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P2 News Items
NASCAR and EPA Partner on Green Initiatives (05/21/2012)
"Because NASCAR is followed by millions of passionate fans and many businesses, it can be a powerful platform to raise environmental awareness, drive the adoption of safer products by more Americans, and support the growing green economy," said Jim Jones, EPA's acting assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). "The EPA and NASCAR partnership attests to the progress NASCAR has already made on environmental stewardship through greener fuel choices and multiple recycling initiatives for waste and automotive fluids, and highlights opportunities to further these efforts."
"This MOU is a great example of NASCAR's commitment to green innovation and our role as a leader in sustainability," said Steve Phelps, Chief Marketing Officer of NASCAR. "Even with the largest sustainability program in sports, NASCAR -- along with our teams, tracks and partners -- continues to create innovative platforms to help reduce the environmental impact of our sport."
One of the areas of focus for the partnership is promoting safer products that have earned EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) label. The Design for the Environment label helps consumers and businesses identify products that perform well, are cost-effective, and are safer for the environment. NASCAR can make a difference by using DfE products at racing events and conveying to fans that choosing DfE products is an easy choice they can make to protect the health of their families and the planet.
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64 lbs. of mercury for sale ... on Craigslist?
(05/18/2012)
A tip from an alert online shopper who noticed an unusual posting on Craigslist allowed authorities to recover 64 pounds of dangerous elemental mercury from a Floodwood resident.
The ad, offering "instrument grade' mercury in four plastic bottles for $650, was posted by a man who said he found it when cleaning out his late grandfather's garage. The alert shopper contacted the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, which in turn notified the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, triggering a hurried effort last month to get the mercury out of circulation. PCA officials decided the best action was to buy the mercury from the seller rather than begin a lengthy and complicated compliance investigation. WLSSD officials made the purchase for $300 using a state grant and brought the mercury back to the WLSSD Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Duluth for proper disposal.
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EPA Promotes Safer Alternatives to Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (05/11/2012)
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the final report on alternatives to nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Alternatives Assessment Program. NPEs are widely used surfactants with a range of industrial applications and are commonly found in consumer products, such as laundry detergents. When released into the environment, they can be persistent and highly toxic to aquatic organisms. The report identifies eight safer alternatives to NPEs that meet EPA's criteria for safer surfactants.
"I applaud the product manufacturers who have stopped using NPEs and switched to safer alternatives and the chemical manufacturers who have made the safer alternatives available," said Jim Jones, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). "This report shows the important strides that have been made to identify safer alternatives and the progress being made to phase out NPEs in detergents and reduce its use in other applications. By developing rigorous technical assessments through public participation, EPA can help successfully encourage the transition to safer chemicals."
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2012 P2 Week Theme: Safer Chemicals for a Safer World
(05/08/2012)
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable is sponsoring a P2 Week poster design contest. Entries to the poster design contest must relate to the theme, "Safer Chemicals for a Safer World". Full contest detail are available here.
The deadline for entries is June 25, 2012.
What is P2 Week?
Pollution Prevention Week is the third full week in September each year. This week is an opportunity for individuals, businesses, and government to emphasize and highlight their pollution prevention and sustainability activities and achievements, expand current pollution prevention efforts, and commit to new actions.
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New York: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Announces Clean Energy and Environmental Initiatives (05/01/2012)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo convened an Earth Week cabinet meeting recently to announce a series of innovative clean energy and environmental initiatives that will protect our state's vast natural resources, increase energy conservation, and create jobs across New York State.
Proud Tradition of Environmental Leadership
"New York State has a long and proud history of leading the nation in protecting the environment and promoting clean and affordable energy," Governor Cuomo said. "From the historic On-Bill Recovery Financing Program, to the NY-Sun Initiative, and Energy Highway project, New York State has been at the forefront of creating a more sustainable, cleaner future. These initiatives will save businesses, homeowners, and taxpayers money and help ensure that our state remains a leader in clean energy production and environmental protection."
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Ford Sets New Goal to Build on Success of Cutting Waste; 100 Million Pounds Spared from Landfills Since 2007 (04/25/2012)
Between 2007 and 2011, Ford reduced its global waste to landfills by 44 percent, or 100 million pounds - 49 percent in North America On a per-vehicle basis, global waste to landfills decreased by 39 percent between 2007 and 2011 - 47 percent in North America Ford is exploring novel technologies, such as using paint solids to generate energy, to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills
Ford plans to further reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills by 10 percent per vehicle by the end of the year - building on existing efforts that have cut global waste by 100 million pounds (44 percent) in the last five years.
If successful, that means the company would generate about 20 pounds of waste per vehicle on a global basis - roughly the weight of one tire.
"Reducing waste to landfills is one of our top environmental priorities and we continue to challenge our teams to identify and implement innovative solutions," said Andy Hobbs, director, Ford's Environmental Quality Office.
