Industry News

Nationwide EPA Initiative Aims to Reduce Lead Exposure in Overburdened Communities

EPA Portsmouth, VA

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is targeting its Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach (ELSWPEO) initiative to raise awareness about childhood lead exposure and protect environmentally overburdened communities. The next Mid-Atlantic ELSWPEO opportunity is scheduled for Portsmouth, Virginia.  For the full text, click here.

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is targeting its Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach (ELSWPEO) initiative to raise awareness about childhood lead exposure and protect environmentally overburdened communities. The next Mid-Atlantic ELSWPEO opportunity is scheduled for Portsmouth, Virginia.  For the full text, click here.

WHO Publishes Update on the Global Status of the Legal Limits on Lead in Paint

World Health Organization International

The global status of legally binding controls on lead paint is regularly monitored and updated in the WHO Global Health Observatory. An annual report on the Global Status of Lead Paint Laws is one of the activities of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance). UNEP and WHO serve as the joint Secretariat for this international voluntary initiative which promotes establishing lead paint laws in all countries as one of its key priorities. For the full text and to download the report, click here.

NRT West Inc., dba Coldwell Banker, Settles With EPA Over Claims of Lead-Based Paint Violations in Bay Area

EPA San Francisco, CA

EPA announced a settlement with NRT West Inc. dba Coldwell Banker to resolve claims of ten violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act at seven residential properties in and around the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Vallejo, California. Acting as the agent for the seller in a real estate transaction, NRT West failed to ensure that the sellers properly disclosed information related to lead-based paint in its sales contracts and will pay a penalty of $35,433. For the full text, click here.

Could Syracuse Lead Paint Problem Be Causing More Youth Violence? Researchers Think So

WRGB Albany by Conor Wight

Syracuse, NY -In Syracuse, hundreds of kids become lead poisoned in their own homes every year. The city has one of the highest rates of teen violence in the country. Syracuse researchers and activists are now looking to show the two tragic realities are intertwined and that removing lead from homes will ultimately save lives that would have otherwise been lost in homicides. Syracuse University’s Dr. Rubenstein and Dr. Sandra Lane have spent decades researching the impact lead has on children and the resulting domino effect on the local public health and safety infrastructure. For the full text, click here.

PFAS Update: EPA Proposed Listing PFOS and PFOA as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

JDSupra National

EPA announced that it is proposing to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) as Hazardous Substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”).  This designation will affect remediation efforts, notification requirements, and due diligence activities and will have ripple effects across many state regulations that reference CERCLA Hazardous Substances. The public comment period will remain open until November 7, when EPA will issue an Advanced Notice of Public Rulemaking. For the full text and access to the Federal Register comment page, click here.

Recent Developments in the Regulation of PFAS

JDSupra National

In response to the growing concern regarding per – and polyfluoralkyl substances (“PFAS”), the federal government and California have taken recent actions to regulate PFAS. On October 18, 2021, EPA announced its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, which set forth EPA’s proposal to address PFAS. the California legislature passed its own PFAS legislation, AB 2247, on August 30, 2022, requiring manufacturers to collect information on and publicly disclose products or product components containing PFAS that are sold or imported into California. These actions are just the latest in the growing tide of PFAS regulation.  For the full text, click here.

Scientists Research a Simpler Way to Destroy ‘Forever’ Chemicals

Live Science by Stephanie Pappas

University of CA – Synthetic compounds known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment can actually be destroyed — by beheading. Scientists discovered a simple destruction technique that works on 10 types of these chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Researchers hope that the method will expose weaknesses in even more PFAS-class substances, leading to paths for removing these chemicals from drinking water easily and cheaply. The researchers published their findings in the journal Science on Aug. 18.  For the full text, click here.

EPA Wants to Label Certain ‘Forever Chemicals’ As Hazardous Substances

CNN by Jen Christensen

Washington, DC – The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it proposes to label certain “forever chemicals” that are found in hundreds of household items and pollute drinking water systems across the country as hazardous substances. There are thousands of per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. Since the 1940s, manufacturers have used the chemicals to make coatings and products that can repel water, grease, heat, and oil. The chemicals break down slowly over time and leach into water and soil, and have been found in the blood of people and animals. For the full text, click here.

EPA Deletes Asbestos-Contaminated Libby Railyards from Superfund List

Flathead Beacon by Tristan Scott

Libby, MT – Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the federal agency is deleting another segment of the asbestos-contaminated Superfund site in Libby from the federal National Priorities List (NPL), determining that all required cleanup activities along BNSF-owned railyards the towns of Libby and Troy, as well as 41 miles of railroad right-of-way, are complete.  For the full text, click here.

A Brief History of the Belvidere Asbestos Mine

WCAX by Rachel Mann

Eden, VT – It looks like a pile of rocks from afar, but the Belvidere Asbestos Mine was once a community staple in the Northeast Kingdom. The Belvidere Asbestos Mine has operated under many different names and owners since mining attempts started in 1902. It finally got off the ground in the 1930’s and continued operating until 1993. It closed once people found out about the health risks associated with asbestos, and there was no longer demand for the product. Although the Department of Health did studies in 2008 and 2009 stating there were no asbestos-related deaths connected to the mine. For the full text, click here.