EPA Reaches $21.8 Million Superfund Agreement

On Jan. 25, EPA announced that a $21.8 million settlement had been reached with 95 parties to clean up the Spectron Inc. Superfund site in Elkton, Md. The settling defendants are alleged to have generated or arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous substances contaminating the eight-acre Superfund site.

Under this consent decree, the settling defendants have agreed to perform and fund an estimated $19.5 million cleanup at the site and reimburse about $1.8 million to EPA in past cleanup costs. The settlement also includes a payment of $507,300 to the natural resource trustees to restore aquatic habitat and resources, including migratory fish such as blueback herring that were harmed by contaminant releases from the site.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) filed the proposed consent decree in a federal district court on behalf of EPA and four other agencies that are natural resource trustees — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. (more…)

Businesses, Environmental Groups Offer U.S. Climate Change Policy Recommendations

Ten major U.S. corporations are joining environmental groups to call on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation to achieve significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

The alliance, called the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), released a report on Jan. 22 that recommends a 10 percent to 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within 15 years with a goal of a 60 percent to 80 percent reduction by 2050. The US CAP report, A Call for Action, calls for a comprehensive package of policies that are market based, including a greenhouse gas trading system and support for new, clean technologies and efficiency.

“The time has come for constructive action that draws strength equally from business, government, and non-governmental stakeholders,” said Jeff Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric. “These recommendations should catalyze legislative action that encourages innovation and fosters economic growth while enhancing energy security and balance of trade, ensuring U.S. leadership on an issue of significance to our country and the world.”

The U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) consists of Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, FPL Group, General Electric, Lehman Brothers, PG&E, and PNM Resources, along with four non-governmental organizations — Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and World Resources Institute.

USCAP’s recommendations are based on the following six principles:

• Account for the global dimensions of climate change.
• Recognize the importance of technology.
• Be environmentally effective.
• Create economic opportunity and advantage.
• Be fair to sectors disproportionately impacted.
• Recognize and encourage early action.

The principles and the recommendations outlined in the report are the result of a year-long collaboration motivated by the shared goal of slowing, stopping and reversing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions over the shortest period of time reasonably achievable.

This unique cooperation of business and environmental leaders is a clear signal to lawmakers that legislative action is urgently needed, the groups stated. This non-partisan effort was driven by the top executives from member organizations — companies with a combined market capitalization of more than $750 billion and environmental groups with more than one million members worldwide and global policy influence.

USCAP urges policy makers to enact a policy framework for mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from major emitting sectors, including large stationary sources and transportation, and energy use in commercial and residential buildings. The cornerstone of this approach would be a cap-and-trade program. The environmental goal is to reduce global atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to a level that minimizes large-scale adverse impacts to humans and the natural environment. The group recommends Congress provide leadership and establish short- and mid-term emission reduction targets; a national program to accelerate technology research, development and deployment; and approaches to encourage action by other countries, including those in the developing world, as ultimately the solution must be global.

“The Climate Action Partnership recognizes that the undertaking to address climate change is an enormous one, and should not be underestimated,” said Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute. “But enacting environmentally effective, economically sustainable and fair climate change law must be a national priority.”

USCAP believes that programs to encourage efficiency and to promote cleaner technologies in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 enacted by the last Congress and supported by the president were a good step. However, they alone cannot get the nation to where it needs to be on the climate change issue. The members of USCAP pledge to work with the president, the Congress and other stakeholders to confront this vital global challenge.

The report can be accessed in PDF format at http://www.us-cap.org/ClimateReport.pdf.

More and more businesses are providing employees with laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones for speed, convenience and mobility of communication. The benefits can be enormous, particularly for business travelers. So can the security risks, if proper precautions are not taken. Before handing out these high-tech communication tools, the Better Business Bureau advises business to instruct employees how to protect the security of data that is being transmitted or stored. The following guidelines may prove helpful:

• Always keep your laptop, PDA or cell phone within sight, even when at the office.  Lock your business cell phone and PDA in a secure location when not in use.
• Keep your portable device within eyesight and easy reach when traveling. Stealing laptops at airports and from trains and restaurants has become a popular data theft technique.
• If at all possible, do not store any sensitive customer or employee data (such as bank account numbers, ATM codes, Social Security numbers and credit/debit card info) on these portable devices. If any employee (a salesperson or telecommuter, for instance) needs to take customer data, employee date or other sensitive information off business premises on a laptop, CD, flash drive or other portable device, insist and make certain that the data is encrypted.
• Password-protect access to the laptop, DA and cell phone. Also make use of passwords to protect Internet access, e-mail, voicemail and address books.
• Turn off the devices when not in use. Do not download or accept file downloads from unknown sources.
• Do not share portable communication/organization tools with others.
• Backup all data regularly and keep back-up disks and other back-up materials in a locked, secure area.

