EPA Enforcement in 2012 Protects Communities From Harmful Pollution

Robert Hinderliter

Hall of Fame Member
CONTACT:
Stacy Kika
kika.stacy@epa.gov
202-564-0906
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2012


EPA Enforcement in 2012 Protects Communities From Harmful Pollution

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its annual enforcement results, showing significant environmental and public health protections achieved – a reduction of 2.2 billion pounds of air, water and land pollution, as well as 4.4 billion pounds of hazardous waste, and $252 million in civil and criminal penalties levied – while also focusing on enforcement efforts that reduce smaller amounts of pollution but have substantial health impacts in communities.

“Enforcement plays a vital role in protecting communities from harmful pollution,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “We are using vigorous enforcement, as well as innovations in monitoring and transparency, to reduce pollution violations, protect and empower communities and focus on the environmental problems that matter most.”

FY 2012 results include:

- Sustained and focused enforcement attention on serious violators of clean drinking water standards has resulted in improvements in compliance. The number of systems with serious violations has declined by more than 60 percent in the past three years as a result of combined federal and state enforcement work, protecting people’s health through safer drinking water.

- More than 67 percent of large combined sewer systems serving people across the country are implementing clean water solutions to reduce raw sewage and contaminated stormwater and more are underway. EPA is working with communities to design integrated solutions to these water quality problems, and incorporating innovative and cost effective green infrastructure to save money and achieve multiple community benefits.

- EPA is bringing criminal prosecutions where criminal activity threatens public health, like failing to use required pollution control equipment or knowingly violating pollution rules resulting in death or serious harm or falsifying pollution information. See a case example in Louisiana.

- EPA is advancing environmental justice by incorporating fenceline monitoring, which requires companies to monitor their air emissions and make that data available public, into settlements, ensuring that local residents have access to critical information about pollution that may be affecting their community. EPA also secured $44 million in additional investments through settlements for supplemental environmental projects that benefit impacted communities. See an oil refinery case example.

- EPA is increasing transparency to use the power of public accountability to help improve environmental compliance. EPA’s 2012 enforcement actions map provides information about violators in communities. EPA’s state dashboards and Clean Water Act pollutant loading tool provides the public with information about local pollution that may affect them and allows the public to take a closer look at how government is responding to pollution problems.

More information about EPA’s FY 2012 enforcement results:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/data/eoy2012/index.html
 
Thank you for sharing that information. I also enjoy reading the threads about cops beating up grandmothers on diabetic disability.

Either way, one is about the same as the other as it relates to what I do.

I squirt soap at stuff and then I spray water on it. I can not yet make the connection in how that relates to failing public sewer systems.


iPhone - Tapatalk
 
Just as the EPA representative said here in Houston at the seminar you attended Robert, this pretty much proves the point he made. Pressure Washers are not even on the radar for the EPA, they leave that up to the local authorities. They have much bigger and more "egregious" violators that they concern themselves with. If I remember correctly there is a minimum fine amount they are looking to get before they will even open a case and there cases take up to 5 years to investigate and come to a conclusion.

These type settlements are what allows the EPA to justify themselves, and their jobs I guess. But it really has no relevance to what we do as Power Washers.

Professional and Responsible Pressure Washer are not Polluters, we reduce pollution.
 
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PowerWash.com received 6 calls yesterday from Contractors being affected by this changing enforcement of the CWA.

It is really location based. Expect a Knee Jerk Reaction from Municipalities who are out of compliance on their StormWater NPDES Annual Permit Reports to the EPA. This is what happened in Houston.
 
We have been working with our local service authority. We were reported by the same person twice even while vacuum up the waste water. They asked us to help set up some guidelines after they talked with Brian. They realized we were already knew what was needed and they are just starting to work on it.
 
My local EPA enforcement turns an addtional Maryland positive

On a particular project the bureaucratic red tape came into play between the local jurisdiction arm of the EPA and the POTW.


The result was a positive one for our region, because of my initial input and communication with sanitation authority on this project , two county's in Maryland have developed in the words I have often heard from you Robert H and what I also propose they implement:

A Reasonable, Rational and Logical, BMPS for pressure wash water discharge to sanitary sewer was developed in 2012 for Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties Maryland, ..........this is the first such BMP for the POTW.

I have had an issue in states further east of Maryland that potential customers just identify in their RFP's that "no wash water enter the drain", again after communicating with local AHJ's I was able to develop a project specific wash water plan , that was in the process of being fully approved, unfortunately the project got cancelled until further notice due to construction.
 
A thinkings mans thread. Unless you deal with certain types of Cleanings within this Industry you may never see the enforcement personal out there looking for guys that do mostly residential but in the commercial sector it's another story. Especially in a place that is very visible and the young people that are walking environmentalist(so they think) such as cleaning a garage on a college campus.

