Article Updates

Working through some old articles I have written or posted! Here we go,
https://www.ishn.com/articles/91838-safety-sales-up-in-a-down-economy

Using Corp Org Charts To Drive Sales

Complex Sale? No Organization Chart? Why Not?

Posted on July 25th, 2011 by Dave Stein

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Why don’t sales reps don’t utilize org charts for complex opportunities they’re pursuing? Why don’t their sales managers insist that they do? Those graphic representations of a company/division structure are invaluable in a complex sale. The most effective sales coaches I know refuse to help a rep with a deal unless they have an up-to-date organization chart.

Org charts are so important that several sales training companies require them as a critical component of their opportunity and account management approaches. More advanced opportunity and account plans (and supporting software) allow you to overlay a political map on top of the org chart so you see the relationships between influencers, decision makers, your supporters and those who would gladly serve those functions for your competitors. (By the way, if you’re in a complex selling environment and your team isn’t taking the political landscape within the customers’ organizations into account when developing a strategy to win, you need help. Yesterday.)

If a rep can’t get someone in the account to give them an org chart, they should be able to build one with help from their contacts.

Here’s a link to Forbes Corporate Org Chart Wiki. Try it. Think about what impact org charts and the skills to understand them would have on the outcome of your team’s sales opportunities.

Eight Things to Quit To Improve Your Sales Results Now

Eight Things to Quit To Improve Your Sales Results Now http://ow.ly/4cNaj
by S. ANTHONY IANNARINO on MARCH 10, 2011

To succeed in sales, you can’t quit. You can never give up. You have to fire every weapon and you have to play all four quarters. But there are lots of things you can quit to produce better sales results.

Poor Beliefs: Quit the poor beliefs that no longer serve you. Quitting poor beliefs allows you to try on the beliefs that will allow you to practice the behaviors and take the actions that produce better sales results.

Violating the Iron Laws of Sales: Quit violating the iron laws of sales, believing that closing comes before opening, that prescribing comes before diagnosing, and that there will be time for prospecting later. Start following the iron laws and doing the difficult work that make selling easier.

Calling On the Disqualified: Stop calling on the prospects and nightmare clients who should have long ago been disqualified. Your pipeline may not look as nice without these opportunities, but they steal from you the time you need to pursue your dream clients.

Stop Wasting Time: Your greatest constraint is time, and you have to protect it. This means developing the discipline to develop the focus that allows you to produce better sales results faster.

Quit Avoiding Problems: Stop avoiding the problems that are preventing your clients and dream clients from achieving the outcomes that they need—especially if you sold them the outcomes. Your success depends on your ability to help your clients and dream clients succeed.

Believing That You Know Enough: Quit believing that you know enough to win your dream client’s business. Quit believing you have done all the personal and professional developing that you need to do to be your best. Instead, ask the questions and develop the edge.

Buying the Hype: Stop buying the hype that selling is changing so rapidly and irrevocably that nothing that that worked in the past is worth retaining. Know that changes only reinforce how important the underlying deep fundamentals are to selling effectively.

Making Excuses: Drop the excuses and the rationalizations that you believe let you off the hook for poor results. Know that you are responsible for producing your results and that no external factors have as much over your results as you do.
Kevin L. Brown www.kbsinsight.blogspot.com

Boiler explosion in gold mine sends toxic gas causing thousands to be hospitalized

http://www.fs-world.com/Show.asp?ID=10221&Form=1
March 16, 2010


Over 1000 people were hospitalized after inhaling an unidentified chemical substance in the Barrick Gold mine in Cotui, Dominican Republic.

The chemical is so toxic that doctors and nurses caring to the patients need to wear masks.

Apparently, the cause was a boiler explosion that spread the toxic gas around. More than 1,000 workers that were preparing to exploit a gold deposit in the northeast village Pueblo Viejo, Cotuí, were intoxicated by inhaling the yet unidentified chemical substance.


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Chemical explosion sent over 30 people to hospitals in Wisconsin

http://www.fs-world.com/Show.asp?ID=10226&Form=1
March 17, 2010


The chemicals explosion occurred at Olympia Resort and Conference Center at Oconomowoc Resort in Wisconsin, when a worker was reportedly mixing chlorine with another chemical while in the laundry room of the resort.

