IN FOCUS:
EPA Grants Tribal Petition to Protect Salmon from Lethal Chemical.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-grants-tribal-petition-protect-salmon-lethal-chemical
WASHINGTON – Today, in support of its mission to protect human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting a petition from the Yurok Tribe, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to address the use of the chemical N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) in tires. The chemical 6PPD has been used in motor vehicle tires for more than six decades to make them more durable. It can also be found in other rubber products such as footwear, synthetic turf infill, and playgrounds.
6PPD reacts with ozone pollution in the air to form a byproduct called 6PPD-quinone, which may be present in stormwater runoff from parking lots and streets due to the presence of tire wear particles. Runoff may be washed into streams and other bodies of water during rain events. As a result, aquatic organisms can be exposed to 6PPD-quinone. Concentrations of 6PPD-quinone in stormwater in the Pacific Northwest were found to be lethal to coho salmon after only a few hours of exposure.
“Today, EPA is responding to our Tribal partners by taking action to protect the coho salmon, which are a key part of the Tribes’ cultural identity and economic security,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “These salmon and other fish have suffered dramatic decreases in population over the years. Addressing 6PPD-quinone in the environment, and the use of its parent, 6PPD, is one way we can work to reverse this trend.”
In August 2023, the Yurok Tribe, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians submitted a petition under TSCA Section 21 asking EPA to consider establishing regulations prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, use and distribution of 6PPD in tires.
Today, EPA is responding by granting this petition. EPA intends to publish an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by Fall 2024 in order to gather more information that could be used to inform a subsequent regulatory action.
For example, there are data showing that 6PPD-quinone is toxic to fish, with coho salmon being the most sensitive species studied to date. However, there are still uncertainties about the potential impacts of 6PPD-quinone on human health, as well as the potential for exposure from other sources of 6PPD-quinone.
EPA also plans to finalize a rule under Section 8(d) of TSCA to require manufacturers (including importers) of 6PPD to report lists and copies of unpublished health and safety studies to EPA by the end of 2024.
EPA’s Work on 6PPD
It was EPA-funded research that first established the link between 6PPD-quinone and salmon deaths in the Puget Sound region in 2020. Since then, EPA has been engaged in ongoing efforts with other federal agencies, states, Tribes, industry, and other stakeholders to address information gaps and address concerns regarding the use of 6PPD and the risks of 6PPD-quinone.
EPA is continuing to fund research activities to expand its understanding of the impacts of 6PPD-quinone, and to fill data gaps. For example, the Office of Research and Development is continuing further investigation of 6PPD-quinone, including work on fate and transport, ecotoxicity, and green infrastructure solutions for stormwater contamination. The Office of Water is currently developing an analytical method for detection of 6PPD-quinone in surface and stormwater and is developing draft screening values for 6PPD-quinone and 6PPD to protect sensitive salmon and other aquatic life. The Agency is also coordinating with the National Science and Technology Council’s Joint Subcommittee on Environment, Innovation and Public Health on potential cross-governmental research on human health effects.
To learn more about this effort, visit EPA’s new 6PPD-quinone webpage developed to keep the public and stakeholders updated as research progresses, alternatives to 6PPD are identified, and ways to mitigate the effects of 6PPD-quinone on the environment are implemented.
IN FOCUS: Washington Farmers & Small Businesses Awarded Over $3M for Solar Panels & Green Energy Infrastructure
Rural businesses in Adams, Clark, Franklin, Island, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanagan, Pacific, San Juan, Snohomish, & Whatcom counties receive federal funds; USDA’s REAP program funded by Cantwell-supported Inflation Reduction Act.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that 18 rural small businesses across Washington state were awarded a total of $3,006,303 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps farmers and rural small businesses transition to renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.
Sixteen of the small businesses announced today will use the funds to pay or help pay for the purchase and installation of a new solar array; one will purchase an energy-efficient HVAC system, and another will purchase a generator for an anaerobic digester. Altogether, the projects are estimated to generate 10.07 million kilowatt hours per year, or enough energy to power around 933 homes.
REAP was originally authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, called the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements programs. The 2008 Farm Bill expanded the authority of the program and renamed it to REAP. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act supported by Sen. Cantwell increased resources for the program by more than $2 billion over 10 years.
REAP seeks to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy development for agricultural producers and rural small businesses by providing grants and guaranteed loans for eight different categories of renewable energy production, including wind, solar, anaerobic digestion, hydro, and geothermal power, as well as for energy efficiency improvements. Eligible applicants are agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
The following small rural businesses in Washington state were awarded REAP funding:
$14,400 for Basin Farmworks in Adams County. This investment will be used to purchase and install a 16.2 kilowatt (kW) solar array. The project will save Basin Farmworks $2,018 per year in savings and replace 21,034 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.
$1 million for Weyns Farm in Adams County. This investment will be used to purchase and install a 1080 kW solar array. This project will save Weyns Farm $152,384 per year and replace 1,497,736 kWh per year.
$99,930 for Legacy Farms WA in Clark County. This investment will be used to assist the purchase and installation of a 47 kW solar array. This project will generate $2,559 in energy sales per year and will generate 55,096 kWh per year.
$51,447 for R.P. Kuiper in Clark County. This investment will be used to purchase and install a 36.48 kWh solar array. This project will save R.P. Kuiper $2,900 per year and will replace 35,600 kWh per year.
$11,847 for Sage Hill Electric in Franklin County. This investment will be used to help purchase and install a 16.2 kW solar array. This project will save Sage Hill Electric $1,485 per year and will replace 30,819 kWh per year.
