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Emergency Response and Removal Program

Emergency Response and Removal Program. Evaluate approximately 1,200 oil and chemical release notifications per year Provide technical assistance by telephone or deploy to the incident to lead, assist, monitor or direct the response

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Emergency Response and Removal Program

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  1. Emergency Response and Removal Program • Evaluate approximately 1,200 oil and chemical release notifications per year • Provide technical assistance by telephone or deploy to the incident to lead, assist, monitor or direct the response • Conduct approximately 20 Superfund Removal Actions and obligate $10M per year • Removal Actions contribute significantly to clean up of contaminated properties so they can be put back into productive use • Several recent Removal Action sites were identified through Brownfields assessment activities

  2. EPA New England Responds to National Incidents • EPA NE OSCs and contractor personnel have responded to the following: - World Trade Center Collapse - Anthrax Contamination on Capitol Hill - Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster - 2004 Democratic & Republican National Conventions - 2006 Hurricane Katrina Response • Incidents Provide staff with valuable experience and lessons-learned that are incorporated into Regional preparedness efforts

  3. Emergency Response and Removal Program - 2007 Priorities • Continue to train and exercise to enhance response readiness • Continue to conduct Superfund and Oil Removal Actions to address immediate threats • Continue to work with state partners to improve Regional debris management plans in preparation for a New England hurricane or avian influenza outbreak

  4. Currently >14,000 facilities in New England ME, NH, RI & VT may meet inspection requirement with in-house staff and 3rd party inspections CT & MA are responsible for ~8,000 facilities and are considering 3rd party inspections to meet the three year requirement New England States perform ~1,500 inspections per year UST/LUST – New Energy Bill Requirements for 2007

  5. Office of Environmental Stewardship Smart Enforcement • Address significant environmental, public health and compliance problems • Use data to make strategic decisions and better direct resources • Use appropriate tools to achieve best outcome • Measure the environmental and public health impact of our actions • Communicate outcomes to enhance effectiveness and to deter future violations • Incorporate environmental justice into everything we do

  6. Tough Enforcement Alive and Well in New England – FY’06 • Inspections up at least 20% to 2nd highest total in past 5 years • $270 million injunctive relief (work required to bring facilities into compliance) • Civil judicial referrals nearly doubled • Administrative penalty cases at 2nd highest level in 5 years • Value of Supplemental Environmental Projects up 25% to just under $1 million • More than 60 facilities voluntarily disclosed and corrected violations

  7. Superfund Enforcement • WR Grace Site in Acton, MA -- settlement agreement to generate $18 million towards site clean up • Beede Waste Oil Site in Plaistow, NH -- unilateral cleanup order issued to 30 parties for $48 million remedial action • Cost recovery practice generated over $10 million

  8. CSO Control and Elimination • National and regional priority is to eliminate untreated CSO discharges • New England has the 4th largest number of permittees among EPA regions • Less than 30% of the CSO flow that existed in 1990 remains • Working towards substantial reduction in those remaining flows over the next decade

  9. Storm Water Compliance at Construction Sites – Expedited Settlements • Expedited settlement offers are being used for storm water violations associated with construction activities • Designed to supplement traditional administrative and judicial enforcement options • Provides mechanism to assess small expedited penalties for violations that can quickly be corrected

  10. Diesel Idling • State anti-idling rules included in state implementation plans are enforceable by both state and federal environmental agencies • Action taken against largest national retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., for idling violations in CT and MA • Settlement resulted in the company undertaking a national effort to reduce diesel truck idling at its 4,000 facilities nationwide • Will conserve 2.1 million gallons of fuel and reduce emissions of smog precursors and particulate matter

  11. Lead Paint Hazards Federal Lead Paint Disclosure Rule and Lead Pre-Renovation Rule • 70 inspections covering close to10,000 housing units across New England • 10 enforcement actions taken • $ 74,000 paid in fines and penalties • $ 279,000 paid in SEPs and injunctive relief to be used for testing and abating lead paint hazards

  12. Health Care Industry Initiative designed to increase compliance • Outreach assistance – workshops, list server • Grant funds provided to: • Reduce pharmaceutical waste in hospitals as well as dispose of it more effectively • Train inspectors from JCAHO to incorporate environmental compliance and pollution prevention into accreditation process • EPA’s Audit Policy • encouraging facilities to voluntarily self-police • 30 major hospitals & 66 minor facilities under MOU • Hospitals for Healthy Environment partners reduced mercury use by 380 pounds www.epa.gov/region1/healthcare

  13. Marinas & Boatyards • Integrating both assistance & enforcement • Partnering with states and marine trade industry • Four years of assistance and outreach • Inspections and enforcement in ’06 shows some progress and lingering problems in RCRA, storm water and oil spill prevention www.epa.gov/region1/marinas

  14. Performance Track • U.S. EPA Program to: • Promote Superior Environmental Performance; and • Recognize Top Performers • To Join Performance Track, facilities must: • Have an operational Environmental Management System (EMS) in place • Have a history of sustained compliance • Commit to 3-year environmental improvement goals • Demonstrate a commitment to public outreach • 42 member facilities in New England, up 35% over past year • 16 Energy Challenge members reduced GHG emissions by 7% over two years from 2003 baseline www.epa.gov/region1/ems/performancetrack

  15. Office of Ecosystem ProtectionNew England Pollution Profile • Energy use largest single source of air pollution • Electric generation 48% SO2 and 8% NOx • GHG emissions up by 16% since 1990 per April 2006 US GHG emission inventory report • Transportation sources 53% NOx and 21% VOC • Mobile sources particulates high asthma rates

  16. New England Energy Team priorities • Improve energy performance of buildings • Promote clean energy technologies • Expedite federal review of energy projects • Educate the public about climate change

  17. Diesel Strategies • New standards for new sources • Heavy duty trucks and buses in 2007 • Nonroad diesel engines in 2008 • Ultra-low diesel fuel beginning October 2006 • Strategies for existing diesel sources • Voluntary pollution controls and cleaner fuels • Northeast Diesel Collaborative • Best Workplace for Commuters

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