United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA
EPA-903-R-95-017
December 1995
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25 Years of Progress
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INTRODUCTION
To the Mid-Atlantic Region
Valleys and ridges, coastal plains and Appalachian Mountains,
fields and forests - the Mid-Atlantic Region of EPA is a land
of contrasts and balance. The great variety of environments
within the Region makes it an attractive place for a rich diversity
of plants and animals, including the most dominant animals on
the planet: people.
Each of the landscapes of Region 3 provides unique opportuni-
ties for living. The multi-state Coastal Plain is characterized by
extensive shorelines, wetlands, and slowly meandering streams.
These areas have served as important habitat for many species
of fish, shellfish, crabs and oysters, which have, in turn, pro-
vided people with food and livelihood. The Coastal Plain gives
way to the gently rolling foothills of the Appalachian Moun-
tains, known as the Piedmont, which is characterized by fertile
soils and proximity to abundant freshwater sources. Throughout
time, the greatest growth of populations and industries has
occurred within these ecosystems, reflecting our dependence on
waterways for clean water and transportation of goods.
The Valley and Ridge ecoregion, forming the central spine of the
Appalachian Mountain Range through our Region, has sup-
ported centuries of farming in the valleys and wildlife habitat in
the ridges. The western Allegheny Plateau supports most of our
coal, petroleum, and timber industries. Because these areas
comprise the most rural portions of the Region, they offer some
of our most valuable natural areas, as well as our most valuable
mineral and forest resources within the Region.
Twenty five years
ago, EPA was
formed to ensure a
balance between
efforts to improve
the quality of our
lives and the degradation of these ecosystems upon which our
lives depend. Today, we know protecting ecosystems involves
controlling pollution that can travel great distances. In the Mid-
Atlantic Region, runoff from eastern Pennsylvania farm fields
flows into the Susquehanna River, and eventually into the
Chesapeake Bay. Emissions from coal-burning power plants in
the Ohio River Valley obscure the view in Shenandoah National
Park and contribute to acidic rainfall. Car emissions in the
District of Columbia and Baltimore are carried by air currents,
adding to air quality problems in Wilmington and throughout
the northeastern states. Plastics thrown into Philadelphia area
storm sewers can travel through streams and rivers and into the
Atlantic Ocean, choking sea turtles and dolphins.
The combination and interaction of people and other living
things with the unique physical features of our varied ecosys-
tems has determined the lifestyles found here; in turn, these
lifestyles have had a direct bearing on our environment. This
report was written to help people understand trends and
interconnections in the health of the Mid-Atlantic environment
that sustains us. The present and future health of our biological
diversity, our lands, our economy, and our very livelihoods
depend on the careful stewardship of these invaluable, irreplace-
able resources.
For more information call:
General Information Hotline
(800) 438-2474
Business Assistance Center Hotline
(800) 228-8711
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Based Inks on Recycled Paper (20% Postconsumer)
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Charting a Course for a Brighter Future
"We have not inherited the world from our ancestors - we have
borrowed it from our children. " (Ancient proverb)
As public servants, the Environmental Protection Agency has a mission to protect the environment entrusted to us by
the American people. Since 1970, the Agency has provided footsoldiers in the battle against health-threatening
pollution and the wanton destruction of our natural heritage.
This report, presented for EPA's 25th anniversary, allows the employees of EPA Region 3 to share with the people of
the Mid-Atlantic Region the environmental accomplishments we have achieved on their behalf. We believe it
provides a fair and honest appraisal of our successes, working with many other stakeholders, in improving and
preserving our common natural resources. The report also provides a frank assessment of what remains to be done.
As the report shows, we cannot grow complacent with what has been accomplished. Because many serious environ-
mental problems remain, EPA is seeking new ways to meet the challenges of the future by building on our achieve-
ments, and applying the lessons this massive undertaking has taught us.
It is an awesome responsibility, and one we take very seriously. But it is extremely rewarding to be able to work at a
job where you know that your efforts will not only contribute to a better quality of life today, but will endow future
generations with the natural resources critical to sustaining life itself.
