The EPA completed its multi-year review of the Army's closure and sampling reports and through the EPA's own analyses considers the JACADS facility to have met all of its permit requirements for closing the facility.

This report is produced through the Federal Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST). The report details information on fleet profiles, inventories, and costs as well as fuel usage.

The Web site allows the public to stay tuned to key developments, draft work products, schedules of public meetings and events, and have questions answered about the process.

The release includes raw data that accounts for 80 to 85 percent of the total data that will be included in the TRI National Analysis in December 2009. EPA has provided the preliminary data in three ways. First, a Facility Locator Tool allows you to access facility-specific information regarding TRI Section 313 chemicals in your community. Second, EPA has provided basic data files that are available for download and include 100 of the most commonly requested data fields. Third, EPA has offered basic plus data, a set of seven downloadable files containing all data submitted to EPA by covered facilities. EPA is continuing to process paper submissions and late submissions and resolve electronic filing issues; they intend to incorporate these additional datasets in September and again in October.

(Kansas City, Kan., August 18, 2009) - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Kansas Health Care System has agreed to pay a $51,501 civil penalty and spend nearly a half-million dollars on a plan to manage pharmaceutical and chemical wastes, all in an agreement to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste laws at its hospitals in Leavenworth and Topeka, Kan.

(New York, N.Y.) In order to help ensure that underground tanks used for storing diesel fuel, oil and gasoline are properly managed in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding safety violations. According to the settlement, USDA will pay $30,000 in penalties and is required to comply with federal underground storage tank requirements.

These documents contain the results of peer review of the proposed renewable fuel standards in four areas: 1) land use modeling; 2) methods to account for the variable timing of GHG emissions; 3) GHG emissions from foreign crop production; and 4) how the models EPA relied upon are used together to provide overall lifecycle estimates.

EPPNet is sponsoring a webinar on July 29, 2-009 as part of the effort to look for volunteers to help develop environmental criteria for ranking imaging equipment and televisions and their related equipment. To register for the webinar, please email sue@ceh.org. Include your name, title and the name of the organization you represent.

The results from the first 15 mo of the second UCMR2 program are now available on EPA's Web site. EPA intends to update results at least semiannually until the end of reporting under the program in 2011. UCMR2 is a tool used by EPA to help determine whether to set new drinking water standards for individual contaminants that are not currently regulated.

This agreement on the 62-acre site at McClellan Air Force Base creates the first privatized clean-up of a Superfund site in the nation.

July 2009 version of the U.S. Army OREGA-N's "Northern Region Review" bi-monthly newsletter highlighting current environmental legislative and regulatory news important to Army environmental and facility managers.

The summer edition of the US Army Environmental Center's Environmental Update, a quarterly publication of Army environmental news, is now available at http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/update/sum09/sum09.html.

OMB and the Recovery, Accountability and Transparency Board announce that webinars will be held the week of July 20,2009 to provide information on implementing the guidance set forth in OMB Memorandum M-09-21, Implementing Guidance for the Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was released on June 22, 2009

The key to efficient outdoor irrigation is applying just enough water and only when necessary. Water-wise habits will result in a healthier lawn and landscape, in addition to conserving water. Plus, reducing your consumption will help reduce your water bill.

The USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Md. has settled alleged violations of UST and hazardous waste regulations. EPA cited USDA for failing to conduct release detection every 30 days, failing to perform annual line leak detection tests, and failing to perform annual line tightness tests. The alleged RCRA violations included operating a facility for the storage, treatment and/or disposal of hazardous waste without a permit, failing to clearly label containers of accumulated hazardous waste, not maintaining records of hazardous waste training for facility personnel and failing to determine if the solid waste generated by the facility was hazardous waste, specifically, used aerosol cans generated from the facility's machinery shop.

In conjunction with the USEPA, FedCenter is now offering web-based, on-demand training courses for Federal employees. Initially, training will be offered on "Environmental Compliance for Federal Laboratories", "Environmental Management Systems", and "Environmental Compliance for Underground Storage Tanks", but the training library will expand over time to include other topic areas deemed important to the Federal community. FedCenter membership will be required to view these courses. Visit the FedCenter Training Page for more information.

On June 30, 2009, EPA granted a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption to California for its greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles beginning with the 2009 model year.

The National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), based on 2002 air emissions data, helps federal, state, local and tribal governments identify areas and specific pollutants for further evaluation to better understand risks they may pose.

The U.S. EPA formally recognized the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NN EPA) today for their efforts to protect and preserve the environment over the past 30 years.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an extension of the public comment period on the Administrative Record for the Administrative Order and Agreement on Consent (AOC) entered into between EPA and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding the TVA Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant Release Site, in Roane County, Tenn. The Administrative Record file includes the AOC itself, as well as the documents which support the AOC. All interested persons are encouraged to review and comment on the documents.

WASHINGTON – Obama Administration officials announced today that they are taking unprecedented steps to reduce the environmental impacts of mountaintop coal mining in the six Appalachian states of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia through a coordinated approach between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Interior (DOI) and Army Corps of Engineers.

This guidance describes water program priorities and strategies, including the suite of water performance measures and their targets, for the coming fiscal year.

Two federal entities will pay a fine and enhance how they manage underground storage tanks at a facility in Puerto Rico to settle a case with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Puerto Rico Army National Guard and the Army & Air Force Exchange Service will together pay a $69,000 fine and ensure the underground storage tanks at their Camp Santiago facility in Salinas, P.R. comply with Puerto Rico underground storage tank requirements. The Guard will also install a system to conserve water and reduce pollution at the facility, estimated to cost $670,000. These actions resolve complaints issued by EPA to the two entities in August 2008. An underground storage tank system commonly stores petroleum or hazardous wastes. There are about 625,000 systems nationwide, and they can harm the environment and human health if their contents are released.

Under an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) is required to take action to reduce the amount of copper in its wastewater and comply with its federal Clean Water Act permit requirements. According to the Navy's own discharge reports, from May 2003 to July 2008, PSNS frequently violated its federal wastewater permit by discharging copper in excess of allowable levels. The shipyard's wastewater is discharged into Sinclair Inlet.

The U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H. will pay $89,500 for violations of federal and state hazardous waste management laws. Following an EPA inspection in 2007, EPA alleged that the facility failed to determine whether numerous containers held hazardous wastes and failed to properly label hazardous wastes containers. Additionally, EPA alleged that the facility accumulated hazardous waste in an area with a floor drain without taking measures to prevent a leak or spill. The facility is currently in compliance with these RCRA requirements.

U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels decreased by 2.8 percent in 2008, from 5,967 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MMTCO2) in 2007 to 5,802 MMTCO2 in 2008, according to preliminary estimates released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This is the largest annual decline in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions since EIA began annual reporting on greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA's IRIS database provides crucial information on ways human health is impacted by exposure to chemical substances in air, water, and land both from contaminated sites and from products. Combined with specific exposure information, government and private entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk management decisions designed to protect public health.

You are invited to edit the wiki content and add information resources you find valuable.

On May 18th, 2009, EPA announced Energy Star requirements for computer servers that will protect the environment and result in significant energy savings. On average, computer servers that earn the Energy Star label will be 30 percent more energy efficient than standard servers.

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) sent a letter to Acting United States Secretary of the Navy BJ Penn, asking him to help close information gaps in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) 1997 public health assessment. New information about the levels of benzene, TCE and PCE in Camp Lejeune's water supply recently invalidated sections of the public health assessment.

The EPA has decided to terminate the National Environmental Performance Track Program effective May 14, 2009.

This new EO creates the Federal Leadership Committee for the Chesapeake Bay which will be chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EO calls for EPA and six other federal agencies to coordinate and expand federal tools and resources to help speed cleanup of the nation's largest estuary. The EO can be found here.

