Contaminants Sampling (Monitoring and Testing) News

Tape-Lift Fungal Material Collection

Taking a tape-lift sample is one of the main practices used by indoor environmental quality investigators for detecting whether mold structures (for example, spores and hyphae) have either settled onto or colonized the surface. Despite the popularity of the method, there can be significant inconsistency in how tape lifts are collected. A new ASTM International standard, D7910, Practice for the ...

Sep. 2, 2014

By ASTM International

Settlement Nets $5.7 Million for Cleanup Costs at A.C. Lawrence Superfund Site in S. Paris, Maine

Today, the United States, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, settled a lawsuit against ConAgra Grocery Products Company, LLC (“ConAgra”), which will pay $5.7 million to reimburse EPA for cleanup costs at the A.C. Lawrence Leather Company Sludge Lagoons Superfund Site in South Paris, Maine. From at least 1955 to 1975, the A.C. Lawrence Leather Company disposed of ...

Jul. 30, 2014

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels falling faster in cities than rural areas

Levels of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are falling at urban and rural sites in Europe and North America, according to recent research. These results contribute to growing evidence demonstrating that the legislation to reduce these harmful emissions has been successful. Concentrations of PAHs in urban areas were highest, the researchers found, but they were also declining at ...

Jun. 12, 2014

By European Commission, Environment DG

EPA selects City and County of Honolulu for a $400,000 Brownfields grant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the City and County of Honolulu will be one of 171 communities nationwide receiving brownfields funding to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment. The FY14 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants will ...

May 28, 2014

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Oroville awarded $750,000 in Brownfields Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the City of Oroville will be one of 171 communities nationwide receiving brownfields funding to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment. The FY14 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants will give ...

May 28, 2014

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

North Dakota Finds More Radioactive Oil Waste

North Dakota confirmed Thursday (April 24, 2014) the discovery of a new radioactive dump of waste from oil drilling, and separately a company hired to clean up waste found in February at another location said it removed double the amount of radioactive material originally estimated to be there. The Canadian company hired to clean up the largest dump found so far, located at an abandoned gas ...

Apr. 24, 2014

By Associated Press

New York coke plant fined $12.5 million for polluting

An industrial plant that knowingly released hundreds of tons of the carcinogen benzene into the air over a five-year span and improperly handled hazardous sludge on the ground was fined $12.5 million on Wednesday, and a manager was sentenced to a year in jail. Tonawanda Coke Corp. and its former environmental manager, Mark Kamholz, were convicted of federal environmental crimes last year in a ...

Mar. 19, 2014

By Associated Press

New Mexico nuclear repository monitored for radiation

Officials monitoring the presence of airborne radiation at the underground site in southeastern New Mexico where the federal government seals away its low-grade nuclear waste said late Saturday that surface tests have shown no danger to people or the environment. Samples were taken at several sites around the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant after an air monitor detected radiation on the underground ...

Feb. 16, 2014

By Associated Press

EMSL Will Host a Free Legionella & ASHRAE 188 Webinar

EMSL Analytical, Inc. will be hosting a free webinar, “Legionella & ASHRAE 188 – Investigation, Prevention, and Control” on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST. Dr. Jason Dobranic, EMSL Analytical, Inc.’s Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences, will host the webinar and discuss fundamental information regarding legionella and ASHRAE 188. ...

Dec. 12, 2013

By EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EPA Proposes to Add Radioactive Site in Ridgewood, Queens to its Superfund list of the country’s most hazardous waste sites

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed to add the Wolff-Alport Chemical Company site in the Ridgewood section of Queens, New York to its Superfund list of the country’s most hazardous waste sites. The soil and some nearby sewers are contaminated by residual radioactive contamination from past industrial activities at the site. Testing indicates that there is no immediate ...

Dec. 11, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Water company fined for sewage spills at Devon holiday resort

South West Water has been ordered to pay £60,300 in fines and costs for polluting two beaches at Salcombe in South Devon. The case was brought by the Environment Agency. Sewage spills occurred in August 2012 during the Salcombe annual regatta. On August 6 the Agency responded to reports of pollution at South Sands. It found sewage leaking from a corroded inspection hatch and flowing down ...

