Environmental Industry News
- EPA, DOJ Reach Superfund Settlement for NC SiteThe settlement with Honeywell International Inc. and International Paper Co. concerns the cleanup of contaminated soils and sediments at the LCP-Holtrachem plant in Riegelwood, N.C. It is a 24-acre site adjacent to the Cape Fear River.
- DOT Completes Review of Draft EA for DC-Baltimore Loop ProjectThe Boring Company's website for the project indicates the two tunnels would be constructed at least 30 feet below ground and the project initially would be a high-speed underground public transportation system in which passengers are transported in autonomous electric vehicles traveling at up to 150 miles per hour.
- Virginia DEQ Awards $20 Million in Stormwater GrantsDEQ Director David Paylor said the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund matching grants "help communities install effective and efficient pollution control measures, such as stream restorations, constructed wetlands, and methods to filter rainwater before it washes pollution into waterways."
- CARB Hosting Event for Truckers on Clean Air RulesState air quality experts will provide truck drivers and fleet owners with the latest information to help them comply with the clean air requirements and upcoming rule deadlines.
- Consent Order Signed as Hawaiian Dairy ClosesThe order was completed to address numerous discharges of wastewater containing manure from the dairy to state waters during the past two years that were documented by the department, and it requires Big Island Dairy's owners to terminate their dairy operations.
- NYC Mayor Cutting City's Vehicle FleetThe city will eliminate least 1,000 vehicles from its fleet by June 2021 and will reduce the number of take-home vehicles by at least 500 vehicles, curtail the reliance on SUVs in the city fleet, and promote increased vehicle efficiency by using advanced data collection.
- Virginia Governor Signs Coal Ash Cleanup Bills"The potential risks to public health and water quality posed by unlined coal ash ponds in the Commonwealth are far too great for us to continue with business as usual," said Gov. Ralph Northam. "This historic, bipartisan effort sets a standard for what we can achieve when we work together, across party lines, in the best interest of all Virginians."
- Houston-Area Petrochemical Terminal Fire ExtinguishedThe fire at Intercontinental Terminals Company's Deer Park terminal was fully extinguished by 3 a.m. March 10, the company reported.
- Registration Available for 2019 Hanford ToursThe public tour program focuses on environmental cleanup and gives participants with a look at key projects that support the ongoing cleanup of the Richland, Wash., site.
- SEC Charges Volkswagen, Former CEO with Defrauding InvestorsThe complaint alleges that Volkswagen made false and misleading statements to investors and underwriters about vehicle quality, environmental compliance, and VW's financial standing and that, by concealing the emissions scheme, Volkswagen obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in benefit by issuing the securities at more attractive rates for the company.
- IMO Trains Caribbean Oil Spill Managers to Boost Response CapacityThe March 11-14 course has showcased success stories of several countries in ratifying relevant international preparedness and response conventions, adopting national oil spill legislation, and developing oil spill response capacity.
- Ohio Landfill Misses First Deadline for Odor ControlThe first key deadline required Sunny Farms Landfill LLC to ensure parts of the landfill, not currently accepting waste, were covered with 3 feet of soil by Feb. 28, but an inspection on March 1 by Ohio EPA inspectors found many areas where the facility failed to provide adequate soil cover.
- Texas Agency OKs $30 Million for Water, Wastewater ProjectsThe Texas Water Development Board on March 5 approved financial assistance totaling $30,024,161 for water and wastewater system projects located in three counties. Part of the funding, $4,739,161, was approved for rural projects.
- Resident Inspectors Chosen for New Vogtle UnitsNuclear Regulatory Commission officials in Atlanta recently announced the selection of Kenya Carrington and Patrick Heher as resident inspectors for the construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4, new units being built near Waynesboro, Ga.
- DOE Opens Battery Recycling Center at Argonne National LaboratoryThe goal is to reclaim and recycle critical materials such as cobalt and lithium from lithium-based batteries cost effectively.
- Survey Finds 18 Million Trees Died in California During 2018"It is encouraging that the rate of mortality slowed in 2018. However, 18 million trees are an indication that the forests of California are still under significant stress," said Thom Porter, CAL FIRE's director and California's state forester. "The stress of drought, insects, disease, and prolific wildfire will continue to challenge the resilience of the state's forests."
- TVA to Retire Two Coal-Fired Power PlantsTVA's board of directors on Feb. 14 approved the retirement of Paradise Unit 3 in Drakesboro, Ky., and the Bull Run facility in Clinton, Tenn., older coal generating units that TVA describes as "not designed to efficiently respond to today's continually fluctuating power needs of customers."
- Nine Teams Chosen for Colorado's NextCycle ProgramEach of the nine teams selected for the first-of-its-kind pilot program will receive a $5,000 business development grant, mentoring from the Colorado NextCycle technical advisory committee, and technical support from RRS, the recycling and sustainability consulting firm assisting with the Colorado NextCycle program.
- California's Governor Warns Climate Change Pressuring UtilitiesIn his first State of the State address, Gov. Gavin Newsom said climate change is putting pressure on all of California's utilities, public and private, and that two recently had their credit ratings downgraded.
- Marathon Subsidiary Signs Contracts with Solaris WaterSolaris Water Midstream, LLC will manage all produced water transportation, disposal, fresh water, and recycled water needs within a 369,000-acre region in Lea County, N.M.
- PA DEP Sets Meeting on Proposed Waste Treatment FacilityElcon Recycling Services, LLC wants to construct and operate a hazardous waste treatment and storage facility to treat and store liquid waste at the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, Bucks County.
- IKEA Norfolk Store to Feature Large Solar ArrayThe new store will feature a 180,000-square-foot solar array and three EV charging stations.
- NRC Raising Some Fees This YearProposed annual fees for FY2019 have increased for operating reactors, some materials users, and Department of Energy transportation activities.
