EPA Announces Actions to Address "Chemicals of Concern"- Follow Up...

'News Release By Date: EPA Announces Actions to Address "Chemicals of Concern", including Phthalates: Agency continues efforts to work for comprehensive reform of Toxic Substance laws.'
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/2852C60DC0F65C688525769C0068B219
Contact: Dale Kemery, kemery.dale@epa.gov 202-564-7839, 202-564-4355, Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355
existing chemicals: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/ ~ *Fact Sheet

On December 30, 2009, under the excellent leadership of Lisa Jackson; administrator of the EPA; toxic substance laws will now have a bit more teeth.

On December 2, 2009 Admin. Jackson presented herself before Chairman Lautenberg, Chairman Boxer, Ranking member Inhofe and the other members of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public works.

That sounds easy...it is not. In order for Ms. Jackson to free the EPA regulators, to the job EPA was created to do. The EPA's regulatory authority comes from legislation to protect people, their health. By putting Human Health as a priority, Lisa Jackson's EPA cause discomfort to those who have been operating 'dirty' for decades. The worst pollutors have billions of dollars at their disposal, and they will do whatever it takes to keep it rolling in.

They can and do get people fired and/or removed from office.
It takes guts to come before politicians; although represented to serve The People, they add a twist of economic worry, and call it detrimental to prosperity and "progress". Elected officials must work for who keeps them employed.

Lisa Jackson came before this powerful group of people, some representing some of the wealthiest interests in the world. It was obvious by her presentation that she knew what she was talking about. Ms. Jackson did not come to that hearing unprepared. She is a fair person, and like the Executive who appointed her, she is willing to work together to find solutions to what is harming human health in manufactured Chemicals.

In our State we have chemical manufacturers that are often the only employers. There are towns that will dry up and blow away if the Chemical manufacturers were shut down. One company has provided free scholarships to any child that graduates from High School. They have provided high paying jobs, contributed to the school systems and pumped money into the economy.

Having been in the Regulatory arena, I know the miles of testing and paperwork that must be done by facilities to comply with State and Federal laws. Industry pays millions a year to test, retest, comply and retrofit. Every few months, the EPA comes out with an additional rule on pollutants, and it is way bogged down in red, blue, black and now Green tape. A common sense look is starting to straighten that mess out.

This announcement notes industries who are complying and are concerned for profit and the environment. As big business, they know it is often prudent to walk away from the table with a few peices of pie. Doesn't have to be the whole thing.

Contained within the December 2nd presentation, a list of exsisting chemicals the EPA is trying to get tested and results to find out the affect on human health.

Early legislation (TSCA 1976),
successfully grandfathered protection for 60,000 chemicals; keeping them from
any scruitny. "...Since that time, EPA has only successfully restricted or
banned 5 (FIVE) chemicals, and has only required testing on another 200...An
additional 20,000 chemicals have entered the marketplace for
a total of 80,000 chemicals within the
TSCA inventory."

http://www.epa.gov/aging/press/epanews/2009/2009_1202_2.htm

Included below are just a few links to information on this one "chemical of concern", Pt that has caused genetic harm to humans. It has taken this long and this many lives to come to a point of realization.

Remember, the Government agencies in the U.S. are for service of The People. Regulators must have input from citizens in rule making, and enforcement. We all have a chance to get behind the Environmental Protection Agency and hold your governmetal agencies accountable. If the only input they get is from industry, that's whose voices will prevail.

Thank you to the EPA and Administrator Lisa Jackson for bringing wisdom to the EPA, and fight to save our habitat.

*Fact Sheet Overview of Chemical Action Plans - 12/30/09 [2 pages]: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/Action.Plan.Fact.Sheet123009.pdf

**Info on Phthalates in toys, from American Chemistry;http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_phthalate/sec.asp?CID=1905&DID=7584

***MSMBC;Associated Press; updated 4:43 p.m. CT, Mon.,Feb 4, 2008
phthalates in baby shampoo, lotions and powders. http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_phthalate/sec.asp?CID=1905&DID=7584

****"The Case Against Phthalates in Children's Toy's": Posted by Mark Schapiro: Huffington Post;March 24, 2008 12:34 PM http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-schapiro/the-case-against-phthalat_b_93092.html

Enforcement & On-line mapping tools to view enforcement actions over $5B in 2009

EPA News Release by Date: December 23, 2009. Contact Deb Berlin berlin.deb@epa.gov 202-564-4914, 202-564-4355
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/3342886E4AA895DB8525769500589311

Today's release from the EPA Enforcement division are bringing tools to the public, that we may monitor the enforcement actions, fines, SIP's (State Implementation Plan), clean-ups, and completed reports, or the lack of such can be searchable.

G.I.S. Technology is finally becoming mainstream enough, that it has become remarkably easy to use and gather data from G.I.S (Geographic Information Services) mapping. Many of you have been using GIS and weren't aware, Google Earth, Google Maps, Map Quest, GPS...

Because of the advances in G.I.S. more and more public databases are being created. Public databases are generally the venue of Government agencies, because part of the determination of use of data mapping a G.I.S. page, narrows it down to agencies who have particularly accurate information.

Now, in many States Environmental Protection agencies have GIS databases that are available to the public, that they know what facilities are in their neighborhoods, the pollutants they emit, any Consent orders, what permit violations they may have had. Information on agency action or in-action are also available.

Today's announcement from the EPA lets the world see who the biggest and dirtiest polluters are and what your State is doing about it. This is also a good way to track ARRA (Stimulus Money) Grants that have been awarded and funded. Another step on transparency in government that is trickling down through this Government For and By the People.
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/reports/endofyear/eoy2009/index.html

Thank You for what you are doing. Please get involved, find out what pollutants are being dumped and pumped into your community, state and world. Without the support of the general public, the EPA and other regulating agencies are limited on the actions they can take. When the public takes an interest, emails, make calls and watch public notices, attend public meetings, follow who is appointed to commissions and if there are conflict of interest, public corruption, or like Connecticut; doing an amazing job protecting the Air and Water.

Get involved, be informed. That is something one will never regret. Especially when you make a difference for your community, family and world.

Thank you ~ Happy Holidays!!

Forest's Take Center Stage at Copenhagen!

"esa Space for Our Climate", European Space Agency; Observing the Earth." December 19, 2009, News; Forest's Take Center Stage at Copenhagen."
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Space_for_our_climate/SEMIW2AK73G_0.html

This is a wonderfully scientifically biased report on a portion of the Copenhagen summit.

Kudos to the European Space Agency for their public service. ESA has been instrumental in expanding my own environmental education. The above link is to their article and web-site. The ESA website has tools and information for those who care about the complete biosphere around them. ESA shares helpful maps and always great photographs.

This article points that there is an agreement during the Copenhagen conference that deforestation is a factor that is doubtless a major contributor to greenhouse gas imbalances. Using wisdom this speaks of planning for profiting by keeping the rainforest's growing and not just something remembered.

EPA Delays 2009 Stand on Coal Ash Containment Regulations

News Release by Date - Contact EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov 202-564-6794
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/85D3578E15C80DB98525768F006A097B
December 17, 2009

The EPA has a pending decision on regulating coal ash waste from power plants. The decision was expected later this month [by years end], but EPA is still 'actively clarifying and refining parts of the proposal'.

This is bringing us to the anniversary that launched awareness of the by-product of coal-fire plants; coal ash. Giving credit for credit due, here is footage of the clean-up efforts... http://www.tva.gov/kingston/video.htm


This one year marker brings a nightmare remembered and lived by the residents of Roane County, TN. (Those who do the work of watching and protecting the earth also are living with this horror.) See NASA shot; http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=36352




December 23, 2008, just a few days before Christmas,  coal-ash holding ponds at Kingston TVA, Tennessee failed. The resulting disaster  caused a spill that is still ringing up a tab of damage.


