August 11, 2009

EPA Nabs Clean Water Violator and Fugitive In Malta

Apparently there is no where on earth to hide from a violation of the Clean Water Act.

Robert Fred Smith, in 2006, while working for the Britannia Shipping International, a ship brokering business based in Malta, was doing renovation work on a fishing vessel, dumped concrete waste, scrap metal, and grinding waste over board at night, into San Diego harbor,(pictured), until the U.S. Coast Guard started to notice.

With an indictment brought in 2007, Interpol issued a "Wanted Persons Diffusion and Red Notice."

Smith is just now being returned from Malta, where he was found, to face the charges against him.

"We want to thank the Government of Malta for its invaluable assistance in returning Mr. Smith to the United States so he can face the American system of justice and ultimately be judged innocent or guilty in a court of law," said Fred Burnside, Director of EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training.

The Environmental Protection Agency keeps a website that lists the top 20 fugitives accused of violating environmental laws and evading arrest, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Aug 11, 2009 at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

July 28, 2009

Residents Near Lake Cowichan Want the Respect of Tourists

Cowichan Lake,(pictured), the Cowichan River, in B.C. Canada are part of the watershed that supplies drinking water for the area, and is also a busy tourist area.

This past Saturday morning, there was a meeting in Lake Cowichan where the impact of the tourist on the waterways was discussed.

"There's no respect out there," said riverfront property owner Lois Atchison, who noted how much garbage is in the river and how she can no longer see the fish fingerlings any more.

"If you go into the river without shoes, you're bound to get cut by the broken glass."

Fellow riverfront property owner Don Palmer said, "People swear at you if you say anything to them," noting that many tubers throw rocks or cans at the ducks. "I've lived on the river for 70 years and it's a bloody disgrace."

Diana Gunderson of Meades Creek said it's a problem that has escalated across Canada.

"Noise is clearly increasing and they have no respect for anyone else," she said, noting that on July 4th there was an unmuffled boat making lots of noise in the morning.

"I want to emphasize it's the minority that causes the problem," she said.

Don Beldessi of Youbou said, "Use of the river by tubers, it's becoming very disgusting."

"With regard to water quality: How are you going to get it with the Miami Vice boaters racing around the lake?" asked Peter Moran from Youbou. "There's a lot of drugs and alcohol. When we moved here I couldn't believe how clean the water was," as reported by the Lake Cowichan Gazette.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 28, 2009 at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 27, 2009

Central Florida Wants Water From Privately Held Lake

St. Johns River Water Management District officials has asked for a judge to rule on its right to get water from the Taylor Creek Reservoir, within the area known as Deseret Ranches,(pictured),which is wholly owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church.

"Common sense would tell you that, as an agricultural operation with nearly 300,000 acres, Deseret Ranches would never gratuitously give up those valuable water rights," ranch manager Erik Jacobsen said. "Deseret Ranches disagrees with the claim made by the district and will vigorously defend its long-established legal rights in court."

"There's a bona fide dispute," water-district lawyer Stan Niego said in describing details of the lawsuit to district board members this month. "We're not going to agree, and we need the court to make a decision."

The reservoir is located in the remote corners of Orange and Osceola counties so that any water from there would have to be piped a long distance to serve the cities that need it, as reported by The Orlando Sentinel, and published by the Water Environment Federation.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 27, 2009 at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 21, 2009

Barcelona Ends Water Shortages with Desalination

Barcelona, Spain,(pictured) has opened a new desalination plant at El Prat del Llobregat which will now supply 24% of the water consumed in the Barcelona area, and end the chronic water droughts.

The new plant will produce 44 million gallons of potable water daily for the 4.5 million residents of Barcelona.

Two additional desalination plants are being constructed in the Catalonia region.

The head of the Catalan regional government, Jose Montilla, said the plant would lift the threat of emergency restrictions on water consumption in Barcelona, as reported by the BBC.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 21, 2009 at 03:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

July 14, 2009

Two Oaklahoma City Businesses Ordered to Cease Water Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the Oklahoma National Stock Yards Company and the Murphy Products Inc., both of Oklahoma City, OK, to cease unauthorized discharging into the Oklahoma River, in clear violation of the Clean Water Act.