As we look back on the quarter century since EPA was established, we can count many victories - victories that
would not have been won had it not been for the support shown for our efforts by the public. We depend on that
support for our continued success and present this report as an account of what the public is receiving for its invest-
ment of hard-earned dollars.
Under the leadership of President Clinton and EPA Administrator Carol Browner, EPA is reinvigorating our nation's
approach to protecting the public health and the environment. They have set the course for a new generation of
environmental protection. Here in the Mid-Atlantic Region, we have taken the lead in a number of important areas:
• restoring to economic and environmental productivity our nation's largest and most productive estuary -
the Chesapeake Bay - through an innovative mix of public and private initiatives;
• building new partnerships with the states and their environmental agencies to produce a more effective and
efficient method of protecting public health and the environment;
• educating and empowering communities and businesses to be better environmental stewards through data
sharing and technical assistance;
• reinventing and streamlining internal management systems to increase efficiency and provide the most
comprehensive and economical environmental protection available; and
• obtaining enforcement settlements from polluters that involve community projects, environmental educa
tion programs, and other beneficial activities that go beyond penalties and mere correction of violations.
Through these and other efforts detailed in this report, we are dedicated to making continued improvements in our
ability to protect the environment and public health. I hope this report will not only be seen as a means by which the
public can hold us accountable for how well we do, but also as an invitation to join in the effort,
W. Michael McCabe
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AIR QUALITY
Significant Improvements
Have Been Made...
"Restoring the quality of our air environment is one of the most
difficult and challenging tasks facing the nation today."
William D. RucMshaus, EPA Administrator, 1972
The Mid-Atlantic Region is one of the
nation's most heavily industrialized
areas. Twenty-five years ago, stack
emissions from industries were dis-
charging uncontrolled quantities of
harmful contaminants into the air,
affecting human health and degrading
air quality. Exhaust emissions from cars
and trucks further aggravated these
problems. Health advisory alerts were
often issued in major cities, advising
residents to stay indoors to avoid
exposure to unhealthful levels of air
pollution (Fig. 1). Industrial operations
were periodically curtailed until
concentrations of air pollutants returned
to healthful levels.
Clean Air Act
The 1970 Clean Air Act established
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQSs) for common air pollutants,
i.e., particulate matter (soot), sulfur
dioxide, ground level ozone (smog),
nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and
later, lead. These regulatory steps began
a return to healthy air quality. Philadel-
phia, affected by unhealthy levels of
sulfur dioxide, developed strategies and
regulations controlling sulfur-in-fuel
that, by the late 1970s, brought this area
into compliance with the NAAQS for
sulfur dioxide. Pittsburgh, impacted by
harmful levels of particulate matter,
devised programs to control emissions
from iron- and steel-makers that
brought that city its cleanest air quality
in decades.
Because vehicle exhaust emissions
contributed significantly to declining air
quality, the 1970 Clean Air Act and its
Amendments required the manufacture
of cars with more efficient engines. Also,
many states adopted vehicle inspection
and maintenance programs. These
emission controls and vehicle inspec-
tions led to attainment of the carbon
monoxide NAAQS across the Mid-
FIGURE i
Number of Unhealthful Days
I
Selected Cities
Baltimore
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington, DC
Wilmington
80 81
82 83
90 91 92 93 94
Atlantic Region. The phase-out of
leaded gasoline has virtually eliminated
violations of the lead NAAQS region-
wide. Correspondingly, significant
decreases in blood lead levels of the
Region's residents have been realized,
especially in children, the age group
most affected by high lead levels .
Toxic Release Inventory
Since 1988, EPA has received annual
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reports
from businesses that made or used any
FIGURE 2
Annual Trend for TRI Releases
1990 1991 1992
Reporting Year
of 300 listed toxic chemicals. These TRI
data, available in public and federal
depository libraries nationwide, are
used by EPA to identify problem areas,
and as a basis for developing regula-
tions. Since 1988, manufacturers in
Region 3 have reduced releases of toxic
chemicals from 344 million pounds in
1988 to 161 million pounds in 1993, a
reduction of 53%. A preponderance of
those emissions and corresponding
reductions are related to air pollution
sources and facilities. Figure 2 illustrates
reductions achieved during the 1989-
1993 timeframe.