This year's award recipients represent achievements in five categories: clean air technology, community action, education/outreach, regulatory policy innovations, and outstanding individual achievement.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an enforceable agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to oversee the removal of coal ash at the TVA Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant in Roane County, TN, where more than five million cubic yards of coal ash spilled. Under the Administrative Order and Agreement on Consent (order) which was entered into under the Superfund law, EPA will oversee the cleanup and TVA will reimburse EPA for its oversight costs

This May is the 19th anniversary of American Wetlands Month and EPA is celebrating with numerous activities, videos, and events to educate people about wetlands

This is a checklist consisting of three sections, twenty-eight categories, one hundred and forty-two data points, all aimed at determining how your village, town or city is really doing in its efforts to be "green." It is addressing climate change, sustainability, and environmental health at the local level. The website provides ready-to-go policy solutions, program ideas and links to the most innovative, cost-effective and award-winning solutions from entities that have found their "piece of the puzzle."

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) Awards. The 2009 FEC Awards recognize the achievements of FEC partners and their leadership in federal electronics stewardship during 2008. See attachment for complete announcement.

The second public comment period for LEED for Neighborhood Development opened Friday, May 1, and will close Sunday, June 14.

Contaminant cleanup at Elmendorf AFB began in 1990 when the AFB was added to the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. The cleanup continues and associated documentation is available for public review.

This year, 15 winners and 13 honorable mentions were selected from nearly 200 nominations in the areas of environmental management systems, pollution prevention, recycling, green product purchasing, alternative fuels, electronics stewardship and sustainable buildings. Recipients include representatives, teams, and programs from across the DoD and non-DoD agencies. The awards ceremony will be held on June 17, 2009, in the Natcher Auditorium of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, to formally recognize the winners and their programs. See the attached press announcement for all the winners and honorable mentions.

The U.S. EPA Office of Atmospheric Programs, Climate Change Division has issued information concerning the applicability of the proposed rule on greenhouse gas emissions reporting and federal facilities. Click here for information.

The nation's top 50 purchasers are buying more than 11 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, equivalent to the CO2 emissions that would be produced from the electricity use of more than 1.1 million average American homes. The U.S. Air Force is Number 8, the U.S. EPA is number 14, the U.S. Department of Energy is number 23. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is number 30, and the U.S. General Services Administration/Region 2 is number 43 on the list.

On April 15, 2009, the Department of Defense announced the winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.

A GAO report released March 13, 2009, addressing the need for greater EPA enforcement and oversight of cleanup operations at DOD sites.

The National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) Program has published the Winter/Spring 2009 NDCEE Newsletter.

The alleged violations involved 28 underground tanks at the Aberdeen facility that were used to store gasoline, fuel oil, diesel fuel, and JP-8 jet fuel and ranged in capacity from 600 gallons to 25,000 gallons. To settle the alleged violations, the U.S. Army has agreed to pay a $29,928 civil penalty and to perform a supplemental environmental project (SEP) at a cost of $209,432. The SEP involves the removal of the underground storage tanks and the installation of above-ground tanks.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions at the national level and presents historical emissions from 1990 to 2007. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by "sinks," e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation and soils.

This new site emphasizes protection and conservation of aquatic ecosystems. The site also provides information on tools to identify and protect healthy watersheds and their components while providing critical information for making strategic decisions to both protect and restore our nation's waters.

Published 1 August 2008, this document describes Audit Policy incentives tailored for new owners that want to make a "clean start" at their recently acquired facilities by addressing environmental noncompliance that began prior to acquisition.

EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) plans to make available approximately $40 million in Recovery Act funding to supplement Revolving Loan Fund capitalization grants previously awarded competitively under section 104(k)(3) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(3). This action is effective April 10, 2009.

PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2009) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the addition of the Fort Detrick Area B Ground Water Site in Frederick, Md. to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The national priorities list is a national list of sites where hazardous contaminants could impact public health and/or the environment. NPL sites undergo a thorough investigation to determine the full nature and extent of contamination. EPA or the parties responsible for the contamination then address whatever risks the sites pose to human health and the environment.

With the new, final certification system, EPA lays out the requirements for the process and procedures for the certification of all WaterSense labeled products, ensuring that only accredited bodies are licensed to certify them. This system took effect in April 2009, superseding an interim process in place since 2006. The criteria that plumbing fixtures must meet to earn the WaterSense label has not changed, and consumers and most manufacturers will not notice any difference in the certification process.

This spending plan details how GSA will expend the $5.55 billion authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including measures necessary to convert Federal buildings into high-performance green buildings, renovate and construct Federal buildings and courthouses, and renovate and construct land ports of entry (LPOE).

This is a joint effort between EPA's Plug-In To eCycling program and leading cell phone manufacturers, retailers and service providers to increase national awareness about the importance of cell phone recycling. People can participate in this national event by donating or recycling their unwanted cell phones, PDAs and their accessories.

(San Francisco, Calif. -- 04/01/09) DOE will pay a $165,000 fine for shutting down the cleanup systems at Lawrence Livermore and failing to restart them as requested by the EPA in January 2009. Recent sampling showed that the closure of a large treatment unit on the perimeter of the site had resulted in a loss of control of the contaminated groundwater plume offsite. Some of the systems at the site have already been restarted and DOE is regaining control of contaminated groundwater. The remaining facilities that need to be restarted are subject to an agreed upon schedule that is enforceable by the EPA under a Federal Facility Agreement. The EPA and DOE have also agreed to re-evaluate the cleanup in areas where it is no longer effective, and will involve state regulatory agencies and community stakeholders in the decision-making.

(Honolulu, HI - April 2, 2009) Under an agreement signed with the U.S. EPA and the State of Hawaii's Department of Health, the Navy will address any remaining investigation and clean up issues at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific in Central Oahu and the Navy Radio Transmitter Facility at Lualualei near the Navy Munitions Command base in Leeward Oahu. Soil contaminants at the sites include PCBs, volatile organics, semi-volatile organics and metals.

This final document, EPA/100/K-09/003, was developed by EPA's Council for Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM) to improve the practices associated with the development, evaluation, and application of models for environmental decision making.

This assessment, which is done every four years, reflects data collected in 2007 from states. According to the survey results, the nation's water utilities will need to invest an estimated $334.8 billion over the next 20 years to deal with aging infrastructure. This drinking water needs survey will help EPA determine the distribution formula for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) grants for the fiscal years 2010 through 2013 budgets.

The new EPA Web site "Watershed Central" has been developed to help watershed organizations and others find key information they need to implement watershed management projects. Watershed Central also contains links to watershed technical resources, funding sources, mapping applications and information specific to named watersheds. The site includes a "Watershed Central Wiki" for collaboration and information sharing. A webcast about the site will be presented April 15, 2009.

This is a 2-yr pilot program for the Navaho Nation and the U.S. EPA. The U.S. EPA issued inspector credentials to two NN EPA inspectors, giving them the ability to inspect tanks on behalf of the U.S. EPA. The federally-credentialed inspectors will have the ability to write U.S. EPA field citations for federal violations

Videos are being accepted on a wide variety of topics including: low impact development, wetlands, marine debris, watershed management, water quality monitoring, polluted runoff, and other water-related topics. The videos should convey to the public easy, low-cost steps that individuals and communities can take to improve and protect the nation's streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and oceans. The contest will run until Earth Day, April 22, 2009.