An employee suffered fractures, burns and an eye irritation in the chemicals explosion , while several other employees were taken to the hospital. As a safety precaution, over thirty people, including employees, police officers and fire rescue personnel also reported to area hospitals after the incident.

HazMat teams were dispatched to the scene to aid in cleanup efforts. It was undisclosed if OSHA will be conducting independent investigations into the workplace explosion.

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Northwest Iowa Dairy Operation to Pay $26,288 Civil Penalty for Discharge of Animal Waste Without Proper Permit

Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., March 22, 2010) – A dairy operation in Sioux County, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $26,288 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that it discharged animal waste pollutants from its facility into a tributary of the Orange City Slough without having a necessary permit.

Stoutjesdyk Dairy LLC, 3265 460th Street, Maurice, Iowa, did not have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit at the time of an April 2009 inspection by EPA Region 7, according to a consent agreement and final order filed today in Kansas City, Kan. In November 2009, EPA inspectors documented an illegal discharge at the dairy operation.

NPDES permits are required for operations that contain 700 or more dairy cattle, under requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. A permit is required even if the facility contains livestock in separate open and closed facilities within operation, as was the case with Stoutjesdyk Dairy. At the time of the inspection, the agreement says, Stoutjesdyk Dairy was confining approximately 1,260 dairy cows at the location, making it subject to regulation as a large concentrated animal feeding operation.

Wastes from the dairy operation flowed through multiple paths into a tributary of the nearby Orange City Slough. The tributary flows approximately ¼ mile to its confluence with Orange City Slough. Discharges by such means can impact water quality, pose risks to human health, threaten aquatic life and its habitat, and impair the use and enjoyment of waterways.

Through the consent agreement, Stoutjesdyk Dairy has certified that it will cease all illegal discharges and comply with the Clean Water Act.


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EPA orders DuPont Belle facility to take safety measures

PHILADELPHIA (March 19, 2010) -- The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company to review environmental safety procedures at its industrial plant in Belle, W. Va., where the release of phosgene gas in January led to the death of a DuPont employee.

The order results from an EPA inspection of the facility following three releases in January, including the release that caused the death. Based on EPA’s inspection and available information about the operation of the facility, EPA has determined that the facility has not satisfied Clean Air Act requirements that are designed to help prevent accidental releases and minimize the consequences of releases that do occur. The alleged violations include:

• failure to identify hazards which may result from releases using appropriate hazard assessment techniques;
• failure to design and maintain a safe facility; and
• failure to minimize the consequences of accidental releases that do occur.

EPA’s order requires DuPont to, among other things, review all of the facility processes that may pose a threat of accidental releases, provide a report to EPA detailing the review, and implement any modifications to standard operating procedures that are warranted as a result of this review. The order provides that DuPont may request a conference with EPA concerning the alleged violations and requirements of the order.

Throughout the on-going investigation, EPA has coordinated with the Chemical Safety Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

Kevin L. Brown www.stardustspillproducts.com
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EPA makes chemical information more accessible to public

Source: US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
Mar. 16, 2010 ShareThis
As part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s strong commitment to increase information on chemicals, for the first time, EPA is providing web access, free of charge, to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory. This inventory contains a consolidated list of thousands of industrial chemicals maintained by the agency. EPA is also making this information available on Data.Gov, a website developed by the Obama Administration to provide public access to important government information. This action represents another step to increase the transparency of chemical information while continuing to push for legislative reform of the 30 year old TSCA law.
“Increasing the public’s access to information on chemicals is one of Administrator Jackson’s top priorities,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “The American people are entitled to easily accessible information on chemicals, and today’s action is part of a series of ongoing steps that EPA is taking to empower the public with this important information.”

Until now, the consolidated public portion of the TSCA Inventory has only been available by purchase from the National Technical Reports Library or other databases. By adding the consolidated TSCA Inventory to the Agency’s website and to Data.Gov, EPA is making this information readily available to the public at no cost.

