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EPA Press Advisory: (1) Aquatic Ecosystems Research Applications Requested, (2) EPA’s Campaign for National Poison Prevention Week Advises Parents to "Lock it Up" (3) California Auto Dealer Charged with Violating Clean Air Act (4) Three Idaho Men Indicted in Oil-Based Paint Hazardous Waste Disposal Case(1) Aquatic Ecosystems Research Applications Requested To protect the environment from both man-made and natural disturbances, EPA is seeking applications for research on the response of ecosystems to major stressors. An example of a human stressor is the discharge of pollutants into water; a natural event could be a severe storm and subsequent flooding. There are two objectives of this research. The first goal is to improve understanding of the resilience of ecosystems, meaning the amount of disturbance that an ecosystem can withstand and how long it takes an ecosystem to recover. The second goal is to use practical insights from analysis of past thresholds (conditions beyond which there was an abrupt change in the ecosystem) to develop adaptive management practices for similar ecosystems to prevent problems before they occur. This work will help anticipate and assess future environmental stressors before their effects can adversely impact people or the environment. Applications may be submitted electronically through the new Federal Funding Opportunities (FedGrants) system (http://www.fedgrants.gov). EPA will use this web site to provide the public with an efficient and simple electronic means to find and apply for grants. EPA anticipates making 10 awards, each in the range of $150,000 per year for three years through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program. Applications must be received by June 22. To learn more about this request for applications, visit: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2004/2004_aqua_sys.html or go to: http://www.fedgrants.gov. For more information about the STAR grants program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ncer. (2) EPA’s Campaign for National Poison Prevention Week Advises Parents to “Lock it Up” Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819/ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov National Poison Prevention Week will be observed from March 21-27 to increase awareness of the danger to children of accidental poisoning from pesticides and household products. This year, EPA’s childhood poison prevention campaign message is “Lock it Up,” to encourage parents and care givers to keep potentially harmful chemical products in a high cabinet out of the reach of children. U.S. poison control centers receive a call every 15 seconds about an accidental poisoning, with 40 percent of the calls involving a child under three years of age. The National Safety Council records show that over 50 percent of two million poisoning incidents each year involve children under six years of age. In most cases, children have swallowed common household substances such as prescription drugs, non-prescription pain killers, vitamins, cosmetics and personal care and cleaning products. These poisonings also involve house plants, tobacco products and alcohol. National Poison Prevention Week was first authorized by Congress in 1961 with the theme, "Children Act Fast...So Do Poisons!" Many poisonings happen when adults are distracted for just a few moments by the telephone or doorbell, which is why locking chemical products up is so important. Twenty-three thousand posters have been distributed to poison centers, clinics, hospitals and health departments by EPA. Local area Washington, D.C. commuters will also see the poster inside the local Metro trains this week. Parents and community organizations can obtain free poison prevention materials, including the “Lock It-Up” poster, “Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings,” and “Poison Prevention: Read the Label First Community Action Kit” by calling EPA’s Environmental Publications line at 1-800-490-9198. Additional information on Poison Prevention Week is available at: http://www.poisonprevention.org . Weekly Enforcement Wrap-Up (3) California Auto Dealer Charged with Violating Clean Air Act Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819/ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov Claus Graeter of Somis, Calif., operator of GC Motor Corporation in Oxnard, Calif., was arrested on March 5 on charges that he allegedly conspired to defraud the United States by smuggling and using false statements to import goods into the country, and by making false statements under the Clean Air Act. Graeter’s company imported Mercedes Benz Smart Cars and Gelandewagens, BMW Z28s, Range Rovers and other foreign cars. The charges against Graeter allege that these vehicles did not meet American emissions or safety standards, and that the defendant falsely told officials of the EPA, the Customs Service and the National Traffic Safety Administration that the vehicles were for personal temporary use, that they would not be resold and were worth far less than their actual value. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Area Office of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Inspector General’s Office of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. (4) Three Idaho Men Indicted in Oil-Based Paint Hazardous Waste Disposal Case Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819/ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov Dennis D. Ellis of Boise, Idaho, Robert Mominee, currently of Salem, Ore., and Paul Woods of Wilder, Idaho, were indicted on March 10 on charges that they allegedly conspired to violate the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Hazardous Materials Transportation and Uniform Safety Act by transporting waste without a permit, transporting it to an unpermitted facility and illegally disposing of the waste. Mominee is also charged with making a false statement to EPA agents. In Jan. 2000, Ellis sold the Ponderosa Paint Company in Boise, Idaho to Kelly Moore Paints for $14 million on the condition that Ellis would dispose of 20,000 gallons of waste oil-based paint remaining at the facility. Instead of paying a licensed hazardous waste disposal company, Ellis allegedly hired Woods and Mominee to illegally dispose of the wastes. Liquid, oil-based paints are flammable and must be disposed of by companies licensed to handle hazardous wastes. If placed into the trash or a landfill, chemicals from the paints may seep into the groundwater and be consumed by animals or people. The indictment alleges that Woods and Mominee took between 3,000 and 4,700 gallons of the paint waste to their Idaho homes in Apr. 2000, and that Woods allegedly burned waste in an open pit behind his house. After EPA agents searched Wood’s property in June 2000, Mominee allegedly transferred the paint back to the Ponderosa facility. Mominee then allegedly lied to EPA agents, saying the paint was water-based and had been removed from his property by an unknown painting contractor. The case was investigated by the Portland Area Office of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI with the assistance of the Idaho State Police, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the EPA Idaho Operations Office, and EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boise. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty in a court of law. R050 ### Release date:03/18/2004 Receive our News Releases Automatically by Email
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