Approximately 2,900 acres of the Griffiss Air Force Base Superfund Site located in Rome, New York, is being deleted from the National Priorities List (NPL). The EPA and the State of New York, have determined that, with regard to the specified properties at the GAFB Site (i.e., the soil and groundwater beneath), either no significant threat to public health or the environment exists or all appropriate response actions, other than operation, maintenance, and 5-yr reviews, have been implemented such that they no longer pose a significant threat to public health or the environment. This action is effective March 20, 2009.

More than 50 nominations were received for the FY08 Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards program. Judging was completed in December and winners have been announced. Winners will represent the Army in the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards competition.

The data in this report was gathered through the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) database. The report summarizes the data collected for 2007. Federal facilities are listed separately in Section C, beginning on page C-27 of the report.

NASA and the EPA joined the City of Pasadena, CA to celebrate the groundbreaking for a facility that will remove perchlorate and other chemicals from the groundwater near the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Superfund site.

The Nature Conservancy has transferred two properties totaling 210 acres adjacent to Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Santa Rosa County to the Department of Environmental Protection. The conservation of these properties represents the work of a broad partnership among state agencies, military, local government and private nonprofits to help protect the water quality of Clear Creek and buffer Naval Air Station Whiting Field against the threat of encroaching development.

Annual U.S. emissions for the period of time from 1990 through 2007 are summarized and presented by source category and sector. The inventory contains estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions. Comments are due April 10, 2009.

The Gulf Guardian awards recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. The awards are given in seven categories: Business, Civic/Non-Profit Organization, Partnerships, Youth/Education, Individual, Government, and Bi-National.

This document, Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Developing and Managing Capital Program Costs (GAO-09-3SP), dated March 2009, is intended to help agencies produce well-documented, comprehensive, accurate, and credible estimates. multi-step process for developing high-quality, trustworthy cost estimates; explains how to manage program costs once a contract has been awarded; and presents 48 case studies, drawn from GAO published audits, that illustrate typical pitfalls and successes in cost estimating. The guide stresses both sound cost estimating and earned value management (EVM), a project management tool that compares completed work to expected outcomes, in setting realistic program baselines and managing risk. In future audits, GAO plans to use the Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide to assess the accuracy of agencies' cost estimates and determine whether programs are on schedule.

Dated January 2009, this is an EPA report examining building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007. The report shows that while a large share of new residential construction still takes place on previously undeveloped land at the urban fringe, more than half of the county's larger metro regions have seen a sharp increase in residential building in urban core areas.

Section 2.8m of the document tells agencies that each Recovery Program Plan must include the following: Federal Infrastructure Investments: a description of agency plans to spend funds effectively to comply with energy efficiency and green building requirements and to demonstrate Federal leadership in sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing the agency's environmental impact.

The Development, Community, and Environment Division in EPA's Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. Applications are due at 5:00 pm EST, April 23, 2009.

Boston, Mass. – Feb. 6, 2009) – EPA has approved a second pilot program for the Massachusetts National Guard to further evaluate a lead bullet capture system on two additional small arms ranges, and has also extended the duration of the initial small arms range pilot project which began in August 2007. The pilot program is taking place at Camp Edwards, at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) in Bourne, Mass. The authorization for lead ammunition training at the three ranges, which expires at the end of 2009, calls for regular testing of soil and water resources with reporting to state and federal environmental officials to ensure that land and water resources are not significantly impacted by the reintroduction of lead bullets to the ranges.

(Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 3, 2009) - EPA Region 7 has reached a legal settlement that paves the way for environmental cleanup work to be completed at a contaminated landfill and lagoon facility on the grounds of the 2,445-acre former Des Moines Ordnance Plant in Ankeny, Iowa.

Eleven Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states will cooperate to develop a regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The 11 states-the 10 members of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) plus Pennsylvania-will work together to create an emissions-performance standard that will eventually provide incentives for energy providers to use lower-carbon fuels.

The information from the survey provides important input for EPA and others to use in evaluating biosolids generated by the nation's publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The report also provides the first national estimates of which pharmaceuticals, steroids and hormones may be present in sewage sludge and at what concentrations.

