Environmental Industry News
- DOE Opens Battery Recycling Center at Argonne National Laboratory The 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.
- NRC Sets Hearing in Albuquerque on Holtec Fuel Storage ApplicationThe oral arguments on Jan. 23 and, if necessary, Jan. 24, will be open to the public. Signs, banners, posters, demonstrations, and displays will not be permitted by NRC policy, according to the agency.
- New CalEPA Secretary AppointedJared Blumenfeld, 49, of San Francisco, has been appointed secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
- NRC Sets Hearing, Webinar on Pilgrim Nuclear Plant DecommissioningThe Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report includes a table showing that the entire period from shutdown of the plant to license termination will last 60 years.
- WVDEP Accepts Voluntary Remediation Agreement with Rail Car Maintenance CompanyThe site is located at 494 Stokes Drive in Hinton and includes approximately 11.518 acres. It has been used for rail car maintenance and repair since 1940.
- California Agency Extends Comment Deadline on PCBTF ListingThe American Coatings Association asked for an extension of the comment period, which the agency granted. Comments are now due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 23.
- California EV Sales Top 500,000"Reaching 500,000 electric vehicles in California is yet another indicator that the future of transportation is electric. And that future is approaching faster than ever," said Veloz board Chair David Hochschild. "We have seen monthly sales of electric vehicles triple this year, and California is well on our way to 5 million by 2030."
- USDA Funding Water and Wastewater Infrastructure ProjectsUSDA is providing financing for 234 water and environmental infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program -- funding that can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage, and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.
- Wind Turbine Manufacturers Notch Big OrdersSiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy announced it received the order for the 487 MW SeaMade offshore wind power project in Belgium from customer Seamade NV, while Vestas announced it has received an order for 100 V120-2.2 MW turbines for an undisclosed project in the United States.
- TVA Preparing EIS on Coal Ash Storage at Memphis SiteTVA wants public comments and is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the potential environmental effects of several options at Allen. An estimated almost 3 million cubic yards of coal ash and other coal combustion residuals remain in the ash impoundments at the site.
- Explo Systems Employees Sentenced in Conspiracy Case"Through their reckless mismanagement of waste explosives, the defendants put the safety of an entire town at risk," said Susan Bodine, assistant administrator of the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Today's sentencing should send a clear message that EPA and our law enforcement partners will hold corporate officials responsible for violating laws designed to protect our communities and the environment."
