Page Title
The Newsletter of the California Environmental Protection Agency
In This Issue
- ARB Cleans Up Transit Buses
- MTBE Hot Spots on the Web
- From My Corner - Winston H. Hickox
- New Cal/EPA Appointments
- New Leadership at the Waste Board
- Innovative Pest Management Grants
- Navy Agrees to Base Cleanup Pact
- Wildlife Toxicity Database Online
- More ARB News...
ARB Cleans Up Transit Buses
The Air Resources Board (ARB) has adopted new rules to cut emissions from urban transit buses and improve California’s air quality.
The regulations – which phase in beginning in 2002 – allow transit agencies the flexibility of choosing between either a diesel or alternative fuel path to lower emissions. Agencies may use buses powered by low-emission alternative fuels such as compressed or liquefied natural gas, propane, methanol, electricity, fuel cells or other advanced technology.
All agencies using diesel buses must power them with low sulfur diesel fuel by 2002. Owners of older diesel-powered buses are required to refit them with devices that cut particulate emissions beginning in 2003.
Continued use of diesel includes a requirement to cut nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions from new diesel buses by 75 percent in 2004. An even tighter nitrogen oxide emission standard that will cut emissions from both diesel and alternative fuel vehicles will take effect in 2007.
Finally, the rule requires transit agencies with more than 200 diesel-powered buses to begin demonstrating fleets of zero emission buses (ZEBs) by 2003. For those agencies, ZEBs must make up 15 percent of their new bus purchases or leases from 2008 through 2015. Fleets made up largely of alternative fuel-powered buses must make 15 percent ZEB purchases from 2010 through 2015.
ARB staff calculates that the new bus rules, combined with normal fleet turnover, will bring statewide reductions of seven tons per day of nitrogen oxide and 12 tons per year of particulate emissions by 2010.
MTBE Hot Spotson the Web
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has launched a new Web site that shows where the gasoline additive MTBE may be contaminating groundwater and drinking water supplies due to leaks from underground gasoline storage tanks and fuel pipelines.
The Web site, called GeoTracker, was authorized by the state Legislature to provide information to the public about how methyl-tertiary butyl ether, commonly referred to as MTBE, may be impacting groundwater in California.
The primary users of GeoTracker are regulators, who use it to analyze information from various government agencies to assess potential MTBE contamination sites and their proximity to water supplies. Other users include owners of contaminated sites, other responsible parties, and their consultants; oil companies; water suppliers; educators; and the general public.
GeoTracker was developed under contract with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The site is already proving to be a valuable information resource, from water experts using it for research to educators using it to teach students about the impact of pollution on local drinking water supplies.
SWRCB plans to expand the capabilities of GeoTracker by illustrating how other sites, such as landfills and operating gas stations, may be impacting California water resources. The GeoTracker Internet site is located at http://geotracker2.arsenaultlegg.com/ .
From My Corner
Winston H. Hickox
Former
Agency Secretary
Cal/EPA is embarking on an exciting approach to protecting the environment – called the Environmental Management and Sustainability Program – that focuses on sustainability and innovation in government environmental programs.
Why should we consider a "next generation environmental policy"? California is predicted to increase in population from its current 34 million to 59 million by 2040. Meeting even the most basic needs of a stabilized population twice as large as today’s implies increased demand for land, water and energy, and intensified pressures on the environment and our natural resources.
The central question is whether the transition to a stabilizing population can also be a transition to sustainability, in which the people living on Earth over the next half-century meet their needs while nurturing and restoring the planet’s life support system. The experience of the past half-century suggests, to many, that the answer to this question is "no." I believe, however, that there is reason for optimism.
Over the past 30 years, the first generation of environmental protection laws and regulations have led to dramatic improvements in air and water quality and in waste disposal. Laws and regulations establishing standards for the responsible use, control and discharge or disposal of various hazardous materials, pesticides and solid wastes have grown in both number and complexity. The logistical, technical and legal difficulties in monitoring and enforcing these rules have also increased. The result has been much progress. But it has also resulted in a growing volume of prescriptive regulations that are, at times, conflicting or duplicative and that have, by necessity, focused both the regulated community and regulatory agencies almost exclusively on keeping pace with updated regulations and on achieving compliance.
Many in the business community have changed from almost uniform unawarness of, or disregard for, the environment, to a much wider range of demonstrated environmental responsibility. At one extreme are those companies that continue to violate environmental regulations, for which strong and certain enforcement appears to be the main factor influencing environmental behavior. At the other end of the spectrum, leading edge companies have moved beyond compliance to embrace the concepts of sustainability and environmental stewardship.
"Cal/EPA is embarking on an exciting approach to protecting the environment called the Environmental Management and Sustainability Program."