EPA Region 3 podcast that reviews the mercury hazards associated with CFLs and whether or not the energy benefits outweigh the mercury hazard.

Article details suggested actions for greening meetings and travel.

This report summarizes water quality assessments submitted by the states to EPA under section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. The report finds that the states assessed 16 percent of the nation's 3.5 million river and stream miles, 39 percent of its 41.7 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 29 percent of its 87,791 estuary square miles. Forty-four percent of assessed river and stream miles, 64 percent of assessed lake acres, and 30 percent of assessed estuary square miles were found to be impaired for one or more of the uses designated for them by the states. Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen. Top sources of impairment included atmospheric deposition, agriculture, hydrologic modifications, and unknown or unspecified sources. This report is a companion to electronically-submitted state water quality information available on EPA's Web site, known as ATTAINS, at http://www.epa.gov/waters/ir. In addition to viewing the national summary and information by state at this Web site, users can click down to the individual waterbody level to find out more about water quality conditions.

(New York, N.Y.) Do you know an individual or organization that deserves recognition for their environmental achievements? Nominate them for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Quality Award. Each year, EPA Region 2 recognizes and honors those individuals and organizations who contributed significantly to improving the environment during the past year in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and tribal nations within the region's jurisdiction. Winners are presented with a plaque and recognized by senior EPA officials during a ceremony coinciding with Earth Day celebrations.

(San Francisco, Calif. -- 01/07/08) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified the Department of Energy that they must immediately resume cleanup activities at its Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., or face escalating penalties.

Monthly EPA publication to provide "what you can do" information about activities and events that we can use in our homes, communities, and offices.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by the following organization to coordinate water efficiency research: the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the International Code Council, and the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute. Sample projects that might be undertaken include drainline carry research for high efficiency toilets, non-water-using urinals, sizing of water efficient plumbing systems, and safe applications for re-use of water.

Under the terms of a consent agreement, GSA will bring the facilities into compliance with federal regulations, either by upgrading or permanently closing and replacing old systems with new ones. In addition, GSA has agreed to voluntarily provide release detection for tanks that store fuel solely for use by emergency power generators and pay a $70,000 penalty.

(12/01/08) HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a Finding of Violation to the U.S. Navy Base Guam for permit violations under the federal Clean Water Act. In July, EPA inspectors discovered the violations during inspections covering several different federal environmental statutes and programs. "Department of Defense facilities on Guam must be in compliance with all environmental requirements," said Alexis Strauss, EPA's Water Division director for the Pacific Southwest region. "EPA will work with Guam EPA and DOD to ensure construction and ongoing operations comply fully with environmental requirements to protect and restore Guam's environment."

(San Francisco, Calif. -- 11/19/08) As part of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today honored the Pacific Area of the U.S. Postal Service for its commitment to voluntarily replace all lead wheel weights for approximately 31,000 fleet delivery vehicles -- removing more than 8,000 pounds of lead from its workplace operations and potential deposition into the environment.

The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities program, the U.S. EPA has honored the Pacific Area of the U.S. Postal Service for its commitment to voluntarily replace all lead wheel weights for approximately 31,000 fleet delivery vehicles -- removing more than 8,000 pounds of lead from its workplace operations and potential deposition into the environment.

(11/17/08) HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, working with Guam Environmental Protection Agency staff, inspected 19 petroleum underground storage tank facilities and issued citations at two facilities for underground storage tank violations.

(Boston, Mass. – October 28, 2008) – An EPA Administrative Complaint alleges multiple violations of federal hazardous waste laws by the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, based in Hanover, N.H. The facility may be subject to penalties of nearly $113,000 for violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

This plan, dated October 2008, describes a series of specific actions, new tools, and expanded partnership efforts EPA will launch over the next three years. In the plan, EPA identifies four strategic initiatives and activities to return abandoned petroleum brownfields sites to productive use.

