the annual report with experts from multiple federal agencies and after
gathering comments from a broad range of stakeholders across the
country.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions at the national
level and presents historical emissions from 1990 to 2008. The inventory
also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the
atmosphere by "sinks," which occurs through the uptake of carbon by
forests, vegetation and soils.

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html

R113
[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************

The new Stealth toliets by Niagara Conservation get a big thumbs up from AquaPro & the AERC

I am happy to report that the new MaP testing station at the Aqua Environmental Resource Center in Asheville is functional. Although it is an unofficial test facility it does provide an opportunity for unbiased performance evaluations. Although I understand the necessity of establishing uniform testing standards and criteria, I also live in the real world. Official MaP testing adheres to EPA mandated criteria that isn't necessarily representative of "real world use" of a toilet. It's based on averages; and people are not all average. 


So on to our initial test subjects. As one of the first facilities/showrooms in the US to receive the Stealth toilet for testing and demonstration, we were eager to do a performance evaluation of the new toilet by Niagara Conservation. The Stealth toilet is one very unique toilet indeed. It is the only gravity flush two piece toilet currently on the market that flushes on less than one gallon of water. The Stealth toilet uses only 0.8 gallons per flush; that is half the amount of water allowed by mandates established in the mid 1990's. It is almost one half gallon less than the new High Efficiency Toilet (HET) standard of 1.28gpf established recently by the EPA Water Sense Program. The Stealth toilet is way ahead of the curve with the Ultra High Efficiency Toilet (UHET) rating of 0.8 gallons per flush (gpf). 
 
Remembering the fiasco of the mid 90's when toilets were forced into the market before they had been adequately evaluated for performance, we were initially skeptical of the Stealth toilets and anxious to test it's performance. I am a strong advocate for products that help improve water conservation. I evaluate a lot of products because I know that not all of them actually perform as they claimed by manufacturers. The concern for me is that consumers won't buy in to the idea of conservation if they have bad experiences with new products. 

The Stealth toilets performance was impressive to say the least. When testing toilets at the AERC we use varying size and weight combination of test material to more accurately represent what may be present in a real world environment. Our test matter sizes vary in all three categories and are both larger and smaller than EPA recommendations. The Stealth toilet consistently flushed 750 grams of test matter; soy paste in latex sleeve of varying sizes and weights. We were successful up to 800 grams although inconsistently. We found that above 750 grams the Stealth performed more consistently with test matter in line with the EPA standards of 3/4" diameter, 4"length weighing 50 grams each. By all means still a very impressive performance. 


Niagara's Stealth toilet has proven it's ability to clear the toilet bowl on such a small volume of water. There are other things of very relevant importance when considering whether a toilet is going to perform well on any given plumbing system. We not only want to fully clear waste from the bowl, but we also want the waste be carried properly down the pipe and into the general "stream" of sewerage so to speak. With only 0.8gpf to carry the waste this becomes a bit of an issue. Not insurmountable but potentially problematic in older homes. The strait horizontal carry distance of the Stealth toilet is not greater than 20 feet. What this means is that if you have less than 20ft horizontal run with no changes in direction to the nearest vertical plumbing stack, you have nothing to be concerned about. If the run is over 20 feet or there are offsets in the line you will need to be sure there is an additional fixture between the toilet and the stack to help wash the waste down the drain. I could spend a lot more time on options for this scenario but we'll leave it for you to inquire if you have any specific questions. All in all the Stealth toilet is well worth the investment. Particularly in multistory apartment building, condos, hotels and high rise buildings which tend to have shorter horizontal runs of plumbing waste piping. 

Another consideration is the manufacturer. Niagara Conservation has proven to be reliable and conscientious. They have brought to market two of the most innovative toilet design changes in decades. The Niagara Flapperless Toilet in 1.6gpf or 1.28gpf, and now the Stealth Toilet; all of which are highly recommended by AquaPro, as are most of Niagara Conservation products. 


 AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com  


www.AquaProSolutions.com, www.AquaEnvi.org, www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com,

ENVIRO-NEWS

EPA Launches Blog on Acid Rain

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 8, 2010 3:08 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Launches Blog on Acid Rain
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 2:51 PM
Subject: Air News Release (HQ): EPA Launches Blog on Acid Rain

CONTACT:
Cathy Milbourn
milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
202-564-7849
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2010



EPA Launches Blog on Acid Rain

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a
month-long online discussion to expand the conversation on acid rain.
Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of
the United States and is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and
forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems. Sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the pollutants that form acid
rain, can cause serious respiratory illnesses and premature death.

Starting today, EPA is posting daily blogs to inform and engage the
public in an interactive Web discussion. Topics will include an overview
of acid rain and its effects, a description of the Acid Rain Program's
cap and trade policy, an explanation of how EPA monitors power plant
emissions, and how air and water quality monitoring data are used to
measure environmental improvements.

EPA established the Acid Rain Program 20 years ago under the 1990 Clean
Air Act Amendments and it requires major emission reductions of sulfur
dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NOx from the electric power industry. The
program sets a permanent cap on the total amount of SO2 that may be
emitted by electric generating units in the United States, and includes
provisions for trading and banking allowances. Since the first year of
the program in 1995, SO2 and NOx emissions have each been cut by more
than 60 percent.

For the kickoff Greenversations blog: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/

For the rest of the blog series: http://blog.epa.gov/acidrain/

To follow the series on Facebook and Twitter:
www.facebook.com/EPAairmarkets and www.twitter.com/EPAairmarkets

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Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
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ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA

EPA Regional Seminars on Control of Nitrogen and Phosphorus at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 6, 2010 4:27 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Regional Seminars on Control of Nitrogen and Phosphorus at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: Peggy Heimbrock [mailto:heimbrock.peggy@epamail.epa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 4:09 PM
Subject: [nrmrl] NRMRL News - Special Edition

EPA's Office of Research and Development, along with Region 5 and Region
10, is holding two seminars on the control of nitrogen and phosphorus at
municipal wastewater treatment plants.
The Region 10 seminar will be held in Seattle on May 11-12, 2010.
The Region 5 seminar will be held in Chicago on May 25-26, 2010.
Here is the link to the registration site for both seminars:
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/events/nutrient_seminars.htm
There is no charge for these seminars.


***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
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ENVIRO-NEWS: USDA ANNOUNCES WATER CONSERVATION PROJECT ASSISTANCE

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 5, 2010 2:34 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] USDA ANNOUNCES WATER CONSERVATION PROJECT ASSISTANCE
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

USDA
Release No. 0164.10

Contact: Terry Bish (202) 720-5974

USDA ANNOUNCES WATER CONSERVATION PROJECT ASSISTANCE

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2010-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Chief Dave White today announced the availability of $61.2 million in
financial assistance funding for Agricultural Water Enhancement Program
(AWEP) projects. This funding will help producers conserve surface and
ground water and improve water quality on agricultural land.

"By working with our partners, we will see more water conservation on
working lands and more opportunities to improve water quality," said
White.

AWEP projects are implemented by NRCS entering into partnership
agreements with eligible entities. NRCS works with these partners to
help landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project
areas established through the agreements.

Of the $61.2 million, approximately $40.4 million will be made available
to AWEP partners whose projects were approved during last fiscal year
and approximately $20.7 million will be available for new project
proposals.

The following partnership entities are eligible to submit proposals for
funding: federally recognized Indian Tribes, States, units of local
government, agricultural associations, and other groups of
producers--such as irrigation associations, agricultural land trusts, or
other nongovernmental organization--that have experience working with
agricultural producers. When an AWEP project area has been approved and
announced, individual producers may apply for program benefits through
their local NRCS office.

Types of water enhancement activities intended with this request for
proposal are:

*       Water quality or water conservation plan development;
*
*       Water conservation restoration or enhancement projects;
*
*       Water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement projects;
*
*       Irrigation system improvement and irrigation efficiency
enhancements;
*
*       Activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought; and
*
*       Related activities determined to help achieve water quality or
water conservation benefits on agricultural land.
*
Deadline for partner organizations to submit a proposal is 3:00 May 17,
2010. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill)
established AWEP. To view the full request for proposal, for additional
AWEP information, or to apply visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/AWEP/.

For additional information about NRCS and conservation programs that may
be available for you, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov, or visit the nearest
USDA Service Center in your area. 2010 represents the 75th year of NRCS
helping people help the land. Since its inception in 1935, the NRCS
conservation delivery system has advanced a unique partnership with
state and local governments and private landowners delivering
conservation based on specific, local conservation needs, while
accommodating state and national interests.

