Illinois Receives Grants To Investigate and Cleanup Brownfields

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $3.1 million in grants to redevelop contaminated properties, create jobs and protect public health in Illinois. These “brownfield grants” are used to assess and clean up abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

The Illinois brownfield grants were distributed as follows:

• Antioch, Site Assessment, Hazardous Substances, $200,000
• Midlothian, Site Assessment, $400,000
• Ottawa, Site Assessment, $400,000
• Rockford, Cleanup, Depot site, $200,000
• Rockford, Cleanup, Lorden/Eclipse site, $200,000
• Rockford, Cleanup, Former Tapco site, $200,000
• Stephenson County, Cleanup, Former Mortuary site, $200,000
• Illinois EPA, Revolving Loan Fund, $800,000
• South Suburban Mayors and Managers’ Association, Revolving Loan Fund, $500,000

The Illinois grants are part of the EPA’s $69.3 million 2012 nationwide brownfields grants to clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies, create jobs and protect public health.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Proposed Review of Glymes Under TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to require companies report new uses of chemicals known as glymes in consumer products. EPA’s proposed action is based in part on the agency’s concerns that additional uses of these 14 chemicals in consumer products could lead to harmful reproductive and developmental health effects. Glymes are chemicals used in a wide array of applications including printing ink, paints and coatings, adhesives, household batteries and motor vehicle brake systems.

The proposed regulatory procedure is known as a significant new use rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The SNUR is intended to ensure that, prior to the manufacture, import, or processing of these chemicals for a significant new use, EPA will have 90 days to evaluate potential risks, and prohibit or limit the activity if warranted.

Comments on the proposed SNUR must be received on or before September 9, 2011.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Federal Trade Commission Green Guides Revision

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed revisions to the guidance for marketers to help them avoid making misleading environmental claims. The proposed changes are designed to update the Guides and make them easier for companies to understand and use. The changes to the “Green Guides” include new guidance on marketers’ use of product certifications and seals of approval, “renewable energy” claims, “renewable materials” claims, and “carbon offset” claims. FTC will accept public comments on the proposed changes until December 10, 2010.

The Green Guides were first issued in 1992 and then revised in 1996 and 1998. The guidance they provide includes: 1) general principles that apply to all environmental marketing claims; 2) how consumers are likely to interpret particular claims and how marketers can substantiate these claims; and 3) how marketers can qualify their claims to avoid deceiving consumers.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Draft EPA Pollution Prevention Plan - P2 Plan

The US EPA Pollution Prevention (P2) Program is requesting comments on its draft strategic plan, "Promoting Pollution Prevention to Achieve Sustainability: A Strategic Plan for the US Environmental Protection Agency's Pollution Prevention Program , 2009-2014,"

This draft plan identifies a number of areas where EPA believes that enhanced collaboration and coordination among federal, state, tribal, and local partners would be beneficial. Examples include:

• Increasing policy and programmatic dialogue on sustainability, climate change, and other issues;


• Continuing to work together to address regulatory barriers to P2; and


• Developing unified national approaches to promote further environmental progress in specific sectors.

EPA is accepting written comments on this Draft Strategic Plan to through Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website