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![[New!]](EnviroSafeShop/newedc/graphics/smallnew.gif){kind=small}
The
EnviroMotive Express
Issue One.
December 14, 2000.
About The EnviroMotive Express
The EnviroMotive Express is an electronic newsletter
on environmental and safety topics and news relating
to vehicle maintenance and refueling operations. It is published
by Environmental Development Corporation (EDC), Findlay, Ohio.
EDC will publish The EnviroMotive Express periodically
for our customers and others who request it.
Enviro=relating to the environment, including a safe
work environment + Motive= a reason, cause and motivation
AND related to auto-motive + Express= as in delivery of a
communication with speed and precision.
About
EDC:
For 10 years, EDC has been a national leader in providing environmental and
safety compliance and training tools for vehicle maintenance and refueling
operations. EDC has developed national programs for such groups as GM, Volvo,
Toyota, Toyota Industrial Equipment, U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Air Combat
Command, Midas, NAPA and many others. Our products include guidance and training
manuals for managers and technicians, a 900-question Compliance Audit Systems,
and over 50 training videos on pollution prevention and safety in vehicle
maintenance. Let us help you develop your program. Visit our web site at www.envirosafeshop.com
or call us at 800-288-3599.
THIS ISSUE’S CONTENTS:
EPA Seeks $63,000 Fine for Used Oil Violations
At Municipal Motorpool Garage
New EnviroSafeShop Website Announced
EDC To Publish Vehicle Maintenance Managers Guide
To Environmental Excellence on CD-ROM
Diesel Fuel War
Websites on Diesel Fuels and Engines (Environmental)
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From U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
290 Broadway - New York, New York 10007-1866
Nina Habib Spencer (212) 637-3670
Utuado Allowed Spills of Used Oil at Municipal Motorpool Facility EPA Seeking $63,000 Penalty
Monday, December 11, 2000
San Juan, Puerto Rico After three inspections of the Utuado Municipal Motorpool facility in Utuado, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has charged the municipality with several violations of regulations designed to prevent and clean up releases of used oil into the environment. The agency is seeking a penalty of $63,248 for violations it observed at the facility and for its failure to respond promptly to an EPA request for information.
EPA first inspected the facility at which Utuado maintains its motor vehicles in February 1997. Inspectors noticed used oil from oil changes in pools on the ground, in a truck service area inside the facility, and flowing from a pipe down the side of a hill. EPA also noticed several 55-gallon drums at the motorpool facility that had been used to store used oil, which were not labeled with the words "Used Oil." These conditions violated the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the law that regulates how hazardous waste and used oil are handled. EPA sent a notice to Utuado in April 1997 informing it of its violations, and formally asked for more information about how the facility handled used oil. After receiving no response, in June, the agency sent an overdue notice to Utuado, to which there was no response until October of that year another RCRA violation. The agency filed a formal complaint against the municipality in 1997 for these violations, but due to a legal technicality, withdrew the complaint in September 2000. In the interim, EPA continued to focus on the facility's compliance with environmental regulations and made a second inspection in January 2000. At that time, EPA again noted the presence of used oil on the ground, on several areas of the facility floor and next to a water drainage system flowing toward the Vivi River; 24 drums of used oil were not labeled "Used Oil."
At the time of the third inspection in May 2000, the facility had been cleaned up, but EPA again noticed that several drums were not properly marked. EPA issued a new updated complaint against Utuado incorporating the violations identified during the recent inspections.
RCRA requires facilities that deal with used oil to stop a release of the oil, contain it, clean it up and manage it properly. To prevent the possible mishandling of containers holding used oil, RCRA also requires entities like Utuado to clearly mark such containers with the words "Used Oil." EPA has ordered the municipality to immediately label all containers holding used oil correctly, and within 30 days, to clean up any releases of the product that might have occurred.
