Norm Steenstra has made some great changes at the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority over the past year. I put out some plastic, metal cans and newspapers to be picked up and recycled, but wasn't aware until I saw the Daily Mail article that they can take glass at the main plant, or that such a wide variety of plastic can now be recycled. I don't know if they make much money from some of the recycling (the ground up glass is evidently given away), but it keeps the material out of the landfill and reduces the County's tipping fee. Any environmentally safe reuse is welcome.
Some of us came up against Norm in his former life as a lobbyist for West Virginia Citizen's Action Group, where he advocated on a variety of environmental topics. It is good to see his talents being employed to find an effective reuse of some of the County's solid waste.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Office of Surface Mining Completes Final Environmental Impact Statement on Stream Buffer Rule
Much of the coal mined in West Virginia can only be economically accessed by way of mountaintop mining, which involves removing significant amounts of overburden to reach layers of coal in a mountain. In the mountainous terrain of this state, the overburden has to be placed somewhere, and it will necessarily fill certain small headwater streams. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement rules prohibit placement of overburden closer than 100 feet from a stream, a standard which is almost impossible for miners in Appalachia to comply with.
OSM has just finished a final environmental impact statement, or FEIS, describing what impacts can be expected from the proposed buffer zone rule, which was published in August 2007. The FEIS is intended to address 2 requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) - preventing additional sediment loading to streams outside the permit area, and minimizing adverse effects on fish and wildlife. The FEIS considers multiple alternative rule scenarios, and then picks a preferred alternative.
OSM is providing a 30 day public comment period on the FEIS. Here are some FAQs about the proposed rule.
The rule has generated a lot of comment, particularly among those opposed to mountaintop mining. An example of some of the comment is found at http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/16985, while strong opposition is registered at http://schreinervideo.com/wordpress/?p=1283
OSM has just finished a final environmental impact statement, or FEIS, describing what impacts can be expected from the proposed buffer zone rule, which was published in August 2007. The FEIS is intended to address 2 requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) - preventing additional sediment loading to streams outside the permit area, and minimizing adverse effects on fish and wildlife. The FEIS considers multiple alternative rule scenarios, and then picks a preferred alternative.
OSM is providing a 30 day public comment period on the FEIS. Here are some FAQs about the proposed rule.
The rule has generated a lot of comment, particularly among those opposed to mountaintop mining. An example of some of the comment is found at http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/16985, while strong opposition is registered at http://schreinervideo.com/wordpress/?p=1283
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Industries of the Future to Hold Energy Efficiency Symposium in November
Industries of the Future -West Virginia (iof-WV) is offering a symposium on November 19, 2008 on the subject of Energy Efficiency for WV Companies, and the agenda looks interesting. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 challenges U.S. companies to reduce their energy intensity (amount of energy used per unit of product produced) by at least 2.5% per year during the 10-year period from 2007 through 2016 - a 25% reduction over the next decade. The U.S. DOE’s Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) is leading the charge by sponsoring industrial assessments, co-funding R&D projects, providing technical and financial assistance to companies, offering workshops and training on Best Practices software tools, and supporting implementation of advanced industrial technologies. These opportunities and programs will be discussed at the November 19 Symposium in Charleston and could provide some valuable insights into:
How energy-intensive companies are coping and surviving
Innovations in industrial energy efficiency – from the experts
First hand examples of how companies are saving energy and money with free energy assessments
Views from the WV Legislature on smart and efficient use of energy
How companies participate in large multi-year R&D projects
Climate change legislation being discussed in the U.S. Congress - and how it could impact WV industry
give Kathleen Cullen a call if you're interested 304 293-2867 x 5426 or email her at kathleen.cullen@mail.wvu.edu
How energy-intensive companies are coping and surviving
Innovations in industrial energy efficiency – from the experts
First hand examples of how companies are saving energy and money with free energy assessments
Views from the WV Legislature on smart and efficient use of energy
How companies participate in large multi-year R&D projects
Climate change legislation being discussed in the U.S. Congress - and how it could impact WV industry
give Kathleen Cullen a call if you're interested 304 293-2867 x 5426 or email her at kathleen.cullen@mail.wvu.edu
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Check Your BEACH
OK, West Virginia doesn't have any beaches to speak of (although Myrtle Beach has been referred to as the state's 56th county), but you may be planning a trip to the beach this fall or next year. If so, check out the report of beach conditions that is required under the Beach Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH, get it?) which is found at Section 406(g) of the Clean Water Act. As EPA explains it,
Section 406(g) requires EPA to publish a list of discrete coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public and to update the list periodically as new information becomes available. The list specifies whether the waters are subject to a monitoring and notification program consistent with the performance criteria (National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants June 2002) EPA published under CWA section 406(a). The list contains information that coastal and Great Lakes States made available to EPA as of January 31, 2008, and it replaces the previous list that EPA published on May 4, 2004. The National List of Beaches provides a national baseline of the extent of monitoring of waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access, which will allow EPA to measure State program performance in implementing the monitoring and notification provisions of the BEACH Act.
