EPA finalizes public hearing locations on coal ash
Published today, along with preregistration information, in the Federal Register:

Arlington, VA—August 30, 2010, Hyatt Regency

2799 Jefferson Davis Highway

Arlington, VA 22202

Phone: (703) 418–1234,

http://www.crystalcity.hyatt.com.

Denver, CO—September 2, 2010, Grand Hyatt, 1750 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 295–1234,

http://www.granddenver.hyatt.com.

Dallas, TX—September 8, 2010, Hyatt Regency Dallas

300 Reunion Boulevard

Dallas, TX 75207

Phone: (214) 651–1234,

http://www.dallasregency.hyatt.com.

Charlotte, NC—September 14, 2010,

Holiday Inn Charlotte (Airport),

2707Little Rock Road

Charlotte, NC 28214

Phone: (704) 394–4301,

http://www.hicharlotteairport.com.

Chicago, IL—September 16, 2010,

Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan

Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605, Phone:

(312) 922–4400,

http://www.chicagohilton.com/hotels__hiltonchicago.aspx.

Take Action!

Department of Energy Seeks Input on Wind Energy Workforce Development Roadmap

June 30, 2010

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Request For Information (RFI) to gain public input on the development of a Wind Energy Workforce Roadmap, which will provide details on the current workforce landscape in the wind industry as well as future steps necessary to train and develop a green workforce for the sector.

The purpose of the Roadmap is to establish the policy objectives and overall direction that workforce development efforts throughout the wind industry should assume as it moves forward. This RFI provides leaders from academia, industry, and government with the opportunity to provide insight and guidance to DOE as the nation ramps up its wind energy production. A draft Roadmap document has been developed, and the public may provide comments on the initial draft or may provide alternative or additional viewpoints.

This RFI does not constitute a request for specific project proposals. The information being sought under this RFI is intended to assist DOE and the wind industry in maximizing ongoing efforts to spark interest and skills development in the growing wind industry.

The information collected may be used for internal DOE planning and decision-making to align future activities under the Wind and Water Power Program with the Administration’s goals for increased use of renewable energy and domestic job creation.

DOE will not reimburse costs associated with preparing any documents for this RFI, and there is no guarantee that a funding opportunity announcement will be issued subsequent to this RFI.

View the full text of the RFI at the FedConnect Web site.

Comments must be provided by no later than July 30, 2010.

The mission of the DOE Wind Program is to focus the passion, ingenuity, and diversity of the nation to enable the rapid expansion of clean, affordable, reliable, and domestic wind power to promote national security, economic vitality, and environmental quality. For more information on how DOE works to develop and deploy wind power technologies, see the Wind and Water Power Program’s Web site.

New EPA Coal Ash Rules: Understanding the Options

WHEN: June 17, 2010, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

(Speaking will begin promptly at 12:15 PM)

WHERE: Environmental Law Institute

2000 L Street, NW, Suite 620 (Sixth Floor)

Washington, DC  20036

Click here for directions.

RSVP: To reserve, e-mail mcmurrin@eli.org. Please reserve by June 15. There is no charge for ELI members to attend or participate by teleconference, but you must RSVP. Non-members must pay $25, Students are $10. Non-members must download and return this form. Conference call information will be emailed out one business day prior to the event.

On May 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced for comment the first-ever federal rule to ensure the safe disposal and management of coal ash from coal-fired power plants. The rule requires protective controls and oversight at landfills and surface impoundments, and is intended to promote environmentally safe and desirable forms of recycling coal ash. The proposal suggests two approaches for addressing coal ash management risks under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). One would classify coal ash as nonhazardous waste, which may help promote recycling and keep storage costs lower. The second approach would classify coal ash as hazardous waste, requiring measures to minimize health risks from heavy metals and other contaminants. The panel will discuss the background and features of the rule, possible benefits and drawbacks of each option, and the role of recycling.

This is a brown-bag lunch event. Please check back later for confirmed faculty!

Information for Those Attending the Spruce No. 1 Mine Public Hearing on May 18 in Charleston, West Virginia

PHILADELPHIA (May 12, 2010) – There is still time for advanced sign-up to attend and/or speak at the Environmental Protection Agency’s May 18 public hearing, which will be held at the Charleston Civic Center – South Hall, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston, W.Va.

People wishing to sign up in advance can do so over the internet by going to http://www.epa.gov/region3/mtntop/spruce1hearing.html and clicking on the link, or by calling 877-368-3552.

Advanced sign up is not required to attend or speak at the public hearing. However, because of the large turnout expected, EPA is recommending that people wishing to attend the public hearing, and especially those who wish to speak, sign up in advance. Those who sign-up in advance will have expedited entrance into the Civic Center and should look for that line when arriving. Photo identification will be required.

