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1. BOOST FOR "E-CYCLING" AT COLLECTION EVENTS HELD NATIONWIDE DURING EARTH WEEK; 2. EPA LEADS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; 3. PILOT PROGRAM EXAMINES MODIFICATIONS FOR PESTICIDE EMERGENCY EXEMPTIONS; 4. FORMER WATER SUPERINTENDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSE STATEMENTS AND ILLEGAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGE; 5. TAIWANESE COMPANY AND SHIP ENGINEER PLEAD GUILTY IN OCEAN DUMPING CASE; 6. TRANSPORT COMPANY SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER DUMPING IN LOUISIANAPress Advisory Following are some Agency developments which may interest you. If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the appropriate contact. BOOST FOR “E-CYCLING” AT COLLECTION EVENTS HELD NATIONWIDE DURING EARTH WEEK Dave Ryan 202 564-7827/ryan.dave@epa.gov EPA’s “Plug-In To eCycling” program, launched in January 2003, is a key component of EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge, which asks Americans to increase the national recycling rate to 35 percent and reduce the generation of priority chemicals by 50 percent, both by 2005. During Earth Week and in the following days of April 25-27, many Plug-In To eCycling partners and local governments are providing numerous opportunities for the public to recycle their used electronics by holding collection events nationwide. Examples of participating companies and their events include: Best Buy, together with their partners HP and Starbucks, are inviting New Yorkers to recycle their used computer hardware and other consumer electronics; Panasonic will advertise Best Buy’s events with hourly public service announcements played on the NBC Astrovision on the Panasonic screen in Times Square. AT&T Wireless will donate refurbished phones to groups that respond to emergency situations like the American Red Cross and proceeds from recycled phones will go to Keep America Beautiful. Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, and JVC will join recycler Nxtcycle in Palm Springs, Calif., and also with recycler, Envirocycle in Dauphin County, Penn., and Hancock County, W.Va. For more information on these events and locations see: www.plugintorecycling.org. EPA LEADS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819/ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov EPA, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) have announced a partnership to promote sustainable environmental development in developing countries through the enhanced use of scientific knowledge in policy decisions. Sustainable development protects the environment for both present and future generations, and ensures that a healthy environment is available equally to all members of a society. This partnership is a direct outcome of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Other partners include: the Third World Academy of Sciences, InterAcademy Panel, National Council for Science and the Environment; and the H. John Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment. A series of workshops will be held in developing countries with participation from industry, government, environmental organizations, and leading scientific researchers. Individual proposals for the workshops are being solicited directly from science institutions in potential host countries. Possible topics include water and sanitation, persistent organic pollutants, air and climate, marine pollution, and biodiversity. Cross-cutting themes include information systems, monitoring and data processing, the role of scientists and engineers in policy-making, and technical and economic strategies for relevant policy. The first workshop is expected to be in late summer or fall of 2003. PILOT PROGRAM EXAMINES MODIFICATIONS FOR PESTICIDE EMERGENCY EXEMPTIONS David Deegan 202-564-7839/deegan.dave@epa.gov EPA is beginning a pilot process to determine a more efficient and targeted review of a limited number of pesticide emergency exemption applications that meet certain criteria, starting with the 2003 growing season. The Agency will be seeking public comment on this pilot program, which is expected to be announced formally with the publication of a notice in the Federal Register on April 24. Pesticide emergency exemptions are allowed under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under this provision, EPA may authorize a state or federal agency to allow an otherwise unregistered pesticide use to occur on an emergency basis to control unforseen pest situations for a limited time (usually no longer than one year at a time). The Agency will assess a request for emergency exemption of a particular use of a pesticide to ensure that an emergency exists and that the product can be used safely and will not result in unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. The pilot, developed by EPA with significant input from government agencies and other stakeholders since 1996, involves two modifications to the emergency exemption application and review process for limited requests that meet certain conditions. The pilot will allow states and federal agencies to re-certify that the emergency pest problem, which initially qualified for a previously-granted exemption, continues to exist in the second and third years without annually submitting detailed information typically required to document the emergency. Additionally, the pilot will allow applicants for emergency exemptions to present economic data needed to support requests through a revised, tiered approach (which will often require less data) to document a “significant economic loss,” as a result of the pest problem. Only pesticides that EPA has previously determined to be “reduced-risk” are eligible for consideration in the pilot program. While not being implemented in the current pilot program, EPA is also seeking public comment on the potential role of the emergency exemption process in supporting pest resistance management efforts. The pilot is a step to possibly modifying the regulations governing the emergency exemption program, which EPA plans to pursue through a formal government rulemaking process. For more information, see: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/April/Day-24/p10169.htm. ENFORCEMENT WRAP-UP John Millett 202-564-7842/millett.john@epa.gov FORMER WATER SUPERINTENDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSE STATEMENTS On April 15, 2003 in the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, Fred Kirker, pled guilty to falsely reporting to the Ohio EPA the quality of wastewater and drinking water from the treatment plants in Mt. Orab, Ohio and also to discharging wastewater with illegal levels of fecal coliform into Snapping Turtle Run. Kirker was responsible for analyzing samples at the plants and submitting monthly reports to Ohio EPA. Laboratory records revealed that he covered up permit violations for fecal coliform, either by changing actual sample results or making up numbers for fictitious samples. After Kirker’s conduct was discovered, Mt. Orab closed its drinking water plant and bought water for its users. He faces up to eight years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for false statements and up to as much as $50,000 per day for illegal discharges. The case was investigated by the Cleveland Area Office of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cincinnati.AND ILLEGAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGE TAIWANESE COMPANY AND SHIP ENGINEER PLEAD GUILTY IN OCEAN DUMPING CASE On April 16 in the U.S. District Court in Seattle, Ta Tong Marine Co., Ltd., of Taiwan, pled guilty to falsifying records to conceal the intentional dumping of oil into the Pacific Ocean. On March 10, Wang Ki, Chief Engineer of the marine vessel Grand Glory, owned by Ta Tong Marine, also pled guilty to a false statement charge related to the same dumping activity. Dumping oily wastes at sea can damage fish and other marine life. The plea agreement calls for Ta Tong Marine to pay a $750,000 fine, serve four years of probation and develop an environmental compliance program. Wang Ki faces a maximum potential sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, when sentenced. The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Portland Area Office of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the Washington State Department of Ecology. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle. TRANSPORT COMPANY SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER DUMPING IN LOUISIANA For violating the Clean Water Act by dumping wastes into the Mississippi River, Sabine Transportation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced to pay a $200,000 fine and serve 36 months probation by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Sabine must also develop an environmental compliance program. Between March 13 and 19, 1998, Sabine allowed approximately two tons of rust scale, bunker fuel residue and other cargo hold-related debris to be dumped from the S.S. Trinity into the Mississippi River at Violet, La. Sabine did not have a permit to discharge wastes into the river. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Coast Guard. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Louisiana. R116 # # # Release date:04/24/2003 Receive our News Releases Automatically by Email
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