#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a
complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
#

#
[USDA news releases are available in the "Newsroom" section at
http://www.usda.gov/ .]



***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
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ENVIRO-NEWS; EPA Issues Comprehensive Guidance to Protect Appalachian Communities From Harmful Environmental Impacts of Mountain Top Mining

Will this EPA effort go far enough to protect against the devistation to the environment and communities caused by mountain top removal or is it a bandaid on a gushing wound?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Apr 1, 2010 1:32 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Issues Comprehensive Guidance to Protect Appalachian Communities From Harmful Environmental Impacts of Mountain Top Mining
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 1:18 PM
Subject: Water News Release (HQ): EPA Issues Comprehensive Guidance to
Protect Appalachian Communities From Harmful Environmental Impacts of
Mountain Top Mining

CONTACT:
EPA Press Office
press@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2010

EPA Issues Comprehensive Guidance to Protect Appalachian Communities
From Harmful Environmental Impacts of Mountain Top Mining

Guidance provides additional clarity and ensures stronger protection at
projects in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and
Tennessee

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today
announced a set of actions to further clarify and strengthen
environmental permitting requirements for Appalachian mountaintop
removal and other surface coal mining projects, in coordination with
federal and state regulatory agencies.  Using the best available science
and following the law, the comprehensive guidance sets clear benchmarks
for preventing significant and irreversible damage to Appalachian
watersheds at risk from mining activity.

Mountaintop removal is a form of surface coal mining in which explosives
are used to access coal seams, generating large volumes of waste that
bury adjacent streams. The resulting waste that then fills valleys and
streams can significantly compromise water quality, often causing
permanent damage to ecosystems and rendering streams unfit for swimming,
fishing and drinking. It is estimated that almost 2,000 miles of
Appalachian headwater streams have been buried by mountaintop coal
mining.

"The people of Appalachia shouldn't have to choose between a clean,
healthy environment in which to raise their families and the jobs they
need to support them. That's why EPA is providing even greater clarity
on the direction the agency is taking to confront pollution from
mountain top removal," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We will
continue to work with all stakeholders to find a way forward that
follows the science and the law. Getting this right is important to
Americans who rely on affordable coal to power homes and businesses, as
well as coal communities that count on jobs and a livable environment,
both during mining and after coal companies move to other sites."

EPA's Actions:
       *         Improved Guidance and Clarity: EPA is communicating
comprehensive guidance to its regional offices with permitting
responsibility in Appalachian states. The guidance clarifies existing
requirements of the Section 402 and 404 Clean Water Act permitting
programs that apply to pollution from surface coal mining operations in
streams and wetlands. The guidance details EPA's responsibilities and
how the agency uses its Clean Water Act (CWA) authorities to ensure that
future mining will not cause significant environmental, water quality
and human health impacts. EPA also expects this information will provide
improved consistency and predictability in the CWA permitting process
and help to strengthen coordination with other federal and state
regulatory agencies and mining companies.
       *         Strong Science: EPA is making publicly available two
scientific reports prepared by its Office of Research and Development
(ORD). One summarizes the aquatic impacts of mountaintop mining and
valley fills. The second report establishes a scientific benchmark for
unacceptable levels of conductivity (a measure of water pollution from
mining practices) that threaten stream life in surface waters.  These
reports are being published for public comment and submitted for peer
review to the EPA Science Advisory Board.
       *         Increased transparency: EPA is creating a permit
tracking Web site so that the public can determine the status of mining
permits subject to the EPA-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Enhanced
Coordination Procedure (ECP).

A growing body of scientific literature, including previous and new
studies performed by EPA, show significant damage to local streams that
are polluted with the mining runoff from mountaintop removal. To protect
water quality, EPA has identified a range of conductivity (a measure of
the level of salt in the water) of 300 to 500 microSiemens per
centimeter. The maximum benchmark conductivity of 500 microSiemens per
centimeter is a measure of salinity that is roughly five times above
normal levels.  The conductivity levels identified in the clarifying
guidance are intended to protect 95 percent of aquatic life and fresh
water streams in central Appalachia.

EPA will solicit public comments on the new guidance. The guidance will
be effective immediately on an interim basis. EPA will decide whether to
modify the guidance after consideration of public comments and the
results of the SAB technical review of the EPA scientific reports.

The EPA guidance identifies improvements in mining practices and
operations that will reduce adverse impacts on water quality. EPA will
continue to work with coal companies that are interested in modifying
their projects to reduce their environmental footprint and prevent harm
to water quality and human health. Earlier this year, EPA approved the
Hobet 45 permit in West Virginia.  Working with the mining company, EPA
was able to reduce stream impacts by almost 50 percent and minimize mine
runoff into surface waters.  Those changes helped permanently protect
local waters, maximize coal recovery and reduce costs for the operators.


