EPA Launches Environmental Indicators Gateway

In early April, EPA launched its Environmental Indicators Gateway Web site to provide enhanced public access to environmental and health information generated by EPA. The Gateway establishes a single catalog of EPA's indicator work that allows browsing and searching among existing EPA Web sites and indicator materials. The site allows users to browse EPA's environmental indicator reports by geography, topic area, or time period.

In addition to enhancing public access, the Gateway provides a resource for EPA and other federal agencies and partners to better coordinate their own environmental indicator work. By sharing key information and best practices among existing projects, EPA can improve its ability to generate environmental indicator information in the future. To see this new site go to http://www.epa.gov/indicators/

EPA to Celebrate One Millionth Mercury Auto Switch Collection Milestone at Pull-A-Part in Conley, GA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson will congratulate participants in the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) for their collaborative work in collecting the one millionth mercury auto switch on Friday, February 29, 2008 at Pull-A-Part in Conley, Ga. This milestone highlights the NVMSRP partnership's progress toward reducing the amount of toxic mercury released into the air, water and land from scrap vehicles before they are flattened, shredded and melted to make new steel.

"Washington State Auto Recyclers Help Collect Mercury From Wrecks"

Automobile recyclers in Washington state have collected more than 45,000 light switches containing mercury from the hoods and trunks of scrap vehicles, preventing the equivalent of 100 pounds of the toxic material from entering the environment. If the mercury switches are not removed, the mercury escapes into the atmosphere when vehicles are crushed and melted down in steel mills. Darin Rice, who manages the Department of Ecology's hazardous waste and toxics reduction program, says Washington was one of the first states to establish a program to remove toxic mercury light switches from salvaged vehicles, an important effort in the overall strategy to keep mercury out of the environment. The program started in June 2006 after the Ecology Department signed an agreement with the Automotive Recyclers of Washington Association and End-of-Live Vehicle Solutions, an organization of automakers that installed mercury switches in their vehicles. The agreement established a cooperative, statewide, voluntary program to collect mercury switches. "The mercury switch collection program is an outstanding example of a win-win industry-and-government partnership," says Automotive Recyclers of Washington Association president Don Phelps.

The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
Enjoys Continued Success

2007 saw all 49 states and the District of Columbia participating in NVMSRP.  During this time, 6,231 participants removed 720,568 mercury convenience light switches from scrap vehicles and recovered 1,585.25 pounds of mercury.  California, New York and Minnesota were the leaders in this effort to help reduce mercury air emissions.

Removal and recovery efforts in 2008 have been lead by CA, NY and NJ and all states have already helped to recover 41,474 switches and 91.24 lbs. of mercury, bringing the 2+ year program recovered totals to 996,649 switches and 2,192.63 lbs of mercury. 

Approximately 5,900 automobile recyclers have already agreed to remove and recover the switches before sending vehicles to scrap recyclers, who in turn send the clean cars to steel mills. The mills can then use the cars to make recycled steel without worrying about releasing toxic mercury emissions.  Then, the Environmental Quality Company (ELVS’ waste handler) receives the switches and dismantles them. The mercury pellets are then sent to a mercury retorting facility for recycling. EQ also collects the wiring and plastic housings from the convenience light assemblies for recycling.

In August 2006, an agreement was reached between the US EPA, American Iron & Steel Institute, Automotive Recycler’s Association, Ecology Center, Environmental Council of States, Environmental Defense, End of Life Vehicle Solutions, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the Steel Manufacturers Association on a voluntary national program, NVMSRP, for recovering mercury switches from scrap vehicles before they are shredded for recycling.

ELVS contracts with The Environmental Quality Company (EQ), an environmental services company to facilitate mercury switch collection programs.

2008 National Environmental Partnership Summit (NEPS)
Meets in Baltimore, MD

The ECAR Center will once again participate in the NEPS this coming Spring – May 19-22, 2008.  This year’s theme - "Accelerating Environmental Performance: Pathways to Action" - reflects NEPS’ commitment to provide concrete examples of environmental leadership attained by businesses and government programs.  In addition to attending the EPA compliance assistance center partner meeting at the Summit, ECAR staff also will represent the interests of automotive recyclers in conference seminars on: Environmental Assistance; Results in Research & Technology; Measurement, Metrics & Indicators of Environmental Performance; Energy Reduction Tools & Techniques; Sustainable Consumption; Greening Your Business; Policy & Legislation; Behavioral Change & Information Outreach; Climate Change Success Stories.

National/State Environmental Excellence Awards

The US Environmental Protection Agency and many state departments of environmental quality offer awards to recognize individuals/businesses who strive to make an environmental difference.  Look here regularly to learn about announcements of environmental excellence award opportunities.  Following are descriptions of four such programs.

1. Two automotive recycling companies are now counted among the approximately 140 companies that have made a commitment to protect and preserve Georgia’s environment by joining the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division’s Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia.
   
   Pull-A-Part of Conley, LLC and Pull-A-Part of Norcross, LLC were accepted as Gold partners with the PPAD.
   
   A Gold Partner has reached the highest achievement level and is a model environmental leader. Gold Partners' environmental programs integrate robust pollution prevention efforts and community outreach. Membership at the Gold Level is unlimited in years, but organizations must demonstrate continual improvement.
   
   The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division fosters environmental leadership in Georgia by working with organizations to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and build a conservation ethic. http://www.p2ad.org/files_pdf/08FebPR.pdf
   
   
2. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), in cooperation with the Lieutenant Governor's Office of Energy and Defense Development, the Indiana Department of Administration, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, is seeking nominations for the 2008 Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence. These awards recognize Indiana's leaders who have implemented outstanding environmental strategies into their operations and decision-making processes. The Governor's Awards are open to all Indiana facilities, state and local units of government, individuals, and technical assistance organizations that operate or support environmental protection efforts of outstanding quality. Eligible technical assistance organizations include, but are not limited to: public entities, educational groups, trade associations, individuals, public interest, community and labor groups.  For more information see http://www.in.gov/idem/prevention/awards/govawards/index.html
   
   
3. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is accepting nominations for the 2007 Arkansas Environmental Stewardship Award, the agency’s annual recognition of citizens or organizations for their efforts to protect and enhance the state’s environment. The “ENVY Award” was established in 2005 to honor a major contribution by an individual or organization involving environmental stewardship activities. The award recipient will be selected from the finalists in five different categories of environmental-related activities or concepts: Innovation, Green Government, Environmental Education and Outreach, Environmental Improvement or Enhancement, and Sustainability. For more information see http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/ftproot/Pub/pa/News_Releases/2008-01-
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4. The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards (TEEA) celebrate the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations to preserve and protect the Texas environment.  The mission of the TEEA program is to honor the state’s most outstanding waste reduction and pollution prevention projects.  For more information see http://www.teea.org/index.html

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