Environmental Disasters Profit Corporations!

Pesticides Imports Enforcement s - EPA Enforcement (This link is important, but if you don't understand environmental legal actions, Consent to Administrative Order

Okay, now they have done it.

I am not sure, which thing has got me to the place when I can no longer be quiet, and polite. This Great Grandmother, is up in arms. No, Patriots, don't be alarmed, it is always worrisome when activists, warriors, scared people, are angry. When grandmothers get up in arms, she does not need guns...She is the guns. 

Our words, experience and wisdom are power. We share knowledge, scar trails, and usually some type of a limp. Grandmothers, as a whole, can be trusted. We are the Earth, the Earth is us.



Since I am familiar with Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) data base, I am going to use different documents to help the average person understand, and grasp the importance of citizen involvement. Residents in the know, have more say in what happens to their Natural Resources, water supplies, soil, air, and toxic storage events. The permit processes is lengthy when there is a lot of involvement by citizens, environmental, and human rights groups. Attending public meetings,and responding to public notices about Environmental Permitting is a duty we all share. If I do not live off of the land, but use chemicals, gasoline, tires, aerosol cans, computers, internet, or medicine, I am a consumer.

 If I consume, I am responsible for waste and pollution that comes with manufacture, 

If I drive a car, I am responsible for oil spills, and other energy borne disasters. 

If I use natural gas, I am a fracker. 

Arkansas is in Region 6, of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, and 66 Tribes comprise Region 6. Region 6 of the EPA is the Federal Branch of the Environmental Protection Agency. As is with our nation, there is a separation of powers between Federal and State. Each State, or Tribe has an Environmental Agency at that level. 

The Federal and State Agencies, are supposed to be on the same side, but when it comes to the mechanism of business, regarding the Compliance with Federal laws, States will often wag their powers around, stirring up a Judge or another Agency, who is invested in the same Corporations as themselves. The Feds do not want to have to bring down the National Guard every year to get Southern States to comply with Federal Law, so a third party comes into play, the People, or the Public

Region 6 is notorious for inviting big polluters to set up shop, and helping them all they can to get permitted and in operation. One would agree with these judges and governors and senators, that it is healthy for the economy, to have these industries, even if they sling toxic by-products, poisons, acids, chemical weapons, nuke juice, you name it. 

The worst thing is, that the long run is a sadly losing situation for all near-by residents. Neighbors suffer anything from massive cancer rates, to stillborn children, dead crops or livestock, Asthma, tumors, deformities. It takes so long to prove the causal affect between polluter, and victims. 

Promised jobs are held by people from other States where 70% of their populations aren't on disability, brains work like they should. They will hire a few locals to do the grunt work, but again, in the long run, the medical costs, loss of in-put from the sick, depression, and bankruptcy, is not economically positive at all.

The few fat cats, and their cousins, fill their pockets, keep their attorneys in Gucci leather, and eventually abandon the whole shit load onto the citizens of the place where they basically robbed the citizenry of peaceful enjoyment, and the right to seek happiness.

Exxon's Report to ADEQ Regarding Their Upset or Spill

Approved Cleanup Plan for TVA Coal Ash Site, by E.P.A.

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/106C22E4BC722561852577270062C9DE

"News Releases by Date: EPA Approves Cleanup Plan for Remaining Coal Ash at TVA Kingston Site." Release Date 05/18/2010. Contact Davina Marraccini @ (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davin@epa.gov

On May 18, 2010 the EPA approved the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) selected cleanup plan for the next phase of ash removal at the TVA Kingston site in Roane County, TN.

The outline of the plan are as follows:

I. Removal of "stock-piled" On-Site Storage. There is remaining approximately 2.5 million cubic yards of ash being stored. No ash will be removed from the area - their idea of safety being not having any accidents during transportation... [that is all well and good, but the horrible breech of the retaining ponds stored on site have been the most hazardous to date.]

II. Building Protective Perimeter Dike: The newly engineered [PLAN] is to excavate down 60 - 70 feet, to the shale bedrock, and will consist of overlapping soil-cement columns that can withstand a 6.0 earthquake. [That is an extreme depth to compromise. Not only are mountains, and streams being demolished to provide a small amount of electricity, now the underground and parts of the Earth's crust is going to be compromised with pollutants.]

III. Closure and Capping at 25' in the Air: [65+25=90 cubic feet x ??? yards = a lot of waste].

IV. Restoration: Testing will be required: Testing has always been required.

The time for Public Comment has not ended. If you would like more stringent rules for TVA, this is the time to let your voice be heard.

www.kingstoncomm@tva.com or in writing TVA, PO Box 40, Kingston, TN 37763-0400

In December of 2008, The Kingston TVA site had a spill that at that time was called a worse environmental disaster than the Exxon Valdez, in the shear quanity of waste that was visited upon an entire community and our Earth.

www.epakinstontva.com/default.aspx

The devistation that is being visited upon our environment by Mountaintop Mining, and the practice of killing streams and waterways in the Appalachian Mountains is unwise.

The Gulf Coast of Louisiana is downstream from Tennessee. The Gulf Coast is a part of our Earth's eco-system, that was like a huge filter for clean water and air. That giant filter has been compromised.

Fellow Earthlings; we must stop raping the Earth for energy. Coal Fire plants provide a small amount of electricity for the costs financially and environmentally. As usual there are a handful of people who reap the benefits, while the poor taxpayer always picks up the bill.

Wake up, please...We must look up for energy, and stop 'wanting' so much...

Thank you. Peace

EPA seeks Public Comment regarding Clean-up at Kingston, [Roane County] TN - TVA

EPA News Release by Date, January 19, 2010, Contact: Davina Marraccini (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davina@epa.gov

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/274CD2DD185E73D3852576B0006B252B

"Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis for Non-Time-Critical Cleanup Alternatives for Restoration of the TVA Kingston Site Released for Public Comment"

This is a time the public...all public can have input by making comments for the proposed 'alternatives' for restoration that must be made by TVA.
http://www.epakingstontva.com/default.aspx

The cost analysis is being used as a guide as to what is affordable, and necessary. Engineers have calculated the "cost" of restoring Swan Pond embayment area impacted by spilled fly ash.

Hmmm...Our whole eco-system was impacted by the spilled fly ash during the failure of holding ponds, December 22, 2008. If this is a concern of yours, check out the MSDS* for toxins spilled in that disaster.
 It will take public outcry and vigilance to make sure this is not swept under the rug. I have heard scientists say the environmental damage from this spill was many times worse than the Exxon-Valdez spill, and it is all so quiet.
http://www.tva.com/kingston/

Please, get involved, find out what is being proposed, and make your comment to the party who is responsible for the spill...

TVA,

P.O. Box 40,

Kingston, TN 37763-0400

Attn: Kingston Public Comments

Email: kinstoncomm@tva.gov

*from - Labricoleuse.livejournal.com - Fly Ash MSDS analysis

Citizens of the World ~ Have Your Say! EPA is Seeking Public Comments Regarding Remediation Goals for Dioxin in soil

News Release by Date: 12/31/2009. Contact: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355 - http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/6526D9A72FBC7F388525769D004FC223

"EPA Seeks Public Input on Interim Guidance for Dioxins in Soil Cleanup Goals"

EPA - Superfund Division

"Development of Draft Recommended Interim Preliminary Remediation Goals for Dioxin in the Soil"

Every governmental agency is broken up into many divisions. As a citizen attempting to navigate a monstrous bureaucracy, it helps if you narrow down the actual Agency, Department, Division and highest person within that division that does intake on information, complaints and inquiries.

While reading this announcement, and knowing the processes that transpired to create a Superfund or Brownfield with dioxins in the soil, I know that Dioxins could have been stopped from entering the soil in the first place. But, the problem of dioxins entering the soil in the first place, is another another division. A different problem with multiple solutions.

We have 50 days from yesterday (12-31-09) to make our voices heard regarding the way dioxins are remediated from soil. It is imperative to have healthy soil, because that is where we get nutrients, food, water is filtered...so many reasons. http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home EPA SFUND 2009-00907 (Notice titled "Draft Recommended Interim Preliminary Remediation Goals for Dioxin in Soil at CERCLA & RCRA Sites" will be published on 01/17/2009 [hopefully they mean 2010] and have a docket i.d. of EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0907. You can review the pre-publication copy of this Notice on the Office of the Federal Register's Electronic Public Inspection Desk Web site at http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx ).

In case you are not sure about a lot of language used in the Environmental Regulatory agencies, I hope to offer some clarity.