(New York, N.Y. -- October 20, 2008) With the goal of going above and beyond their legal environmental requirements, five U.S. Postal Service facilities in New York have joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track program. The facilities include processing and distribution centers in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester and Utica.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard have settled alleged violations of hazardous waste and Clean Air Act regulations at the Coast Guard's Integrated Support Command facility in Portsmouth, Va. In addition to a $9,280 civil penalty, the Coast Guard has agreed to spend $89,290 on a project that will provide environmental and public health benefits. The Coast Guard will purchase a new digital x-ray machine for its dental clinic. The new digital machine will replace an x-ray machine that uses solutions that generate hazardous waste. This project will eliminate 906 pounds of hazardous waste annually.

PHILADELPHIA (September 3, 2008) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed the addition of the Fort Detrick Area B Ground Water Site in Frederick, Md. to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

A federal facility inter-agency agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. EPA has been signed for the cleanup of the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard Superfund site in Anne Arundel County, MD. The agreement requires that the Coast Guard thoroughly investigate environmental impacts associated with past activities, and that appropriate actions be taken in order to protect the community and the environment. The agreement identifies roles, responsibilities, processes, and schedules EPA will follow to protect the environment and support approved land uses.

The Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System has agreed to pay a $32,544 penalty for violations of federal environmental regulations at its Palo Alto, CA teaching hospital. The facility was inspected on March 21, 2007 and charged with the following counts: * Storage of hazardous waste without a permit, * Open containers, * Inadequate facility maintenance, * Ignitable waste within 50' of property line, * Failure to make a hazardous waste determination.

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has developed a new Certification Program for stormwater managers. The purpose of the program is to promote excellence in the profession by advancing knowledge and practices in stormwater management. A Certified Stormwater Manager will have understanding and experience in the administration of a stormwater program, use of best practices, hydrology, maintenance and other related areas.

(Washington D.C. -- August 20, 2008) David G. Williams, a former Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard and main propulsion assistant for the Coast Guard Cutter Rush, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hawaii for making a false statement to federal criminal agents investigating allegations of potential discharges of oil-contaminated waste from the cutter into the Honolulu Harbor, announced Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. Williams was sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine, serve 200 hours of community service and serve two years of probation.

(San Juan, P.R. - August 19, 2008) EPA has issued administrative complaints against three federal government entities over violations related to the management of underground storage tanks (USTs) in Puerto Rico. EPA issued an 11-count complaint to the Puerto Rico National Guard and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service for violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act at Camp Santiago in Salinas, P.R. EPA also issued a complaint against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for alleged violations of the Solid Waste Disposal Act at two facilities in Puerto Rico.

Release date: 08/12/2008 Contact Information: Mary Simms, (415) 760-5419, simms.mary@epa.gov $100 Million Privatized Cleanup Effort Will Address Dangerous Munitions and Explosives Simultaneously During Redevelopment
WHAT: No longer an infantry training area, Northern California's Fort Ord Army post has quickly become a national model for how to expedite cleanup and reuse activities. An innovative legal framework coupled with an aggressive cleanup strategy will allow for rapid cleanup and redevelopment of the Fort Ord area, in Monterey Calif. Through its pioneering cleanup approach, extensive public involvement program, and close regulatory interface, the program will save millions of dollars while continuing to advance property reuse.

WHY: With Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's concurrence on the early transfer package, an event this evening will celebrate and mark the transfer of the final 3,337 acres to the local community at this closing 28,000 acre installation.

(Los Angeles – July 28, 2008) Under the terms of a recently signed interagency agreement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will perform a radiological background study at the Santa Susana Field Lab, located near Los Angeles, Calif., using $1.5 million provided by the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition to the radiological study, the EPA will develop a scope of work, schedule, and cost estimate for a radiological survey of a 290 acre portion of the site referred to as Area IV and the adjacent buffer zone.