Region 3 facilities reduced their air
releases of ozone-depleting chemicals
from nearly 15 million pounds in 1991 to
about 5.3 million pounds in 1993. Air,
water, and land releases of carcinogens
also declined from about 23 million
pounds in 1991 to about 16 million
pounds in 1993. Manufacturers have
reduced toxic chemical wastes shipped
off-site for treatment and disposal by
41% - from 195.8 million pounds in 1988
to 138.9 million pounds in 1993. The
1993 TRI data indicate that manufactur-
ers in Region 3 have recycled 45.2% of
their toxic chemical waste.
The majority of these reductions in air
toxic chemical releases and wastes were
not required by law. Rather, they were
the result of an increased focus by
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 2
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industry on environmental improve-
ments, and an effort to adopt measures
to reduce air toxic chemical releases.
These measures include raw material
substitutions with nontoxic chemicals,
process modifications to implement
recycling, improved maintenance to
reduce air chemical leaks, and increased
usage of nontoxic cleaning solvents and
degreasers.
Looking Ahead...
While significant progress has been
made in reducing air pollution, some
problems persist. Ground level ozone
(smog) levels still exceed the national
standard in many city areas. About 16
million of the Region's 26 million
residents are still exposed to unhealthy
levels at times. Gains from pollution
controls placed on major sources of
ozone-forming emissions, and control
devices installed on new vehicles have
been offset in part by the increased use
of vehicles (Fig. 3).
With the 1990 Clean Air Act Amend-
ments, new state program develop-
ments, and new voluntary pollutant
initiatives, we continue to address this
problem. While much still needs to be
accomplished in combating unhealthy
ground level ozone air quality levels,
recent air quality data indicate that
some areas in the Region that once
experienced unhealthy ozone levels are
FIGURE 3
Annual Vehicle Emissions Drop as Driving Increases
1,200,000
200,000
160,000
120,000
85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94
Source 1995 Emissions Trends Report VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds CO - Carbon Monoxide
Multiply CO concentrations t10 lor short tons Nox - Nitrogen Oxides VMT - Vehicle Miles Traveled
now in attainment with the health-
related ozone air quality standard.
Acid rain is another critical issue in the
Mid-Atlantic Region (see page 17).
Transport of acid rain pollutants has
significant effects on habitats such as the
Chesapeake Bay, the Allegheny Plateau
forests, and stream ecology. The Mid-
Atlantic Region Acid Pollution Strategic
Plan is promoting new and innovative
approaches to reducing greenhouse
gases through the Green Lights program
(see page 10) and less reliance on energy
consumption and fossil fuels.
Finally, to further address stratospheric
ozone depletion, regulations and
strategies are in place to phase out
ozone-depleting chemicals, principally
chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. The Mid-
Atlantic Region places a high priority on
assuring compliance with CFC phase-
out requirements.
In conclusion, air pollution affects us all
and requires that each of us contribute
toward reducing air pollution through
complying with regulations and
voluntary actions (recycling, use of
"environmentally friendly" products,
energy conservation, and more).
Ozone Strategic Plan
Ground level ozone, the chief component of smog, is the most pervasive air pollution problem in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Ground level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in warm temperatures and sunlight.
The sources of these air pollutants range from cars to drycleaners to oil refineries. Exceedances of the federal ozone standard
vary from area to area, but are most common in urban areas where traffic and industry are most concentrated. Ground level
ozone knows no geographic boundaries, and is transported hundreds of miles from its origin. Ozone levels above the federal
standard cause respiratory problems and can result in sick days, hospitalizations, and other health problems. Ozone levels
across the nation rose well above the federal standard in 1995; extreme heat and sun, with mild winds, made that summer one
of the smoggiest on record.
To ensure that ground level ozone concentrations in the Region are sufficiently reduced to protect both human health and farm
crops, Region 3 began a five-year Ozone Strategic Plan. This Plan goes beyond regulatory requirements to reduce ground level
ozone levels more quickly. Key features of the Strategic Plan include: reducing hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides emissions
regionally through various industry, auto, and consumer strategies; enhancing public outreach programs that inform the
public of the ecological and health risks of ground level ozone, and how the public can act to reduce these effects; and promot-
ing the use of energy conservation and energy-efficient technologies by working with the Department of Energy, state energy
and environmental offices, and regional utilities.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 3
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WATER QUALITY
Twenty Five Years of Progress
"We don't know the true worth of water
until the well runs dry."
Benjamin Franklin
We all remember the 1960s and early
1970s, when fish kills were common in
polluted rivers, and when swimming in
those rivers was unthinkable. In 1972,
Congress responded to public concerns
by passing the federal Water Pollution
Control Act ("Clean Water Act"). At that
time, discharges from city pipes
accounted for about half of the pollution
in our waterways. The major discharg-
ers were industries and poorly main-
tained public sewer systems. Govern-
ment programs began building munici-
pal treatment plants to collect and treat
sewage from homes and businesses.
There are now over 750 large treatment
plants, and many more smaller plants,
in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Now, the
point source discharges these plants
treat account for less than 38% of the
pollutants entering the Region's waters,
and less than 20% of the pollutants
entering the nation's waters.
One direct and significant improvement
in water quality is the biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD) measured in the
Mid-Atlantic Region's waterways. The
BOD of a water body indicates how
much sewage and other organic waste is
present. A high BOD indicates low
amounts of oxygen available for fish
and other aquatic life, and also indicates
possible bacterial contamination. BOD
declined by nearly 30% between 1989
and 1993, as more modern wastewater
treatment plants went on line.
New Challenges: The
Invisible Pollution
The success of this point source control
effort proves that as a nation, and as a
Region, we can control the major end-of-
pipe pollution sources. However, there
are still major pollution problems in our
rivers. The smaller, but more wide-
spread effects of daily human activities
are now some of the most significant
threats to water quality. Waters of the
Region continue to be polluted by
"nonpoint" sources ("polluted runoff"),
meaning that there is no single point
from which the pollution comes.
Nonpoint source water pollution occurs
when rain or irrigation carries pollut-
ants over or through the ground and
into waterways. Nonpoint sources can
be failing septic systems, runoff from
farmlands, or motor oil leaking onto
roadways. The Congress, along with
local, state, and federal agencies, has
initiated programs to control the
adverse impacts of nonpoint pollution.
We hope soon to measure water quality
improvements through these programs
in a similar fashion to the point source
success story described above.
Are the Fish Safe to Eat?
Water pollution often affects fish and
other aquatic life before it affects
humans. Because we eat fish, the
accumulation of toxic chemicals in
aquatic life is a major public health
concern. The positive aspect of this
concern is that only four substances
are responsible for 94% of the fish
consumption advisories in the Region:
mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), chlordane, and dioxin. When
these chemicals enter our waters, they
can cause long-term problems to aquatic
life. Stormwater runoff, city pipes, and
even polluted rain can transport these
and other chemicals to lakes, rivers, and
estuaries, where they can persist in both
water and sediments. Insect larvae and
bottom-feeding fish ingest these
chemicals, and are in turn eaten by
predators. At the top of the food chain,
mammals, birds, and, of course, humans
eat fish or shellfish that may contain
high concentrations of chemicals. This
poses a potentially serious health risk.
Is the Water Safe to
Drink?
Historically, the Mid-Atlantic Region
has had plentiful surface and ground
water supplies, with treatment systems
that ensure high quality drinking water.
