"Till now man has been up against Nature; from now on he will be up against his own nature."
--Dennis Gabor, Inventing the Future, 1964
Hormone Control: It Begins EPA orders chemical testing for endocrine disruptors
On Thursday, Oct. 29, the EPA issued the first test orders for pesticide chemicals to be screened for their potential effects on the endocrine system.
On Oct. 21, the agency made available a battery of scientific assays and test guidelines for conducting the assays, as well as a schedule for issuing test orders to manufacturers for 67 chemicals during the next four months. The data generated from the screens will provide information to help the agency identify whether additional testing is necessary, or whether other steps are necessary to address potential endocrine disrupting chemicals.
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Testing, conducted through the agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, will eventually expand to cover all pesticide chemicals, the agency said in a press release. The agency will review the responses, evaluate the data, determine the potential of endocrine interaction, and whether additional testing is necessary to guide further regulation.
The EDSP is the most comprehensive mandated testing program for hormone effects in the U.S., the agency said. The program is the result of a multi-year effort that includes validation of the science through a transparent scientific review process.
"After years of delay, EPA is aggressively moving forward by ordering the testing of a number of pesticide chemicals for hormone effects," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. "These new data will be carefully evaluated to help identify potential hormone disruptor chemicals."
Click here for more information about the screening program.
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The EPA on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, proposed a survey to help strengthen stormwater regulations and reduce stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites.
The agency said in a press release that it plans to propose a rule to control stormwater from newly developed and redeveloped sites, and to take final action no later than November 2012. In support of this rulemaking, the EPA is proposing to require three different groups to complete questionnaires about current stormwater management practices: 1) the owners, operators, developers, and contractors of newly and redeveloped sites; 2) the owners and operators of municipal separate storm sewer systems; and 3) states and territories.
The draft survey would require detailed information about stormwater management and control practices, local regulations, and baseline financial information. The proposed survey will be open for public comment for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register
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Guide for Risk Assessors
The EPA on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, released a document that the agency intends to help risk assessors understand how children are exposed to pollution. The document, titled Highlights of the Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook is a quick-reference guide to the more comprehensive Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook, published by the agency in 2008.
In a press release, the agency said it developed the guide to provide information for answering questions about exposure through drinking water, breathing and eating foods, such as:
How much exposure to environmental pollutants might children get if they live or play near contaminated sites?
How much dirt from a child's hands might s/he inadvertently eat?
How much of a child's exposure to various pollutants might come from skin contact?
Which age groups (childhood life stages) may inhale or ingest the most and thus may be at higher risks?
HHS: More Data Needed for Six Hazardous Substances
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), under the Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, announced in the Federal Register its final priority data needs for six priority hazardous substances as part of the continuing development and implementation of the ATSDR Substance-Specific Applied Research Program (SSARP).
The notice called on U.S. industry for voluntary research proposals. ATSDR worked with other federal programs to determine common substance-specific data needs and mechanisms to implement research that may include authorities under TSCA and FIFRA, private-sector voluntarism, or the direct use of CERCLA funds.
Click here to read the rest of this article, including a breakdown of the six substances, on PE's website.
EPA to Nix Grandfather Clause for Lead Training
The EPA on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, announced in a press release several actions the agency proposes to take to prevent lead poisoning.
The agency has issued a proposed rule to expand the coverage of the 2008 Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. The new rule proposes to eliminate a provision that exempted some housing from the rule's requirement that contractors be trained and certified and use lead-safe work practices when renovating, repairing or painting a pre-1978 home.
The "opt-out" provision currently exempts a renovation firm from the training and work practice requirements of the rule where the firm obtains a certification from the owner of a residence he or she occupies that no child under age 6, or pregnant women resides in the home and the home is not a child-occupied facility.
The announcement coincided with the agency's official National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
Comments must be received on or before Nov. 27, 2009.
Click here to read the rest of this article on PE's website.
Plan Ahead Don't miss these important upcoming events:
The EPA on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, released a new report that shows the international Methane to Markets (M2M) Partnership has significantly reduced methane emissions. In 2008, U.S.-supported M2M projects delivered methane emissions reductions of more than 26 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, roughly the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 4.7 million passenger vehicles. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times as potent as CO2.
The fourth annual U.S. Government Accomplishments in Support of the Methane to Markets Partnership report highlights the projects and activities since the partnership began in November 2004. The partnership has grown to include 31 partner governments and more than 900 private sector entities, financial institutions, non-governmental agencies and other organizations.
Click here to read the rest of this article on PE's website.
October Opinion Poll
Most readers, it seems, don't have a fleet, but for those who manage trucks and other vehicles on their sites, the general consensus is that business will be affected a lot when CAFE standards go federal.
How much do you think the new federal CAFE standards will affect your business?
A lot
21.6%
More than a little
9.8%
Little, if any
54.9%
Haven't really thought about it
13.7%
November Opinion Poll
Talks in Copenhagen on climate change are scheduled to begin early in December. German Chancellor Merkel today said the world must reach agreement to combat global warming.
So now imagine you are representing the United States position at these meetings. Which of the following (check all that apply) would you bring to the table?
Short, irregular updates with breaking news that could affect your business. Click here to sign up.
Read blog entries from PE editors and columnists. Lynn Bergeson, Barbara Quinn, Seth Fisher and Roy Bigham post their updates and thoughts. Click here to visit the PE Coffeehaus.
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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT:
Changing the Remediation Culture
byJim McMahon
Pseudomonas cultures may be a more long-term approach to degradation and bioremediation of certain types of pollutants.
With each technological innovation, specialists have had to find ways to protect the environment from the havoc of ensuing wastes. It is a burden to taxpayers and industrial, military and governmental officials...
Click here to read this feature article from PE's October 2009 issue.
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by Jim McMahon
