Navajo Nation President Begaye demands immediate explanation of EPA accident.

Posted on August 8, 2015 by GarryRogers

The EPA actually has no concern for the environment, they just happen to use the environment as a cover story to create laws and gain an advantage for the companies that lobbied for exemptions to the agency’s regulations, and to collect money in fines. There are solutions outside the common government paradigm, and that is mainly the ability for individuals, not governments, to hold polluters personally and financially accountable. . . Sourced through Scoop.it from: colouredjustice.wordpress.com

GR: Initial reports suggest that EPA acted like any other polluter attempting to gloss over a catastrophic spill. Have to follow this story a bit farther.

EPA U. S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory for 2013: Coal Burning Increased

Posted on April 16, 2015 by GarryRogers

Coal-Fired Energy Generation Increased

The 20th annual EPA report on greenhouse gas emissions arrived this morning. It shows that total U. S. emissions increased by 2% from 2012 to 2013. The increase was due to greater energy production, mainly from burning coal.

Pile of coal beside power plant in Thompson, Texas.

Total U.S. greenhouse emissions were 6,673 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2013. By sector, power plants were the largest source of emissions, accounting for 31 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas pollution. The transportation sector was the second largest source, at 27 percent. Industry and manufacturing were the third largest source, at 21 percent. The increase in total national greenhouse gas emissions between 2012 and 2013 was due to increased energy consumption across all sectors in the U.S. economy and greater use of coal for electricity generation.

According to the EPA, our emissions are responsible for dangerous climate change that threatens the health and well-being of Americans and of future generations. This occurs as air quality decreases, heat and weather events become more extreme, and disease incidence increases.

Here are links you can use to get the details: The U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report, EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer.

EPA Releases 2013 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis

Posted on January 15, 2015 by GarryRogers

Comment on the New EPA Toxic Releases Report

GR: It is worth noting that the EPA report does not include toxic releases from small facilities, home heating, automobiles, and others. To get insight to the magnitude of human impacts on nature, consider the fact that toxic wastes are not the leading cause of damage to wildlife and habitat. Worldwide, construction and invasive species are more destructive than toxic wastes. The enormous quantity of toxic materials we produce, gives a sense of just how gigantic is the impact of construction and invasive species. It is not surprising that more than half of Earth’s wildlife is gone and the rest is fading fast.

U. S. Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI)

Locations of all facilities that reported to TRI for 2013

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its annual report on toxic wastes. This information comes from thousands of U.S. facilities and includes over 650 chemicals and chemical categories under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA).

“The map shows the locations of all facilities that reported to TRI for 2013. Facilities that report to TRI are typically large and are from industry sectors involved in manufacturing, metal mining, electric power generation, and hazardous waste treatment. Federal facilities are also required to report to TRI by Executive Order 12856.

“Users of TRI data should be aware that TRI captures a significant portion of toxic chemicals in wastes that are managed by industrial facilities, but it does not cover all toxic chemicals or all industry sectors of the U.S. economy. Furthermore, the quantities of chemicals reported to TRI are self-reported by facilities using readily-available data. Each year, EPA conducts an extensive data quality analysis before publishing the National Analysis. During the data quality review, potential errors are identified and investigated to help provide the most accurate and useful information possible. This effort makes it possible for TRI data presented in the National Analysis to be used along with other information as a starting point in understanding how the environment and communities may be affected by toxic chemicals.

“The TRI National Analysis is developed on an annual basis, and the 2013 TRI National Analysis is EPA’s interpretation of TRI data reported for 2013 by July 1, 2014. It provides a snapshot of the data at one point in time. Any reports submitted to EPA after the July 1st, 2014 reporting deadline may not be processed in time to be included in the National Analysis. The most recent data available are accessible from the TRI Data and Tools webpage.

Quick Facts for the U. S. for 2013

Number of TRI Facilities	21,598
Production-Related Waste Managed	25.63 billion lb
Recycled	9.23 billion lb
Energy Recovery	2.91 billion lb
Treated	9.49 billion lb
Disposed of or Otherwise Released	4.00 billion lb
Total Disposal or Other Releases	4.14 billion lb
On-site	3.74 billion lb
Air	0.77 billion lb
Water	0.21 billion lb
Land	2.75 billion lb
Off-site	0.41 billion lb

Note: Numbers do not sum exactly due to rounding.

