Craig Neilson: Environment

California Deal May Preserve Utah's Water

Fri, 12 Sep 2003 19:03:16 GMT

Three bills approved by the California Legislature would implement an agreement among California's major water agencies to conserve water. The impact of these bills on Utah may be profound in terms of its own water needs. (Newsday)
However one of the agencies (Imperial Valley) sent troubling signals (Casper Star Tribune)

California Bills 277, 317, 654

Salt Lake County Tops List of Toxic Releases

Thu, 10 Jul 2003 17:31:01 GMT

The EPA has released the 2001 Toxic Release Index. The release shows that Salt Lake County with 60 Facilities releasing toxic chemicals, emitted nearly 732 million pounds of these chemicals into the air and water.
Top 10 Counties with Largest TRI ON-Site nad Off-site Releases, All Industries, 2001
Nearly 696 million pounds of these chemicals belonged to the Kennecott Utah Copper Mine Concentrators and Power Plant in Copperton.
Top 10 Facilities with Largest Total On-site and Off-site Releases, All Industries, 2001
Copper compounds led the list of chemicals released, with a United States total of over a billion pounds.
Top 20 Chemicals with Largest TRI ON-site and Off-site Releases, All Industries, 2001
The top states for toxic chemical emissions are Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
TRI On-site and Off-site Releases by State 2001
Full EPA Report

Utah Receives FEMA Grant

Thu, 22 May 2003 16:11:04 GMT

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that Utah would be one of 12 states to each receive nearly $250,000 to support development of hazard mitigation plans meeting FEMA guidelines. These funds represent about 75% of the anticipated cost of these plans. Such plans are aimed at controlling response to primarily natural hazards.
[FEMA Announcement]

Chemical Plants Redux

Thu, 22 May 2003 15:52:55 GMT

Finding Offsite Consequence Analysis (OCA) data dealing with word-case and alternative release scenarios for chemical plants is problematic. The EPA offers a Vulnerable Zone Indicator System, which is somewhat misleading. It says Most of us have driven past an industrial plant and wondered what was happening inside. Did you ever think to yourself: I wonder what they're making in there. Could they be using hazardous chemicals? What if there is an accident...The Vulnerable Zone Indicator System allows you to quickly find out if an address of interest to you could be affected by a chemical accident.
The implication seems to be that filling out this form will reveal significant information about any possible chemical threat. A sample submission to this form brought the following information buried in a return email: Results: The EPA's Vulnerable Zone Indicator System shows that the location you submitted is likely to be in at least one RMP facility's vulnerable zone. One is then directed to a page which notes that actual information about which chemical plant and the nature of the danger is not available over the internet. Other options on this page: 1) ask someone at a regulated facility; they may choose to share this information. (Of course you would have to know what the plant is first). 2) Executive summaries of RMPs (Risk Management Plans) which leads to a dead link (and again, in any case, knowledge of the plant involved would be necessary). 3) Federal Reading Rooms (Utah's link leads to a dead page). 4) Utah's State Emergency Response Commission Contacts (at http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/serclist.htm#ut, and 5) right back around to the Vulnerable Zone Indicator System.
Apparently, access to these RMP reports has been limited since 9/11, although proposed EPA restrictions on this information date back to April of 2000.
[Vulnerable Zone Indicator System]
[Washington Post Article 2000]

World War II threat over, says Dept of Interior

Wed, 21 May 2003 16:06:52 GMT

The BLM has revoked Public Land Order No. 62 in Utah. The order provided for the protection of 107 acres of public land for the protection of manganese ore in support of the prosecution of World War II. The land will be opened to surface entry, mining, and mineral leasing.

