Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Kansas, Colorado and California are profiled in this month's state regulatory update.

California - Smog Leader

It probably comes as no surprise that the U.S. city with the worst smog pollution is Los Angeles. California is home to three of the 10 most polluted cities. Ozone (smog) improved in significantly many parts of the country, according to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air: 2007 report. The report revealed that a third of the U.S. population lived in areas with unhealthful levels of ozone, a significant reduction compared to the last report when nearly half did.

Colorado - Court Rules for Water Well Permits

Coal methane gas producers may need a water-well permit. A 6th Judicial District judge has ruled that coal methane drillers are required to obtain permits because their gas wells affect water rights and therefore are subject to the requirements of the Ground Water Act. The ruling has created controversy, and may significantly impact gas drilling operations statewide. The plaintiffs argue that the process of injecting chemical-laced water under pressure to separate gas from coal formations and then extracting it along with groundwater, depletes the supply of irrigation water, causes dry wells and contaminates ground water left behind. The plaintiffs are ranchers who are concerned about the quality of the streams they depend upon for livestock and hay pastures.

Kansas - KC Ozone Plan Gets Green Light

Kansas’ plan to reduce ground-level ozone in the Kansas City area recently got the green light from the federal EPA. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), steps the state will take include drafting regulations to limit power plant emissions and idling commercial diesel vehicles in the Kansas City metro area. Other measures include voluntary programs to reduce emissions and local plans to educate residents about things they can do to curb air pollution.

Massachusetts - Bullet Catcher for National Guard

The National Guard in Massachusetts won permission to resume the use of lead bullets on its small arms range at Camp Edwards. The resumption of target practice using lead bullets is part of a pilot program that will test a rubberized bullet catching system intended to protect soil and water resources. In 1997, the federal EPA suspended most military training at Camp Edwards, including all use of live explosives, propellants, flares and lead bullets. Contamination was believed to be affecting the sole source aquifer that provides drinking water for residents. It was the first time in U.S. history that military training had been halted for environmental and public health concerns.

Pennsylvania - Pushing for Renewable Energy

Gov. Edward Rendell continues to support the development of clean and renewable energy technology. In a recent letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the governor urged the House of Representatives to support legislation to implement a national renewable energy portfolio standard. The amendment to the energy bill was proposed by Reps. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Todd Platts (R-Pa.), and requires utilities to utilize renewable energy sources to account for 15 percent of their portfolio by 2020.

Texas - VOCs Targeted by HAWK

Over the summer, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) conducted a study aimed at identifying sources of VOC emissions. The results will be used to develop plans to reduce such emissions from these sources. VOCs are a precursor of ground-level ozone. A specialized infrared camera, called “the HAWK,” can image VOC emissions that are invisible to the eye. Helicopters equipped with the device have been flying over pipelines, oil and gas production facilities, and other industrial areas in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wise and Hood counties.

Virginia - General VPDES Permit Revisions Proposed

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has proposed revisions to the General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation to Discharges from Petroleum Contaminated Sites, Groundwater Remediation and Hydrostatic Tests. The revisions will expand the scope of the regulation to allow discharges to waters listed as public water supplies, and to permit discharges of wastewater contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents.