Posts Tagged ‘ EPA ’

What is Fracking? Catchy Video Explains the Fracking Fuss

May 17th, 2011. By AbiK

If you haven’t seen the My Water’s on Fire Tonight (The Fracking Song) video, here’s a chance to check it out. It’s quick, but it delivers its message—and there’s something about the bobbing oil towers and retro “What the Frack is Going on…” sound that’s making me have some sort of Soul Train flashback moment.

Credit must be given to ProPublica and the students at NYU Studio 20 who set out to create a video to explain what hydraulic fracking is all about—or at least what the primary concern of anti-fracking groups is. You can also read more about hydraulic fracturing (nickname: fracking) on the following pages here at LawyersandSettlements.com…

Topic Page: Hydraulic Fracturing Water Contamination

EPA Gets Fracking on Study

Fracking and Flammable Tap Water? NY Says Hell No…for now

BP Spill, San Bruno Fire, Fracking…Time to Stop Blind Faith in Gas

On Shaky Ground? Fracking Lawsuits, Earthquakes and Bad Water (oh my)

With Focus on BP, Don’t Lose Sight of Fracking Issues

BP Experience Should Have us Catching a Fracking Clue

Tags: EPA, fracking, gas drilling, hydraulic fracturing, Marcellus Shale, natural gas, NYU Studio 20, ProPublica, The Fracking Song
Posted in Environment | 7820No Comments »2011-05-17+15%3A53%3A36AbiK

Today is D-day for Lead Paint Rule

April 22nd, 2010. By AbiK

paint scraper Today is D day for Lead Paint Rule Most of us don’t really think much about lead paint. Or lead anything for that matter. It only becomes an issue when there’s some report of lead appearing in a toy or someone’s about to buy (or renovate) an old house.

But lead was in the spotlight today, April 22nd, 2010. That’s because today was D-day for contractors who might find themselves working in homes, buildings, offices or schools that were built prior to 1978. Why 1978? Because that’s when the ban on lead paint went into effect—so anything built prior to ’78 may have used lead paint in its construction.

The EPA’s lead paint rule now requires contractors to take extra precautions—quite a few of them—when working in older homes and buildings to avoid unnecessary exposure to lead paint dust and particles. If you’re thinking, ok, so they’ll have to wear a dust mask, then you’re in for a bit of a surprise when you hear what this rule actually requires.

Contractors, as of today, have to be certified as “lead-safe” by the EPA—and at least one person on each job site must complete an eight-hour training course. They will have to wear special gear

that includes air filters, goggles and hoods. The areas where they’re working will need to be protected with heavy plastic and sealed. And work sites have to be cleaned thoroughly with special vacuums. Warning signs need to be posted as well to alert others that they are in the midst of a lead-paint hazard area.

This new federal rule has, needless to say, sent some shockwaves through the construction industry— Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: EPA, Lead Paint
Posted in Environment, Personal Injury | 3413No Comments »Today+is+D-day+for+Lead+Paint+Rule2010-04-23+01%3A13%3A50AbiK

The EnergyStar-Approved Gas-Powered Alarm Clock

April 1st, 2010. By Hunter West

Remember that fridge you bought with the EnergyStar label? Oh, y’know it may have even cost a bit more than other models that lacked the label. But it’s worth it, right? You’re using less en energystar The EnergyStar Approved Gas Powered Alarm Clock ergy…saving on hydro, and being the good environmental steward that you are.

Don’t bet on it. As revealed last week in The New York Times and in the contents of a government report issued March 26^th, the EnergyStar program can’t be trusted. Okay, well maybe now that the proverbial dung has hit the fan things will improve. But for anyone who has bought anything bearing the blue EnergyStar seal in recent years—well, you really don’t know what you’ve got.

Because EnergyStar may not know what you have, either.

energystar air purifier The EnergyStar Approved Gas Powered Alarm Clock

(Credit: GAO Report)

EnergyStar is run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in tandem with the federal Energy Department. A great idea, with lofty goals. As a consumer, you can be assured that by purchasing an appliance with the blue seal you are buying the very best, most efficient item in that class, on the market.

Or are you?

Audits are wonderful things. And when the Government Accountability Office (GAO) did a nine-month investigation, the auditors uncovered some interesting factoids:

A manufacturer can download the coveted EnergyStar logo from the government website as soon as they are registered as an EnergyStar partner. Many simply pasted the logo on items that had never been submitted for approval.
Many approvals are handled by an automated system. EnergyStar officials claim that final approvals are always vetted by a human being, and that the automated system is only used for screening. But this is allegedly not the case in all matters.
Many EnergyStar appliances actually use more power than others not carrying the EnergyStar logo.

In what would make excellent fodder for a movie, the GAO set up four fictitious companies as part of its audit and submitted to EnergyStar various products seeking the EnergyStar seal of approval. Most products just existed on paper. However energy consumption data was issued as if the products were, indeed real. Figures submitted in some cases were 20 percent less than the best-performing appliances out there. That’s quite a feat.

No red flag. They were approved.

An air purifier was submitted for approval. Basically it was an electric space heater with a feather duster on top (see photo).

Approved.

And here’s the best one…a gasoline-powered alarm clock. An item I suppose for those who are into backwoods Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: EnergyStar, EPA, GAO
Posted in Consumer Fraud | 32243 Comments »2010-04-01+18%3A28%3A08Hunter+West

Fluoride in Water Debate Continues

February 17th, 2010. By AbiK

As the debate on fluoride in water continues to rage in towns across America, it’s interesting to go back and watch this clip from the US Senate Hearing on Safe Drinking Water Act (June 29, 2000); yes, it’s ten years old now, but it’s still relevant; case in point, the current debate going on in Watsonville, CA where on the one hand, health officials note a dental decay epidemic and opponents to fluoridation refer to studies linking it to bone cancer, thyroid problems, kidney malfunction, fetal damage, and of course, fluorosis.

If you’re wondering whether your own water supply has fluoride in it, check with your local water company. Ask what the level of fluoride—it’ll be in parts-per-million (ppm)—in the water is. According to the ADA, the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water that has been proven to help reduce tooth decay is 0.7 – 1.2 ppm. While the ADA supports community water fluoridation, the ADA website also notes:

Naturally occurring fluoride may be below or above these levels [0.7-1.2 ppm] in some areas. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires notification by the water supplier if the fluoride level exceeds 2 parts per million. People living in areas where naturally occurring fluoridelevels in drinking water exceed 2 parts per million should consider an alternative water source or home water treatments to reduce the risk of fluorosis for young children.

Tags: Drinking Water, EPA, Fluoride, Fluorosis
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Environment | 2749No Comments »Fluoride+in+Water+Debate+Continues2010-02-17+16%3A11%3A23AbiK