In contrast, EPA recently proposed to significantly restrict or prohibit
mountaintop mining at the Spruce No. 1 surface mine in Logan County, W.
Va. Attempts at dialogue with the company failed to ensure a significant
decrease of environmental and water quality impacts from the project.
The Spruce No. 1 mine, as proposed, would bury more than seven miles of
headwater streams, directly impact 2,278 acres of forestland, and
degrade water quality in streams adjacent to the mine.  The project was
permitted in 2007 and subsequently delayed by litigation.

EPA's guidance offers recommendations to its regions on the application
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to surface coal mining
projects permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps is
separately announcing plans for rulemaking to expand the scope of NEPA
review. EPA is supportive of this effort and will work closely with the
Corps.

All the documents: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/mining.html


Fact Sheet on EPA Guidance and Scientific Reports

Additional Comprehensive Guidance

EPA is issuing comprehensive guidance clarifying the standards that its
regional offices should apply in permitting reviews of Appalachian
surface coal mining projects under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This
guidance directs EPA field staff to coordinate with their federal and
state regulatory partners to strengthen the environmental review of new
Appalachian surface coal mining projects and to improve protection of
the communities' local water and environment.  More specifically, the
guidance:

       *         Incorporates the latest scientific information in
clarifying how CWA permits should assure compliance with existing water
quality standards to protect the use of streams by communities and to
ensure healthy aquatic life.
       *         Clarifies how CWA requirements apply to the disposal
of mining overburden in streams to reduce the size and number of valley
fills, to limit water quality contamination of streams near mining
operations, and to prevent significant environmental degradation of
streams and wetlands.
       *         Improves opportunities for the voices of adversely
affected Appalachian communities to be heard in the process of reviewing
proposed new mining operations.

EPA Releases Two Draft Scientific Reports for Public Comment

*       Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity

This draft report adapts EPA's traditional approach for developing water
quality criteria to field data in central Appalachia in order to develop
a conductivity benchmark protective of stream life in Appalachian
surface waters.  Conductivity is a measure of the level of salinity
(salt) in the water. There are mining materials that are dumped or
runoff into water that can raise the salinity level that turns fresh
water into salty water. When this happens, living organisms have
difficulty surviving because they cannot tolerate the high salinity
level.

The draft report makes the following conclusions:

               *         The salinity of water has been shown to
negatively affect aquatic organisms (stream life).
               *         By plotting the conductivity levels at which
organisms are no longer observed in streams, we can determine a level of
conductivity that results in their loss. EPA identified a benchmark of
300 microSiemens per cm (units of conductivity) that protects 95 percent
of aquatic organisms living in streams in central Appalachia.
               *         EPA derived this benchmark using more than
2,000 field samples collected in West Virginia. These results were
validated using data from Kentucky.
               *         Although the method is applicable to any
region, the value 300 is only applicable to Central Appalachian streams
containing the types of salts found in those streams.
               *         Additional analyses demonstrate that the
observed effects on the aquatic community are due types of salts that
are consistent with minerals leached from mountaintop mining operations
and not to other variables that were evaluated.

*       Mountaintop Mining / Valley Fill Impacts Report

EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducted a literature
review of peer-reviewed studies focusing on aquatic environmental and
water quality impacts of mountaintop mining and valley fills.  The draft
report among other conclusions, found:

                       *         Burial of headwater streams by valley
fills causes permanent loss of ecosystems.
                       *         Concentrations of salts as measured by
conductivity are, on average, 10 times higher downstream of mountaintop
mines and valley fills than in un-mined watersheds.
                       *         The increased levels of salts disrupt
the life cycle of freshwater aquatic organisms and some cannot live in
these waters.
                       *         Water with high salt concentrations
downstream of mountaintop mines and valley fills is toxic to stream
organisms. To date, there is no evidence that streams that undergo a
restoration process have returned to their normal ecological functions
after the mining is completed.


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[deletions]

***********************************************
Enviro-News is a service of the Water Quality
Information Center at the National Agricultural
Library.  The center's Web site is at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/.

The Enviro-News list facilitates information exchange.
Inclusion of an item in Enviro-News does not imply
United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) agreement,
nor does USDA attest to the accuracy or completeness of
the item. See
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/environews.shtml#disclaimer
You can contact the list owner at
owner-Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov.
***********************************************