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New York City Real Estate Firm Signs Agreement with EPA to Enhance Sustainable Practices (04/24/2012)
(New York, N.Y. -- April 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today signed an agreement with SL Green Realty Corp., one of the largest commercial real estate owners and operators in the New York City area, to reduce the environmental impacts of the buildings it manages. The company has agreed to improve energy and water efficiency, reduce waste, and use green landscaping practices. SL Green owns 72 properties throughout the New York metropolitan area. Its tenants range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
"Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of total energy use nationwide and consume enormous amounts of other resources," said John Filippelli, Director of EPA Region 2's Division of Environmental Planning and Protection. "SL Green is showing that it takes conservation seriously. This agreement will help reduce operating costs for SL Green and its tenants while also helping to protect the environment."
"Having a major real estate developer commit to environmentally sustainable practices is very important. From using nontoxic cleaning products to investments in water conservation-- there is no shortage of green ideas that the entire real estate industry can learn from," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator.
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Obama Administration Names 78 Schools in 29 States and D.C. as First-Ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (04/24/2012)
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was joined today by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to announce the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, a list including 78 schools that span 29 states and D.C.
The announcement was made during a visit to Stoddert Elementary School, one of D.C.'s two honorees.
"Science, environmental and outdoor education plays a central role in providing children with a well-rounded education, helping prepare them for the jobs of the future," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate compelling examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments."
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition program that opened in September 2011. Honored schools exercise a comprehensive approach to creating "green" environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global economy.
"Schools that take a green approach cut costs on their utility bills, foster healthy and productive classrooms, and prepare students to thrive in the 21st century economy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "These Green Ribbon School award winners are taking outstanding steps to educate tomorrow's environmental leaders, and demonstrating how sustainability and environmental awareness make sense for the health of our students and our country."
The 78 awarded schools were named winners from among nearly 100 nominees submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public schools including 8 charters, and 12 private schools composed of 43 elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent representing high poverty schools.
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Community & Small Business Grants Proposals (04/24/2012)
Each spring the Toxics Use Reduction Institute is pleased to invite proposals from community organizations, municipal departments, and small businesses for support under our Community and Small Business Grant Program. Alternatives to toxic chemicals exist. With the support of grant funding, you have the opportunity to create and promote healthier communities by raising awareness and educating people about safer alternatives.
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EPA Releases List of Top 50 Green-Powered Organizations (04/23/2012)
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated list of the Top 50 Green Power Partnership organizations voluntarily using clean, renewable electricity from resources such as solar, wind, and low-impact hydropower. Intel Corporation tops the list as the largest single user of green power, followed by Kohl's Department Stores and Microsoft Corporation. Combined, the Top 50 partners are using more than 15 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. Through their use of green power, these top organizations are avoiding carbon pollution equal to that created by the electricity use of more than 1.3 million American homes each year.
EPA's Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,300 partner organizations, over half of which are small businesses and nonprofit organizations, to voluntarily use green power. Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies, and produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
"We applaud all of our Green Power Partners for their use of clean, renewable energy. For the first time, each of the Top 50 partners is using more than 100 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Their actions help to reduce harmful carbon pollution that threatens the health of our planet and the air we breathe, and mark another step toward a new era of clean, innovative American energy."
Intel has ranked number one on the list since 2008 and uses more than 2.5 billion kWh annually, or 88 percent of the company's nationwide electricity use. Microsoft, which holds the number three spot, and McDonald's USA LLC, which ranks eleventh, are new to the list.
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Funding: $20 Million Available for Clean Diesel Projects (04/23/2012)
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of up to $20 million in FY 2012 grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines and improving air quality and Americans' health. In addition to these grants, approximately $9 million will be available through direct state allocations. EPA estimates that for every $1 spent on clean diesel funding up to $13 of public health benefit is realized.
"Technology has evolved to make diesel engines more efficient and cleaner than ever," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "These grants enable owners of older diesel vehicles to make investments that modernize their vehicles while making the air in their communities cleaner and healthier to breathe."
This is the first competition since the Diesel Emission Reduction Program, also known as DERA, was reauthorized in 2011. The program cleans up existing diesel vehicles, many of which can be operated for decades, by targeting projects that utilize the most cost-effective clean diesel strategies. By reducing diesel emissions in areas that have significant air quality issues the program can have a direct impact on community health.
Diesel engines are durable, fuel efficient workhorses in the American economy. EPA has standards in place that make new diesels more than 90 percent cleaner. However, older diesels that predate these standards emit large amounts of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are linked to health problems, including asthma, lung and heart disease, and even premature death. Nearly 11 million older diesels still operate throughout the nation's transportation system.
States, tribes, local governments, and non-profits are eligible to apply for these grants. Projects can reduce air pollution from older school buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and other diesel engines. The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 4, 2012.
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