$7,484 for Silva Family Farm in Island County. This investment will be used to assist in purchasing and installing a 9.6 kW solar array. This project will save Silva Family Farm $1,177 per year in energy generation and will generate 9,500 kWh per year.
$18,926 for Dog Townsend in Jefferson County. This investment will be used to assist the purchase and installation of a 12.75 kW solar array. This project will save Dog Townsend Inc. $1,259 per year and replace 26,882 kWh per year.
$12,132 for Plum Forest Farm in King County. This investment will be used to assist Plum Forest Farm with the purchase and installation of a 9.62 kW solar array. This project will save Plum Forest Farm $4,232 per year and replace 9,405 kWh per year.
$19,492 for Lazy T Farm in Kittitas County. This investment will be used to help Lazy T Farm purchase and install a 20.4 kW solar array. This project will save Lazy T Farm $2,800 per year and replace 17,374 kWh per year.
$522,150 for Underwood Fruit & Warehouse in Klickitat County. This investment will be used to purchase and install a 448.8 kW solar array. This project will save Underwood Fruit & Warehouse $44,877 per year and will replace or generate 612,240 kWh per year.
$161,250 for Maryhill Winery in Klickitat County. This investment will be used to purchase and install a 129 kW solar array. This project will save Maryhill Winery $13,868 per year and replace 182 kWh per year.
$18,120 for Big Bird Farms in Lincoln County. This investment will be used to help Big Bird Farms Inc. purchase and install a 14.6 kW solar array. This project will save Big Bird Farms Inc. $1,912 per year and generate 17,943 kWh per year.
$14,840 for Walking Rose in Okanogan County. This investment will be used to help Walking Rose LLC purchase and install a 16kW solar array. This project will save $1,579 per year and will replace 22,400 kWh per year.
$15,899 for Omak Mirage in Pacific County. This investment will be used to help Omak Mirage LLC purchase and install an energy-efficient HVAC system. This project will save $1,024 per year and replace 26,000 kWh per year.
$5,999 for Midnight’s Farm in San Juan County. This investment will be used to help Midnight’s Farm LLC purchase and install an 8kW solar array. This project will realize $417 per year in savings and will replace 4,721 kWh per year.
$20,000 for Hogstead in Snohomish County. This investment will be used to help Hogstead LLC purchase and install a 27.65 kWh solar array. This project will realize $2,318 per year in savings and will replace 24,024 kWh per year.
$1 million for FPE Renewables in Whatcom County. This investment will be used to purchase and install a 920 kW generator for an existing anaerobic digester. This project will generate 7,647,480 kWh per year.
$12,787 for Free Range in Whatcom County. This investment will be used to help Free Range LLC, purchase and install a 15.20 Kw solar array. This project will save $1,577 per year and replace 14,162 kWh per year.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County work session for 11/6/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062023-992
Clallam County Commission meeting for 11/7/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11072023-993
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 11/8/23
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/13731/CC-Agenda-Packet-11082023
Port of Port Angeles Special meeting for 11/7/23
https://portofpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Comm-Packet-11-7-23.pdf
JEFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS
Jefferson County Commission Meeting for 11/6/23
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/e7c387a7-4a25-401b-8557-733b43d85339
City of Port Townsend meeting for 11/6/23
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=3545
Port of Port Townsend Commission meeting for 11/8/23
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-11-08-CommMtg-Agenda.pdf
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: 2 Corinthians 3:6 (New International Version)
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Weekly Bible Lesson:
The Flood
Genesis is a book that records extraordinary events in history. It tells of the six days of creation (Genesis chapters one and two) and the long lives of those first few generations that followed Adam. Because of the long lives in those days, the population of the world grew quickly. --TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/flood
Free bible studies (WBS)
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
Learn English using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
1233 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
The Chosen: About the life of Christ
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
THIS WEEK'S VIDEOS
Exposing Iran's TRAP to Trigger Global War
Are we on the brink of global war? Is Israel ground zero? Did the brutal attack on October 7, 2023, have a bigger purpose? Al Qaeda hoped that 9/11 would provoke the United States into a massive counterattack that would kick-start the entire Muslim world into action. Glenn fears Hamas’ war on Israel is the Iranian version of the same strategy. And the armies of Armageddon are marching. For Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and all of their proxies, this is truly a war to end all wars … and everything else. Glenn reveals their battle plans in their own words, including from mosques here in the U.S. You’ve heard the term “Axis of Evil.” Well, the president of Iran just called this the “Axis of Resistance,” and China and Russia were quick to align themselves with this new axis. Rep. Cory Mills, a Trump appointee to the Pentagon as a Department of Defense adviser, joins to explain the three things the Biden administration is already doing to further the goals of the Axis powers. Finally, why are Marxists and leftists all over the world are uniting under the war flag of Hamas? It seems insane and inhumane, but it all makes sense if you remember the prediction Glenn made at Fox News so many years ago …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RG2-f07QE8
Sunday Worship - 10/29/2023/ Four Lakes C of C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHt0wIJchIo
NIGHT OWL COMICS PRESENTS: THE ANICENTS
Chapter 11: Zeus V Kore
Both armies of the Human Tribes, along with Cyclops, and other peoples who heard of the coming battle against the Fifth came to join in, The Genii, Lynx, Sphinx, and other life forms came to march up the continent of Scorpio, even the Aquatics joined in on the fight.
Read the full story
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-anicents.html
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
No comments:
Post a Comment