Some in Palmerton feel borough was shortchanged
http://www.tnonline.com/node/134788
Reported on Friday, September 17, 2010
Some in Palmerton feel borough was shortchanged
By TERRY AHNER tahner@tnonline.com
TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS Dr. Kathleen Patnode, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives a presentation on the Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site Natural Resource Damage Assessment to members of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce earlier this week.
Has Palmerton been shortchanged out of a $20 million settlement for damage to the environment?
A number of borough officials and business owners believe so, and let their thoughts be heard at a meeting of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce earlier this week.
Dr. Kathleen Patnode, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, explained the nature of the settlement reached last year between the Environmental Protection Agency and CBS Operations, Inc, as well as the decision-making process that determined how the funds are to be used.
Recently, government trustees have decided that more than 95-percent of the natural resource damage assessment funds are expected to be expended on projects well outside the Palmerton area.
Patnode gave a presentation on the Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site Natural Resource Damage Assessment Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment.
As part of her dialogue, Patnode shared the context for the natural resource damaged assessment; summarized the natural resource injury assessment; outlined the restoration opinions analysis; described the preferred restoration alternatives; and reviewed the public process.
Patnode said that under Superfund site law, natural resource damage assessments are conducted by government officials designated to act as “trustees” to bring claims on behalf of the public for the restoration of natural resources injured due to hazardous substances. Those trustees include the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, she said.
The goal, Patnode said, is to make the public whole for the hazardous substance-related loss of natural resources through restoration, replacement, or acquisition of the equivalent of injured resources.
Patnode stressed that natural resource damages are in addition to remedial actions. and that remedial actions are risk-based to protect human health and the environment from further unacceptable harm, such as to bind metals in soils and plants on the mountain; to stop metals from contaminating groundwater; and to prevent metals from entering the creek.
Natural resource damages for the Palmerton site are the restoration needed to compensate for the level and type of natural resources that would have existed if metals had not contaminated the mountain, groundwater and creek, Patnode said.
She said the keys in the NRDA process are to define the scope, evaluate the injury, use information to reach settlement with potentially responsible parties, and develop a restoration plan.
The settlement for natural resource damages was reached with the responsible parties on Oct. 27, 2009, by judicial consent decree, Patnode said.
That includes the transfer of about 1,300 acres of the “King Manor” property to PGC; the discharge of the $300,000 mortgage on the Lehigh Gap Nature Center; a nonprofit conservation and environmental education organization located in the Lehigh Gap; a cash payment of $9.875 million, that, based on the cost of potential restoration projects, would compensate for remaining losses; as well as full reimbursement of the trustees’ damage assessment costs, she said.
The proposal, Patnode said, calls for the funds to be used for habitat acquisition/easement protection of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge; Lehigh River Headwaters and other areas on Kittatinny Ridge and the Lehigh River; a Lower Lehigh River Dam removal feasibility study; a Parryville access site for fishing on the Lehigh River; and restoration and enhancement of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
But, many residents in the Palmerton area believe that a greater percentage of the funds should be use on local environmental projects, said Peter Kern, chamber president.
“I think everybody understands the difference between remediation and replacement,” Kern said. “People are concerned there will be little or no money in the local community.”
Terry Costenbader, president of Palmerton Borough Council, was a bit more blunt in his approach.
“Let’s cut to the chase; CBS is paying the penalty here for causing the damage,” Costenbader said. “It sounds to me you people want to spend the money in other areas than where we’re sitting.”
Jim Christman, owner of Christman Realty, told Patnode the criteria “seems odd”, and added that the real damage to the community “has been the stigma as a Superfund Site attached to it.”
Patnode said that while she could empathize, a specific set of rules and regulations must be followed.
“I understand what you’re saying and that there could be many civic products in Palmerton,” Patnode said. “This law only basically allows us to restore natural resources.”
Patnode said appropriate lands could include the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the Upper Lehigh River area.
She said the public comment period was from June 15 to July 15; however, comments submitted after the deadline were accepted. Trustees will review all comments and develop a revised document and response to the comments, Patnode said.
Also, she said additional restoration projects for Trustee evaluation are being accepted. But, Patnode said potential projects won’t be reviewed until the restoration plan is final; projects will be divided by alternative type and evaluated by the subcouncil responsible for that alternative; and the subcouncil recommendations must receive unanimous vote by the entire trustee council.
Patnode said the goal is to get the plan finalized this fall, at which point projects could be reviewed.
Dan Kunkle, director of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, said the group is merely “following the law.”
“I trust they are going to look at our proposals, and accept or reject them based on the criteria,” Kunkle said. “I think the project is really working.”
Palmerton Citizens for a Clean Environment will be holding a public meeting
http://www.tnonline.com/node/123117
Reported on Friday, August 6, 2010
Clean Environmental meeting set for Aug. 10
The Palmerton Citizens for a Clean Environment will be holding a public meeting Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Palmerton Ambulance building on Delaware Avenue.