Nov. 25, 2013

By The Environment Agency - England and Wales

EPA Reaches Cleanup Decision for J2 Range and Groundwater Plumes at Camp Edwards

EPA, in consultation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has reached a final cleanup strategy for the “J2 Range” and its two affiliated “Northern and Eastern” groundwater plumes. The final cleanup plan outlines actions to address both groundwater contamination and affiliated source areas in the soil. One plume and multiple soil areas on Camp Edwards await final cleanup ...

Nov. 7, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Severn Trent Water fined £30,000 for breaching environmental permit

On Friday 27 September 2013, Severn Trent Water Ltd pleaded guilty at Telford Magistrates’ Court to one charge relating to a breach of their environmental permit conditions. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £2,046.66 in costs. The charge was brought by the Environment Agency under Section 38(2) and Regulation 12 (1)(b) of the Environmental Permitting ...

Sep. 30, 2013

By The Environment Agency - England and Wales

The Department of Energy Awards Small Business Contract for Site Characterization and Erosion Control Work

The Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded a new contract to CTI & Associates, of Wixom, MI. CTI is a small business. The Department will issue a time and material type contract with a three year period of performance and a not-to-exceed value of $2,249,264. Work performed under this contract will be performed at the contractor’s facilities and at the Los Alamos National Lab in Los ...

Sep. 30, 2013

By US Department of Energy

EPA Orders Public Water System on Indian Reservation in Riverside County to Address Arsenic in Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week ordered D&D Mobile Home Park to address violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. D&D, located on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Reservation in Riverside County, was found to have high levels of arsenic in its public system that provides drinking water to its 300 mobile park residents. The order requires D&D to come into ...

Sep. 10, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Announces 2012 Report Card grades for the lower Charles River and the Mystic River Watershed

In conjunction with the Charles River Watershed Association and the Mystic River Watershed Association, EPA is announcing water quality report card grades for calendar year 2012. These report cards represent the 18th and seventh public reporting on bacterial water quality conditions for the Charles River and Mystic River Watershed, respectively, since kicking off collaborative efforts addressing ...

Aug. 7, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Oil-in-Water applications, yes we can!

Let us introduce the QuickTOC, a proven oil-in-water analyser. Factories, refineries and the like that use oils for production or that process oils need a reliable, continuous monitoring system to prevent any leakages into the waste water. This enables them to take prompt action, preventing the loss of valuable goods and breakthroughs, as well as protecting WWTPs' biomasses. There are many ...

Jul. 22, 2013

By LAR Process Analysers AG

Bathing water quality events set for Teignmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Burnham-on-Sea

The quality of the bathing water at three South West beaches – Teignmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Burnham-on-Sea will be discussed at public events in July. With only two years to go until bathing waters need to meet much tougher standards under the new European Bathing Water Directive, the Environment Agency is organising a series of community events to highlight how everyone has a part ...

Jul. 17, 2013

By The Environment Agency - England and Wales

Detecting Lead Hotspots In Urban Gardens Requires Different Sampling Strategies

The local food movement is gaining traction in cities across America, with urban gardens contributing a healthy source of fresh produce for local citizens as well as providing a social outlet for gardeners and creating open spaces for residents to enjoy. Urban gardening is not without risks, however. Many garden plots within cities were previously inhabited by residences or industrial buildings ...

Jun. 5, 2013

By SRA Information Technology

EPA Region 7 to Hold News Conference June 4 in Omaha, Neb., to Discuss New Milestone for Omaha Lead Superfund Site

National and regional EPA officials and local government officials will hold a news conference on Tuesday, June 4, in Omaha, Neb., to discuss a significant milestone in the Agency’s continuing efforts to clean up toxic lead from residential yards and properties in the city. The news conference will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, in the Jesse Lowe Conference Room on the Third Floor ...

Jun. 3, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

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