NEWS

Cleveland Economic Redevelopment Continuing

With Wacker Polysilicon North America breaking ground, the new Whirlpool plant near completion and Amazon up and running in time for the holiday rush, the proposed industrial park in southern Bradley County remains on the Cleveland area’s industrial development plate in 2012.

Settlement Requires Eaton Corp to Address TCE Contamination

EPA Region 7 and the Eaton Corporation have reached a settlement through which the company has agreed to conduct certain activities to address trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in groundwater at its Vehicle Group Plant and surrounding areas in Kearney, Nebraska.

Eaton Corporation has owned the 57-acre site at 4200 Highway 30 East, in Kearney, since 1969. TCE was used as a degreasing agent in the manufacture of automotive and heavy-duty engine valves and gears at the site.

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6427a6b7538955c585257359003f0230/
4473bf41be9beb0f8525798300693c8b!OpenDocument

Leaked document reveals Rio+20 sustainable development goals

Countries will be asked this summer to sign up for 10 new sustainable development goals for the planet and promise to build green economies at the first earth summit in 20 years.

http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/leaked-document-reveals-rio20-sustainable-development-goals-275215

Pending High Court Rulings Seen Dramatically Curtailing EPA Enforcement

For all the congressional Republican efforts to stymie EPA regulation, two pending Supreme Court decisions in 2012 could have a far more dramatic effect curtailing agency enforcement of environmental laws than any GOP efforts, especially given increasing limits on federal and state budgets.

http://insideepa.com

Developers of old buildings quickly snag tax credits

In just two meetings, state leaders have given a green light to 24 awards totaling $5 million in grayfield and brownfield tax credits. The tax credits are expected to help leverage nearly $158 million in investment.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011312250023

The outlook for renewable energy

In December 2011 Bloomberg New Energy Finance reported that the one trillionth dollar of investment in clean energy had been spent since it began keeping records on such spending in 2004.

This milestone was significant noted Bloomberg, because it happened just as negotiators and world leaders were gathering in Durban for the latest round of international climate negotiations.

http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/the-outlook-for-renewable-energy-274434

Voters Place High Value on Homeownership

By an overwhelming margin, American voters strongly value homeownership and would oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction or diminish a federal role to help qualified home buyers obtain affordable 30-year mortgages, according to a new nationwide survey gauging likely voters’ attitudes towards homeownership and housing policy issues.

Conducted on Jan. 2-5 on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders by the Republican and Democratic polling firms of Public Opinion Strategies in Alexandria, Va., and Lake Research Partners in Washington, D.C., the comprehensive survey of 1,500 likely voters includes data from key political “swing areas,” including National Journal political analyst Charlie Cook’s swing House and Senate seats and Stuart Rothenberg’s presidential swing states. The survey, which has a margin of error of ±2.5 percent, is a follow-up to a similar national poll conducted last May.

http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=148&newsID=14563

Some States More Aggressive in Pursuit of Unclaimed Property Liability Claims

According to a report released today by The Conference Board Governance Center, a group of key U.S. business leaders report that their enterprises are coming under increased pressure from some states for collection of unclaimed property liabilities.

The report captures the insights of a recent survey of The Conference Board Council members and other business executives, which indicates that companies are seeing a significant shift to more assertive patterns of enforcement in the area of unclaimed property, as states struggle to fill budget gaps and increase compliance.

http://www.conference-board.org/press/pressdetail.cfm?pressid=4378

Why You Don’t Have To Worry About Your Site Being Re-contaminated and You Can Clean-up Now

Many dry cleaners have expressed their desire to evaluate the soil and groundwater beneath their businesses for the presence of dry cleaning chemicals, but they are concerned that if they go through a cleanup, the property could be re-contaminated down the road.

Relax, the manner in which dry cleaning is conducted today is far more protective of the environment than it was even 30 years ago. For one, the machines designed and manufactured today are much safer than those of the past. Secondly, the safeguards employed today, including the installation of spill containment pans beneath machines and automatic shut-offs are protective of the environment. Finally, good housekeeping practices and the proper storage and disposal of spent solvent and filters today will greatly minimize the potential for spills and releases to enter the environment.

http://enviroforensics.com/why-you-don%E2%80%99t-have-to-worry-about-your-site-being-re-contaminated-and-you-can-clean-up-now/#more-1607

EPA Corrects Cleanup Standard for Industrial Solvent

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency admitted that it had published the incorrect cleanup standard for a toxic chemical, after being alerted to the error by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Although EPA is notifying state agencies today about the mix-up which dramatically relaxed the cleanup standard for 1,4-dioxane, it will not publish a corrected number until March.

Last year, when issuing its 2011 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories, EPA published a lifetime exposure level for 1,4-dioxane as its cleanup standard. This lifetime exposure level is more than 50 times larger than the carcinogenic number that was supposed to be published as the appropriate cleanup standard. The agency did not notice the error until PEER submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in late October to find out the basis for the discrepancy.

http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1543&title=%20EPA%20CORRECTS%20CLEANUP%20STANDARD%20FOR%20INDUSTRIAL%20SOLVENT

Join the NBA in 2012

Individuals can join the National Brownfield Association in 2012 for as little as $350 per year.

Organizations and businesses can reach thousands each month as members or advertisers and sponsors. Get the application online, email membership, or call 224-567-6790.