The compost facility which is operated by Murphy Products is located on property owned by the National Stock Yards, and was found to be composting animal manure from the stock yards, and discharging waste directly into the Oklahoma River.

"EPA will continue to vigorously enforce our nation's environmental laws through effective compliance assistance and a strong enforcement program," said EPA Region 6 Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division Director John Blevins. "EPA will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s environmental laws through effective compliance assistance and a strong enforcement program," said EPA Region 6 Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division Director John Blevins. "Environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility."”

"On July 1, 2009, ODAFF (Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry) issued an Emergency Cease and Desist Order to Murphy Products to stop all conditions which may lead to a discharge of pollutants to the waters of the State, including the Oklahoma River. ODAFF is pleased to work with EPA in joint enforcement actions such as this to stop potential pollution from agricultural sources in Oklahoma," said Terry Peach, Oklahoma’s Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture. "Environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility."

"On July 1, 2009, ODAFF issued an Emergency Cease and Desist Order to Murphy Products to stop all conditions which may lead to a discharge of pollutants to the waters of the State, including the Oklahoma River. ODAFF is pleased to work with EPA in joint enforcement actions such as this to stop potential pollution from agricultural sources in Oklahoma," said Terry Peach, Oklahoma's Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture.

The companies have 30 days to make certain that the discharges will stop, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 14, 2009 at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 13, 2009

EPA Orders Alaska Landowner to Restore Wetlands

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Clifford Walker, the former owner of Whitestone Logging, Inc., to restore an area of wetlands on property he owns in Southwest Alaska where he apparently did some unauthorized filling.

Walker violated the federal Clean Water Act by failing to obtain required permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the construction of access roads and foundation pads between 2003 and 2005.

"Construction activities near Alaska's wetlands can have serious consequences for Alaska's water quality and critical habitats," said Marcia Combes, Director of EPA's Alaska Operations Office. "Construction activities near Alaska's wetlands can have serious consequences for Alaska's water quality and critical habitats," said Marcia Combes, Director of EPA's Alaska Operations Office. "Landowners planning to conduct work in wetlands must obtain the right permits and follow the requirements to avoid unnecessary impacts and protect these valuable resources. Landowners planning to conduct work in wetlands must obtain the right permits and follow the requirements to avoid unnecessary impacts and protect these valuable resources," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 13, 2009 at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 07, 2009

Sweet Water Trust and Environmental Partners Get Water Quality Grant

It was announced today in Milwaukee,WI that the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, also known as the "Sweet Water Trust" has been awarded a three year $1.9 million grant from the Joyce Foundation, which will be used to improve water quality in the Milwaukee River
Basin.

The grant is to be shared with the 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Clean Wisconsin, the Midwest Environmental Advocates, the Milwaukee RiverKeeper, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, the River Revitalization Foundation, and the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center.

"This investment provides enormous momentum toward making measurable
improvements in our water quality," stated Pat Marchese, Chairman of the Sweet Water Trust Executive Steering Council. "The grant will enable the Trust and its environmental partners to work collaboratively to build community support for implementing cost effective water quality improvement projects in the
Greater Milwaukee Watersheds."

The Joyce Foundation, based in Chicago, supports efforts to protect the Great Lakes, to reduce poverty and violence in the region, and to ensure its residents have good schools, decent jobs, a strong democracy, and a diverse and thriving culture, as reported by the Sweet Water Trust and published by Reuters.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 7, 2009 at 02:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 06, 2009

EPA Warns Two Texas Oil Wells to Stop Discharging

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the Hunter Energy, Inc. of Mineral Wells, Texas, and the Johnson & Ernst Operating Company of Wichita Falls, Texas to cease the discharging of brine and salt at their well sites in violation of the Clean Water Act.

Hunter Energy, at its oil field production facility in Palo Pinto County, Texas was found, during an inspection on June 15th, to be polluting a tributary of Lake Creek.

