EPA Promotes Environmental Management Systems; Other Agency Developments

5/16/2002

From: Luke C. Hester of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 202-564-7818, hester.luke@epa.gov

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The following are recent developments at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

--- EPA PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Contact: Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818/[email protected]

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman today issued the Agency's Position Statement on Environmental Management Systems (EMS). The statement promotes broader use of the systems, which are effective management tools to help companies and other organizations fulfill their environmental responsibilities. The use of EMS complements needed regulatory controls and enables a facility to comprehensively manage the environmental footprint of its entire operation. This includes unregulated aspects such as energy, water use, climate change, odor, noise, dust, and habitat preservation. It encourages pollution prevention through source reduction and fosters continuous improvement of the facility's environmental performance. EMS are viewed as a valuable tool for accomplishing EPA's mission, because they apply a multi-media approach, help facilities assure compliance, and promote cost savings, operational efficiency and improved supplier performance. The position statement signed by the Administrator commits EPA to leading by example. The agency will implement EMS in its own facilities and operations, while encouraging widespread use of EMS across other institutions and organizations. The Agency is also working with state and local governments to promote EMS. In addition, the agency will support training and research on the costs and benefits of the systems.

--- TWO DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION STANDARDS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Contact: David Deegan 202-564-7839/[email protected]

The Environmental Data Standards Council (EDSC), an initiative to develop and exchange reliable environmental data among states, native American tribes and EPA, has developed draft standards on two issues that are being released for public review and comment. The draft standards involve Reporting Water Quality Results for Chemical and Microbiological Analyses and Exchange of Tribal Identification Information. These draft data standards, developed by representatives from EPA, states and tribal communities serving on the Council, are intended to improve the quality of environmental data exchanged among partners, as well as assisting secondary users of data to interpret and use data accurately. Following the public review and comment period, which ends on June 28, the Council representatives will review all comments and will recommend appropriate changes to the draft standards prior to adoption. Additional information on these proposals is available at: http://www.epa.gov/edsc/announcements.htm. Additional information on the EDSC is available at: http://www.epa.gov/edsc/index.htm .

--- COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE THE PROGRESS OF THE 2007 DIESEL RULE

Contact: Cathy Milbourn 202-564-7824/[email protected]

EPA has convened a panel to review the progress of industry in meeting the requirements of the 2007 clean diesel program. This program will help achieve public health benefits through the introduction of diesel trucks and buses that cause less pollution. To ensure that industry is making progress toward the program's implementation, a panel will operate under the auspices of the Federal Advisory Committee Act as a Subcommittee of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. This panel, called the Clean Diesel Independent Review Panel, will provide independent advice to the EPA on industries' progress in developing and demonstrating technologies that will be used to reduce engine exhaust emissions and to lower the sulfur level of highway diesel fuel. EPA and the Department of Energy will serve as technical consultants to the panel. All panel meetings will be open to the public. The first meeting of the Clean Diesel Independent Review Panel is scheduled for May 23, 2002. The meeting will be held at The Old Town Holiday Inn Select, 480 King St., Alexandria, Va. An agenda for the May 23 meeting and information about future meetings will be posted soon at http://www.epa.gov/air/caaac/clean_diesel.html. The review panel is composed of leading experts from the public health community, petroleum refiners, fuel distributors and marketers, engine manufacturers, emission control systems manufacturers and state governments. The panel will hold meetings, analyze issues, conduct reviews, make necessary findings and undertake other activities necessary to meet its responsibilities. The panel has been requested to produce a final report by the panel charter's expiration date of Sept. 30, 2002.

--- INNOVATIVE RESEARCH TOOL DEMONSTRATES VALUE OF WATERSHED CONSERVATION David Deegan 202-564-7839/[email protected]

EPA recently released a study that demonstrates the benefits of watershed-wide conservation practices. The study, titled "A Landscape Assessment of the Catskill/Delaware Watersheds (1975-1998): New York City's Water Supply Watersheds," represents the conclusion of three years of research that used an innovative approach of combining elevation data and satellite images to assess the lands of the Catskill/Delaware watersheds. Using these techniques allowed 23-years of changes in the relationships between landscape and water quality to be analyzed, enabling evaluation of the effectiveness of a land management approach to water quality protection. The study provides information that can aid regional and local land managers, policy makers and the general public in making informed decisions on environmental and water resource issues. The data analyses will also help guide future use of land cover and use practices to maintain water quality. EPA expects that this innovative use of historical data and satellite imagery will become a valuable tool to assess the condition of other watersheds. For additional technical information or for a copy of the report, contact Megan Mehaffey at: mehaffey.megan@epa.gov.