Currently, there are more than 84,000 chemicals manufactured, used, or imported in the U.S. listed on the TSCA Inventory. However, EPA is unable to publicly identify nearly 17,000 of these chemicals because the chemicals have been claimed as confidential business information under TSCA by the manufacturers. Under Administrator Jackson’s leadership, EPA has already begun a series of aggressive steps to provide greater transparency on chemical risk information, including an announcement in January that signaled EPA’s intent to reduce a certain type of confidentiality claim, or Confidential Business Information (CBI) claim, on the identity of chemicals

In the coming months, EPA will take further steps to increase transparency and make more information available to the public, including adding TSCA facility information, and the list of chemicals manufactured to the Facility Registry System (FRS). FRS is an integrated database that provides the public with easier access to EPA’s environmental information and better tools for cross-media environmental analysis. The addition of TSCA facility and chemical databases to FRS will provide the public with information on the facilities in their communities using industrial chemicals.

For information about EPA’s increasing transparency on chemical risk information see http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/631cf22eb540c4db852576b2004eca47!OpenDocument
For access to the entire TSCA Inventory, please visit
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/newchems/pubs/invntory.htm
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EPA Takes Action Against California Meat Processing Facility Following Hazardous Chemical Air Releases
Mar 2, 2010 4:11 PM, By Laura Walter

EPA is ordering Columbus Mfg., a meat processing company in South San Francisco, Calif., to address safety concerns in the facility’s ammonia refrigeration systems following a recent hazardous chemical release into the environment. Columbus has agreed to comply with the order.

In August 2009, the plant accidentally released approximately 200 pounds of anhydrous ammonia into the air. The release resulted in the evacuation of all facility employees and several neighboring businesses. Nearly 30 people from the nearby Genentech campus sought medical attention and 17 individuals were hospitalized. One person remained hospitalized for 4 days. In addition, off-ramps from Highway 101 and several local streets were shut down as a result of the incident.

“This release of an extremely hazardous chemical is unacceptable. It’s critical that Columbus Mfg. take specific actions to safeguard its employees and neighbors,” said Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “EPA will vigorously enforce federal rules to protect public health. As a result of these dangerous accidental releases, the company may also face substantial federal fines.”

Anhydrous ammonia is considered a poisonous gas. Exposure to its vapors can cause temporary blindness and eye damage, and irritation of the skin, mouth, throat, respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Prolonged exposure to anhydrous ammonia vapor at high concentrations can lead to serious lung damage and even death.

The facility’s accidental release in August allegedly was caused by a buildup of hydrostatic pressure in a section of piping which caused the subsequent rupture of a nearby component. Following the incident, EPA and San Mateo County’s Division of Environmental Health Services inspected the facility and evaluated Columbus’s ammonia refrigeration systems and safety management systems. The inspections revealed a number of safety concerns regarding the design and maintenance of the facility’s anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system.

EPA’s order requires Columbus to complete a series of tasks within the next 3 months. The tasks include the replacement of certain safety relief valves, the replacement of all components with any signs of corrosion or made from incompatible materials such as brass, and the proper tagging and labeling of all of its ammonia refrigeration system piping and valves. Within 105 days of this order, the facility will need to submit verification to the EPA indicating compliance with all required actions.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/region09/superfund/emerprep.

kevin brown www.stardustspillproducts.com

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EPA fines CUC for failing to submit facility oil spill response plan

HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. $29,000 for failing to meet the requirements of a stipulated order seeking to reform and bring into compliance CUC’s five power plants and an oil transfer pipeline.
Specifically, the penalty is for failing to submit a satisfactory facility response plan as outlined in the order.

The order required CUC to submit a facility response plan for its Lower Base power plants by July 9, 2009. The plan was submitted by CUC. However, on September 17, 2009, the EPA disapproved the initial submitted plan and provided CUC with 20 days to correct and resubmit the plan. CUC did not resubmit a corrected plan to the EPA.
“U.S. EPA expects the CUC to immediately fulfill its obligations under the stipulated order to ensure that a facility response plan is in place at its main power plant,” said Daniel Meer, the EPA’s assistant Superfund director for the Pacific Southwest region. “The potential for oil releases from their facilities and harm to environment is significant and CUC must implement steps to prevent and prepare for such discharges or face additional penalty demands."

CUC owns five power plants on the islands of Saipan and Rota. The facilities and an oil transfer pipeline on Saipan have a history of releases of oil. The EPA has found that CUC has caused discharges of harmful quantities of oil into the nearshore waters and shorelines.
In addition to past oil releases and the ongoing threats of oil releases from these facilities, CUC has failed to prepare and implement oil spill prevention plans for each of its five power plants and a facility response plan at its main power plant in Saipan, which is near Tanapag Harbor.

A facility response plan is required by the EPA for facilities which store over 1 million gallons of oil and have potential to cause significant and substantial harm to the environment. The plans must document that a facility has the necessary resources and equipment to respond to a worst case discharge at the facility, such as those that can be caused by typhoons and earthquakes. The plan also requires the facility to conduct drills, exercises and training to ensure prompt and effective response to small, medium and large oil spills.

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EPA Releases Most Up-to-Date Information Ever About Chemicals in U.S. Virgin Island Communities

(New York, N.Y. – Dec. 8, 2009) Did you know that with a few clicks of a mouse, you can learn how many pounds of toxic air pollutants were generated by your local power plant, or how many pounds of toxic chemicals were released by a factory near your child’s school? Even better, for the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making its inventory of toxic release data, called the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), available in the same calendar year that the reporting facilities submitted the information to the Agency.

EPA’s database provides the most recent information available about the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since 1988, TRI data has been released to the public annually to help people learn more about the chemicals present in their local environment and gauge environmental trends over time.

“Equipped with this data, which is now more up-to-date then ever, people have the basic information to protect their environment,” said Judith Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “Public awareness is a powerful tool and empowering the public with basic information about toxic chemicals in their communities advances our commitment to transparency and promotes openness between governments, businesses and the public.”

TRI is the most comprehensive inventory of information about chemicals released into the environment reported annually by certain industries and federal facilities. These facilities are permitted under strict federal regulations, and many are required to install and maintain pollution controls. On a national level, over 21,000 facilities reported on approximately 650 chemicals for calendar year 2008. TRI allows the public to see which facilities are increasing and decreasing their output of toxic chemicals and compounds. Thanks to improvements in EPA’s system, the vast majority of facilities now report data electronically and detailed information about specific facilities is more readily accessible to the public.

Today's data includes toxics released at company facilities and those transported to disposal facilities off site. All manufacturing companies, as well as coal and oil-fired power plants that produce or use any regulated chemical above the threshold limit are required to participate. The data are collected from industries that are in the following sectors: manufacturing, metal and coal mining, electric utilities, commercial hazardous waste treatment, chemical distributors, solvent recyclers and petroleum bulk storage as well as federal facilities.

TRI provides the amount, location and type of release to the environment --- whether a pollutant is emitted into the air, discharged into the water, or released onto the land. Additionally, TRI has been credited with providing communities with vital local knowledge and encouraging facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction or pollution prevention measures.

On-site toxic releases in the U.S. Virgin islands increased 6% from approximately 747,000 pounds in 2007 to 795,000 pounds in 2008. Of the facilities in the U.S. V.I. reporting toxic releases in 2008, the facilities with the largest on-site releases into the environment are as follows (from highest to lowest):

Name City 2007 Total 2008 Total 2007-2008
On-site Releases (lbs.) On-site Releases (lbs.) % Change
HOVENSA LLC CHRISTIANSTED 707,775 763,005 7.80
VIRGIN ISLANDS WATER & POWER AUTHORITY SAINT THOMAS 34,774 27,400 -21.21
SAINT THOMAS BULK TERMINAL SAINT THOMAS 3,463 3,415 -1.40
VIRGIN ISLANDS WATER & POWER AUTHORITY CHRISTIANSTED 518 469 -9.46
CHEVRON CARIBBEAN INC SAINT THOMAS 253 385 52.28

For more detailed TRI information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/tri/index.htm
To view an area fact sheet, visit: http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/statefactsheet.htm

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

EPA Issues 2008 Information on Toxic Chemical Releases

EPA Issues 2008 Information on Toxic Chemical Releases

PHILADELPHIA (December 8, 2009) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today the 2008 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) which provides information on toxic chemicals used and released by utilities, refineries, chemical manufacturers, paper companies, and many other facilities across the nation. The TRI is compiled from data submitted to EPA and the States by industry.

In EPA’s mid-Atlantic region, the 2008 TRI data indicate a 9.1 percent decrease of 35.2 million pounds of on and off site chemical releases as compared with 2007. A total of 350 million pounds of chemicals were released during 2008 to the air, water or landfills by facilities in the mid-Atlantic region which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

When compared with the 2000 TRI data of 478.0 million pounds released, the 2008 figures represent a 27.0 percent reduction (128.0 million pounds) in toxic pollutants released by facilities in the region. This was accomplished by process modifications, raw material substitution and pollution control equipment.