On-site registration will be available at the Civic Center beginning at 5 p.m. Advanced sign-up via the internet or phone will end at noon on May 18.

The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. and end no later than midnight due to a City of Charleston ordinance. In order to accommodate as many speakers as possible during that time, each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes and time will be strictly monitored. Those who have signed up to speak in advance will speak first.

Everyone entering the Civic Center will be required to show a photo I.D. and go through a metal detector. No large bags or backpacks will be permitted. Also, pocket knives, scissors or other objects that could be used as weapons are prohibited.

Posters or signs will not be allowed inside the Civic Center per facility rules. City ordinances prohibit loud speakers or other amplifying devices. Recording devices are also not permitted inside the Civic Center.

All oral comments provided at the public hearing will be recorded by a court stenographer. And all comments – both oral and written — will be considered by the EPA in making its decision.

Written comments will also be accepted at the public hearing. Written comments can also be submitted until June 1 on the Spruce No. 1 Mine Proposed Determination, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985, by one of the following four methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal (recommended method of comment submission): http://www.regulations.gov.

Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

2. E-mail: ow-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Include the docket number, EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985, in the subject line of the message.

3. Mail: ‘‘EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985, Spruce No. 1 Surface Mine,’’

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Docket Center Water Docket, Mail Code 28221T

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20460

4. Hand Delivery or Courier:

Director, Office of Environmental Programs

Environmental Assessment and Innovation Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (3EA30)

1650 Arch Street,

Philadelphia, PA19103

Note: If a link above doesn’t work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

View all Region 3 News Releases

Clean Water Network:

How to submit comments

We have prepared a list of suggested talking points that you can use to write your own comments. Personalized comments are the most powerful, and we strongly encourage you to craft your own comments rather than copy our talking points verbatim. If you are a resident of or native to Appalachia, we especially encourage you to share compelling stories about living with this destructive practice in your own backyard. We would love to see your comments so please send a copy of them to Jennifer Peters at jenniferpeters@cleanwaternetwork.org.

Comments must be received by Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No EPA-R03-OW-2009-095, using one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal (this is EPA’s recommended method of comment submission): http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Email your comments to: ow-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Make sure you include the docket number, EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985, in the subject line of your message. 

Give the Gift of Clean Water: Renew Your 2010 Clean Water Network Dues

While you continue working on important environmental protection efforts, please remember the Clean Water Network. It is critical this year that EVERY Clean Water Network (CWN) member renew their dues to help us continue our important work on Capitol Hill and across the country. Now, with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico poised to become the largest in US history, it is imperative that the clean water community continue to work together to protect our precious water resources.

 Please renew your membership dues today online by clicking on the DONATE link.

You can also mail a check to:

Clean Water Network

218 D Street SE

Washington, DC 20003

Dues are set by a sliding scale determined by your organization’s budget. The chart is posted below. Thank you for your support!

DONATE

West Virginia Environmental Council Action Alert
May 11, 2010        WVEC Alerts Archive    Donate to Grow Our Lobbying Work
Help EPA VETO the Spruce No.1 Mountaintop Removal Mine!
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a Public Hearing and a Public Comment Period on its consideration of vetoing the Spruce No. 1 mountaintop removal strip mine. The Spruce No. 1 mine would bury more than seven miles of headwater streams, directly impact 2,278 acres of forestland, and severely degrade water quality in streams adjacent to the mine.
Plan now to attend EPA’s Public Hearing:
     When:  May 18, 2020
     Doors Open at 5:00 PM and Hearing Begins at 7:00 PM
    Where:  Charleston Civic Center (South Hall)
You may attend without advance registration but you may also register in advance to attend and/or to speak at: http://www.epa.gov/region3/mtntop/spruce1hearing.html and clicking on the link, or calling 877-368-3552. Speakers will be called in order of sign-up on line and at the hearing. Each speaker will be allotted only two minutes to say what’s on their mind.
Written Public Comment Period Ends June 1, 2010
You may also submit writtencomments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985, by one of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal (recommended method of comment submission): http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
2. E-mail: ow-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Include the docket number, EPA-R03-OW
2009-0985, in the subject line of the message.
3. Regular “Snail” Mail: “EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985, Spruce No. 1 Surface Mine,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center Water Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
4. Hand Delivery or Courier: Director, Office of Environmental Programs; Environmental Assessment and Innovation Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 3EA30 Region III; 1650 Arch Street, SW.; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
5. Or submit written comments at the Public Hearing, directing your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985.
Background Information:
The Clean Water Act gives EPA authorization to deny the Spruce No. 1 Mine permit or add restrictions that the mine owner would be required to follow. The part of the Clean Water Act that grants this authorization is known as 404 (c). This section authorizes EPA to restrict or prohibit placing certain pollutants in streams, lakes, rivers, wetlands and other waters if the agency determines that the activities would result in “unacceptable adverse impacts” to the environment, water quality, or water supplies.
This authority applies to proposed projects as well as projects previously permitted under the Clean Water Act. A final decision to restrict or prohibit the Spruce No.1 Mine will be made at a later date by EPA’s national headquarters based on a recommendation from the regional administrator of EPA’s mid-Atlantic region, public comments, and discussions with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Mingo Logan Coal Company, the mine owner.
Relevant documents, including the EPA regional administrator’s proposed determination can read and reviewed on EPA’s website at: www.epa.gov/region3/spruce1.html.
More information is also available on the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy web site at http://wvhighlands.org/wv_voice/ (scroll down to the story).
It is very important that people who oppose the massive destruction of mountaintop removal mining attend the hearing and/or make written comments. Written comments need not be long or highly technical. It is important that you chime in with even the briefest of comments encouraging EPA to deny any additional movement into these untouched tributaries of the already severely impacted Spruce Fork of the Little Coal River.  This is an opportunity like we have never had before, so get those comments in by the June 1, 2010 deadline.
Don Garvin
WVEC Legislative Coordinator

