Air


NYC Mayor Cutting City's Vehicle Fleet

The city will eliminate least 1,000 vehicles from its fleet by June 2021 and will reduce the number of take-home vehicles by at least 500 vehicles, curtail the reliance on SUVs in the city fleet, and promote increased vehicle efficiency by using advanced data collection.

Houston-Area Petrochemical Terminal Fire Extinguished

The fire at Intercontinental Terminals Company's Deer Park terminal was fully extinguished by 3 a.m. March 10, the company reported.

Sacramento's Electric Car Share Program Expanded to All Residents

"Gig is thrilled to bring the largest all-electric car sharing service in the United States to Sacramento, a city that's becoming recognized as a worldwide leader in zero-emission energy," said Jason Haight, president of GIG Car Share.

SEC Charges Volkswagen, Former CEO with Defrauding Investors

The complaint alleges that Volkswagen made false and misleading statements to investors and underwriters about vehicle quality, environmental compliance, and VW's financial standing and that, by concealing the emissions scheme, Volkswagen obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in benefit by issuing the securities at more attractive rates for the company.

Ohio Landfill Misses First Deadline for Odor Control

The first key deadline required Sunny Farms Landfill LLC to ensure parts of the landfill, not currently accepting waste, were covered with 3 feet of soil by Feb. 28, but an inspection on March 1 by Ohio EPA inspectors found many areas where the facility failed to provide adequate soil cover.

TVA to Retire Two Coal-Fired Power Plants

TVA's board of directors on Feb. 14 approved the retirement of Paradise Unit 3 in Drakesboro, Ky., and the Bull Run facility in Clinton, Tenn., older coal generating units that TVA describes as "not designed to efficiently respond to today's continually fluctuating power needs of customers."

New CalEPA Secretary Appointed

Jared Blumenfeld, 49, of San Francisco, has been appointed secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Pennsylvania Agency Urges Residents to Test for Radon

EPA has set 4 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L) of air as an Action Level. For anyone who has a higher radon level than this, EPA, DEP, and the U.S. surgeon general recommend having a radon mitigation system professionally installed to lower it by venting radon to the outside.



TCEQ Extends Deadline to Apply for New Technology Implementation Grants

As much as $3.6 million in grants is available for projects that reduce air pollutants from facilities and other stationary sources in Texas. Eligible individuals or businesses must own and operate—or intend to build, own, and operate—stationary sources in Texas.

PTTGC

Ohio EPA Hosting Public Meeting on Modifications to Cracker Plant's Discharge Permit

The proposed PTTGCA petrochemical complex would be located on the west bank of the Ohio River in Belmont County.

Warning Signs in New 3D Printing Findings

"Following our series of studies – the most extensive to date on 3D printer emissions – we are recommending additional investments in scientific research and product advancement to minimize emissions and increased user awareness so safety measures can be taken," said Marilyn Black, vice president and senior technical adviser at UL.

California Agency Recommends New Restrictions on Use of Chlorpyrifos

The new measures will provide increased protections from potential exposure to the pesticide while DPR completes a formal regulatory process to list chlorpyrifos as a toxic air contaminant and develops permanent restrictions on its use.

Aurora Flight Sciences Announces Solar-Powered Autonomous Aircraft

Named Odysseus, it is described by the Boeing-owned company as "a groundbreaking persistence aircraft inspired by the need for climate and atmospheric research."

NYDEC Overseeing Shutdown of Tonawanda Coke Operations

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is overseeing the safe shutdown of operations at the facility. The coke battery consists of 60 ovens, of which 30 remained in operation at the time of shutdown; on Oct. 15 the last of the remaining 30 ovens were fully emptied, marking the end of coke production at the facility.

Tackling Air Pollution with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

Building an understanding of EPFRs’ nature and role in human health for policy makers is also important, to create new standards for air pollution.

New Executive Director Appointed for PA Citizens Advisory Council

"Keith has provided outstanding legal counseling to DEP for the past four years," said Patrick McDonnell, Pennsylvania DEP secretary. "His broad experience within DEP and his extensive knowledge of environmental law will serve the council very well as they explore big-picture issue areas affecting the commonwealth."

SoCal Gas Announces $119.5 Million Gas Leak Settlement

The parties had submitted a tentative consent decree to the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Aug. 8 to settle the litigation over the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak. At least 109,000 metric tons of methane emissions were released during the leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, according to CARB.

Ammonia Emissions Rising, UK Environment Agency Reports

"Urgent action is needed if we are going to tackle the hidden blight of ammonia emissions. These emissions are having a detrimental impact on the environment, precious habitats, and wildlife. As custodians of the land, farmers must take the lead by changing their land management practices," said Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the agency.

NC Agency Taking Action on Methyl Bromide Use

"As more businesses seek to use methyl bromide at log fumigation sites in our state, the lack of specific federal or state regulatory measures for the use of this hazarous air pollutant creates a potential public health risk we must address," said DEQ Division of Air Quality Director Mike Abraczinskas.

Two Nevada Agencies Get Water, Radon EPA Grants

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection will receive a $100,000 Clean Water Act grant to continue the state's water quality management and planning program to improve impaired waters and protect unimpaired waters across the state.