We must, however, not take the quantity
or quality of our water resources for
granted. Poor land use and intensive
FIGURE 1
Our Drinking Water is Safe,
But We Still Have Problems
Percent of Water Systems in Compliance
with the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1994
In Compliance
(92%)
Organics
In Violation (8%)
Bacteria (79%)
Inorganics
(13%)
i
development in the Region has contami-
nated and/or reduced supplies in some
areas. In 1994,429 public water systems
(8%) reported drinking water quality
violations, primarily for bacteria (Fig. 1).
These numbers were up slightly from
1993, when 384 systems (7%) reported
violations. While the water is safe to
drink, there still are some ongoing
problems.
Of growing concern are water-borne
diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and
the protozoans, Giardia lamblia and
Cryptosporidium. In the last ten years, the
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 4
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People and Fish Return to the Delaware
Decades ago, much of the 350-mile Delaware River was an abomination. Foul
water from a major tributary closed water intakes at Trenton, NJ. In the 40s and
50s, the water was acidic and black, bacterial levels were very high in the
river's lower 100 miles, and oxygen levels dropped to zero over long reaches.
Dock workers were felled by the river's stench, and people in planes at 5,000
feet could smell the river. Ship's hulls corroded. And, from what once was the
best fishery on the east coast, the fish had virtually disappeared. Conditions
like this persisted through the 60s. Today, along what was once the worst
stretch of the Delaware lie marinas, condominiums, parks, amphitheaters,
restaurants, and a state aquarium. A restored annual migration of American
shad is of such size that fishing tournaments and festivals are held while the
fish are running (Fig. 2). A striped bass fishery is developing. The reversal in
the river's quality began around 1970. With the help of EPA funding, Philadel-
phia constructed three major wastewater treatment plants. Major plants were
also built in Wilmington, DE; in Camden, Bordentown, and Trenton, NJ; and in
Bucks County, PA. In response to new regulations, industries with direct
discharges upgraded or installed equipment to reduce pollutants from their
facilities. As a result, oxygen levels in the water improved dramatically, as did
the river's smell and appearance. Still, work remains to continue the
Delaware's improvement. The same treatment plants that helped promote the
river's recovery need to be maintained and upgraded. The problem of runoff
from streets, homes, and businesses, which carries pollutants like pesticides,
gasoline, antifreeze, and salt, is of great concern; this stormwater runoff by-
FIGURE 2
Shad Have Returned
to the Delaware River
75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92
passes treatment plants during heavy
rains, and is discharged directly into
waterways. As part of the National
Estuary Program, scientists continue to
evaluate the Delaware's specific problems
and propose new solutions.
Mid-Atlantic Region experienced only
one outbreak of Giardia and no out-
breaks of Cryptosporidium. While such
outbreaks are not a significant threat to
the general public, they do pose a major
threat to the elderly and other persons
with weakened immune systems.
Approximately 35% of the Region's
population is served by groundwater,
which can be contaminated by many
different activities: leaking underground
tanks, landfills, failing septic systems,
hazardous waste sites, and nitrogen
fertilizer from farm fields. It is difficult,
if not impossible, to restore ground-
water to its former quality once it is
contaminated. Wellhead protection
(WHP) programs now manage various
land use practices that threaten ground-
water quality; WHPs are in place for
about 356 public water supplies,
protecting over 1.2 million people in the
Mid-Atlantic Region.
Looking Ahead
Local, state, and federal agencies in the
Mid-Atlantic Region are cooperating on
programs to continue the successful
control of point sources, enhance control
of nonpoint sources, and address
community problems of greatest
concern. Some cooperative efforts
include: 1) focusing on watersheds to
cleanup water quality problems; 2)
developing and imple-
menting wellhead
protection programs to
protect drinking water
supplies; 3) working
with commu-
nities to
develop and
implement
plans to
control
combined sewer overflows and improve
water quality in neighborhoods; and 4)
working with the Office of Surface
Mining and the states in the Region to
develop and implement plans for
controlling acid mine drainage to bring
back fish to waterways once void of
aquatic life.
