EPA Finalizes Air Toxic Emissions Standards for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Production Facilities/Standards will cut harmful emissions that impact local communities (HQ)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued strong final standards requiring facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride and copolymers (PVC) to reduce harmful air emissions, which will improve air quality and protect people’s health in communities where facilities are located. Exposure to toxic air pollutants, like those emitted from PVC facilities, can cause respiratory problems and other serious health issues, and can increase the risk of developing cancer (read more)

EPA’s FY 2013 Budget Proposal Focuses on Core Environmental and Human Health Protections / EPA budget supports President Obama’s vision of an America that is built to last (HQ)

WASHINGTON – Today the Obama Administration proposed a FY 2013 budget of $8.344 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This budget reflects a government-wide effort to reduce spending and find cost-savings, and is $105 million below the EPA’s enacted level for FY 2012 (read more)

TODAY: Press Conference Call with Administrator Jackson to Discuss the President’s FY 2013 Budget for EPA (HQ)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will hold a press conference call Monday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m. EST to discuss the EPA’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget. Members of the press interested in participating should dial in ten minutes prior to the call. Reporters should dial (888) 539-8821 and give the conference ID number, which is 52234318. The call name is The President’s Budget Announcement. WHO: U.S (read more)

Cleanup Complete at Hiteman Leather Superfund Site In West Winfield, New York; Site Ready for Redevelopment (NY)

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the cleanup of the Hiteman Leather Superfund site, a former tannery in West Winfield, New York, and deleted it from the Superfund National Priorities List of the county’s most hazardous waste sites. Soil and sediment on the site was contaminated with chromium, a dangerous metal that can cause serious health effects (read more)

Georgia Perimeter College and EPA to Collaborate on Green Initiatives (GA)

ATLANTA – On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will enter into an agreement with Georgia Perimeter College to support campus greening and sustainability. As part of the agreement, EPA will commit to enhance the college’s environmental policy and science curricula and offer opportunities for students interested in environmental careers. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed during a ceremony at Georgia Perimeter (read more)

Settlement with New Cingular Wireless to Resolve Violations of Community Right-to-Know Law (HQ)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced an agreement with New Cingular Wireless to resolve violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). New Cingular Wireless voluntarily disclosed reporting violations to EPA, which related to the presence of sulfuric acid, diesel, and lead at 642 cellular facilities in 35 states and Puerto Rico, after performing a comprehensive audit of their operations (read more)

Industry Progressing in Voluntary Effort to Reduce Toxic Chemicals / Companies have successfully developed over 150 alternatives to long-chain perfluorinated chemicals (HQ)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the interim results of a voluntary effort by eight chemical manufacturers to reduce emissions and use of long-chain perfluorinated chemicals (LCPFCs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Used in hundreds of manufacturing and industrial applications, LCPFCs are toxic, persistent in our environment worldwide and can accumulate in people. Reducing toxic chemicals in our environment is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P (read more)

$750K in EPA Smart Growth assistance includes Cheyenne, Wyo.; New England and Richardton, N.D. (ND, WY)

$750K in EPA Smart Growth assistance includes Cheyenne, Wyo.; New England and Richardton, N.D. Valuable planning support through Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program Contacts: U.S. EPA: Cindy Cody, EPA Denver, 303-312-6228; Latisha Petteway, EPA HQ, 202-564-3191 City of Cheyenne: Nancy Olson, Transportation Planner, 307-638-4366 Richardton, North Dakota: Thea Thompson, City Auditor, 701-974-3399 New England, North Dakota: Jason Jung, City Auditor, 701-579-4422 (Denver, Colo (read more)

EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Tetrachloroethylene (Perc) / Public health protections remain in place (HQ)

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene – also known as perchloroethylene, or perc – to EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. Perc is a chemical solvent widely used in the dry cleaning industry. It is also used in the cleaning of metal machinery and to manufacture some consumer products and other chemicals (read more)