“Additional information is presented in the following chapters of the TRI National Analysis:

Waste Management and Pollution Prevention presents trends in toxic chemicals managed and the types of pollution prevention activities that facilities have implemented.
Releases of Chemicals presents trends in releases of toxic chemicals, including a focus on selected chemicals of concern.
Industry Sectors highlights toxic chemical waste trends for four industry sectors.
Where You Live presents analyses of TRI chemicals by state, city, county, zip code, metropolitan area or micropolitan area, and by Large Aquatic Ecosystems (LAEs) such as the Chesapeake Bay, as well as information about facilities in Indian Country.
TRI & Beyond combines TRI data with other EPA data, such as greenhouse gas emissions, to provide a more complete picture of national trends in chemical use, management and releases.

“To conduct your own analysis of TRI data, use EPA’s TRI data access and analysis tools available to the public from the TRI Data and Tools web page.”

GR: The EPA report is a primary resource for studying U. S. toxic materials releases. I haven’t tried all the Tools, but they look useful. I tried the “where you live” tool for the state of Arizona. The display was slow, but produced interesting results (summary table below).

Quick Facts for Arizona 2013

Number of TRI Facilities:	257
Facilities Reporting Newly Implemented Source Reduction:	45
Total On-site and Off-site Disposal or Other Releases:	70,121,662 lbs
Total On-site:	69,030,728 lbs
• Air:	2,400,897 lbs
• Water:	832 lbs
• Land:	66,628,999 lbs
Total Off-Site:	1,090,934 lbs

Science And Journalism Groups Accuse EPA Of Stopping Science Advisers From Talking To Press

Posted on August 13, 2014 by GarryRogers

“The groups criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday for limiting its independent scientific advisers from speaking directly to the press.

“The new policy undermines EPA’s efforts to increase transparency. It also contradicts the EPA’s new scientific integrity policy as well as the Science Advisory Board’s handbook,” the groups said in a letter sent to EPA head Gina McCarthy. “In addition, the new policy only reinforces any perception that the agency prioritizes message control over the ability of scientists who advise the agency to share their expertise with the public.”

Source: thinkprogress.org

GR: Really nothing new here; just a reminder that our public servants always feel more comfortable when we don’t know what they are doing.

EPA Forced to Study Pesticide Impacts on Endangered Species

Posted on August 10, 2014 by GarryRogers

“Legal settlement requires agency to analyze effects of 5 common pesticides Staff Report FRISCO — Under legal pressure from conservation advocates, the EPA last week agreed to take a hard look at how five commonly used pesticides affect endangered animals across the U.S.”

“One of the pesticides is carbaryl, commonly used in massive quantities in Colorado to try and protect trees from bark beetles. The other pesticides to be reviewed are chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and methomyl. All have all been found to be toxic to wildlife and may pose a health risk to humans.

“The center previously sued the EPA for failing to consult over the impacts of these and other pesticides on endangered California red-legged frogs; it obtained an injunction in 2006 imposing restrictions on pesticide use until the consultation was completed. To date those consultations have not been completed.

“In 2013 the center again sued, seeking completion of consultation. In today’s settlement the Fish and Wildlife Service resolved that litigation by agreeing to complete consultation and produce the required “biological opinions” in less than five years. As part of the agreement the agency will consider the pesticides’ impacts not only on red-legged frogs but on all endangered species across the country. The analysis is likely to lead to permanent restrictions on some of the most harmful uses of these highly toxic pesticides.”

Source: summitcountyvoice.com

GR: Pity the EPA must be forced to perform such analyses. Since we taxpayers must spend money to sue to force the EPA to do its job, perhaps the EPA should reimburse us by taking salary cuts across upper management.

Feds move to restrict neonic pesticides — well, one fed at least

Posted on July 20, 2014 by GarryRogers

So far the EPA has refused to ban use of neonicotinoid insecticides — despite mounting evidence that they kill bees and other wildlife, despite a ban in the European Union, despite a lawsuit filed by activists and beekeepers.

But if the EPA is somehow still unclear on the dangers posed by neonics, it need only talk to the official who oversees federal wildlife refuges in the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Ocean..

Source: grist.org

Pressure mounts for EPA to ban neonicotinoid insecticides.