Robert is only giving information IMHO where these violations are happening and since things have a way to trickle down at least you know possibly why. You get a major oil company dumping contaminants it heightens people's awareness to tue point that rules are changed and in our worst case scenario if people's awareness is heightened and they now see one of us dumping dirty water down the storm drain... That's where the trouble lies.

To turn the other way to think that can never happen is a fools man game.

Thanks for the info Robert.
 
PowerWash.com received 6 calls yesterday from Contractors being affected by this changing enforcement of the CWA.

It is really location based. Expect a Knee Jerk Reaction from Municipalities who are out of compliance on their StormWater NPDES Annual Permit Reports to the EPA. This is what happened in Houston.


With all due respect Hr. H...The stories from the 6 Contractors (No Names need to be used) would probably have been more helpful.

"Combined Sewer Systems" are just as they imply, Sewer Systems that combine human waste & storm water that go directly to the treatment plant. This has been found to be an incorrect system because treatment plants can not handle the Sewer & Storm-water flow. When it rains treatment plants are overwhelmed by the combined flow and then "Wash Out" into receiving streams, In most cases sending millions of gallons of raw sewage into waterways that everyone seem to be concerned about. Cities around the country are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to "Split" these systems because of the tremendous damage this is doing to our environment.

Again with all due respect the "Knee Jerk Reaction" in Houston had nothing to do with your comment as to "Why" it happened. The evidence of this is on the CD's that Michael sent me from the meetings there. The years of misinformation Houston received was averted by a few concerned knowledgeable Contractors in just a few months, not years.

Again hyper-linking this article and info into a pressure washing board is wrong IMO, and I really wish you would stop doing this. There would be no problem just posting the article without all the hyperlinks.

Someone researching pressure washing or pollution (Because of your hyperlinks) could come across this and come away thinking that Pressure Washers & Pollution are or go "Hand In Hand", and I'm sure you wouldn't want that kind of misinformation out there for another "Knee Jerk Reaction" from another City like Houston.....would you?

I would ask the moderators to move this thread to a Non-searchable area ASAP.
 
We have been working with our local service authority. We were reported by the same person twice even while vacuum up the waste water. They asked us to help set up some guidelines after they talked with Brian. They realized we were already knew what was needed and they are just starting to work on it.

The PWNA has already prepared this information based on the EPA Model Ordinance which has been enforced since Jan 2, 1996 with very positive results. It is contract Cleaner friendly.
 
With all due respect Hr. H...The stories from the 6 Contractors (No Names need to be used) would probably have been more helpful.

"Combined Sewer Systems" are just as they imply, Sewer Systems that combine human waste & storm water that go directly to the treatment plant. This has been found to be an incorrect system because treatment plants can not handle the Sewer & Storm-water flow. When it rains treatment plants are overwhelmed by the combined flow and then "Wash Out" into receiving streams, In most cases sending millions of gallons of raw sewage into waterways that everyone seem to be concerned about. Cities around the country are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to "Split" these systems because of the tremendous damage this is doing to our environment.

Again with all due respect the "Knee Jerk Reaction" in Houston had nothing to do with your comment as to "Why" it happened. The evidence of this is on the CD's that Michael sent me from the meetings there. The years of misinformation Houston received was averted by a few concerned knowledgeable Contractors in just a few months, not years.

Again hyper-linking this article and info into a pressure washing board is wrong IMO, and I really wish you would stop doing this. There would be no problem just posting the article without all the hyperlinks.

Someone researching pressure washing or pollution (Because of your hyperlinks) could come across this and come away thinking that Pressure Washers & Pollution are or go "Hand In Hand", and I'm sure you wouldn't want that kind of misinformation out there for another "Knee Jerk Reaction" from another City like Houston.....would you?

I would ask the moderators to move this thread to a Non-searchable area ASAP.

The hyper-links were in the original Email I received from the EPA, I did not delete them. You can repost but not edit.
 
These Emails Blasts are free from the EPA, all you have do is to go to EPA.gov and sign up for what ever emails blasts you desire.
 
I have a question concerning this bb and a point to make as well. 1- is the non-searchable area here open to all contractors that visit this bb?
2- Take out the Hyper-links so the thread stays open for discussion instead of getting burried where it will most likely turn into something it isn't.
 
The PWNA has already prepared this information based on the EPA Model Ordinance which has been enforced since Jan 2, 1996 with very positive results. It is contract Cleaner friendly.

With all due respect, is this the same information that "You" and the P$NA said was not going to be shopped (prepared) to the EPA or other State & Local authorities....but ended up doing anyway?
 
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On a particular project the bureaucratic red tape came into play between the local jurisdiction arm of the EPA and the POTW.


The result was a positive one for our region, because of my initial input and communication with sanitation authority on this project , two county's in Maryland have developed in the words I have often heard from you Robert H and what I also propose they implement:

A Reasonable, Rational and Logical, BMPS for pressure wash water discharge to sanitary sewer was developed in 2012 for Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties Maryland, ..........this is the first such BMP for the POTW.