Johnson & Ernst, at its oil field production facility in Wilbarger County, Texas, was found, during an inspection on June 9th, to be polluting Camp Creek.

Both firms have 30 days to clean up the waterways of the brine and salt as well as the areas around the entry points leading to the waterways, and restore those areas, as reported by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 6, 2009 at 02:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 02, 2009

Sacramento to Sue Over Industrial Water Contamination

Yesterday, Sacramento County,CA filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Boeing Company and the Aerojet-General Corp. concerning years of ground water contamination which encompasses much of eastern Sacramento County. McDonnel-Douglas, has since been purchased by Boeing.

Herb Niederberger, division chief of the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources, said that for the past nine years the county was in settlement agreements with the companies, but nothing had be done to replace the water supply or "make us whole."

"After nine years of discussion, Aerojet and Boeing have yet to take responsibility," Niederberger said. "We needed to do something."

With the lawsuit, the county is looking to cover all costs and alleges that "the contamination resulting from defendants' disposal and release of hazardous substances continues to expand, presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment, and threatens to contaminate additional county water supply wells."

Aerojet spokeswoman Linda Cutler said, "in 2003 we reached a landmark water agreement with them that they unilaterally terminated in 2008. "Despite this unilateral action, Aerojet and Boeing have continued to negotiate in good faith to resolve the county's demands."

Blythe Jameson, a Boeing spokeswoman, said the complaint was under review and declined to comment specifically about the lawsuit, but did say the company has been cleaning up the site, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 2, 2009 at 02:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 24, 2009

Walla Walla Water Management Program to be Implemented

Starting on July 26th, Washington state will implement a ten year program aimed at handling the issue of water, know as the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership.

"This is some really exciting stuff," Cathy Schaeffer, Walla Walla County watershed planning director, told a group yesterday, gathered at the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center.

"The three main areas that are top priorities now are creation of the governing board, development of the water bank and work on the "flow from flexibility" framework," Schaeffer said.

"This has changed state law in a significant way to allow local people to manage water," said Karen Terwilleger, staff member of the state House Agriculture Natural Resources Committee.

"The first choice is, are we going to collaborate or litigate? They are watching us to see how this works," she said, referring to the Indian tribes who are to be affected by the new program.

Note: The picture shown is part of the Bennington dam, part of the Walla Walla watershed, as reported by the Union-Bulletin.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 24, 2009 at 06:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 23, 2009

A Day with a San Diego Water Inspector

San Diego has had strict water conservation restrictions in place since the start of the month, in response to what many are calling the worst drought in the city's history.

Reporter Katie Orr, who took the picture you see here, spent a day with Seneca Page (pictured) who is a Field Representative for the San Diego Water Department's conservation program. Five of these representatives are charged with the task of enforcing the conservation restrictions.

"So we're going to go out here to a couple of complaints in the Carmel Valley area and check on it and see what's going on. Hopefully educate the public about the water restrictions," Seneca Page said.

"Sometimes you do kind of feel like you're banging your head against the wall, chasing your tail, you know, you’re kind of in the dark. So sometimes it does," he says. "But you know, you kind of shake it off. Because for every one where you don't see anything, there are six that you do, he said."

Page explained that his job is to educate people about what they can and can't do when it comes to watering, and that alone will keep him busy for the rest of the summer, as reported by KPBS.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 23, 2009 at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 22, 2009

Kansas is Getting Funding for Water Improvements

$54 million in Federal stimulus funds are making there way to Kansas for improvements in water.

Pottawatomie County putting $1.3 million into improvements at a treatment plant to remove iron from drinking water.

Holton,KS is using $164,000 for native plants and a rain garden to control erosion in a storm water drainage area.

Topeka (pictured)is starting a $55,000 study to determine if a wastewater treatment facility can use "green" technology to conserve energy.

The Center for Child Development at Kansas State University is getting $454,000 for installation of a porous pavement to harvest rainfall.

