EPA Announces Funding to Help Urban Communities Protect Their Waters: Agency unveils a $600,000 competitive grant for urban watershed project under Urban Waters Initiative

WASHINGTON – As part of its developing Urban Waters Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available up to $600,000 in grants for an eligible entity to establish and manage a national competitive urban watershed small grants program, and to provide urban watershed technical services. The successful applicant would support capacity building projects in urban communities that will lead to environmental, public health, and related economic benefits.

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Interior Dept. aims to unify smelt, salmon protection in California

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Monday set up a new task force to wrangle California water decisions, with long-term hopes of consolidating protections for smelt and salmon.

The new task force eventually envisions one unified environmental management plan assisting the fish species dependent upon the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Guided by an Interior Department veteran with considerable California experience, the task force has shorter-term goals, as well.

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Federal task force named to study California water woes

The Obama Administration has set up a task force that it says will coordinate federal and state efforts to better manage water supplies in California.

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EPA Inspector General Concludes California’s Perchlorate Standard Too Low for Nation

The Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General released a scientific analysis of perchlorate on April 19.  The IG report criticized EPA for relying on an “outdated single chemical risk assessment approach.”  Perchlorate is only one of several chemicals that stress the thyroid’s ability to uptake iodide. 

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April 24 and 25: EPA Celebrates 40th Earth Day with Events on the National Mall

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold free events for the public on the National Mall this weekend to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day. The events will feature interactive, fun and educational exhibits related to environmental protection. Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will be at the EPA Earth Day tent on Saturday between 12 p.m.-.2 p.m. Senior EPA officials will also be in attendance.

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EPA Launches Acid Rain Discussions

Source: EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency launched an acid rain discussion forum this week, and the first discussion on April 8 is titled, “Whatever Happened to Acid Rain?”

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Hovnanian Settles Clean Water Act Violations in 18 States, including California

U.S. Department of Justice

WASHINGTON — Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a builder of residential homes nationwide, has agreed today to pay a $1 million civil penalty to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at 591 construction sites in 18 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department announced today.

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Settlement Information Sheet here… (50 sites are in California)

Dept. of Justice press release…

 

UC Santa Cruz: 6th place in EPA green competition

Throughout the 2009-10 academic year, EPA’s Green Power Partnership tracked and recognized collegiate athletic conferences with the highest combined green power purchases in the nation.

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IRVINE: The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that toxic runoff from the former El Toro Air base poses no threat to nearby residents, backing the city and water district’s contention that ongoing cleanup efforts are proceeding as planned.

IRVINE The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that toxic runoff from the former El Toro Air base poses no threat to nearby residents, backing the city and water district’s contention that ongoing cleanup efforts are proceeding as planned.

City officials hope the EPA’s determination will allay concern about the toxic plume, which resulted from more than 30 years use of a solvent with trichloroethylene, or TCE, which was later found to be a carcinogen. The removal of the TCE is among a handful of cleanup projects making way for the Great Park and adjacent development.

More…here.

FDA is reviewing the use of antibacterial products containing triclosan

The antibacterial chemical found in liquid hand soaps, deodorant bar soaps, toothpastes and more may harm humans and the wildlife. Industry groups say they have provided volumes of information on the benefits and safety of the products.

Read more from the L.A. Times.