Charlie Root, EPA Superfund Project Manager, will be in attendance and will provide updates on the borough’s Superfund issues. Also attending is: Dave Polish, EPA Community Coordinator; Griff Miller, the “Ricra” lead for the EPA’s West Plant Revitalization Program; and Jim Kunkle, a liaison from the Department of Environmental Protection.
The meeting will be open to the public.
Public meeting scheduled on Palmerton zinc pile site
http://www.tnonline.com/node/105589
Public meeting scheduled on Palmerton zinc pile site
Reported on Wednesday, June 9, 2010
By TERRY AHNER tahner@tnonline.com
Those with environmental concerns over the Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site will soon have a platform to express their viewpoints.
A public meeting to comment on the Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the site will be held at 7 p.m. June 15 at Palmerton Area High School.
The Plan will be presented, followed by a question-and-answer period. Representatives from the Trustee agencies will be present.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on behalf of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, invites the public to comment on the Plan.
The Plan evaluates alternatives to restore natural resources injured at the Site, and describes the restoration actions that are proposed as compensation to the public for losses resulting from those injuries.
The alternatives are described in the context of a settlement agreement with the parties responsible for contamination of the assessment area. All interested parties are invited to submit comments on the Plan.
The Plan is available for review at the Palmerton Area Library. Requests for copies of the Plan may be made to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, Attention Kathleen Patnode, 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322, State College, PA 16801.
A 30-day public comment period will be held through July 15. Written comments or materials regarding the Plan should be sent to the same address. Comments may also be sent via email to Kathleen_Patnode@fws.gov.
CANCER CLUSTER MONEY IS SAFE
http://www.brctv13.com/local_news.shtml
CANCER CLUSTER MONEY IS SAFE
May 7, 2010
The search for answers in a rare cancer cluster will continue. $2.5 million was earmarked to further study the polycythemia vera cancer cluster in Carbon, Schuylkill, and Luzerne Counties. But, sources at the Centers for Disease Control say the agency was considering reprogramming that funding and not using it to study the rare blood cancer. Senator Arlen Specter made sure the important funding will stay where it belongs. Residents feel toxic dump sites are to blame for tainting groundwater and making people sick. Some of the money will be used to test groundwater and air samples for contamination.
From Superfund to Super Habitat: Lehigh Gap Nature Center
The Lehigh Gap Nature Center is currently being highlighted in a statewide publication called Keystone Wild! Notes published on line by PA DCNR (Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources). Click on the following link to read the article.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcp/wildnotes/spring10/index.html
PA connections of contractor under fire for covering up Lejeune contamination
By Sue Sturgis
Hometown Hazards
March 10, 2010
My Congressman, Rep. Brad Miller, is the lawmaker who’s been raising hell about shoddy work by ATSDR in general, and particularly about what happened at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina, where cancer is widespread among former base residents.
Yesterday Miller’s committee requested documents from the Navy and a private contractor out of concerns that they knew about benzene contamination at Camp Lejeune but kept that information under wraps. Here’s a recent news story about that:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/09/379463/congressional-investigators-seek.html
The private contractor is Baker Environmental, a subsidiary of the Michael Baker Corp. I decided to check out who exactly this Baker is. As it turns out, Baker Environmental holds the contract to provide general assistance to the PA DEP’s Superfund program. It manages the program, does investigation and remediation, and provides engineering studies and remedial designs:
http://www.mbakercorp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1684&Itemid=278
Because of that, I do believe this ongoing Lejeune investigation will be worth watching for the folks back home in PA, and wanted to give you all a heads up.
EPA’s Budget Proposal Seeks Efficiencies, Increased Environmental Protection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010
EPA’s Budget Proposal Seeks Efficiencies, Increased Environmental Protection
Budget proposal aligned with Administrator Jackson’s key priorities
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today proposed a budget of $10 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This budget heeds the president’s call to streamline and find efficiencies in the agency’s operations while supporting the seven priority areas EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson outlined to guide EPA’s work.
“To meet our environmental challenges and ensure fiscal responsibility, we’re proposing targeted investments in core priorities. This budget cuts spending while promoting clean air, land and water, growing the green economy and strengthening enforcement,” said Administrator Jackson. ”The president’s budget is focused on creating the conditions that help American families, communities and small businesses thrive. Clean air, clear water and green jobs are rebuilding the foundations for prosperity in communities across the country.”
Budget Highlights:
Cleaning up communities: This budget includes $1.3 billion to address Superfund sites that may be releasing harmful or toxic substances into the surrounding community. Cleaning up these sites improves communities’ health and allows for these properties to be used for economic development.