Chemical Plants, Terrorists, and Greanpeace

Wed, 21 May 2003 16:01:41 GMT

Sen. Jon Corzine of New Jersey has been pushing a bill in Congress (Chemical Security Act) that would require chemical plants with "worst-case scenarios" filed with the EPA that would put people at risk of terrorist attacks to submit vulnerability assessments, increase security and implement safer practices. Although the bill was supported by a broad range of advocates, from national security proponents to environmentalist groups like Greanpeace, recent lobbying from major chemical associations and industry goups and put the bill offtrack.
In March the GAO issued a report highlighting the risk posed by unsecured chemical plants to terrorist attacks. Utah is listed by the EPA as containing 1 (unidentified) chemical plant whose required "worst-case scenario" submission indicated vulnerability to terrorist attack.
[GAO Report]
[EPA Chemical Plant Information]

Utah Considered for Mercury Storage

Tue, 20 May 2003 17:40:57 GMT

Utah is one of the sites being considered by the Federal Government for stockpiling of mercury. Mercury is used in the manufacture of atomic bombs and has been linked to human neurological, reproductive and immune problems. Other sites being considered are in New York and Nevada.
[Mercury Management]

Provo Foundry Focus of Federal Probe

Thu, 15 May 2003 14:54:05 GMT

McWane Inc. has been in the spotlight recently, the subject of television documentaries and newspaper features, for its remarkable record of workplace safety and environmental pollution. Now the federal Justice Department has opened a probe of the company which has one of its foundries, the Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Company, in Provo. A former executive of McWane said that in 1999 and 2000, the Provo foundry was falsifying air emission tests. The New York Times reports today than a former engineer for Pacific States said that the plant had systematically lied about smokestack test results to Utah air quality officials. The company is one of the larger employers in Utah County, with 300 employees. (Utah County Web Site).
An info.utah.gov search of Pacific States shows that the company has received several violation notices from the Division of Air Quality, on 10/15/99, 8/11/00, and 11/14/01. Pacific States was issued a new 5 year operating permit (required by Title V of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments) by DEQ on April 10 of this year. (Title V Permits Issued). Utah compliance inspector Robert Simine told the Times, If a company intentionally wants to falsify records or produce more than they are allowed to produce or burn a lot of hazardous waste, then there is no way we can catch them unless an insider decides to report it.
[Allowables for Companies within the PM10 SIP Domain (Excel spreadsheet)
[New York Times (Registration required)]

NRC To Conduct Skull Valley Nuclear Waste Hearing

Wed, 14 May 2003 16:04:15 GMT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will conduct two sessions May 29 on the application of Private Fuel Storage, LLC to build and operate a temporary above-ground storage facility for spent nuclear fuel on the Goshute Reservation about 50 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The hearing will be held in Rockville, MD. PFS has requested the Board to issue a license for a smaller facility than originally proposed, falling below the aircraft crash hazard threshold.

Pentagon pushes exemption from environmental laws

Fri, 25 Apr 2003 17:37:23 GMT

The Pentagon has urged congressional exemption to Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act restrictions in a blanket fashion, rather than case by case. The Department of Defense is asking Congress to use the current DOD reauthorizaion bill to restrict the reach of these laws. Former House Resources Committee chair James Hansen last year waived his committee's jurisdictional claims. A group of State Attorneys General, including Utah, have expressed concern that these exemption would likely affect cleanups of unexploded ornance at thousands of sites nationwide.
[The Hill]

Texas House approve nuclear waste storage

Thu, 24 Apr 2003 15:50:10 GMT

The Texas House of Representatives approved a bill to allow additional low-level nuclear waste disposal. Proponents of the measure said it would isolate the storage to one spot, as opposed to hundreds of sites across the state. Opponents said it would make Texas another nuclear dumping ground. Although Envirocare Inc. is interested in a Texas license, it appears that the favorite is Texas billionaire Harold Simmons who operates a hazardous waste dump in West Texas.
[Amarillo Globe News]

Two Utahns win Take Pride in America Awards from Interior Department

Thu, 17 Apr 2003 15:29:27 GMT

Take Pride in America, a national partnership initiative aimed at increasing volunteer service on America's public lands have honored Ray and Juanita Huber of Santa Clara.