“The TRI is a valuable resource for citizens and government alike,” said Shawn Garvin, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator. “Communities can use these data to begin dialogues with local facilities to encourage them to reduce emissions or develop pollution prevention plans. Public interest groups use it to educate the public about toxic chemical emissions and potential risk. And EPA and the states use it to set priorities and allocate environmental protection resources to the most pressing problems.”

The TRI provides communities with valuable knowledge and encourages facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction or pollution prevention measures.

Today’s data include information on releases and other wastes from more than 650 chemicals and chemical compounds that companies are required to report under EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory Program. The data include chemicals that were released at the company’s facility and those transported to disposal facilities off site.

The lead and lead compound data for on and off-site releases show an increase from 5.7 million pounds in 2007 to 6.6 million pounds in 2008. Since 2002 there has been a decrease of 1.6 million pounds from 8.2 million pounds to 6.6 million pounds in 2008. The mercury and mercury compound data show an increase from 45.3 thousand pounds in 2007 to 63.1 thousand pounds in 2008. In 2002 mercury and mercury compound releases were 61.6 thousand pounds.

The reporting of data to the TRI is required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), passed in 1986. The TRI provides the amount, location, and type of releases to the environment, whether a pollutant is emitted into the air, discharged into the water, or released onto the land. It also includes information on waste shipped off-site for disposal or further treatment.

It is important to note that these chemical emissions are reported to EPA under the TRI and generally do not reflect illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment.

TRI information is easily accessible online to the news media and the public at www.epa.gov/triexplorer. For more detailed information on a specific facility, go to: www.epa.gov/enviro/html/tris/tris_query.html

John Wieland Homes Agrees to Clean Water Act Settlement

Company will pay $350,000 penalty and upgrade environmental programs

Contact Information: EPA (404) 562-8293; DOJ (202) 514-2007

(ATLANTA – Nov. 9, 2009) John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Inc., and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods of the Carolinas Inc., based in Atlanta, Ga., have agreed to pay a $350,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.

The companies have also agreed to implement company-wide storm water compliance programs at their construction sites that go beyond current regulatory requirements. EPA estimates that the agreement will keep approximately 37 million pounds of sediment from polluting the nation’s waterways each year.

“The Clean Water Act requires environmental controls in order to protect nearby waterways from pollutants that commonly are found on construction sites,” said John C. Cruden, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This settlement requires these companies to now take steps beyond the law to protect public health and the environment.”

“Failure to properly control storm water runoff at construction sites can have serious consequences for the environment,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Region 4 Acting Regional Administrator. “This agreement will result in better management practices that will ultimately lead to greater protection of rivers, lakes and streams across the Southeast.”

John Wieland Homes and Neighborhood, Inc., and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods of the Carolinas, Inc., primarily build homes in the southeast including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Along with the federal government, the state of Tennessee has joined the settlement. The state will receive a portion of the penalties based on the number of sites located within the state.

The government complaint alleges a common pattern of violations that was discovered by reviewing documentation submitted by the companies and through federal site inspections. The alleged violations include not obtaining permits until after construction had begun or failing to obtain the required permits at all. At the sites that did have permits, violations included failure to prevent or minimize the discharge of pollutants, such as silt and debris, in storm water runoff.

The settlement requires the companies to develop improved pollution prevention plans for each site, increase site inspections and promptly correct any problems that are detected. The companies must properly train construction managers and contractors, and are required to have trained staff present at each construction site. They also must implement a management and internal reporting system to improve oversight of on-the-ground operations and submit annual reports to EPA.

Improving compliance at construction sites is one of EPA’s national enforcement priorities. Construction projects have a high potential for environmental harm because they disturb large areas of land and significantly increase the potential for erosion. Without onsite pollution controls, sediment-laden runoff from construction sites can flow directly to the nearest waterway and degrade water quality. In addition, storm water can pick up other pollutants, including concrete washout, paint, used oil, pesticides, solvents and other debris. Polluted runoff can harm or kill fish and wildlife and can affect drinking water quality.