In addition, $215 million is provided to clean up abandoned or underused industrial and commercial sites that are available for alternative uses but where redevelopment may be complicated by the presence of environmental contaminants. Revitalizing these once productive properties, known as brownfields, helps communities by removing blight, satisfying the growing demand for land, and enabling economic development. EPA will focus its efforts on area-wide planning and cleanups, especially in under-served and economically disadvantaged communities.
This budget also offers $27 million for EPA’s new Healthy Communities Initiative. This initiative will address community water priorities; promote clean, green, and healthy schools; improve air toxics monitoring in at-risk communities; and encourage sustainability by helping to ensure that policies and spending at the national level do not adversely affect the environment and public health or disproportionally harm disadvantaged communities.
Improving Air Quality: In addition to the funding provided through the Healthy Communities Initiative, this budget includes $60 million to support state efforts to implement updated National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA proposed stricter air quality standards for smog and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and will work with states to help them meet those standards in the years ahead.
Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships: This budget includes $1.3 billion for state and tribal grants. State and local governments are working diligently to implement new and expanded requirements under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. New and expanded requirements include implementation of updated NAAQS and addressing emerging water quality issues such as nutrient pollution. In addition to the $25 million for greenhouse gas permitting and $60 million to support state efforts to implement updated NAAQS, the $1.3 billion for state and tribal grants includes $45 million for states to enhance their water enforcement and permitting programs. In order to help tribes move forward with implementation of environmental programs, $30 million is budgeted for a new competitive Tribal Multi-media Implementation grant program. To further enhance tribal environmental management capabilities, this budget also includes an additional $9 million for Tribal General Assistance Program grants.
Taking Action on Climate Change: This budget contains more than $43 million for additional efforts to address climate change and work toward a clean energy future. EPA will implement the greenhouse gas reporting rule; provide technical assistance to ensure that any permitting under the Clean Air Act will be manageable; perform regulatory work for the largest stationary sources of greenhouse gas emissions; develop standards for mobile sources such as cars and trucks; and continue research of carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
Protecting America’s Waters: This budget broadens efforts to clean up America’s great waterbodies. It provides $63 million for efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and $17 million for the Mississippi River Basin to respond to non-point source control recommendations of the Nutrients Innovation Task Group and implement recommendations outlined in the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Action Plan.
This budget also invests $3.3 billion to maintain and improve outdated water infrastructure and keep our wastewater and drinking water clean and safe. This is in addition to $6 billion in funding provided to states through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Assuring the Safety of Chemicals: This budget calls for $56 million for chemical assessment and risk review to ensure that no unreasonable risks are posed by new or existing chemicals. This budget also invests $29 million (including $15 million in grants funding) in the continuing effort to eliminate childhood lead poisoning, and $6 million to support national efforts to mitigate exposure to high-risk legacy chemicals, such as mercury and asbestos.
Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice: This budget contains $8 million for environmental justice programs. It targets increased brownfields investments to under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and proposes $9 million for community water priorities in the Healthy Communities Initiative, funds that will help under-served communities restore urban waterways and address water quality challenges. EPA is committed to identifying and addressing the health and environmental burdens faced by communities disproportionately impacted by pollution. This commitment is fulfilled through the agency’s efforts to give people a voice in decisions that impact their lives and to integrate environmental justice in EPA programs, policies and activities.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/budget
CONTACTS:
Enesta Jones (Media Inquiries Only)
jones.enesta@epa.gov
202-564-7873
202-564-4355
Lina Younes (Public Inquiries Only)
younes.lina@epa.gov
202-564-9924
202-564-4355
EPA Conference Focuses on Greener Cleanups
Contact: Roy Seneca seneca.roy@epa.gov 215-814-5567
EPA Conference Focuses on Greener Cleanups
PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 21, 2010) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding a two-day conference Feb. 10-11 at Drexel University in Philadelphia to explore the most environmentally safe methods to clean up and revitalize contaminated properties.
The Green Cleanup Symposium will feature presentations from the nation’s top thinkers on how to properly clean up abandoned or contaminated properties so that the land can be reused as a safe and sustainable community resource.
“By conducting cleanups with innovative green techniques in mind, we can further reduce our footprint and demonstrate how we value our land as a natural, cultural, and economic resource,” said Shawn M. Garvin, administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.
Cleaning up sites can be viewed as “green” from the perspective of the cleanup improving environmental and public health conditions. However, cleanup activities use energy, water and materials that create an environmental footprint of its own. Over time, EPA has learned how to optimize environmental performance and implement protective cleanups that are greener by taking steps to minimize that footprint.
Some examples of utilizing greener cleanup techniques include using equipment that emits less particulate matter to the air, sizing equipment accurately to avoid wasted energy, water, and material, and using renewable energy or recycled material to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and conserve resources.
More information on the conference and registration forms is available at: http://www.drexel.edu/cities/greencleanupsymposium.html .