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The War on Diesel Fuels
Environmentalists and regulators have sparked an explosive war on diesel fuels and engines during the past few years. And the debate is only heating up. A list of some related internet resources have been compiled by EPA below. Two excellent sites are www.dieselnet.org and www.dieselforum.org . These sites are pro-diesel sites that cut through much of the misinformation being spread.
FROM INTERNET NEWSBRIEF, December 8, 2000
Internet Newsbrief is a weekly service from the EPA Headquarters Library that provides a sampling of new and/or useful Internet resources for EPA staff and other environmental professionals. The Internet Newsbrief is also available on the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/hqirc/inb.htm
Diesel Fuel
**EPA INFORMATION**
Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program - Making Diesel Engines Cleaner
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/
The EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program is a plan to significantly reduce pollution from new diesel engines. The two-step approach consists of a new set of emission standards for diesel engines taking effect in 2004, and then even more stringent emission standards for these engines beginning in 2007 in combination with low sulfur diesel fuel. The purpose of the website is to help fleet owners, retrofit manufacturers and government air quality personnel understand the retrofit program. The site offers advice on assessing your fleet, funding sources as well as case studies from the New York City Transit Authority and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. Also provided is substantial information on the air quality affects of retrofitting your fleet.
**GOVERNMENT INFORMATION**
California's Diesel Risk Reduction Program
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/diesel/diesel.htm
California's Diesel Risk Reduction Program is part of the California Air Resources Board, and this site details their actions towards reducing the particulate emissions from diesel engines in California. The site outlines numerous individual programs, such as Lower Emissions School Bus Program, On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel New Engine Program, and the Carl Moyers Program.
Listed on the site are schedules for numerous meetings and outreach programs as well as documentation from previous meetings designed to help industry professionals understand the requirements. There is also information on a listserv one can register for, in order to receive notices and updates on the diesel regulations.
**ACADEMIC INFORMATION**
University of Minnesota, Center for Diesel Research
http://www.me.umn.edu/centers/cdr/index.html
The Center for Diesel Research (CDR) at the University of Minnesota serves the automotive, diesel engine, and the alternative fuels industries. Its focuses on the evaluation of emission controls, evaluation and demonstration of alternative fuels, physical and chemical characterization of exhaust emissions, certification of mobile and stationary engines, and the evaluation of control technology in the field. It published reports, such as the three-part "Review of Diesel Particulate Sampling Methods," sponsored by the EPA and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA)'s Diesel Toolbox. The Center also maintains a diesel aerosol sampling methodology and a mobile laboratory.
**BUSINESS/NONPROFIT INFORMATION**
Diesel Technology Forum
The Diesel Technology Forum was created by leading companies in engine, vehicle and fuel systems manufacturing, diesel technology, and petroleum refining to foster a new dialogue and encourage the full exchange of views and information on the entire range of issues concerning diesel technologies. Included on the site are numerous fact sheets, such as Government Regulation, About Diesel, and Diesel Smoke Testing. The site provides substantial background information on the role of diesel engines in various industries. There are also calendars for public hearings and
conferences, and a great links list.
The Source - Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications
The Source provides access to numerous diesel related publications, Diesel Progress- North American and International Editions, Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide, CompressorTech (two), Diesel & Gas Turbine Catalog, Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications- China Edition, Emissions Data Center, and Inter-Forum Diesel Security. Each of these provides news from all over the diesel industry. The Diesel & Gas Turbine Catalog offers a search capability for finding engine manufacturers product names, etc. Inter-Forum Diesel Security is a forum for diesel safety and security issues.
DISCLAIMER
The information provided in Internet Newsbrief was correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of publication. It is important to remember, however, the dynamic nature of the internet. Resources that are free and publicly available one day may require a fee or restrict access the next, and the location of items may change as menus and homepages are reorganized.
Permission is granted to make and distribute copies of Internet News brief provided appropriate credit is given to the U.S. EPA Headquarters Library and the disclaimer paragraph is included.
**Viewpoints expressed in the summaries do not necessarily reflect EPA policy or views** End of Newlsetter.
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