The Clean Water Act requires that construction sites have controls in place to prevent pollution from being discharged with storm water into nearby waterways. These controls include basic pollution prevention techniques such as silt fences, phased site grading, and sediment basins to prevent common construction contaminants from entering the nation’s waterways.

This settlement is the latest in a series of enforcement actions to address storm water violations from construction sites around the country. Similar consent decrees have been reached with companies like Home Depot and multiple home building companies.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. The companies are required to pay the penalty within 30 days of the court’s approval of the settlement. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

California Companies Correct Environmental Violations

U.S. EPA Reduces Fines Businesses avoid nearly $400,000 in penalties by self-reporting violations

SAN FRANCISCO – Six California companies that voluntarily disclosed and corrected environmental violations have seen penalties waived by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It’s the result of an EPA policy that has been successful in getting companies to make good-faith efforts in self-policing their own environmental compliance.
The recent self-disclosure cases had potential penalties ranging from $18,900 to $192,400 for environmental violations that the agency determined caused no serious or actual harm to human health or the environment. Altogether, the six companies avoided $381,600 in penalties.
“This is a win for communities and for the EPA,” said Enrique Manzanilla, the EPA's Communities and Ecosystems Division director for the Pacific Southwest region. “Responsible businesses take it upon themselves to check for compliance and promptly disclose any environmental violations found. If they correct them quickly, these companies often see penalties reduced – in some cases to zero.”
In the cases announced today, each company discovered the violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act on its own and reported the violations to the EPA. Because the companies satisfied all conditions of the EPA’s self-disclosure policies and there was no economic benefit gained, the EPA eliminated potential penalties.
The recent self-disclosure cases include the following California facilities:
Arnco Corporation, South Gate Potential Fine: $34,800
Duncan Enterprises, Fresno Potential Fine: $18,900
Grover Products Company, Los Angeles Potential Fine: $57,600
Redman Equipment and Manufacturing, Inc, Torrance Potential Fine: $21,900
Super Store Industries, Turlock Potential Fine: $192,400
Synergetics, Monterey Potential Fine: $56,000
EPA has two policies that allow the agency to reduce penalties up to 100 percent for violations that companies voluntarily disclose.
Under the EPA's audit policy, the agency may reduce penalties up to 100 percent for violations that are voluntarily discovered through an audit or management system, promptly disclosed to the agency, and quickly corrected. The policy excludes criminal acts, violations resulting in serious actual harm to public health or the environment, and repeat violations.
Under EPA’s small business policy, the agency may reduce penalties for businesses with fewer than 100 employees that voluntary discover, by any means, violations of environmental law and promptly disclose and correct them.
Federal law requires certain facilities using chemicals over specified amounts to file annual reports to the EPA and the state that estimate the amounts released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site or transferred off-site for waste management. The information is then compiled into a national database called the Toxics Release Inventory and made available to the public.
More information about the audit policy can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/auditpolicy.html


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Sunoco, Inc. (R&M) Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Marcus Hook Refinery Facility

PHILADELPHIA (October 9, 2009) – Sunoco, Inc. (R&M) has agreed to pay a $148,315 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its Marcus Hook, Pa. refinery, located at 100 Green Street, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.EPA cited Sunoco for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.Following an August 2008 inspection by EPA, and followup investigations, EPA cited Sunoco for RCRA violations involving a variety of hazardous waste stored at the facility, including mixed refinery wastes, lab wastes, and used lamps.The alleged violations included: (1) operating unpermitted areas at a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit or interim status, (2) failure to keep containers closed except when adding or removing hazardous waste, (3) failure to clearly mark containers in permitted areas with the contents of container, (4) failure to clearly mark containers in permitted areas with dates that containers began accumulating waste, (5) failure to operate the facility in a manner that prevents or minimizes releases, (6) failure to operate the permitted storage area free of cracks or gaps, (7) failure to store containers of hazardous waste in a proper configuration with aisle spacing to allow for safe management, inspections and emergency response, (8) failure to keep universal waste lamps in closed containers, (9) failure to clearly label or mark containers of universal waste lamps, (10) failure to submit an exception report, (11) failure to make a hazardous waste determination, and (12) failure to list the proper waste code on the manifest. The alleged violations involve storage and recordkeeping violations, and not discharges of hazardous waste. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA. As part of the settlement, Sunoco has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements. For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm.