Brownfield's are abandoned or underused industrial sites that due to contamination, or perceived contamination. Often the facility or industry that did use that property were brought to Enforcement by an Environmental Regulatory Agency. There are two sides to every story, but the final outcome is that the U.S. citizens pick up the bulk of the cost when an Industry (Facility) decides or is forced to shut-down.

When a Facility is brought into regulatory trouble {they get pulled over by the pollution police} it is called a Consent to Administrative Order. Case by case violations are considered. Depending on the sophistication of the Industrial owners and staff depends on how punishment or remediation is ordered. Remediation being: an example; Joe Blow Chemical has been dumping their hazardous water out on the back 40 acres of their site. They have been at this practice for 12 years. They are finally reported in a way that gets results. An Inspector from the Govt Agency will go and assess. Soon, the plant is notified and asked to respond within 10 days. It goes from there. Joe Blow will probably have to shut down, unless he is willing to change his ways. His fine will probably be the top amount per violation. He will probably skip town and abandon his plant. It will now be a Brownfields area. Usually the local city, town or Parrish now works to bring another industry in that will promise to clean up and do the remediation. We all know that ain't going to happen without incentive. So, very much incentive, grants and help is available to a business who is willing to go in, clean up, change the operations and stay clean. Those grants and stuff are taxpayer dollars at work.

Now, MoaMoa Chemical is a worldwide conglomerate they have facilities all over the U.S. and globe. They became powerful in the 1940's. They spend a good deal of money to have experts in laws, regulations and how laws and regulations are made. They spend a good deal of money on political campaigns. They know their rights and they use them. They are allowed to appear before Congress and have input into rule and lawmaking. They have tons of money and time to make sure things go their way. They know that generally other citizens who are opposed to blatant pollution for the sake of profit, will not spend the time, take the effort and certainly not the money to get the interest of their Representatives or Senators in matters of the Environment. They are even protected through IRS rules that allows them to simply abandon or refuse to remediate the property they have destroyed. MM is quite sophisticated. They send in their reports in triplicate when only one is required. They will report upsets and spills. They "Self-Disclose". If they are Inspected by a Govt agency, they will have the inspector escorted, requiring the Inspector to return at a better time for the plant. They will not go out of business. They will pay a couple of thousand dollars and move on. This is then what we call a Superfund Project. This means, now the EPA is responsible to make sure this property is rehabilitated and in getting that done, not violating the Regs themselves.

Now. This is an opportunity for citizens worldwide to make Public Comment. We have 50 days from yesterday 12-31-2009, to get all or our comments in. Do you want to have a say in how brownfields are rehabilitated in your back yard? This is your chance. This is the link to the EPA Public Comment ; docket ID number: EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-00907 http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#searchResults?Ne=11+8+8053+8098+8074+8066+8084+1&N=4294967141+8102 THIS IS GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE ON HOLIDAY BREAK, IT HAS NOT BEEN POSTED YET, BUT JUST USE SFUN 2009, AND CHECK ONES THAT ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL CHECK 1/5/10, AND REPOST AN UPDATED LINK TO THE ACTUAL COMMENT YOU MAY WANT. **UPDATE: it is still not posted. I forwarded a note to www.regulations.gov as this has a 50 day comment period beginning December 31, 2009.

Americans making their government work for them are a powerful force. This is a time when everyday people can, do and will have a say.

Many thanks to Lisa Jackson - Chief Administrator of the EPA and all of the staff who are working so hard for the People. Blessings. Happy New Year.

1. U.S. EPA, May 26, 2009 - EPA's Science Plan for activities related to Dioxins in the Environment: Press Release http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=209690 There are two updates included with the original notice: [09/09], [12/09] and includes a link to yesterday's announcement 12/31/09.
2. U.S. EPA, April 13, 1998 Approach for Addressing Dioxin in soils at CERLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act) and RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) sites (PDF) OSWE Diective 9200.4-26
3. TEF (Toxic Equivalency Factor) - The most toxic of the dioxins is (2,3,7,8-TCDD) this is used as a base of comparison of the TEF of a chemical. This measurement is regulated under ...
4. 40 CFR 300 Section 430(e)(2)(i)(A)(2)
5. Cancer risks :read for the math used to determine the toxicity of a chemical and the human chance of getting cancers from exposure.
6. A hazard quotient = ratio of an exposure level for a single substance to a reference dose...
7. EPA's Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, ...EPA/540/R-92/003
8. Human Health Risks: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/pdf/hhmemo.pdf
9.IRIS will be the data base for the development of this action....

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