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Environmental Affairs Department
Website Updates
Please take a moment to view the
new additions to the EAD website. Check below to see the Public
Comments/Meetings section.
Update: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Public Hearings/Presentations/Public Comment/Meetings (updated January 2, 2008):
- *EPA is sharing more
information about ways the public can get involved in environmental
regulation.
The agency has added new features to one of its most
popular Web sites for environmental regulatory information. This site - titled
"Laws, Regulations, Guidance and Dockets" - is often the public's first
exposure to EPA's regulatory activities. Its user-friendliness has been
enhanced with easily accessible ways to search and comment on EPA regulations
and significant guidance documents, and to learn how environmental regulations
are written. The site also includes new sections for finding regulations and
related documents, plus regulatory history, statutory authority, supporting
analyses, compliance information, and guidance for implementation. Also, for
the first time, searches for regulatory information can be conducted by
environmental topics, such as water or air, or by business sectors, such as
transportation or construction.
The new site is easily accessible from EPA's homepage
and can be found by choosing "Laws, Regulations, Guidance & Dockets" from the
left-hand navigation bar.
See the new site:
http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/
- EPA
is seeking early comments on policy options the agency is considering as it
reviews the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead.
The United States has made tremendous progress in reducing lead
concentrations in the outdoor air. Average lead concentrations in the air have
dropped a dramatic 96 percent since 1980, primarily as a result of the ban on
lead in motor vehicle gasoline. Also, since the late 1970s, blood lead
concentrations for children ages one to five have dropped significantly, from
about 15 micrograms per deciliter (:g/dL) to less than 2 :g/dL.
EPA has released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR). It is not
a proposal, but a new part of the NAAQS review process that offers an
additional public comment period before the agency issues a proposed rule.
EPA is seeking broad public input on the policy options under consideration
as part of the lead NAAQS review. For example, the ANPR seeks comment on
available scientific information, on current lead exposures for both airborne
sources and other sources, and on a number of lead monitoring issues. That
input will help inform the agency as it develops a proposed rule.
EPA will accept comment on the ANPR for 30 days after publication in the
Federal Register.
EPA is required by a consent decree to issue a proposal regarding the lead
standards by May 1, 2008, and to issue a final rule by Sept. 1, 2008.
More about the lead NAAQS rulemaking:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pb/s_pb_cr_fr.html
EPA To Develop Regulations for Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide
EPA announces plans to develop regulations to establish a clear path for
geologic sequestration, a process of injecting captured carbon dioxide, a
greenhouse gas, in deep rock formations for long-term storage. Once completed,
the regulations will ensure there is a consistent and effective permit system
under the Safe Drinking Water Act for commercial-scale geologic sequestration
programs to help reduce the effects of climate change.
EPA is working with the Department of Energy as it carries out its carbon
sequestration research and development program and is also coordinating efforts
to evaluate potential impacts on health, safety and the environment.
The Safe Drinking Water Act established the Underground Injection Control (UIC)
program to allow the safe injection of fluids into the subsurface in a manner
that does not endanger current or future underground sources of drinking water.
EPA plans to propose regulatory changes to the UIC program in the summer of 2008
and will invite the public and stakeholders to provide input throughout the rule
development process.
More information about geologic sequestration activities under the UIC program:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_sequestration.html
]The following is a list of links that provide environmental information and
services that are updated frequently. Visit the sections to view the
current additions.
Environmental
Jobs:
View jobs that benefit the environment with the push of a button.
Environmental
Affairs Announcements & Events:
Visit out events page to find fun and fascinating activities for yourself or for
the whole family.
Grant
Opportunities:
Be sure to bookmark our grants page, new opportunities are posted monthly.
Environmental
Business Assistance:
Find information on permits, regulations, services and more.
Environmental
Services Directory:
An invaluable guide to your home! Access a comprehensive guide that
provides contact information to city and county services.
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