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1. EPA RECOGNIZED SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIR COMPANIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATIONS, 2. EPA ISSUES FY 2002 ENFORCEMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT, 3. EPA ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR RESEARCH IN MARKET MECHANISMS AND INCENTIVES, 4. EPA ORDERS ‘STOP SALE’ OF UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE PRODUCT PURPORTING TO CONTROL TOXIC MOLD , 5. EPA TO SPONSOR RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS FROM NANOMATERIALSPress Advisory
more information on any of these subjects, call the appropriate contact. EPA RECOGNIZED SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIR COMPANIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATIONS Teresa Libera 202-564-7873 / libera.teresa@epa.gov EPA Chief of Staff Thomas J. Gibson recognized six shipbuilding and ship repair companies that successfully adopted an environmental management system (EMS) on July 9. The companies implemented EMSs as part of a pilot project launched under EPA’s Sector Strategies program, which is designed to improve environmental performance among industry sectors. Prior to the pilot, only two of approximately 400 U.S. shipyards had implemented an EMS. EPA also announced the release of the “Environmental Management Systems Implementation Guide for the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry.” Created in partnership with the American Shipbuilding Association and the Shipbuilders Council of America, the guide provides solid guidelines, lessons learned and examples for shipbuilding and repair companies interested in implementing an EMS. Participants in the EMS pilot are: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; Bender Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Co., Mobile, Ala.; Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn.; FirstWave Marine, Houston, Texas; Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, New Orleans, La.; Pascagoula, Miss.; and Southwest Marine, San Diego, Calif. For more information, call Shannon Kenny at 202-566-2964 or kenny.shannon@epa.gov. EPA ISSUES FY 2002 ENFORCEMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov The EPA released its Fiscal Year 2002 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Accomplishments Report entitled “Environmental Results Through Smart Enforcement.” The report highlights environmental improvements resulting from the Agency’s compliance assistance, monitoring, incentives, and enforcement activities. It demonstrates the Administration’s continued commitment to protecting human health and the environment by highlighting significant cases and activities undertaken by the Agency’s enforcement and compliance program. In addition, it provides an overview of the enforcement and compliance program and useful contact and Web site information. Copies of the report are available from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications online or call 1-800-490-9198. It is also available in pdf format at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/reports/accomplishments/oeca/fy02accomplishment.pdf . EPA ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR RESEARCH IN MARKET MECHANISMS AND INCENTIVES Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov EPA is accepting applications for research grants to improve the effectiveness of market mechanisms and economic incentives that complement or substitute for traditional environmental management programs. Market mechanism and incentive (MM&I) programs rely on economic incentives, market forces, or financial mechanisms to encourage industries to reduce emissions, discharges and waste generation, and to generally improve companies’ environmental performance. EPA estimates that MM&I programs could potentially save $40 billion annually in the United States. The most notable example of an MM&I program is the highly successful sulfur oxides (acid rain) emissions trading program. These research grants will be issued under EPA’s Science to Achieve Results program, which funds environmental research through a competitive application process and independent peer review. The deadline for submitting proposals for these research grants is Oct. 22, 2003. For more information go to: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/current/2003_market_mech.html EPA ORDERS ‘STOP SALE’ OF UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE PRODUCT PURPORTING TO CONTROL TOXIC MOLD John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov On July 9, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered ParPac Inc. of Swanzey, N.H. to stop selling its unregistered pesticide “Dry Pac Wall SystemTM,” which the company claims controls fungus and toxic molds such as Stachybotrys, also known as Black Mold. The stop sale order further requires Par Pac Inc. to remove all pesticide claims from their advertising and labeling and to notify EPA of the steps they have taken to do so within 30 days. EPA will be monitoring compliance with this stop sale order and will continue to monitor the Internet for illegal pesticide sales. “Dry Pac Wall SystemTM” is a cellulose insulation product used in building construction. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act products claiming to prevent, destroy, or repel pests, including molds and fungus, are considered pesticides and must be registered. During EPA’s comprehensive pre-market registration process, a company must first prove that the product is safe and effective for consumer use before a legal claim can be made that a product protects people from disease-causing microorganisms. The label of all EPA registered products must bear the EPA registration number, along with directions for use and any safety precautions. According to the Center for Disease Control Web site, Stachybotrys is a greenish black mold, that in the presence of moisture, can grow on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust and lint. The common health concerns from all molds include fever-like allergic symptoms. Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease may experience difficulty breathing, and individuals with immune suppression may be at increased risk for infection from molds. For more information go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm . EPA TO SPONSOR RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS FROM NANOMATERIALS Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov EPA is accepting applications for research to determine the potential health and environmental impacts of nanomaterials: unusually small man-made particles that are measured in billionths of a meter (nanometers). One nanometer spans three to five atoms lined up in a row. Nanotechnology is a promising new field that may lead to great advances in environmental protection, medicine, and manufacturing. For example, filter systems for drinking or waste water could be designed at the nanoparticle level to remove even the most minuscule of impurities. Nanomaterials are also being used in a wide range of products, such as sunscreens, composites, and chemical catalysts. Recognizing the potential for human and environmental exposure to nanomaterials, EPA seeks to collect information on the health effects of manufactured nanomaterials. This request for applications invites research proposals focusing on the potential toxicity of and exposure to manufactured nanomaterials. Approximately $4 million in research grants will be awarded through EPA’s Science to Achieve Results program, which funds environmental research through a competitive application process and independent peer review. The deadline for submitting proposals for these research grants is Dec. 11, 2003. For more information, go to: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/current/2003_nano.html . R183 ### Release date:07/10/2003 Receive our News Releases Automatically by Email
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