I have had an issue in states further east of Maryland that potential customers just identify in their RFP's that "no wash water enter the drain", again after communicating with local AHJ's I was able to develop a project specific wash water plan , that was in the process of being fully approved, unfortunately the project got cancelled until further notice due to construction.

Ill play devil advocate , why not hook the property directly to sanitary.


Text me anytime for question 480-522-5227
 
Other industries have found perfectly legal ways to filter runoff without the use of complicated pumping or vacuuming machines that require more use of small engines pumping exhaust into the air.

Failing to push for simple gravity filtration and the full implementation of the built-in systems that already exist to deal with rainwater runoff such as detention basins and nature filtered areas is treason to our industry.

Our industry is LOW IMPACT with a NET POSITIVE effect on the environment. We are not polluters. We are cleaners.

What's next when vacuums, bulky filter systems and sump pumps fail to bring in enough revenue?.....A campaign against the very small engines that run them? I can hear it now:

"Get rid of all small engines.........Don't IMPAIR the AIR".

This is ridiculous.

The entire approach is flawed as proven by the march down to Houston to bend over, pull down our pants and say "Do what you like, regulators, just tell us what you want us to do".

Thank God for Ron educating them on the fact that retention systems exist and were built for a reason, allowing Houston contractors to get back to work.

No other industry on the planet would allow one of their own to lay down and make policy that confuses it's own contractors and the public.

And an industry org that would allow it would be blackballed.

It's appalling.
 
CONTACT:
Stacy Kika
kika.stacy@epa.gov
202-564-0906
202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2012


EPA Enforcement in 2012 Protects Communities From Harmful Pollution

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its annual enforcement results, showing significant environmental and public health protections achieved – a reduction of 2.2 billion pounds of air, water and land pollution, as well as 4.4 billion pounds of hazardous waste, and $252 million in civil and criminal penalties levied – while also focusing on enforcement efforts that reduce smaller amounts of pollution but have substantial health impacts in communities.

“Enforcement plays a vital role in protecting communities from harmful pollution,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “We are using vigorous enforcement, as well as innovations in monitoring and transparency, to reduce pollution violations, protect and empower communities and focus on the environmental problems that matter most.”

FY 2012 results include:

- Sustained and focused enforcement attention on serious violators of clean drinking water standards has resulted in improvements in compliance. The number of systems with serious violations has declined by more than 60 percent in the past three years as a result of combined federal and state enforcement work, protecting people’s health through safer drinking water.

- More than 67 percent of large combined sewer systems serving people across the country are implementing clean water solutions to reduce raw sewage and contaminated stormwater and more are underway. EPA is working with communities to design integrated solutions to these water quality problems, and incorporating innovative and cost effective green infrastructure to save money and achieve multiple community benefits.

- EPA is bringing criminal prosecutions where criminal activity threatens public health, like failing to use required pollution control equipment or knowingly violating pollution rules resulting in death or serious harm or falsifying pollution information. See a case example in Louisiana.

- EPA is advancing environmental justice by incorporating fenceline monitoring, which requires companies to monitor their air emissions and make that data available public, into settlements, ensuring that local residents have access to critical information about pollution that may be affecting their community. EPA also secured $44 million in additional investments through settlements for supplemental environmental projects that benefit impacted communities. See an oil refinery case example.

- EPA is increasing transparency to use the power of public accountability to help improve environmental compliance. EPA’s 2012 enforcement actions map provides information about violators in communities. EPA’s state dashboards and Clean Water Act pollutant loading tool provides the public with information about local pollution that may affect them and allows the public to take a closer look at how government is responding to pollution problems.

More information about EPA’s FY 2012 enforcement results:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/data/eoy2012/index.html

Robert, I am a 2nd year start up power washer doing mostly residential work. I am uneducated in the post that you made. Please explain to me in laymans terms what it is that you are trying to accomplish with this post. whats its purpose?
 
Ill play devil advocate , why not hook the property directly to sanitary.


Text me anytime for question 480-522-5227



I have wondered why some fuel stations were not built this way.

Some fuel stations have an OWS, some have more elaborate systems than an OWS, the ones I have encountered were not designed for pressure cleaning operations of the fuel pads as detailed by their design engineers and the treated run off goes to storm.

I would be nice to have a "built in" on site system the when we arrive to clean we turn a directional flow valve that would send the wash water to a adequately designed system then to sanitary sewer.

even simple things like drive thrus, at least built and designed to run to one or two particular low points, it would be so much easier, cost effective and possibly reduce storm drain discharge form cleaning activities.
 

This Gas station Located in Maryland is built to handle its own Pollution. Watch the video with open mind set that water is being clean here prior to even Bio remediation. The difference in this system is that its above ground. Notice the oil collecting at the opening from he pavement.

Maryland is the most compliant built real-estate in the country per clean water act regulations. (PERIOD)
 
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