Demand the EPA Stop Issuing Mountaintop Removal Permits!

Dear Friend,
This week, when I returned to D.C. from a wonderful holiday with my family, I came home to the news that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a move in support of mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia – on January 5th, the EPA granted approval for a large mine permit for Patriot Coal.

Today we need you to take swift action to ensure that the EPA’s support of Patriot Coal is not a sign of things to come. Call the EPA today and ask them to protect the people of West Virginia and clean water by banning mountaintop removal coal mining!

The approval of Patriot Coal’s mining permit by the EPA will allow for more than three miles of intact streams to be destroyed as well as millions of cubic yards of hazardous fill.
The EPA announcement is an indication of the Obama administration’s up-and-down stance on mountaintop removal coal mining, and reflects the growing pressure from the coal industry. It’s time for us to exert pressure to ensure the EPA does not cave to coal interests on mountaintop removal.
As Judy Bonds, resident of West Virginia and director of Coal River Mountain Watch, said: “We, the affected citizens that are living with the impacts of this destructive mining practice, pray that the EPA’s decision is not a preview of other destructive mining permits being approved.”
We need your help to generate enough calls to the EPA to ensure that Judy Bonds and her neighbors in West Virginia are protected by the EPA, and not endangered by the coal industry.

Please call the EPA today!
Thanks for all you do!
For the mountains,
Kate Rooth
Global Finance Campaign
Rainforest Action Network

Dec. 22 is one year ago that TVA caused the largest man-made disaster in American History. Today the ash and it’s hazards have reached Perry County Alabama. TVA is sending trainloads of toxic ash to this low income community in Alabama because the peoples voices are not heard. I will be happy to lead a tour of the Perry County site and let you meet the residents impacted by this ongoing disaster.
Contact John at :
205-507-0867
205-233-1680
|hccreekkeeper@hughes.net

The proposed Las Brisas Pet-Coke (similar to Coal) Plant in Corpus Christi is one of the dirtiest of 12 proposed coal plants in Texas. If the Las Brisas plant were to go online it would be a dangerous diversion to the clean energy economy Texas is so ripe for.  
Can you take 5 minutes today to call the Las Brisas plant investors (Chase Power), asking them to stop another dirty plant from going online?  It’s an important call to make!    YES! I WILL MAKE THE CALL.
Chase Power is investing in old, dirty energy that would be a huge step backwards for Texas.  The Las Brisas Pet-Coke plant would would have major negative repercussions for the health of the citizens and the economy of Corpus Christi and Texas. Texas can be a leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency instead of building 12 new dirty coal plants!
Make a phone call today—call Chase Power and ask them to stop investing in old, dirty energy! 

Sincerely,
Eva Hernandez
Sierra Club Texas
P.S. We need as many calls to Chase Power as possible before the holidays. After you make your call, can you please forward this message and ask your friends and family to make a call too! More on the background of Chase Power and the Las Brisas Plant: http://action.sierraclub.org/site/PageNavigator/20091207_Chase_Background

Coal River Mountain is the area’s last mountain untouched by mountaintop removal coal mining. It is one of the last intact mountains in the range, and the site of a proposed 328-megawatt wind farm. With each passing day, Coal River Mountain’s potential to provide 85,000 households in West Virginia with safe and renewable energy, 700 long-term green jobs, and $1.7 million in annual county tax revenue. TAKE ACTION NOW