El Dorado,KS is using $200,000 to the install a hydroelectric generator on a city water pipe to generate about 100 kilowatts of energy for use at a water treatment plant.

"This funding will not only help create much-needed jobs but will have a major impact on communities in need of these important infrastructure projects," said Rod Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Kerry Wedel, chief of the state water bureau's watershed management section, said 20 percent of the federal financing was earmarked for green infrastructure, water and energy-efficiency improvements.

"It's basically practices that maintain or restore natural hydrology," Wedel said.

Ron Geisler, Kansas Department of Health and Environment water bureau's chief of municipal programs, said the largest project made possible by economic stimulus legislation was a $15.6 million endeavor in Johnson County, for construction of an improved facility to treat sludge at the current wastewater treatment plant, as reported by The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 22, 2009 at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 18, 2009

Indication of Pollution In Mekong River as Irrawaddy Dolphins Disappear

The conservation group the World Wildlife for Nature (WWF) has reported that toxic waste in the Mekong River (pictured) has endangered the Irrawaddy dolphins unique to this area, particularly on a stretch of water between Cambodia and Laos.

"Pollution in the Mekong River has pushed the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins to the brink of extinction," the conservation group said.

The WWF researchers also cautioned that pollutants found in the Mekong water could affect the health of millions of humans who rely river for potable water, as reported by the Reuters News Service, and published by ABC News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 18, 2009 at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 17, 2009

Idaho Contractor is Fined for Clean Water Act Violations

The G.F. Barnes Construction, Inc. has been ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pay $12,900 for not properly controlling runoff from their Granite Peaks condominium construction site near Sandpoint,Idaho, as observed by inspectors beginning in April, 2005.

The contractor discharged sediment from the construction site into a tributary of Schweitzer Creek and failed to obtain the proper permit as required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

"While many builders and developers are doing the right thing by preventing runoff from their sites, there are some who are ignoring these important storm water requirements," said Jim Werntz, EPA's director of Idaho operations. "We take protecting Idaho waters very seriously. Builders and developers need to get the right permits and implement runoff controls before they start work or, like Barnes Construction, they will face fines," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 17, 2009 at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 16, 2009

Rocky Mountain Region Dead Forests Could Harm Water Supply

Rick Cables, speaking for the U.S. Forest Service, and in charge of the Rocky Mountain region, told a U.S. House of Representatives panel today that the headwaters of the Colorado River, a source of drinking water for 33 million people, are in the middle of 2.5 million acres of dead or dying forests in Colorado and southern Wyoming, destroyed by bark
beetles (pictured).

Any fire in this region, fueled by these dead trees, could potentially damage reservoirs, pipes and other infrastructure that supply water.

Wildfires can "literally bake the soil," leaving behind a water-repellent surface that sheds rain and leads to severe erosion and debris, Cables said. The loss of so many trees also will reduce shade in the region, which in turn could reduce water supplies in the hot, dry summer months and accelerate snow melt in the spring, he said.

A Forest Service analysis shows that people in San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson, AZ who receive their tap water from the Colorado River get one quart of every gallon from national forests in the Rocky Mountain region.

"The arid West absolutely depends on national forests as the source for their water," Cables said. "The reach of this watershed is unparalleled in the West."

Barbara Bentz, a research entomologist with the Forest Service, said that the the current outbreak of bark beetles, which has destroyed nearly 8 million acres of trees, is the largest in history, as reported by the Associated Press, and published by the Mercury News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 16, 2009 at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 15, 2009

Murder for Water in India's Drought

In the central India state of Madhya Pradesh, (pictured), where a drought has persisted over a year, people are giving their lives to be the first to get at water.

It has been reported by the the Bhopal Superintendent of Police that in 17 of the state's districts, at least five people have been beaten to death over water disputes, and many more have been injured.

In the city of Bhopal on May 13, a father, mother and their son were killed while trying to get water from a leaking municipal pipe.

"The water problem is a huge crisis," said Babulala Gaur, Minister of Urban Administration and Development. Gaur said volunteers are helping to organize the water distribution.

"It's the nature of people fighting over water tank because they want the water first," he said.

