EPA, HUD Announce Major Lead Disclosure Settlement
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced the broadest lead disclosure settlement ever with one of the nation's largest property management firms, the Denver-based Apartment Investment and Management Co. Families living in more than 130,000 apartments in 47 states and Washington, D.C., will live in lead-safe units as a result of this landmark settlement. AIMCO allegedly failed to warn its tenants that their homes may contain lead-based paint hazards in violation of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act. Under the settlement, AIMCO has agreed to test and clean up lead-based paint hazards in more than 130,000 apartments nationwide and pay a $129,580 penalty. The penalty and the number of units being tested and cleaned are the largest ever in a lead disclosure settlement. Because AIMCO voluntarily disclosed violations of the Residential Lead- Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, the company was able to significantly reduce its penalty. At the same time, HUD and EPA are ensuring that AIMCO's properties will become free of lead-based paint hazards. Approximately three-quarters of the nation's housing stock built before 1978 (approximately 64 million dwellings) contains some lead-based paint. Of those, approximately 25 million housing units have lead-based paint hazards such as chipping and peeling paint and lead in dust, according to a recent HUD survey...Read More »
WTC Steel Recycled for Markets Abroad
Steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center is destined for a new life in India and China, where it has been sent for recycling and is set to end up in new construction projects. One firm taking steel from the huge project to clear Ground Zero is New York's Metals Management, which has bought 70,000 tons of scrap from the ruined twin towers. Some of the steel has been shipped across the Pacific to Southeast Asia. Several vessels have already sailed from New York with consignments of scrap. Among them are the extremely dense steel girders from Ground Zero, which could finally yield 250,000 to 400,000 tons of scrap for recycling...Read More »
ESS Releases Waste Reporter Software
Environmental Support Solutions, Inc. has announced that the newest release of its Waste Reporter Software is available for download at the company's website. Waste Reporter 2001 assists individuals in fulfilling their regulatory requirements by automating biennial report creation. This year's biennial reports are due to the EPA by March 1, 2002. This newest version reflects a series of regulatory changes made by the EPA in early 2001. These changes clarified for waste generators which hazardous waste streams should be included on the biennial report when determining their site's status, among other updates. Other enhancements to the software include an updated interface, and three importation methods: step-by-step question process, direct entry or through an importation bridge to Waste Manager, Waste Reporter 2001's companion software. The program also allows transmission of reports in EPA-ready flat format, HTML help and provides state-specific instructions for those generators who must comply with state regulations in conjunction with federal requirements...Read More »
Philip Announces Plans To Close Hazwaste Plant
A hazardous-waste company fined more than $1 million last year for mishandling waste will close its Georgetown, Washington facility eight years before its permit expires as part of a settlement with environmental regulators. Philip Services at the end of next year will shut down its Georgetown plant, where it has been cleaning up polluted ground water heading toward the Duwamish River, and begin shipping its hazardous waste to other facilities the company owns in Kent and Tacoma. Philip Services, one of the largest waste-handling companies on the continent, took over the Georgetown facility nearly a decade ago, inheriting a spill of toxic benzene and solvents that had contaminated ground water. While some residents complained the spill exposed them to chemicals that were making them sick, state and federal tests indicated that wasn't likely. Under the settlement agreement, the company will pay $136,115 in penalties but will spend $2.2 million to expedite closure of the facility. It will continue to clean up the underground spill...Read More »
Bush Administration Will Proceed With Clean Air Suits
The Bush administration will proceed with lawsuits against several U.S. utilities for allegedly violating a Clean Air Act provision that requires new pollution equipment when a plant is expanded or upgraded General John Ashcroft said the Environmental Protection Agency ``has a reasonable basis'' for continuing the lawsuits initiated during the Clinton administration. In November 1999, the Clinton administration sued a dozen U.S. coal-fired utilities for expanding or upgrading plants without installing modern equipment required to control smog, acid rain and soot. It sought to strictly enforce the Clean Air Act's so-called ``new source review'' rules, which exempt power plants and oil refineries built before 1977 from installing modern pollution controls unless major modifications are made to the plants. Some of the companies sued by the Justice Department included FirstEnergy Corp., Duke Energy Corp., Vectren Corp.'s Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co, Dynegy Inc.'s Illinos Power, Cinergy Corp., American Electric Power Co. and Southern Co...Read More »
Stewart Environmental Acquires Rose Environmental
Stewart Environmental announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Rose Environmental and will immediately begin integration of the products and services developed by Rose Environmental into its ehsSUITE product line. Stewart Environmental identified Rose Environmental as a firm that provided targeted services and innovative software for secure environmental management in the power generation and other industries. Stewart Environmental is a compliance management software solutions provider for business ranging from large enterprises to small concerns...Read More »
Tetra Tech Wins $10 Million Lockheed Contract
Tetra Tech, Inc. has been awarded a $10 million contract from Lockheed Martin to support energy, environmental and safety projects. The new indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity five-year contract provides services to Lockheed Martin nationwide. Tetra Tech has already been issued approximately $3 million of work under the contract that will begin immediately. Tetra Tech will provide engineering, environmental, safety and other technical services to Lockheed Martin's active and discontinued operations. Work will be performed on a time and materials or fixed-price basis. This new contract expands the geographic and technical scope of Tetra Tech's 11-year relationship with Lockheed Martin...Read More »
IT Group Signs Financing Agreement with Shaw
The IT Group, Inc. has signed a letter of intent with The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SGR) regarding a proposed transaction in which Shaw would acquire substantially all of IT's assets in exchange for approximately $105 million and the assumption of certain liabilities. The company estimates the transaction to have a value of approximately $160 million to $200 million. In addition, The IT Group announced that the company has sought relief under chapter 11. In connection with these filings and the proposed transaction with Shaw, Shaw has agreed in principle to provide The IT Group with a debtor-in-possession credit facility of up to $75 million, $25 million of which will be available to The IT Group upon initial bankruptcy court approval...Read More »
Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin