Smart Growth Workshop in Iowa

The City of Waverly, Iowa, will host a workshop and open house on May 26-27, to solicit input from residents on how the community should determine future growth. The events are designed to explore “Smart Growth” solutions for future community planning efforts.

“Smart Growth” planning is a concept that guides future development decision-making in ways that enhance economic opportunity, protect environmental resources and public health, and enhance the quality of life for citizens. For Waverly, “Smart Growth” will also examine how the community can become better prepared to withstand flooding.

Through such events, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Rural Development, the Rebuild Iowa Office and the Iowa Department of Economic Development are cooperating to assist flood-impacted Iowa communities that have expressed the desire to rebuild using the EPA Smart Growth Planning Program.

The workshop will allow participants to hear from national experts about preliminary design recommendations for neighborhoods around Waverly. Participants will be able to make comments and provide feedback on the designs. There will also be a discussion about Iowa’s Smart Planning Principles and how they can be applied in Waverly.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

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EPA Dioxin Toxicity Report Released For Review

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its draft scientific report, “Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments”. The draft dioxin report is EPA’s response to key comments and recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences on the agency’s draft dioxin reassessment. The draft report will now undergo scientific peer review by independent, external experts as well as public review and comment.

EPA previously asked the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review EPA’s 2003 draft dioxin reassessment. The NAS completed its review in 2006. The draft report contains the agency’s response to key comments and recommendations in the NAS’s 2006 report. EPA’s draft report also includes significant new analyses that relate to potential cancer and non-cancer human health effects that may result from exposures to dioxins. This draft dioxin report includes an oral reference dose (RfD) for TCDD -- the most well-studied and considered to be among the most toxic of the dioxin-like compounds. An RfD was not in the 2003 draft dioxin reassessment.

EPA’s draft scientific report will now undergo external peer review by an expert panel of scientists convened by EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) in July 2010. Public comments on this draft report are being requested, and the Federal Register Notice provides details on how to submit comments.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

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Minnesota EQB 60 Day Rule

With some exceptions, Minnesota Statute 15.99 requires that an agency must approve or deny within 60 days a written request relating to some specific types petitions. Failure of an agency to deny a request within 60 days is approval of the request. If an agency denies the request, it must state in writing the reasons for the denial at the time that it denies the request.

The “sixty day rule” (MN Statute 15.99) does not apply to projects that are going through the environmental review process. Because environmental review decisions can often take months (and in some cases years) to be reached, environmental review is one of the exceptions to the rule. The clock stops ticking on the “sixty day rule” until environmental review has been completed and, once environmental review has been completed, the clock is reset at 60 days.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

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Toxicity Database ToxRedDB Released To Public

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is releasing a database, called ToxRefDB, which allows scientists and the interested public to search and download thousands of toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals. ToxRefDB incorporates over 30 years of testing results.

ToxRefDB provides detailed chemical toxicity data in an accessible format. It is a part of ACToR (Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource), an online data warehouse that collects data from about 500 public sources on tens of thousands of environmentally relevant chemicals, including several hundred in ToxRefDB. Users can query a specific chemical and find all available public hazard, exposure, and risk-assessment data, as well as previously unpublished studies related to cancer, reproductive, and developmental toxicity.

ToxRefDB also connects to an EPA chemical screening tool called ToxCast. ToxRefDB contains toxicity information that forms the basis for pesticide risk assessments when combined with other sources of information, such as those on exposure and metabolism.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

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Energy Star Qualified Building - New EPA Guidelines

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new, more rigorous guidelines for new homes that earn the Energy Star label. Compared to the current Energy Star guidelines, the new requirements will make qualified new homes at least 20 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). These guidelines will go into effect in January 2011, although some builders may choose to adopt the new requirements earlier.

Key elements of the new guidelines for Energy Star qualified homes include:

• A Complete Thermal Enclosure System: Comprehensive air sealing, properly insulated assemblies and high-performance windows enhance comfort, improve durability and reduce utility bills.
• Quality Installed Complete Heating and Cooling Systems: High-efficiency heating and cooling systems engineered to deliver more comfort, moisture control and quiet operation, and equipped with fresh-air ventilation to improve air quality.
• A Complete Water Management System: Because Energy Star homes offer a tightly-sealed and insulated building envelope, a comprehensive package of flashing, moisture barriers, and heavy-duty membrane details is critical to help keep water from roofs, walls, and foundations for improved durability and indoor air quality.
• Efficient Lighting and Appliances: Look for Energy Star qualified lighting, appliances and fans helping to further reduce monthly utility bills and provide high-quality performance.
• Third-Party Verification: Energy Star qualified homes require verification by independent Home Energy Raters who conduct a comprehensive series of detailed inspections and use specialized diagnostic equipment to test system performance.
  

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

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EPA Hazardous Substance - Hazardous Waste List - Removal of Saccharin

EPA has proposed amending its regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to remove saccharin and its salts from the lists of hazardous constituents and commercial chemical products which are hazardous wastes when discarded or intended to be discarded. EPA also proposed amending the regulations under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to remove saccharin and its salts from the list of hazardous substances.

This proposed rule responds to a petition submitted to EPA by the Calorie Control Council (CCC), to remove saccharin and its salts from RCRA and CERCLA. EPA proposed granting the petition based on a review of the evaluations conducted by key public health agencies concerning the carcinogenic and other potential toxicological effects of saccharin and its salts, as well as EPA’s own assessment of the waste generation and management information for saccharin and its salts, which demonstrate that saccharin and its salts do not meet the criteria in the hazardous waste regulations for remaining on EPA’s lists of hazardous constituents, hazardous wastes, and hazardous substances.

The public comment period will be open for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website