--- EPA SPONSORS SIXTH NATIONAL TRIBAL CONFERENCE Robin Woods 202-564-7841/[email protected]

EPA is sponsoring the sixth National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management, June 4-7, at the John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel in Sparks, Nev., located 35 miles northeast of Reno. This year's tribal co-host is the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The conference provides an opportunity for tribal leaders and tribal organizations, federal agencies and other people interested in tribal environmental issues to discuss issues of vital interest in Indian Country. Sustainability and intergovernmental coordination are focus areas for the conference. Topics will include building tribal environmental programs, water quality, mining, clean air, environmental justice, youth (education), waste issues, energy, coordination among tribal-related entities, financing environmental projects and science (monitoring, modeling, research and analysis). The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe will offer off-site tours and workshops as part of the conference, including trips to their tribal fisheries and sites around Lake Tahoe, in coordination with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. The goal of the conference is to provide information, education and networking resources. The conference registration deadline is May 22. There is a $100 per person registration fee. To register, call Lela Leyva, Conference Coordinator for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, at 775-574-1000, or by e-mail at: llwyva@powernet.net.

--- FORENSICS LABORATORY IN DENVER WINS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AWARD Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818/[email protected]

EPA's National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) has received the Excellence in Government Award for Quality Improvement for 2002 for federal agencies in the state of Colorado. The overall excellence of the center was hailed, especially its measurement, sampling and analytical work, investigations and expert witness testimony. The selection also was based on the center's quality improvement program conducted over three years, resulting in accreditation from the National Forensics Science and Technology Center. The NEIC The award, bestowed by the Denver Federal Executive Board, is earned through a competitive nomination and panel review process which is open to all federal agencies in the state of Colorado. The NEIC, a division of the Agency's Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training, is located in Lakewood, Colo. It provides technical and forensic laboratory support to EPA's criminal and civil enforcement and compliance assurance programs.

--- EPA SELECTS WETLANDS PHOTO WINNERS Robin Woods 202-564-7841/[email protected]

Elinor Osborn of Penfield, N.Y., is the grand prize winner in EPA's first photography contest that showcased wetlands. Her stunning photo of a black tern feeding its chick was displayed during the 2002 National Wetland Awards Ceremony at the U. S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., on May 16 (see photos at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/photocontest.html) . More than 300 contestants submitted photos depicting the different functions of wetlands, such as providing flood water storage and pollutant removal. Osborn's photo was taken at an "Audubon Important Bird Area" and illustrated how wetlands provide valuable habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for people. Finalists in the contest were: Michael Corey, Minerva, N.Y.; Anneke Davis, Baltimore, Md.; Dennis Demcheck, Baton Rouge, La.; Florida Power and Light, Juno Beach, Fla.; Jim Newton, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Jay O'Brien, Philadelphia, Pa.; Margaret Saint Clair, Redmond, Wash.; and Ralph Tramontano, Jamestown, N.D. Their photos will be used to illustrate the functions and values of wetlands in an EPA poster. Those receiving honorable mention were: Mark Bright, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Dennis Daughiny, Orlando, Fla.; Matt Gianetta, Carmel, N.Y.; Barbara Jansen, Madison, Wis.; Shawn Kelly, Oxnard, Calif.; Barbara Keywood, Laurel, Md.; Greg Kidd, Madison, Wis.; Tim Krohn, Cloquet, Minn.; Melinda Knutson, LaCrosse, Wis.; Laurie Machung, Valhalla, N.Y.; James McIntyre, Salt Lake City, Utah; Don Paulson, Seabeck, Wash.; Robert Perron, Brandford, Conn.; Arthur Popp, Scranton, Pa.; John Synder, Refugio, Tex.; Cheryl Wapnick, Dauphin Island, Ala.; and Shawn Weick, Onalaska, Wis. The grand prize winner, finalists and honorable mentions each received certificates of appreciation. Additional information on wetlands is available at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/ .