"This year, everyone is struggling for water," said Maria Fernandez, regional director for WaterAid India. "This is the worst I have ever seen," she said.

"It's of an unimaginable magnitude. In fact, it's unprecedented," Bhopal Mayor's Sunil Sood said, speaking of the current drought.

"Police is not there to beat people and stop them from taking water. It only ensures that all people get water," he said. "When our water tankers reach a particular locality, people rush to collect as much water as possible. And this results in scuffle and fights. We are trying to ensure that all of them get equal or fair share," as reported by ABC News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 15, 2009 at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

June 09, 2009

Texas based Dairy told to Stop Discharging into Wetlands

The Environmental Protection Agency today, issued an administrative order to the Allrounder I (pictured) and II Dairies in Hopkins County, Texas to cease their discharge of of manure and contaminated water into nearby wetlands, which lead into Stouts Creek, in clear violation of the Clean Water Act.

At both of the dairies locations, EPA inspectors found solid manure build-up accumulating on the surface which indicates the manure lagoons lack adequate capacity for the number of animals currently allowed by the dairies' permits.

The dairies have been ordered to stop all discharges of pollutants, and within 30 days an relocate stockpiled manure to an area that will cause runoff to be captured in an approved lagoon.

They also have been ordered to excavate and relocate their mortality management areas to an approved location that is not in a wetland and does not discharge into a wetland or waterway, and provide certification that this has been accomplished, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 9, 2009 at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 04, 2009

Worcester, MA Contractor Violates Clean Water Act

I can hardly believe that so many firms in the U.S. keep ignoring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules concerning runoff, and those written in the Clean Water Act.

Once again, this time in Worcester, MA, Bailin & Associates, Inc., while building a 79-acre residential subdivision of townhouses (pictured), starting in 2003 neglected to get a water discharge permit or a NPDES General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities.

Then, both before and after Bailin received permit coverage on May 29, 2008, they formed a detention pond with a manually-activated submersible pump that discharged silt laden water to a wooded wetland, flowed through a channel into an unnamed tributary, through a series of ponds, then to Beaver Brook and ultimately to the Blackstone River.

Balin's fine for this example of stupidity, while yet to be finalized, can be up to up to $157,000, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 4, 2009 at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 03, 2009

West Virgina's Confusing Water Standards

West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (pictured) has issued the most confusing, and mind numbing edict concerning the mercury levels permitted in the state's residents drinking water.

They have stated that since West Virginians eat less fish then most other Americans, they are exposed to less mercury, and thus higher levels of mercury are permitted than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends.

An advisory tells residents statewide to limit fish consumption due to the high incident of mercury contamination in West Virginia waters. This is why fish consumption is down in the state.

Logic would follow that if you allow more mercury to be released, more fish will be contaminated.

What the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is not taking into consideration is that eating fish has many health benefits, so where is the logic in allowing more mercury?, as reported by the Center for Progressive Reform, and published by AlterNet.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 3, 2009 at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

June 02, 2009

South Dakota Developer Fined for Clean Water Act Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice, acting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has issued a consent decree against Zelmer, Inc. and Spencer Heights, LLC (Zelmer) for violations of the Clean Water Act, in Lincoln County, South Dakota.

Apparently, Zelmer neglected to implement a storm water management plan and filled up 3.29 acres of wetlands and the erosion resulted in additional sediment loading to a tributary of the Big Sioux River (pictured).

Under the terms of the consent decree, Zelmer must restore the impacted wetlands at the development site plus complete a wetlands creation project in nearby Turner County, at an estimated cost of $444,500. Additionally,the company must pay a fine of $25,000.

"These actions compromised water quality by failing to manage runoff and by filling important wetlands," said Diane Sipe, Director of EPA Region 8's Water Enforcement Program. "EPA is requiring Zelmer to prevent its construction operations from depositing sediment into nearby waters and to restore the impacted wetlands. We will continue to pursue actions against those who violate federal laws that protect South Dakota’s waters," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 2, 2009 at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)