Citadel Saves 50,000 Wild Honey Bees!

Citadel’s beliefs and ethics were called into action when they suddenly became the home to over 50,000 wild honey bees. Just like any other company, Citadel was alarmed at the idea of wild bees being so close in proximity to its employees and pedestrians and their safety possibly being threatened. As an environmental company, Citadel not only works with many companies to bring safety and sustainability to the forefront, but they practice it as well.

Citadel was aware of the option to bring in an exterminator and have them removed and killed, but then that would be going against their company ethics, so they pursued other alternatives. They found help from a bee specialist, Chris Carr who works at Shangri-La (Citadel’s client) who was more than willing to help in this quest to save the wild honey bees. The process took more than 9 hours and after a few stings, Mr. Carr was able to get the bees to their new home at C & C’z Beez where they are continuing to make wild honey.

Citadel is more than proud to say that they did not contribute to the current honey bee hive shortage by only relying on one option. With a little time, research and in Citadel’s circumstances, luck, they were able to stick to their ethics and beliefs and remain a positive example.

Heat Illness Prevention Training

Summertime is here and OSHA recommends five key elements – water, rest, shade, training, and emergency preparations – as preventative steps to avoid a heat related illness. Working in hot and humid conditions can increase the potential for employees to become sick, and in some cases, die. OSHA reports that each year thousands of workers suffer from heat related illnesses, including fatalities that can be prevented.  Cal/OSHA is actively investigating two suspected heat illness fatalities that occurred in the construction and agriculture industries this year and has indicated that they will be vigilant in their enforcement efforts this year.

If you are in need of Heat Illness Prevention training please contact us, Citadel Environmental Services specialize in Heat Assessment online and in-class training, along with comprehensive Cal/OSHA needs assessment.

Source: Osha Training Center 

Update: The State Department of Toxic Substances Control Failed to Take Action on Evergreen Oil Re-Refinery

New information has been obtained from emergency responder's at the July 6th high-temperature leak at the Evergreen Oil re-refining plant in Newark, CA, that show the leak involved a hazardous industrial chemical and not just recycled motor oil, as initially reported.

According to Consumer Watchdog, regulators are unclear about who is the lead regulator overseeing the facility, with DTSC's own enforcers acknowledging they are uncertain of the department's authority over the whole plant, which processes used motor oil. They were also not aware of what actions other agencies might be taking."The DTSC, which should be the leader in any event involving this serial safety violator, seems almost to be looking for reasons not to get involved," said Consumer Watchdog advocate Liza Tucker. "This is an opportunity for the new director to show strong leadership and creativity in a department that appears to have faltered for years."


Source PR Newswire

The State Department of Toxic Substances Control Failed to Take Tough Action on Evergreen Oil Re-Refiner

The State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has failed to take tough action against the toxic industries that continue to operate after repeated safety violations, like the Evergreen Oil Re-Refinery (Evergreen), and consequently put a community in Northern California in danger. 

On July 16th, Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to the Director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Debbie Raphael, in regards to sending Evergreen a strong message by indefinitely closing the Re-Refinery after a pipe leaked and spewed "superheated oil" and triggered an emergency evacuation on July 6th, in Newark, CA. The surrounding community was warned to expect a wave of "strong odors" from the leak. 

The accident marks the latest in a string of problems at the plant that re-refines used motor oil, including a burst pipe and major fire in March 2011 and repeated citations by the DTSC for safety violations and carelessness.

The letter sent to Ms. Raphael stated Evergreen is among several companies who appear to have manipulated or ignored the DTSC and other agencies to the detriment of concerned and frustrated local residents. 

"Consumer Watchdog is appalled to learn of yet another accident at the Newark-based used oil recycler Evergreen Oil," said Liza Tucker, an advocate at Consumer Watchdog. "We call on the DTSC to shut this refinery down indefinitely. Evergreen needs to know that sloppy safety procedures, and refusal to fix or replace shoddy infrastructure, is simply unacceptable."

The letter sent on July 16th to Director Raphael said in part:

"Your department has repeatedly cited Evergreen Oil for cracks and gaps in waste container storage and transfer areas, failing to track contaminated petroleum waste coming in and out of the facility, careless soil contamination, and omissions in its own inspection system.

"Still, the DTSC fined this company that generates some $36 million in annual revenues less than $60,000 under six separate consent decrees between 2006 and 2011. This practice of accepting promises that Evergreen will police itself, instead of taking the company to court, has been an abject failure. The DTSC has cited the company for failure to follow even its own simple safety procedures.

"At the same time, members of the local community say that for 25 years Evergreen has ignored federal and state laws and polluted their neighborhoods."

The department has a special responsibility to working and middle class families in the small cities where companies produce and recycle toxics including PCBs, dioxin, and heavy metals near homes and schools, Consumer Watchdog said. Too many of these companies have mastered the arts of delay to avoid fixing leaks, improving infrastructure, and following adequate internal safety controls.

"Evergreen Oil has proven repeatedly that it cannot be trusted," said Tucker. "The DTSC and other regulators need to put community safety first and show zero tolerance for such polluters."