How do we as a society raise the environmental performance and resource efficiency of the economy, and what is the role for government in this effort? Is it activism and the threat of community sanction as expressed by government, or is it the marketplace and a realization that sustainability is the only option? Or is the answer some combination of all of these factors?
The development of "environmental management systems" (EMSs) across the nation, and their systematic evaluation, is an outstanding example of responsible public policy formulation. In California, we view this journey to sustainability as one of many steps. Most of these are learning steps. The foundation of our efforts are the pilot projects being conducted around the state. With these projects we intend to inform ourselves and the public as to how EMSs are implemented and what they produce.
Our ultimate goal is to engage a significant representation of Californians in a dialogue leading to a plan for a sustainable California. In future issues, I will describe in greater detail Cal/EPA’s active participation in the growing dialogue about sustainable development in California.
New Cal/EPA Appointments
Governor Gray Davis recently made these Cal/EPA appointments:
Deborah L. Barnes was appointed deputy secretary for law enforcement and counsel at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to her appointment, Barnes was a deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice representing state departments in environmental and natural resources issues. She was also an assistant federal defender and an associate attorney with the Sacramento law firm of Weintraub, Genshlea, Hardy, Erick & Brown. Barnes is a graduate of UC Berkeley and the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law.
Peter S. Silva was appointed a member of the State
Water Resources Control Board, filling the board position reserved for a
water quality member. Prior to his appointment, Silva was deputy general
manager of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission in Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico. He also served as deputy director of the City of San Diego’s
Water Department and assistant deputy director of the San Diego Clean
Water Program. A graduate of California Polytechnic University, Pomona,
Silva is a licensed civil engineer.
William A. Burke was appointed a member of the Air
Resources Board. Burke is currently the chairman of the South Coast Air
Quality Management District’s governing board. He previously served as
president of both the state Fish and Game Commission and the Wildlife
Conservation Board. Burke is also the founder and former president of the
American Health Care Delivery Corporation. He holds a B.S. degree from the
University of Miami and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts.
New Leadership at the Waste Board
The Integrated Waste Management Board is now up to full strength, with two new board members and a new chair, Linda Moulton-Patterson.
Moulton-Patterson was appointed by Governor Gray Davis last year as a public member of the board. The governor recently made these changes to the board: reappointed Steven R. Jones as the representative of the solid waste industry, appointed Jose Medina as a public member, and appointed Michael Paparian as the environmental member.
Steven R. Jones has more than 25 years experience in the solid waste industry, working for nearly 20 years at Norcal Waste Systems and serving as the company’s vice president of operations. He was also chief executive officer for Cal Sierra Disposal. Jones was first appointed to the Waste Board in 1997.
Jose Medina is the former director of the California Department of Transportation. He previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he chaired the Housing and Community Development Committee. He also served as a member of the San Francisco Public Transportation Authority.
Michael Paparian has more than 20 years experience in environmental policy with the Sierra Club. Prior to his appointment, he was senior regional representative for the Sierra Club in Sacramento. He has also served as the organization’s state director, legislative director, energy coordinator, and air quality representative.
Department of Pesticide Regulation
Innovative Pest Management Grants
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is launching a new round of grants in July to support projects that reduce pesticide risks to people and the environment. Since 1995, DPR has awarded almost $5 million in grants to promote reduced-risk pest management practices.
DPR’s grant priorities this year include projects that provide alternatives to highly toxic pesticides, including organophosphates and carbamates; reduce worker exposure to pesticides; protect surface and ground water quality; explore alternatives to methyl bromide and other fumigants; and promote integrated pest management (IPM) in public schools and other public buildings.
Grant applicants have several options:
Pest Management Grants help non-profit organizations, private groups, university researchers, government entities, and others address local or regional pest management challenges. The grants fall into two categories:
(1) Demonstration projects of reduced-risk practices on private or public property such as farms, nurseries, schools, and parks. Applicants can receive up to $50,000 per year. Matching funds or in-kind services are preferred. Funding is available for approximately 10 projects.
(2) Applied research projects that will generate the data needed to develop future demonstration projects. Applicants can receive up to $30,000 per year. Funding is available for approximately seven to eight projects.
All Pest Management Grant applications are due by October 6, 2000.
Pest Management Alliances are public-private partnerships that address major pest management issues on a regional or statewide scale. Alliance applicants must develop a proposal to demonstrate and promote adoption of reduced-risk alternatives. To qualify for full Alliance grants, applicants must first submit evaluations that describe their existing pest management system, including pesticide risk-reducing practices. Applicants may seek up to $10,000 to prepare an evaluation, working jointly with DPR staff. Funding is available for approximately 10 evaluation projects. DPR then reviews the evaluations to make final Alliance grant awards of up to $100,000 per year. Applicants must match their DPR funds dollar-for-dollar. Funding is available for approximately eight to 10 projects. Alliance evaluation applications are due by September 14; grant applications by November 1.
