Showing posts with label DTSC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DTSC. Show all posts
July 30, 2012
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
July 29, 2012
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."
"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.
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.
July 27, 2012
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.
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:
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 - CertifiedEnvironmental 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
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
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