Rust-Oleum Corporation Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Williamsport, Md. Facility

PHILADELHPHIA (October 9, 2009) – Rust-Oleum Corpoation of Vernon Hills, Ill., has agreed to pay a $147,306 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its facility, located at 16410 Industrial Lane, Williamsport, Md. , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.EPA cited Rust-Oleum for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.Following a May 2008 inspection, EPA cited Rust-Oleum for violations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including waste paint and fluorescent lamps containing mercury and other hazardous waste materials.The alleged violations included operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit, failure to conduct weekly inspections, failure to keep containers of hazardous waste closed, failure to obtain written structural integrity assessment for a new tank system, failure to inspect daily a secondary containment system, failure to adequately place identification marks on equipment, failure to monitor pumps weekly for leaks, failure to monitor valves for leaks, failure to keep required records, and failure to inspect solvent waste tank system annually.The alleged violations involve storage and recordkeeping violations, and not discharges of hazardous waste. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, the relatively small quantity of hazardous wastes involved, and its cooperation with EPA.As part of the settlement, Rust-Oleum has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements. For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm.

U. S. EPA settles with Ukiah, Calif., company for failing to provide toxic chemical information needed by communities.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a $48,600 settlement with Performance Coatings Inc. of Ukiah, Calif., for allegedly failing to submit required toxic chemical reports, a violation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
The company, located at 360 Lake Mendocino Dr., regularly uses toxic chemicals, such as xylene and ethylbenzene, in its paint and coating manufacturing operations. Performance Coatings failed to submit timely, complete reports to the EPA and the state detailing the amounts of the two toxic chemicals processed at its facility from 2004 through 2006. EPA inspectors discovered the violations during a 2007 routine inspection.
Exposure to high levels of xylene and ethylbenzene can cause a variety of human health effects, including harm to the nervous system, fatigue, general weakness, memory loss and visual problems.
“Companies that use toxic chemicals must provide complete and accurate information about these chemicals so that area residents are aware of possible chemical hazards in the community,” said Enrique Manzanilla, Communities and Ecosystems Division director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region.
Federal emergency planning laws require facilities processing more than 25,000 pounds of these two chemicals to report releases of the chemicals on an annual basis to the EPA and the state. Although Performance Coatings processed the two chemicals in amounts more than this threshold in 2004, 2005, and 2006, it failed to submit reports to the EPA for those years. Each year the EPA compiles information submitted from the previous year regarding toxic chemical releases, and produces a national Toxics Release Inventory database for public availability. The database estimates the amounts of each toxic chemical released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site, or transferred off-site for waste management, and also provides a trend analysis of toxic chemical releases. For more information on the TRI program, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/tri. The U.S. EPA’s environmental databases, including the TRI program data, can be accessed at: http://www.epa.gov/enviro.

kevin l. brown www.stardustspillproducts.com

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State-by-State Map of EPA Investments Under the Recovery Act

http://www.epa.gov/recovery/map.html

You can now explore how EPA is administering around the nation the $7.22 billion it received under the Recovery Act. This money includes:
$4 billion for assistance to help communities with water quality and wastewater infrastructure needs and $2 billion for drinking water infrastructure needs (Water State Revolving Fund programs and Water Quality Planning program);
$100 million for competitive grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial sites (Brownfields program);
$300 million for grants and loans to help regional, state and local governments, tribal agencies, and non-profit organizations with projects that reduce diesel emissions (Clean Diesel programs);
$600 million for the cleanup of hazardous sites (Superfund program); and
$200 million for cleanup of petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks (Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund program).
Learn more about this work through an interactive map. Right now, this map map shows at national and state levels:
EPA total obligations -- the amount of Recovery Act funding EPA will provide each state, and
EPA gross outlays -- the amount of Recovery Act funding states have received from EPA to date.
In the future, the map will link to project-by-project information. (Note that when you click on this link, a pop-up box will appear; if you don't see the map, it may be because you have a pop-up blocker enabled.)
How to Use the Map
At top right, clicking on the
EPA Recovery Act Total Obligations and Gross Outlays link provides information at a national level by Budget Account
Map Legend link shows the level of overall EPA total obligations to each state (more populous states tend to receive more funding)
Satellite and Street Map links changes the view from terrain to streets; the blue state-by-state overlay remains in both views
Moving the triangle on the horizontal bar at upper left allows you to zoom in and out.
Clicking on a state provides a small box that shows the overall level of Recovery Act investment by the EPA in that state. Each small box links in turn via a "More Information" button to a larger box that presents a more complete investment report for that state, with breakdowns of funds by Budget Account.
As more detailed information becomes available in the future, we hope to expand the capabilities of this map to provide more detailed information on local and neighborhood level Recovery Act projects, and to illustrate how these expenditures are meeting our goals of protecting and promoting “green” jobs and a healthier environment.If there is an Area footer, put it here.
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Boat Manufacturers Pay over $50,000 for Chemical Reporting Violations