Consumer Watchdog has previously described problems at several hazardous waste sites, and also called for reforms at the DTSC to address a lack of transparency, a disconnect between inspection and enforcement, and a preference for weak settlements instead of more aggressive prosecution of serial violators.

Say Goodbye to the Registered Environmental Assessors Program

Environmental professionals say goodbye to the Registered Environmental Assessors (REA) Program, as of July 1st the program has been discontinued in the State of California.

Of course, there are several organizations that offer environmental professional certifications, but you must meet EPA's definition of an environmental professional through a Professional Engineer License or Professional Geologist License, plus three years of experience.

Other certification programs available for Environmental Professional Certification are:

-  Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals - Certified
    Environmental Professional (CEP) program
-  National Registry of Environmental Professionals – several
    certifications including REPA and REP
-  International Society for Technical and Environmental Professionals
    (INSTEP) – Licensed Environmental Professional
-  Institute for Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP) – Qualified
    Environmental Professional
-  Institute of Hazardous Materials Management – Certified Hazardous
   Materials Manager (CHMM)

Below is the email sent to REAs by the State of California: 

As part of the Budget, on June 27, 2012 the Governor also signed SB 1018 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 39, Statutes of 2012). Among a number of other things, SB 1018 has repealed the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) authority for the Registered Environmental Assessors (REA) Program. As of July 1, 2012, the REA Program will no longer exist.

DTSC proposed the elimination of the REA Program in this year’s budget considerations, primarily because DTSC believes that the program is unnecessary and unenforceable, and more importantly, it is largely duplicative of and inconsistent with federal environmental professional standards that have been adopted since the creation of the REA Program. DTSC believes the elimination of the REA Program will standardize requirements for environmental professionals conducting environmental assessments under other statutory programs, and make them consistent with federal requirements.

REA I 2012 Annual fee payments received and the processing fee for new, five year renewal and reinstatement applications that were “pending” review will receive refunds in four to six weeks after July 1, 2012. REA II will receive a prorated annual fee refund and the processing fee for “pending” applications.

Please note that the online registry will no longer be available after July 1, 2012.

We would like to thank you for your past support and participation to the program.

Sincerely,

DTSC Management

Cal/OSHA Launched a Statewide Confined Space Special Emphasis Initiative

Earlier this year, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) launched a statewide Confined Space Special Emphasis Initiative to focus attention on preventing worker deaths and injuries in confined spaces. The Initiative is the result of a dramatic increase in deaths, up to seven in 2011, in confined spaces.

A confined space is generally defined as one that (1) is large enough and configured so that an employee can bodily enter and perform work; (2) has limited openings for entry and exit; and (3) is not designed for continuous occupancy. A few examples of confined spaces include manholes, boilers, vaults and utility tunnels.

Employers are advised to evaluate their properties for confined spaces because they can be certain that any inspection by Cal/OSHA will include a check for confined spaces. To learn more about confined space, please review the Confined Space Hazard Alert, an online aid in identifying confined spaces and protect workers. If you need further assistance, please contact Citadel Environmental Services. We provide assistance with Cal/OSHA needs assessments, including online and in-class training in Confined Space as well as many other programs.

Source: Fox Rothschild LLP

Registration Opens For Bay Area Clean Air Competition

What an amazing way for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to get people from the Bay Area to participate in helping their environment and be rewarded for doing so. San Franciscans, help your community by finding an alternative way to commute and make sure to enter in the challenge. If you win or even if you are just a participant, we would love to hear about your story (you can contact Kristin Velez here on LinkedIn) Good Luck!! Registration Opens for Bay Area Clean Air Competition

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) Update!

Notice of Public Hearing
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Proposed Amendments to Rule 902 – Asbestos

Date:         July 26, 2012

Time:        9:30 a.m.

Location:    Room 1450 (Board of Supervisors’ Chambers)
County Administration Building
700 H Street
Sacramento, California 95814

The Board of Directors of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (District) will consider the adoption of proposed amendments to Rule 902 – ASBESTOS.

Rule 902 contains work practice requirements for owners and operators of facility renovations, demolitions, and other asbestos handling activities.  Staff is proposing minor changes to the demolition and renovation sections of the rule to be more specific that consultants are included as owners or operators, to include sampling provisions that are consistent with the District’s current survey form, and to restructure some of the rule language.

Rule 902 implements the federal asbestos requirements of 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M, which has been delegated to the District by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The rule will be submitted to EPA pursuant to the District’s delegation authority at 40 CFR 61.04(c)(9)(ii)(F).

Copies of this notice, the proposed rule, and the staff report are posted on the District's website at this location: www.airquality.org/notices/index.shtml.  Paper copies may be viewed at the District office or purchased for a fee of 25¢ per page plus mailing costs.

By this notice, all interested parties are specifically requested to provide comments on the proposed amendments.  Oral testimony may be directed to the Board of Directors at the public hearing on July 26, 2012.  You can also submit your comments via mail to the Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD, 777 12th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: Joe Carle (916) 874-4838 or via email to JCarle@airquality.org.

----------------------------
SMAQMD
777 12th Street, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.airquality.org
Telephone: (916) 874-4800 or (800) 880-9025 (toll free within Sacramento County)
Fax: (916) 874-4899