 A final word of caution from the BBB: Do not assume that laptops are the only devices that can be hacked into. Criminals can hack into cell phones and steal stored files, contacts and voice mails. Viruses can also significantly disrupt cell phones. Cell phone owners should check with their providers regularly for updates on security features to make certain they have configured their settings for maximum security.

When was the last time you changed your motor oil, painted your house, or filled your snowblower?  All of these tasks involve using household hazardous materials, motor oil, paint, and gas.  Recently the City of Chicago opened a new recycle center for household hazardous materials.  The center is located in the Goose Island area of Chicago and will accept most common hazardous materials including the following materials for recycling or safe disposal: antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, aerosol paints, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, cleaning products, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, mercury, fluorescent lamps and bulbs, computers and cell phones. 

The center will also recycle old computers and works with Computers for Schools a non-profit organization making computers available to schools.

Mayor Daley explained that the new center is one of the City’s most environmentally friendly buildings.  “In addition to a green roof, the building features the first solar wall in the State of Illinois. This wall will absorb heat and reduce energy consumption,” said Daley.  The building was constructed from existing materials, recycles heat and retains storm water

The center was funded by a partnership of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Clean Energy Fund, and the City of Chicago. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency provided financial assistance for the ongoing disposal of the chemicals collected at the facility.

Recently I have been asked by a number of people about what The Compliance Resouce (CR)Center does.  We do a lot and we do it well.  Our mission is to give you the best training and/or consulting, and make it relevant to your business.  Below is a list of some of the services The Compliance Resource Center can provide.

What do we DO?

• ON-SITE Training and Consulting
• Write Policies and Procedures
• Answer YOUR Questions
• Set up a Web Page
• Train YOU in Training Skills

Training and Consulting in the following areas:

• US DOT – Hazmat (49 CFR part 100-185)
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety (13 modules to choose from)
• OSHA – General Industry (1910), Construction (1926),
• HazWoper- 40-Hour, 24-Hour, 8-Hour (OSHA 1910.120)
• US EPA – Hazardous Waste, Asbestos, Mold, Air Quality
• First Aid/CPR/AED
• On-Site Emergency Response Planning
• Assessment and Audits
• Policies and Procedures
   

Coordinate Safety and/or Compliance Training

• Customized Training
• Open Enrollment (on campus class)
• On-Site at Business Partner

Complete Training Package, including:

• Trainers
• Materials
• Student Completion Certificate
• Database Recordkeeping of Activity
   
  The Compliance Resource Center will be happy to answer your safety or compliance questions, as a free service.
  Become a member of our free mailing list, which has no advertising, only safety and compliance information, by sending your contact information to info@thecrcenter.com
  For additional information, please contact us at the web address or phone numbers provided below.
  Allan Kaufman, Director, 847-298-3063, cell; 847-372-3063
  www.theCRcenter.com allan@thecrcenter.com

Louisiana resident and President of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Donald S. Jones Sr., P.E., CSP, offers the following business resumption safety tips. These include preparation tips, a disaster safety checklist, mold information and resources to assist businesses of all sizes before, during and after a disaster.

“This is important information that helps us throughout the year. We urge everyone to take stock of their existing contingency plans — whether at work or at home — now to reduce injury and destruction should a disaster occur,” Jones said.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for business resumption following a disaster. Following a disaster, all businesses should do a hazard evaluation and assessment performed by a safety professional which would include the following: (more…)