More detailed information on each grant option is included in the individual request for proposals (RFP). Instructions for downloading complete RFP bid packages can be found at http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm. Interested parties may also obtain an RFP from Bob Elliott at (916) 324-4100, belliott@cdpr.ca.gov, or fax (916) 324-4088.
DPR is also seeking nominations for its coveted "IPM Innovator" awards. IPM is an approach that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to effectively manage pest problems with minimal harm to the environment. Since DPR established the program in 1994, it has recognized 55 innovators, ranging from major agricultural producers to urban community groups. The program encourages cooperative, local problem solving and fosters an environment where pesticide users are willing to try innovative practices. For information or to obtain a nomination form, contact Charles Hunter, Environmental Monitoring and Pest Management Branch, 830 K Street, Sacramento, 95814-3510; call (916) 324-4264, or e-mail: chunter@cdpr.ca.gov.
Department of Toxic Substance Control
Navy Agrees to Base Cleanup Pact
The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has signed a major agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to facilitate the cleanup of toxic contamination at closing U.S. Navy installations in California so that the facilities can be returned to productive local use.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covers naval facilities under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, commonly referred to as the "BRAC" statute.
In the MOU, the Navy and DTSC agreed that they share common goals in selecting cleanup remedies that are protective and cost-effective, that formalized agreements play a key role in many remedial actions, and that agreement provisions must be effective and reliable.
At each of the naval sites covered by the agreement, DTSC and the Navy included the nearby cities and developers directly in the negotiations. Specifically, the agreement ensures consultation with local redevelopment agencies, DTSC involvement in land use decisions, timely release of covenants, and effective enforcement of the terms of each agreement. DTSC requested that either the Navy or local redevelopment agencies enter into agreements on environmental cleanup issues.
DTSC believes specific agreements, including environmental covenants, are critical to ensure that cleanup actions protect public health and the environment. The agreements are particularly important when former military installations are transferred to local redevelopment agencies. The MOU between DTSC and the Navy will ensure California’s rights and interests are protected.
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Wildlife Toxicity Database Online
Cal/EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has created a new online, computerized database called Cal/Ecotox for use in ecological risk assessments. Ecological risk assessments evaluate the adverse ecological effects that may occur when wildlife is exposed to chemical contaminants. Cal/Ecotox was created to make this information more readily available to scientists conducting risk assessments.
Currently, Cal/Ecotox contains scientific data, including species-specific toxicity information for 62 California mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. For each species, the database contains exposure factors such as body weight, ingestion rate, territory size, and data on the effects of various chemical contaminants. The database will be periodically updated and expanded with new information.
Cal/Ecotox has been under development since 1995 and is a collaborative effort with the Information Center for the Environment at the University of California, Davis. The database is available on the Internet at OEHHA’s Web site at: www.oehha.org./cal_ecotox.
Questions or comments about Cal/Ecotox can be directed to OEHHA’s Ecotoxicology Unit, 301 Capitol Mall, Room 205, Sacramento, California 95814, (916) 327-1099, or e-mail: rdohonoe@oehha.ca.gov, yamamot@oehha.ca.gov or via the Cal/Ecotox homepage. A brochure describing the features and content of Cal/Ecotox is also available upon request.
More ARBNews...
Vapor Recovery Systems to be Updated
The Air Resources Board has adopted regulations requiring modernization of the vapor recovery systems at the state’s gasoline stations and other gasoline pumping facilities that will result in an estimated reduction of 25 tons-per-day (TPD) in smog-forming emissions by 2010.
The regulations require a series of changes to the systems that capture smog-forming vapors from gasoline tanks and pumps and will be phased in between 2001 and 2008.
The phased-in implementation also calls for updating existing vapor recovery methods and additional new equipment to make vapor recovery more reliable. New requirements include:
- redesigned nozzles to reduce gasoline drips;
- making gas pump vapor recovery systems more compatible with 1998 and newer cars that have on-board carbon canisters to capture vapors;
- reduction of evaporation from hoses and nozzles as they are hanging on pumps between use;
- reduction of vapor leaks from underground gasoline storage tanks;
- computerized in-station diagnostics systems to alert gas station personnel when vapor recovery equipment malfunctions.
The new rules apply to approximately 11,250 California facilities including full-service gas stations, mini-marts, utilities and other public agencies and private companies with their own gas pumps.
A review of the regulation is scheduled for 2002 to see how the technology needed to implement the rule is advancing and to determine if new equipment has been developed that can further improve vapor recovery systems.
Note: Reference to Cal/EPA Permit Assistance Centers, Ombudsman Directory, Important Numbers, and Cal/EPA Board & Department Web Sites were removed due to information being displayed was old.
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