The EnviroBlog

Each year the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) reviews the Hazardous Materials Regulations to identify and clarify any errors or unclear rules.  These amendments are not drastic by any means.  However, they should clarify any inconsistencies and/or typographical errors that could be mistakenly interpreted.  Some notable changes are below. ·          In CFR 49-171.8, the last sentence of the definition of “Hazardous Materials” was  amended to be consistent with other references to the definition throughout the Hazardous Materials Regulations. ·          In CFR 49-172.101, Special Provision B37 is erroneously applied to Column (7) for the Packing Group I entry of “Cyanide solutions, n.o.s.”  The Special Provision has been removed.  In addition, The proper shipping name for isomer entries for “Aminophenols” was changed from regular font to i...

In 2006, a system was proposed where the EPA was exploring the possibility of implementing and hosting an IT platform to manage and track shipment of hazardous waste across the country.  The overall response was positive with the exception of a some concerns (ie. confidential business information, web security, difference in state hazardous waste disposal regulations, and state and federal reporting requirements).  Since the initial request for commentary was issued in 2008 the proposal seemed to stop dead in it's tracks.  The only information provided by the EPA was that, due to the concerns that were very valid, the EPA would need to do more research in the tangibility of the potential system implementation at a federal level. On August 2, 2012 the Senate passed "S. 710: Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act."  This bill amends the Solid Waste Disposal act to direct the administrator of the EPA to establish a hazardous waste e-manifes...

Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection.  When ozone levels are elevated, people should refrain from strenuous outdoor activity, especially sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems. When ozone is forecast to be unhealthy, EPA asks the public to take action. The public can help reduce ozone by: Using public transportation, car pooling and/or combining trips; Avoiding the use of small gasoline powered engines, such as lawn mowers tractors chain saws power washers air compressors weed whackers Lastly, you can help by not topping off the gas tank to your car.  This causes gasoline to spill, you breath in these hazardous fumes, it disrupts the nation's vapor recovery system and your car's tank no longer has room for the gas to expand. Posted by: Virginia Robertson For more information...

Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in America.  There are 10 times more cases than AIDS, SARS, West Nile Virus and Swine Flu combined!  Here is some useful information to use to protect yourself. Posted By: Shobhana Sharma

Feeling Hot?  Here are some tips I read about to help stay cool. Graze, don't eat - avoid heavy meals (Grill something). Wear loose, absorbent clothing (linen is great). Keep a cool, damp cloth or towel handy. Drink lots of water - keep hydrated. Try some hot, spicy food - WHY? Spicy food can actually help your body cool off.  HOW? By causing you to perspire, your skin gets damp, and the evaporation of the water from your skin helps cool you down. Take a cold water bottle to bed (put it at your feet or neck). Finally, remember to watch your kids, elders and pets too.  They are more susceptible to extreme heat conditions! Be safe out there. For more tips read EPA's Fifteen Hot Tips for a Cool Summer . Posted by: Shobhana Sharma

Documerica was initially launched in 1971 sponsored by the EPA to “photographically document subjects of environmental concern” in the U.S.  This project lasted about 5 years.  During this time the EPA enlisted a wide variety of freelance and well-known professional photographers like Danny Lyon, Bill Strode, Charles O’Rear and John H. White.  With the broad task of this project came radically different views and interpretations of artistic perspective.  From urban cityscapes to everyday life in small towns and country scenes.  The photos depicted the natural beauty like Lake Tahoe, the Great Lakes, Hawaii, and Washington D.C.  They also depicted environmental issues like water and air pollution in major cities, junk yards, and traffic.  The project ultimately preserved a distinct visual and now historical record of time and place in the early 1970s.  In cooperation with the National Archives, the EPA has revived this project once again in 2...

Despite improvements made to air quality by restricting, refining incineration, and reclaiming heavy metals like mercury, Asthma has doubled in the last decade.  Last year, 4000 people have died and 1.8 million required trips to the Emergency Department.  Still, for a variety of reasons, the environmental controls component of asthma management guidelines tend to be less well understood and less effectively managed or implemented by health practitioners than the other components. In recent years, the National Institutes of Health and others have funded robust research on the effectiveness of environmental interventions, demonstrating substantial positive impacts on symptoms, quality of life, and utilization of health.  For thousands of people with Asthma, including those whose asthma is in relative good control, this new information holds great promise. Two key air pollutants can affect asthma.  One is Ozone (found in smog). The other is particle pollution (fou...