JANUARY 2007        
January 1 - 31 National Radon Action Month National Safety Council Kristin Marstiller
202-293-2270 ext. 469  Radon Fact Sheet
FEBRUARY 2007        
February 1 - 28 American Heart Month American Heart Association   www.americanheart.org 
February 1 - 28 Save Your Vision Month American Academy of Ophthalmology  John Paine
415-561-8525  www.aao.org 
February 11-17 National Child Passenger Safety Week National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Tina Foley
202-366-9550 www.nhtsa.gov 
MARCH 2007        
March 18-24 National Poison Prevention Week U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  Kim Dulic
301-504-7908  
APRIL 2007        
April 1 - 30 Sports Eye Safety Month American Academy of Ophthalmology  John Paine
415-561-8525  www.aao.org
April 1- 7 National Workzone Awareness Week Federal Highway Administration   www.fhwa.dot.gov
April 2 - 8 National Public Health Week American Public Health Association Lakitia Mayo
202-777-2515  www.apha.org
April 8 World Health Day WHO Regional Office for the Americas 202-974-3156  World-Health-Day
April 22 - 28 National Window Safety Week Window Safety Task Force  Janice Charletta
847-303-5859 x230  Window Safety
April 22 - 28 National Playground Safety Week   Donna Mokricky
800-554-7529  www.uni.edu/playground 
April 28 Workers’ Memorial Day American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)    www.afl-cio.org 
April 30 - May 6 National SAFE Kids Week National SAFE Kids Campaign  Suzanne Morton
202-662-4476 www.safekids.org 
MAY 2007        
May 1 - 31 National Electrical Safety Month National Electrical Safety Foundation  Michael Clendenin
703-841-3296 www.electrical-safety.org 
May 6 - 12  North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) American Society of Safety Engineers Diane Hurns
847-768-3413 www.asse.org 
May 6 Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day American Society of Safety Engineers Diane Hurns
847-768-3413 www.asse.org 
May 19 - 25 National Safe Boating Week National Safe Boating Council  Virgil Chambers
703-361-4294  www.safeboatingcouncil.org 
May 20 - 26 National Emergency Medical Services Week American College of Emergency Physicians  Denise Fechner
800-798-1822 x326  www.acep.org 
May 21 - 28 Buckle Up America National Highway Traffic Safety Administration   www.nhtsa.dot.gov 
May 21 - June 3 Click It or Ticket Mobilization Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign & National Highway Traffic Safety Administration   www.nhtsa.dot.gov 
JUNE 2007        
June 1 - 30 National Safety Month National Safety Council 630-775-2160  National Safety Month 
AUGUST 2007        
August 1 - 31 Cataract Awareness Month 
 
SEPTEMBER 2007        
September 1 - 30 National Preparedness Month U.S. Department of Homeland Security   
September 16 - 27  National Farm Safety and Health Week  National Safety Council   National Farm Safety and Health Week
OCTOBER 2007        
October 1 - 31 Eye Injury Prevention Month American Academy of Ophthalmology John Paine
415-561-8525 www.aao.org 
October 14 - 20 National Radon Action Week National Safety Council Kristin Marstiller
202-293-2270 ext. 469  Radon Fact Sheet

Erin Egdemon, the business editor of The Murfreesboro Post recently reported on Nissan’s efforts to focus on worker safety.  Nissan officials reported “Nissan North America can’t make quality products, maintain high productivity levels and retain quality workers without focusing on safety.” 

Nissan North America has seen a 72 percent decrease in recordables from 2000 to 2005.  As discussed earlier in America’s Safest Companies Get Safety Benefits, Nissan’s management is realizing that safety works.  Having a good safety program improves quality, reduces workers comp cost and brings more money down to the bottom line.

While there is an ongoing need for measures to reduce accidents involving trucks with hazardous material shipments, the accident rate nationwide is low when compared to accidents involving trucks with nonhazardous materials.

At the same time, the high percentage of hazmat accidents involving gases (flammable, nonflammable, and poisonous), flammable liquids, and corrosive materials highlights the need to continue to improve safety efforts for these types of shipments.

According to a 2001 report prepared by Battelle for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there is an annual average of 2,484 en route accidents involving hazmat shipments. An accident involves a collision.

When adding other types of incidents, including noncollisions and loading/unloading incidents, the overall annual economic impact was estimated at $1.2 billion. That figure includes $2.8 million per death, $200,000 per injury, and $15 per hour times the total number of people delayed by the accident/incident.

Other cost impact categories considered were cleanup, property damage, evacuation, product loss, and environmental damage.

In contrast, the annual average of truck nonhazmat accidents was estimated at 126,880 at an annual cost of about $43 billion.

Here are other statistics of interest:

Hazmat shipments make up between 4 percent and 8 percent of all shipments.
The average cost of a hazmat accident, both release and nonrelease, was estimated at $414,000.
The average cost of a nonhazmat accident was estimated at $334,000.
Class 3 shipments (flammable and combustible liquids) account for 64 percent of the en route accidents involving releases and about 52 percent of the nonrelease accidents.
Class 3 and Class 8 shipments (corrosive materials) are involved in about 77 percent of all en route leaks per year.
Class 3 and Class 8 shipments were also involved in about 84 percent of all loading and unloading incidents

Be Prepared Before the Storm Strikes

At Home and Work

Primary concerns are loss of heat, power and telephone service and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day.

Have available:

· Flashlight and extra batteries.
· Battery-powered National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency information. These may be your only links to the outside.
· Extra food and water. Have high energy food, such as dried fruit, nuts and granola bars, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration.
· Extra medicine and baby items.
· First-aid supplies.
· Heating fuel. Refuel before you are empty. Fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a winter storm.
· Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove, space heater.
· Use properly to prevent a fire.
· Ventilate properly.
· Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm.
· Test smoke alarms once a month to ensure they work properly.
· Make sure pets have plenty of food, water and shelter. (more…)