Perhaps most important, however, is the
role we play as individuals. The success
of nonpoint control measures will
require both a greater awareness by all
of us about how we can make a differ-
ence, and a willingness by all of us to
make changes in our lifestyles in order
to improve water quality for the
benefit of ourselves and future
generations.
OUR MID-A 7L AN 11C EN VIRONMENT 5
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WASTE
MANAGEMENT
in the Mid-Atlantic Region
"One person's trash basket is another's living space."
National Academy of Science Publication, 1965
We live in a world where sophisticated
technologies produce consumer goods
ranging from cars to computers, and, in
the process, generate a variety of
hazardous wastes. In 1993, industries in
the Mid-Atlantic Region generated more
than 18 million tons of hazardous waste.
While industry is a major source of this
problem, consumers certainly bear part
of the responsibility. Indirectly, consum-
ers continue to demand products that
create hazardous wastes, often without
an understanding of the harmful by-
products that are created. More directly,
consumers may carelessly discard many
hazardous consumer products such as
cleaners, paints, and batteries.
Managing Hazardous
Waste
Under the 1976 Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA and the
states regulate companies that generate,
treat, store, dispose, or transport
hazardous wastes. EPA requires
hazardous waste handlers to track all
wastes from source to disposal. Since
1980, the number of facilities in the Mid-
Atlantic Region that treat, store, or
dispose of hazardous waste has de-
clined by more than 70%, from 1,500 to
400. This decline is a good indicator that
EPA, the states, and industry are
improving the management of hazard-
ous waste. Industry has made great
strides in developing alternative
processes that reduce or eliminate the
amount of hazardous wastes generated.
At the same time, landfills and other
disposal companies that did not meet
strict environmental standards have
closed.
Cleaning Up Hazardous
Sites
Significant progress has been made
controlling the generation and manage-
ment of hazardous wastes from operat-
ing facilities, but the
legacy of past disposal
practices, both legal
and illegal, continues to
present real risks to the
people and environ-
ment of the Mid-
Atlantic region. To
clean up these sites,
protect public health, and
restore environmental quality, Congress
passed two laws: the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensa-
tion, and Liability Act (CERCLA or
"Superfund") to deal with abandoned
sites; and the Hazardous and Solid
Waste Amendments to RCRA (HSWA)
to deal with other types of cleanups. In
the Mid- Atlantic Region, more than
4,800 potential Superfund sites were
identified. Of these, 80% have been
assessed and found to require no further
action. However, 177 sites have been
designated "Superfund" National
Priorities List (NPL) sites.
Significant advances have been made in
protecting human health and the
environment at these Superfund sites
(Fig. 1 & 2). EPA or responsible parties
have begun work at 93% of the Region's
NPL sites, and site work is completed at
16% of such sites. Construction is
underway at 37% of the sites, and
remedial design work is ongoing for
another 13%. EPA has secured commit-
ments from responsible parties for $1.3
billion in response actions at Superfund
sites in Region 3. With EPA oversight,
responsible parties have taken charge of
designing 80% of the NPL site clean-
ups. These responsible parties are also
in the active phase of construction at
more than 65% of the NPL sites in the
Region.
Region 3's Removal Program addresses
imminent threats to public health and
the environment. This year alone, the
program has responded to 74 hazardous
materials or oil incidents and has started
34 removal actions. Additionally, the
Region continues to provide First
Responders Recognition and Operations
Training for hundreds of local and state
FIGURES 1 & 2
Reyion 3 Superfund Progress
Enforcement Actions
U'ork Hits Begun at Most nf !77 Sites Saved or Recovered $1.5 Billior
1 5
Investigation
Underway
18%
Construction
Underway
37%
Await
Start"'
7%
Construction
Completed
16%
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 6
-------
emergency responders. Program
personnel have conducted six full
Chemical Safety Audits of major
facilities and over 50 mini-audits on
others. Our oil enforcement program
has filed 18 complaints pursuant to
Section 311 of the Clean Water Act.
HSWA requires all operating hazardous
waste treatment, storage, or disposal
facilities (TSDFs) to clean up past
releases that pose a threat to human
health and the environment. Region 3 is
directing its cleanup efforts toward the
most environmentally significant of
these facilities. The 400 TSDFs in Region
3 were ranked by the risks each posed;
229 of these are considered high priority.
Region 3 uses a two-pronged system for
cleanups: stabilization and permanent
corrective action. Stabilization means
that all immediate health threats have
been corrected or contained. Permanent
corrective action involves a thorough
investigation of the entire site, with
opportunity for public input on the
design of the corrective remedy. Region
3 has begun investigation and cleanup
at 137 of the high priority sites.
Underground Storage
Tanks
Leaking underground storage tanks
(USTs) that contain petroleum
or other hazardous chemicals are a
significant source of environmental
problems, and are of particular concern
FIGURE 3
Underground Storage Tanks
Number of UST Facilities in Region 3
(in thousands)
Superfund Turns Fly Ash Into Fly Balls
A former eyesore is now an asset to the residents around the Chisman Creek
Superfund Site in York County, VA. At this 27-acre site, flyash from a nearby
power plant was dumped into four disposal pits near Chisman Creek, a tributary
to the Chesapeake Bay, between 1957 and 1980. The effects of this dumping on
public health and the local ecosystem were documented as early as 1980, when
heavy metal contamination (including vanadium, nickel, and selenium) was
found in nearby residential drinking wells. EPA's remedial studies also found
extensive contamination of surface water and sediments in wetlands adjacent to
three disposal areas. EPA concluded in 1986 that several actions were necessary
to stop the spread of flyash contamination into the local ecosystem and protect
the public health.
EPA entered into enforcement agreements with the Virginia Power Company in
1987 to implement remedial activities which included: provision of public water
to affected homes, installation of an impermeable soil cover, construction of
diversion ditches to control runoff from the site, installation of a groundwater
collection and treatment system, and the relocation of about 500 feet of stream
channel that was eroding into a flyash disposal area. The idea to create a public
recreation area in the disposal areas occurred during the remedial design phase.
As part of the design, deed restrictions, which prohibit any uses of the disposal
areas that would damage the soil caps, were placed on the four disposal areas.
EPA and Virginia Power, recognizing the potential for beneficial use of the
remediated areas, agreed to incorporate a nature walk and soccer and softball
fields into the site design. In 1990, Virginia Power donated the property to York
County. Chisman Creek Park, formerly a Superfund site, now serves as a source
of pride to the residents of York County.
1992
1993
in Region 3. A leak of one gallon of
gasoline can render a million gallons of
water undrinkable and may continue to
contaminate important groundwater
resources for decades. In Region 3,
approximately 35% of the population
relies on groundwater as their principal
or partial source of water, and this
percentage is expected to increase as
surface water supplies become more
scarce.
In 1984, a national pollution prevention
program managed in concert with the
states was implemented to combat the
UST problem. Old, leak-prone, bare-
steel tanks now must be registered,
tested annually for leaks, and upgraded
by 1998. Trust funds to cover the costs of
UST cleanups were established in each
state. This cleanup program is expand-
ing. The number of leaking tanks
reported in Region 3 continues to grow
at a rate of approximately 3,000 per year
(Fig. 3). Significant progress is being
made in cleaning up leaking tanks and
replacing them with safer doubled-
walled tanks. However, much work
remains to be done and, with the help of
the latest technologies, the states will
continue to locate leaking systems and
complete ongoing cleanups more
quickly.
Solid Waste
When it comes to trash, the United
States is a global leader. We generate
roughly 4.4 pounds of garbage per
person per day. The amount of trash
that Americans generate has increased
by 26% over the past 25 years. Further-
more, we not only throw away too
much, but also discard resources that
should be reused or recycled into other
usable products.
To ensure that the municipal solid waste
that we do generate has a safe place to
go, EPA's regulations require that state
landfill regulations protect human
health and the environment. However,
to reduce the amount of waste that has
to be landfilled, and to increase the
amount of materials recycled, Region 3
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 7
-------
administers a number of grants and
programs aimed at source reduction and
the development of markets for recycled
materials.
