EPA Region 9
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Transcript EPA Region 9
EPA Region 9
Jeff Scott
Waste Management Division
Administrator Jackson’s Priorities
• Reducing GHG emissions
• Improving air quality
• Managing chemical risks
– Risks of chemicals in consumer products, workplaces
environment
• Cleaning up hazardous waste sites
• Accelerate the pace of cleanup
• Return properties to productive use
• Reduce threats to health/environment
• Protecting America’s water
Needed GHG Reductions
• 83% by 2050?
• 14% - 25% by 2020?
• By any measure....……..A Long Road
Broad Array of GHG
reduction options needed
Conventional Accounting: Sector Based
U.S. GHG Emissions (2006)
End-of-pipe focus
Leads to technologyoriented strategies
Source: U.S. Inventory of GHG Emissions and Sinks : 1990-2006 (US EPA, 2008)
Systems Based View:
U.S. GHG Emissions (2006)
Same GHG
emissions, a
new lens.
Leads to
prevention –
oriented
strategies
Source: Draft values from Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
through Materials and Land Management Practices. U.S. EPA. (forthcoming).
Opportunity Knocks:
• In 2006, the U.S. recycled over 80 million tons of
municipal solid waste (32.5% recycling rate)
– Equivalent to conserving 182 million metric tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent (MMCO2E).
• Recycling achieves short term, high impact,
lower cost GHG reductions
– Increase to 50% recycling nationally
• 70-80 MMTCO2E per year potential GHG reductions
– Increase to 100% recycling nationally
• up to 300 MMTCO2E per year potential GHG reductions
Grabbing “the low hanging fruit”
Advancing Waste Climate Connection
West Coast Climate Forum
Region 9/10 Partnership
Connecting Waste/Materials
Management to Climate Change
8 States
Engaging West Coast Leading Cities
Focus on Tools, Policy and Innovation
9
6 Principles for
TSCA Legislative Reform
Chemicals - reviewed against safety standards based on sound science
and reflect risk-based criteria protective of human health and the
environment.
Manufacturers provide necessary information to conclude that new and
existing chemicals are safe
Risk management decisions should take into account sensitive
subpopulations, cost, availability of substitutes and other relevant
considerations
EPA should have clear authority to act - should assess and act on priority
chemicals, both existing and new, in a timely manner
Green Chemistry – encouraged, transparency and public access to
information strengthened
EPA should be given a sustained source of funding for implementation
Enhanced Chemical Management
Program
• New Regulatory Risk Management Actions
– Lead
– Mercury
– Formaldehyde
– PCBs
– Glymes
– Nano Materials – Carbon Nano tubes
Resources
• Essential TSCA Reform Principles
– http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/princip
les.html
• Enhanced Chemical Management Program
– http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/enhan
chems.html
• National Partnership for Environmental Priorities
(NPEP)
– http://www.epa.gov/waste/partnerships/npep/index.htm
Evolution of the
R9 RCRA Program
• Emphasis on successful state implementation of
waste program
• Expand EPA presence on tribal lands and
underserved communities
• Moving beyond waste to achieve greater overall
results
• Multiple years of substantial resource cuts
R9 EPA HW Enforcement Priorities
• EJ Community Initiatives
• Tribal Lands
• High Noncompliance –High Risk
Sectors/Facilities
• National Enforcement Initiatives
– Mining/Mineral Processing
– Financial Assurance reviews
– Surface Impoundments
• Ensuring a Level Playing Field
Suisun Bay, CA
Capacitors
PCBs
Door jams
Electrical insulation
PCBs in
Caulk
Metropolitan Water District, CA
LUST Cleanup Challenge
• Continued challenge to
close 14,000+ LUSTs
• American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009
Greening Cleanups
• Cleanup paradigm evolution:
– Protect HH&E
– Reuse contaminated land
– Minimize climate/energy footprint of
remedy
• Better informed remedial decisions
through Lifecycle Analysis of carbon,
energy, and multi-media impacts
LCA Greening Remedies
Greening Products:
Electronic Product Environmental
Assessment Tool
Green Standards for Electronics
• Reductions AchievedEPEAT for
Consumers?
4.4 MMTCO2E
4,290 metric tons toxics
• Greening Existing Buildings
– GHG opportunities
– ARRA Weatherizing homes
– Residential – Energy Star Homes
– Indoor Air Issues
• Healthy Schools
– Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)High Performance Building Products Database
• Region 9 actions to support Home Energy
Retrofits:
–Formed CA HERCC – CA Home Energy
Retrofit Coordinating Committee
–Developing consistent standards and program
elements for statewide utility-and
local government-sponsored programs
Contact: Leif Magnuson
[email protected]
For CA HERCC Recommendations, see: http://www.builditgreen.org/homeenergy-retrofit-programs-local-government
Questions?