Contact Info: Graham Kirn, EPA Office of Air Waste and Toxics, 206-553-5810, kirn.graham@epa.gov Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-1203, brown.anthony@epa.gov

(Seattle, Wash. August 17, 2009) Two Puget Sound area boat manufacturers, Fluid Motion, LLC and Delta Marine Industries, reached agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pay fines for failure to submit timely reports of their use of the toxic chemical styrene to the Toxics Release Inventory. Both manufacturers are charged with violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
Fluid Motion, LLC, located in Kent, Wash, will pay a penalty of $2,850 for failure to submit reports by the Toxics Release Inventory reporting deadline for its styrene use during the years 2004, 2006 and 2007. Styrene, a chemical component of resins used to manufacture boats, is released into the air during the spraying and curing process.
In addition to paying the fine, Fluid Motion, LLC will perform a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) valued at $10,700. The SEP requires Fluid Motion, LLC to purchase and install new equipment and to train employees in controlled spraying techniques that will reduce styrene emissions into the environment and surrounding community.
Delta Marine Industries, a yacht manufacturer located in Seattle, Wash., also failed to submit reports by the reporting deadline for its use of styrene for reporting years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. The company agreed to pay a penalty of $37,050.
"The Toxics Release Inventory is a resource for the public, but it is not effective without accurate chemical reporting," said Rick Albright, the Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste & Toxics in Seattle. "Accurate data in the Toxics Release Inventory allows the public to hold companies accountable and make informed decisions about toxic chemicals present in their communities."
For additional information about the Toxics Release Inventory Program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/TRI/

Ten Louisiana Companies Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Release date: 08/13/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov
(Dallas, Texas – August 13, 2009) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined ten Louisiana companies for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the federal Clean Water Act. Federal inspections of the bulk oil storage facilities in May 2009 revealed a variety of violations though the violations differed at each facility: As an example: SPCC plans were not certified by a professional engineer, plans had inadequate or no description of the physical layout of the facility, and plans had inadequate or no information or procedures for reporting oil spills. Inspections and tests required by federal regulations were not in accordance with written procedures developed for the facilities, and personnel working at the sites had no training on the operation of equipment to prevent discharges, no training on discharge procedure protocols and spill prevention briefings were not scheduled and conducted periodically. The inspections also revealed that vehicle traffic was not warned of aboveground piping and oil transfer operations, containment bypass valves were not closed when not draining rainwater, and secondary containment was inadequate for mobile or portable storage tanks. The companies inspected and fined were: Griffin Crane & Steel Service, 38142 Highway Department Road, Pearl River LA, $1,750 Wilco Marsh Buggies & Draglines, Inc., 1304 MacArthur Avenue, Harvey LA, $1,500 Kajun Truck Plaza, 640 AO Rapellett Road, Golden Meadow LA, $1,500 Kajun Sportsman, 27900 Highway 1, Golden Meadow LA, $1,450 Chef Harbor, 21135 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans LA, $1,000 American Vacuum, 1232 Siracusa Road, Morgan City LA, $900 Parish Concrete, LLC, 68660 Highway 59, Mandeville LA, $900 C&M Bayou Fuel Dock, 4932 Kenal Road, Lafitte LA, $850 Ocean Marine Contractors, 9084 Highway 182 East, Morgan City LA, $800 Professional Construction Services, Inc., 5716 Hayne Boulevard, New Orleans LA, $700 As part of an Expedited Settlement Agreement with EPA, the companies have provided certification that all deficiencies have been corrected.

kevin brown www.stardustspillproducts.com

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