California Sets Public Health Goal for Hexavalent Chromium

The State of California has set a public health goal (PHG) of 0.02 parts per billion (ppb) for hexavalent chromium (CR6), the first drinking water standard for the metal in the United States. The move by California is prompting calls for EPA to accelerate their pursuit of a national MCL for Cr6.
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EPA Proposes Sweeping Revisions to UST Regulations

EPA is proposing sweeping revisions to the 1988 40 CFR Part 280 underground storage tank (UST) regulations that will have far-reaching impact on all existing and new UST systems. While fuel distribution facilities ultimately will bear the greatest burden of these changes, the proposed revisions also will end the leak detection deferral for USTs used for fueling emergency power generators, field constructed tanks, airport hydrant systems, and wastewater treatment tanks not covered by Clean Water Act regulations. Read More>>

Ohio Vows to Leave National Association of Clean Air Agencies

Ohio has vowed to leave the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) over non-consensus support of recent US EPA rule-makings and guidance. In addition, Ohio is spearheading the development of a competing group of state air officials. The NACAA currently represents air pollution control agencies in 53 states and territories and over 165 major metropolitan areas across the United States.
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California Releases Final Vapor Intrusion Guidance

In October 2011, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (California DTSC) released the final version of their Vapor Intrusion Guidance. Many states have followed California's lead on vapor intrusion issues, and this could be a preview of EPA's final guidance, which is expected in 2012.
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Renewable Energy Production on Contaminated Sites

As part of the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative, the EPA and US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are evaluating the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund, brownfields, hazardous waste, and former landfill or mining sites. EPA is investing about a million dollars for the project that pairs EPA's expertise on contaminated sites with the renewable energy expertise of NREL. Wind, solar, biopower, or geothermal production on use-restricted property makes a lot of sense, and should be considered in evaluating long-term use of contaminated property. For more information, visit EPA's Repowering website.

Cox-Colvin Presented on Soil-Gas Prospecting at AIPG Meeting

I presented a talk in September 2011 at the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) National Meeting in Bloomingdale, Illinois titled "The Use of Innovative Soil-Gas Sampling Methods to Locate VOC Sources". The presentation, which discussed how Cox-Colvin used the Vapor Pin to collect soil gas from beneath the floor of a large industrial facility to locate sources of volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination, was very well received. The use of the Vapor Pin, combined with collecting soil gas into disposable, evacuated glass vials, allowed us to collect approximately 240 samples over the entire building footprint in one week, using only hand-held equipment.

As we've seen at other sites, VOC contamination at this site was not located beneath former degreasing operations or storage tanks. Instead, using aerial photos and historic maps to reconstruct the building's history, we found that the contamination was located where loading docks and back doors used to be prior to building expansion. Before the Clean Water Act in 1977, it was accepted practice to dump used solvents on the ground - commonly through the nearest door. By now it's unlikely that any present employees remember dumping of waste, or would be comfortable discussing it if they did. But by sampling subslab soil gas in a grid over the entire building, and tying the analytical results to the building expansion history, we located an unsuspected source of VOCs and determined that it probably resulted from spillage or dumping prior to 1952. Better yet, the sample points were installed, sampled, and plugged each day at minimal cost and without interrupting plant operations. And when we're done locating sources, the soil-gas data will be useful for assessing vapor intrusion.

EPA to Study Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources

EPA recently published its plans to conduct a comprehensive national study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The study will evaluate the impacts associated with the entire hydraulic fracturing water life cycle. The results, which will be available in 2014, have the potential to significantly impact the perception and regulation of hydraulic fracturing.
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