BLM Lands in Utah to lose wilderness status

Mon, 14 Apr 2003 16:06:45 GMT

The US Interior Department indicated Friday that it intends to halt all current reviews of Western land holdings for wilderness protection, and will withdraw protected status from about 3 million acres in Utah. The decision comes after Utah sued the Interior department 7 years ago over a reinventory of the lands conducted by then Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. That lawsuit was mostly dismissed, but the state quietly submitted an amended complaint which prompted the current decision. The decision means that Babbit's inventory will be disregarded. Sen. Hatch: Secretary Norton's actions will bring resolution to the illegal activities of the past administration.
[Fairbanks Daily News-Miner]

Legacy Highway Supplemental Environmental Impact Study

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 16:17:40 GMT

The Federal Highway Administration and the US Army Corps of Engineers have announced that they are preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study for the proposed Legacy Highway. This is an outgrowth of the court decision in Utahns for Better Transportation et al. v. U S Department of Transportation et al. (305 F, 3d1152). Initial scoping meeting will be held on April 17 at Woods Cross High School, 600 W 2200 S from 4 - 8 pm.
[Federal Register]
[Court Decision]

Nuclear Waste Site Redux

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 15:56:40 GMT

Private Fuel Storage LLC has asked the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reconsider its earlier decision blocking nuclear waste storage on the Goshute reservation.The company has the backing of eight utilities who need to get rid of their spent nuclear rods. PFS has asked the Board to approve a smaller facility than originally envisioned. They say this would lessen fears of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that frequent F16 flights over the area posed a potential crash hazard. PFS wants to store spent nuclear fuel in Utah for up to 40 years, until the US Department of Energy is able to receive and store the waste. However the proposed site for that, in Yucca Mountain Nevada, is also controversial and when that site would be ready is a question. Utility companies are in a rush to find storage sites for their spent fuel because many are in danger of exceeding statutory onsite storage limitations.
[Casper Star-Tribune]

Utah Government Diary: Ephedra, Anti-Atrocity Act,, Special Session, Bioterrorism, Asbestos

Wed, 26 Mar 2003 15:53:18 GMT

The FDA has announced that warning labels will be placed on every bottle of ephedra sold in the US cautioning users that the herb can cause heart attacks or strokes. The FDA stopped short of banning the herb outright, which was supported by some consumer advocates. The move comes after a Baltimore Oriole pitcher who used ephedra died. Senator Orrin Hatch said the announcement appears to be a reasonable, if long overdue, step in designing science-based rules pertaining to the use of a product about which public concern has been expressed for many, many years. Hatch was one of the authors of the 1994 legislation which limited FDA oversight over products such as ephedra.
[FDA Ephedra Report]
Senator Orrin Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joins Senator Patrick Leahy and Representatives Mark Foley and Gary Ackerman at a news conference today at 10 AM MST to announce a new version of the Anti-Atrocity Alien Deportation Act, which would oust torturers and war criminals from the US.
[Text of Act]
Governor Leavitt announced Monday that he would call a special session of the Legislature in June to correct a technical error in SB66, which authorized beer tax money to go to law enforcement agencies for drunken driving prevention and prosecution. The privatization of the Worker's Compensation Fund could also be on the agenda.
The Environmental Protection agency has been spraying harmless substances over fields in Oklahoma to test the capability of radar to detect a bioterrorist attack. Similar tests have also been conducted in Utah and Florida.
Asbestos litigation legislation has apparently entered murky waters in the US House. Originally Representatives Chris Cannon and Calvin Dooley united to support legislation supported the the Asbestos Alliance, a group led by the National Association of Manufacturers and the US Chamber of Commerce to limit the cost of litigation for claims of asbestos-related illness. Now it appears that the two are split on the extent of tort reform required in the bill.
[HR1114]

Orem firm charged in mishandling of medical waste

Fri, 21 Mar 2003 16:14:58 GMT

The EPA, with help from the State Attorney General's Office, Orem Public Works Department, and the FBI, has brought charges against David Kali, former owner of Aseptic Services, Inc. of Orem Utah. Kali was charged with violating state pretreatment standards for allegedly discharging wastes into publically owned sewage treatment systems. The AG's office will prosecute.
[US NEWSWIRE]