The disaster has not only been to the residents near the facility, but the environmental harm is still being tallied . **



Last month, mandatory assessments were sent to facilities in the U.S. that have Coal-Ash holding ponds, asking for them to assess their holding facilities to bring everyone up to par for safety's sake. These notifications sent by EPA, also included emergency response agencies near these plants. Most of these reports/surveys have been returned to the EPA and results are public and available for viewing on the EPA website.

http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/surveys2/aep-sporn-draft.pdf

http://www.brockovichblog.com/2008/12/coal_ash_sludge_muddies_waters.html
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Fossil_Plant_coal_fly_ash_slurry_spill

Recycle?, Make films on YouTube? Care about the Environment? Contest?

News Release by Date - EPA Contact: Skip Anderson, anderson.skip@epa.gov 202-564-9551, 202-564-4355.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/CB76EAAB4245BA078525768D007C06DD

"Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice" Contest

The EPA announcement today is asking for those who would like to enter a contest to produce a 30 - 60 second spot on the 3-R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Further information on this Filmmakers competition to create the best short films, highlighting the Three R's of individual consumption.

There is a lot of talent on YouTube, and now here is another way for people to do "one thing" for their environment.

The EPA is accepting submissions for the "Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice" contest through February 16Th, 2010.
http://www.epa.gov/waste/wycd/video.htm

The format will be YouTube, a 30 - 60 second video.
1st Prize - $2500.00
2ND Prize - $ 1500.00
3RD Prize - $ 1,000.00
& 2 Student Winners ~ 13 - 18 years old - $500.00 each.

Winners will be announced in April of 2010!

Be artistic, get involved, and we all win on this...Thank you to the EPA for such a creative idea.

EPA Signs 2 Rules to Further Protect the Ozone Atmospheric Layer

EPA's News Release by Date: December 11, 2009 ~ Contact Deb Berlin, berlin.deb@epa.gov 202-564-4914, 202-564-4355
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A47B718EDA7354C98525768900584FF8
The U.S. EPA announced that it has signed on to 2 final rules that will cut pollutants that eat away at the ozone layer.
~*~
Deniers blogs have hit the roof, and are ranting that there is no such thing as anthropogenic global warming, Capping that it is all a lie cooked up by Gore and Obama to rule the world. Deniers are claiming this is all a made up fanatical religion. I find the denier a zealot who does not care to consider the facts and hard evidence.

No matter who you are, when you look at the widening lack of ozone on our earth's pole, you must realize that we are losing the valuable 'sunscreen' if you will for the solar waves that come our way.

Really, once we no longer have cooling upper cyclonic winds, we will be a pile of tinder ready for the bar-b-Que; us being dinner...We have to take care of our habitat and that can be done using wise methods.

Progress living as a good steward of the habitat we are given. Any living thing that is not given the right balance of care will get weak, maybe ill and possibly die. The higher radiation experienced by humans, plants, soil and waters due to the depleted ozone layer, will compound problems. For humans, it is already known that it causes skin cancer, cataracts and weakened immune systems..

Thank you to the EPA for considering human health and doing the right thing even if it is not the most popular. All citizens who are affected by the environment can be involved by watching the news for public notices, attending public meetings when a controversial business wants to earn a permit. Public notices let people know what facilities are being permitted and the amounts of their pollutants.

Follow-up by inspecting those agencies who are charged with protecting our earth's resources. It is also, getting involved in reporting polluters and making sure they are taken to task for destruction of vital habitat.

These rules will force those who manufacture, and use refrigerants (all of U.S.) to consider a different process and stop what works against our ultimate quality of life.

This doesn't stop progress, it opens the doors for thinkers who can stop be plodding along behind Mr. Edison & Mr. Ford's way or the highway [Sp].

Forty years ago, certain large business enterprises ranted they could not remain in the automobile industry if they had to phase out engines that required leaded gasoline. Petrol manufacturers of the 1970's could not fathom producing gasoline without lead. Swore it would put both of them out of business....hm mm well - Not true.

"These rules advance U.S. compliance under the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer."

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/rulesoverview.html

EPA reaches agreement with Dow Agrosciences on Clean-Air Violations

"News Release by Date: EPA December 11, 2009 - Contact William Omohundro 312-353-8254 or omohundro.william@epa.gov

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A694364D549360DA85257688006089A7



A $70,000.00 fine to Dow AgroScience must be a big deterrent! The Harbor Beach plant generate Methanol and uses xylene in the production of pesticides in their Harbor Beach Plant. They came to this agreement which includes the $70G fine. The announcement doesn't go into detail as to what the exact violations are.



Dow chemical is a household name. This company has brought a huge benefit to human existence in many ways over the years. What disturbs me is that in the history of Dow Chemical and its subsidiaries. Their environmental issues have been large, and they have mostly skipped on having to remediate the properties, air and waterways they have polluted with toxic substances.



Because of the way the tax code is set up, there is a benefit for any business owner, that they may abandon property, leaving no responsibility for what is left behind. When there is an environmental area that has become toxic, it is called a "Brownfield". Dow has left behind several Brownfield areas, and it is up to the U.S. Taxpayer to foot the bill under "Super-fund" clean-up monies. Millions of dollars of the Stimulus monies has gone to clean up Superfund and brownfield areas left behind by major polluters.



http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/652d9edd5cf71a2585257359003f5343/e8be4e897bbc2fd8852576410055a8f2!OpenDocument



Keep in mind we are still looking at MI...this is Clean Water violations gone on over years...

http://www.epa.gov/region5/sites/dowchemical/pdfs/down-negotiation-fs-200906.pdf



Here is Dow pulling the strings of Senators in D.C....getting a public EPA administrator fired or put on administrative leave...

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Majority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=e3c91abd-802a-23ad-41ea-bc73cd8cec97&Designation=Majority?



No need pestering the owners/polluters, let the taxpayer pick up the bill: http://www.engr.colostate.edu/hsrc/presentations/2002_directors_meeting.pdf



8 Court cases that one legal firm has fought for DOW: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:hOCWngY0FNsJ:www.wendel.com/index.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dpeople.persondetail%26id%3D10637+Dow+Chemical,+Brownfield,+Superfund,+EPA,+administrative&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us



And last but not least: The "free-flowing cash of 1.2 billion in the 4th Quarter of 2008...

Specifically Dow AgroSciences reported full-year sales and EBIT(2) records. Sales grew 20% to $4.5 billion, reflecting an 8 percent increase in volume and a 12% increase in price, and delivering EBIT of $761 million. This is from their Dow 2008 4th Quarter Earnings Statement.

http://www.dow.com/financial/reports/08q4earn.htm



...is there any way to get true environmental justice when dealing with a conglomerate this size and stature...?

'WaterSense' Spec's released today by the EPA!

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/778EA162223967EC85257688004D543D
Contact: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/spaces/new_homes.html#area

The first link is the Announcement By Date from the EPA. The second link is the specification and information page regarding specifications (spec's in the building/regulatory world) for a WaterSense home.

The EPA worked with Stakeholders (builders, construction, business, etc) to design the 'WaterSense' home spec's.

Here is a link to the 213 pages, listing the participating stakeholders This is what happens when wisdom concerning the environment and business [progress] come together!
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/Meet_Our_Partners.html

Homes that earn the "WaterSense" label will be using 10,000 gallons less. This will reflect financial savings that pay for the up front cost of purchase and installation. WaterSense is also engineered to work well with other energy efficient plans such as, LEED and ENERGY STAR.

The Specification and Information from the second link is a page filled with resources, work sheets, calculators, quizzes, activities and more links to information.

Keep in mind the $1,500.00 Tax Credits available until 12/31/10 for non-business structures. In 2009, Congress and the President extended the Energy Tax Credit to those who are willing to implement these energy and money saving features to their homes.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=214979,00.html

For many States to implement the WaterSense as well as other Energy reduction programs by the citizens means a loss in 'franchise' and other municipal taxes that benefit the states, cities and other municipalities.

Hopefully, this type of thinking will trickle down to more States in the form of credits and rebates for saving energy. It is important to reduce energy consumption, and by doing the right thing, it's citizen-taxpayers will have more money to spend on retail goods and services.

EPA Issues Administrative Order to Oklahoma Oil Field Producer!

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/CB2700EA3B1BF6D585257687005E3E15
Contact: Dave Bary at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

In October this year, an EPA inspection of TEC (Thomas Exploration Company), of Tulsa discovered an unauthorized discharge of oil field brine into a tributary of the Deep Fork River.

Today TEC has been issued a cease and desist order for violating the federal Clean Water Act. They are now required to remove the contaminated areas of the Deep Fork River tributary. They have 30 days to do the clean up, and they must file a report showing they have complied with all aspects of the administrative order.

EPA Releases Guidance to Help Federal Facilities Better Manage Stormwater

This comes from EPA news Release by Date - December 08, 2009
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/70E60DCB4B4712DD8525768600686449
Contact person: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355


Today's announcement is a momentous victory for those who have done the Work in Rainwater Harvesting!

By including in the issued 'guidance', to minimize the environmental impact of Federally based projects on bodies of water that are near the sites.

This guidance also includes the wise decision to consider using and reusing stormwater runoff.

The suggestion that stood out the most to me is the recommendation to comply by using practices that are successfully greening desert places world and community wide. *

"...'green infrastructure' or 'low impact' practices including vegetation, and
green roofs, a 3,000 sq ft green roof, using rain gardens and cisterns to
capture and reuse stormwater"

At this time, in many States and communities, it is illegal to reuse and capture stormwater.

The data is in: having citizens and even parts of communities take a load off of the municipal works is a sound and wise idea. So, let us work together as citizens to assure that these guidelines are followed by our States and Cities...

Thank You...

*Brad Lancaster: Rainwater Harvesting; the Drylands & Beyond.

EPA: Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment / Science overwhelmingly shows greenhouse gas concentrations at unprecedented levels

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/08D11A451131BCA585257685005BF252

Finally! The Elephant in the Room has been pointed out...! Woowie.

EPA Top Administrator Lisa Jackson has made the statement that Greenhouse gases must be addressed as a direct threat to human health.

As usual Administrator Jackson has compiled information from sources worldwide, once more she comes to the public after having done her homework.

Kudos to the EPA leadership in considering this one habitat we have...!

Greenhouse Effect in a Bottle

Greenhouse Effect in a Bottle *

This is an enjoyable yet informative bit of information [video] regarding greenhouse warming, and C02.

Posted using ShareThis

Enjoy,

*from daily feed from Permaculture Institute; Australia

Who is Watching American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Participants?

An anonymous comment asking who is going to be watching States, City's, Burgs, Parish when it comes to ARRA Funds?

Dear Fellow Citizen, we all can watch... I am posting my response just in case anyone else would like this information...

http://recovery.arkansas.gov/news.html is the Arkansas State site dedicated to showing transparency in use of ARRA funds / grants.

http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/home.aspx is the Federal site. There are Contact us numbers and emails all through these pages. If your town, municipality or any other ARRA / Fed Grant recipient has received monies and you would like an accounting, you will be given that information.

If you do file or contact them to ask a question, give it about 10 days for a response, if it has been 21 days, recontact advising them of the first contact. When you do make contact, just keep it simple, try to go in order with as much documentation as you can [dates, times, amounts, agency, contacts you attempted, any responses by mail, or email...you can kind of build a case if there is a real problem.]

Don't be afraid to get involved, it is your Government, that is paid to serve you...

News Releases By Date

News Releases By Date!
Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. EPA Legislative Hearing on the Toxic Substances Control Act. (TSCA) to the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works. (12/02/09).

Administrator Jackson appeared before The Senate Committee on the Environment & Public works. Administrator Jackson is coming to the Senate, part of the arm of government that makes or changes law. She comes with her homework done!

All in all Lisa Jackson is asking the Law Makers to untie the hands of the EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency is charged with protecting human health in the U.S. and globe. If they are unable to gain regulatory teeth, unable to get co-operation from those chemical producers, then something is very wrong.

I can hear the Brethren scream with no thought; "I suppose you want to see the end of the economy." "You don't want progress." "You're going to send us back a hundred years." It has all been said before, and it is still not true.

Ms. Jackson sites the terrible time and trouble expended in trying to get rid of asbestos. Everyone knows that stuff is bad. Everyone. But as Lisa Jackson states, because of TSCA (that Act that was supposed to protect people from chemicals used in commerce...) there were so many hurdles experienced, and in 1989, a federal court over turned EPA's ruling against its use and hazards. There are so many road-blocks in obtaining information and testing on some 80,000 chemicals there is no telling what humans world wide are being exposed to.

Hopefully, your Senators will hear the voice of the people who put them into office. Lisa Jackson is doing the job she was appointed to do. She is not sitting behind a desk, pushing paper. She has been all over our Country looking at situations and problems first hand. She is working for the citizens of the U.S. and world.

Director Jackson makes six points of impacts, and six specific things she is asking of this Senatorial Committee. (Snippets of each point)
1. Chemicals need to be reviewed against known safety standards and health risk criteria...
2. The responsibility for being transparent regarding health and safety information to the public lies on industry...
3. The EPA should have a clear authority to take risk management actions when human health is at risk, especially the young and weak among us...
4. The EPA should have clear authority to set priorities for conducting inspections. The chemical companies should operate within a timely framework...
5. To keep an open book to the public, while working to develop green technologies and business practices...
6. The agencies that regulate the chemical producers should be funded and be given authority when it comes to human health, and chemical producers should remain transparent...

Overall, TSCA needs to be brought into the 21st Century...

I just paraphrased the six points presented, please read the entire announcement for exact quotes and phrases.

It is refreshing to see those who are paid to serve the public do just that! Kudos Lisa Jackson ~ The Mother thanks you.

[My two-cents: Going back to the inception of the TSCA in 1976, it was enacted at a time when those who were fighting major industrial polluters to remove lead from the air, and other particulate matter. It was a time of change when awareness of affects on human health when using polluted waters and take food from polluted water. It was in these late 1970's that we were learning that if you put a toxic substance on the ground, or in liquid into the ground, it can contaminate anything grown, and wells and aquifers.

It is obvious that Chemical producers, and all the commerce that includes, could see the writing on the wall. Instead of waiting to be next on the awareness movements agenda, they would go ahead and help pass the TSCA smoothly, exempting those who would have the most cleaning and answering to do. Tying the hands of regulators...The dirtiest polluters are usually the ones making the largest profits. I will give credit where credit is due; they have made some amazingly high paying positions and providing some jobs in the communities they inhabit.]

EERE News: New York Seeks Proposals for Offshore Wind Power in the Great Lakes

EERE News: New York Seeks Proposals for Offshore Wind Power in the Great Lakes

Advocating alternative energy sources is healthy for all parties.

We are being driven to greater energy demands daily. I love that bumper sticker; "want less". Amen brother.

Wind turbine power is a great concept. I think it is a source given to use, that is clean in and of itself. If we are all building wooden structures with canvas blades on our 20 acres, it remains harmless. When we put up thousands with the ultimate goal of millions, we can forget to weigh the entire picture. Now, that we have this newer wisdom, let us consider before it is too late, that we are not destroying another set of species. We can take time, use what has been learned in world weather patterns and find places and settings that will not do more harm than good in the long run.

Let us consider every energy source from it's inception, growth, production and finally closure. What waste is produced? How much energy (all energy) is expended to produce energy? How many species are harmed or destroyed? Are there pollinators that are in danger? What about the effects on human health?

If we consider energy as a part of all life source, then hopefully, we will not have over-used our quota.

Energy expended toward the earth and her good health is not energy wasted. Every little bit people do for good, makes a difference.

EPA Awards Over $700,000.00 to Arkansas Dept of Health!

Today (12-02-2009) the EPA announces that they have awarded $735,920.00 to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).

For Arkansas residents who are on a community water system, these funds are to "ensure" that they are recieving clean and healthy drinking water. These monies will be used to make sure that these community run water drinking systems will comply with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. These are federal regulations that supercede State regulations or non-regulation.

Arkansas is in the Region 6 of the EPA. For contact information, the contact given is Dave Bary at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/0BBEA527A31E05AF852576800057EA51