Go here to find a hyperlink to the list of beaches. And really, all you West Virginians out there, and you know who you are, there are lots of good beaches other than Myrtle. Give them a shot!
Section 406(g) requires EPA to publish a list of discrete coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public and to update the list periodically as new information becomes available. The list specifies whether the waters are subject to a monitoring and notification program consistent with the performance criteria (National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants June 2002) EPA published under CWA section 406(a). The list contains information that coastal and Great Lakes States made available to EPA as of January 31, 2008, and it replaces the previous list that EPA published on May 4, 2004. The National List of Beaches provides a national baseline of the extent of monitoring of waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access, which will allow EPA to measure State program performance in implementing the monitoring and notification provisions of the BEACH Act.
Go here to find a hyperlink to the list of beaches. And really, all you West Virginians out there, and you know who you are, there are lots of good beaches other than Myrtle. Give them a shot!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
DC Appeals Court Strikes Down EPA Air Monitoring Rule
One of the ongoing debates in the area of air permitting is whether state and local air quality control officials could impose monitoring conditions in Title V permits in addition to those that are required by EPA. Title V permits are the permits for major air pollution sources, and information about the permits, and a list of those permits issued in West Virginia, can be found here. The Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, which hears many administrative law cases, has ruled that states like West Virginia can impose monitoring requirements in addition to those required by federal regulations.
An excellent article by Dustin Till of the Marten Law Group explains in greater detail the import of the court's decision.
An excellent article by Dustin Till of the Marten Law Group explains in greater detail the import of the court's decision.
Monday, September 29, 2008
US EPA Adopts General Storm Water NPDES Permit
US EPA has adopted a final storm water general NPDES permit for industrial facilities. This is a permit for industrial facilities like chemical or manufacturing plants that are not issued individual NPDES permits. This is not a permit for the discharge of process water that is generated during a plants' operations; this permit only addresses discharges of storm water (precipitation run off) from the parts of the plant property where the storm water could become polluted by chemicals, wastes, raw materials or other substances that are found at the plant.
The permit action was summarized by EPA as follows:
EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10 today are finalizing EPA's NPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from industrial activity, also referred to as the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP).The MSGP consists of thirty four (34) separate Regional EPA permits that may vary from each other based on State or Tribal water quality- based requirements. This permit replaces the existing permits that expired on October 30, 2005. As with the earlier permits, this permit authorizes the discharge of stormwater associated with industrial activities in accordance with the terms and conditions described therein. Industrial dischargers have the choice to seek coverage under an individual permit. An individual permit may be necessary if the discharger cannot meet the terms and conditions or eligibility requirements in the permit.
West Virginia is not covered by this permit. It has been delegated the authority from EPA to issue its own permits, including storm water permits for industrial facilities and construction run off. The industrial storm water permit, referred to as the multi-sector permit because it applies to multiple industrial activities, is current until March 31, 2009. At that time it is likely to be reissued and will probably contain permit terms similar to those in the new federal permit that is being approved today.
The permit action was summarized by EPA as follows:
EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10 today are finalizing EPA's NPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from industrial activity, also referred to as the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP).The MSGP consists of thirty four (34) separate Regional EPA permits that may vary from each other based on State or Tribal water quality- based requirements. This permit replaces the existing permits that expired on October 30, 2005. As with the earlier permits, this permit authorizes the discharge of stormwater associated with industrial activities in accordance with the terms and conditions described therein. Industrial dischargers have the choice to seek coverage under an individual permit. An individual permit may be necessary if the discharger cannot meet the terms and conditions or eligibility requirements in the permit.
West Virginia is not covered by this permit. It has been delegated the authority from EPA to issue its own permits, including storm water permits for industrial facilities and construction run off. The industrial storm water permit, referred to as the multi-sector permit because it applies to multiple industrial activities, is current until March 31, 2009. At that time it is likely to be reissued and will probably contain permit terms similar to those in the new federal permit that is being approved today.
Nordhaus and Shellenberger Garner Environmental Honors From Time Magazine
Mike Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus have been selected as heroes of the environment by Time for their essay "The Death of Environmentalism" published last year and profiled in this blog earlier this year. Mike and Ted have put forward a convincing case for the proposition that focusing on the limitations imposed by environmentalism is a dead end, and that the movement must emphasize responsible ways (i.e., renewable resources) to generate the power that society needs to function at its current level and provide for future growth.
See the article in Time magazine.
Disclaimer - Mike is my cousin. He's the guy in the black shirt.
See the article in Time magazine.
Disclaimer - Mike is my cousin. He's the guy in the black shirt.
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