A current
focus of
this
program
is unit
pricing,
which
treats
garbage
collection like any other utility. That is,
individual residents pay only for the
amount of service that they require. It's
simple; generate less trash, pay less
money for disposal, and what better
way to generate less trash than to
recycle!
Under the WasteWi$e program, Region
3 encourages businesses to voluntarily
reduce their waste generation by
demonstrating the economic savings of
waste reduction and recycling practices.
Some companies have realized annual
savings into the millions of dollars by
incorporating such simple practices as
double-sided copying.
To increase markets for hard-to-recycle
materials, Region 3 created and sup-
ports the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of
Recycling and Economic Development
Officials (MACREDO). This organiza-
tion assesses the supply and demand of
recyclable commodities, and encourages
the start-up or expansion of businesses
utilizing recycled commodities.
Statistics demonstrate that our efforts
are paying off. As a result of the
cooperative efforts among Region 3, the
states, and industry, recycling rates in
the Region have increased 20% between
1993 and 1994 to six million tons per
year, with paper being the most recycled
material. Over 13 million people are
now served by recycling programs in
the Region, and the number is growing!
Looking Ahead
When it comes to wastes, each of us is
both part of the problem and part of the
solution. We all make choices in what
we purchase, how we use the product,
and how we dispose of our waste. Some
solutions are relatively simple and,
include purchasing goods with less
packaging, maintaining and repairing
household appliances, composting yard
and kitchen wastes, and recycling
whenever possible.
Other solutions to our waste manage-
ment problems require more support.
Region 3 is working, in concert with the
states, to reduce the generation of
wastes and address threats from waste
contamination through various pro-
grams and initiatives. Region 3's goals
in this regard include: 1) having, by the
year 2000, the states fully approved and
capable of implementing nearly all of
the waste management/cleanup
programs under RCRA; 2) promoting
multimedia (air, water, soil) pollution
prevention at all facilities, with a 25%
waste reduction goal for the most
harmful waste streams met by the turn
of the century; 3) spending more effort
educating industry on how to comply
with complex environmental regulations
through compliance assistance pro-
grams; 4) improving waste recycling
and creating job markets in the
remanufacturing sector through
technical assistance and grants to
industry and local communities;
5) addressing imminnent or direct
threats to health or the environment by
providing immediate responses to
emergencies, e.g., chemical or oil spills;
and 6) having, by the end of the decade,
cleanups or stabilization underway or
complete at all high priority sites,
achieving cleanup levels consistent with
the end use of the
property.
On the whole,
Region 3 is
committed to
participating
with the
states,
indus-
try and
local
commu-
nities in finding more cost-effective,
safer, and smarter environmental
solutions for our waste management
problems.
Marjol Battery - A Community Lead Cleanup
Between 1963 and 1981, Marjol Battery operated a 43-acre lead battery crushing
facility five miles north of Scranton. Over 300,000 cubic yards of lead-contami-
nated debris, battery casings, and soil were left at the site. On-site contamina-
tion was 725 times higher than EPA's action level for lead in soil. Also, wind
had carried contaminated dust across the community, sending lead levels in
people's yards soaring to more than 10 times above the action level. Blood lead
surveys revealed that scores of the community's children had lead poisoning.
Superfund required the owner to remove lead-contaminated soil from residen-
tial properties, and to secure the contaminated material on site to remove an
immediate threat to the community. RCRA enforcement also required the
owner to assess the still-contaminated facility and submit a study of possible
cleanup alternatives.
Region 3 is committed to ensuring the safety and health of the affected commu-
nity. EPA reviews air monitoring data to ensure that no more contaminated soil
blows into the community, and blood screening after the initial cleanup
showed a substantial decrease in lead levels. EPA also attends meetings
conducted by the owner to brief the community on activities related to the
Marjol site. The community is relying on Region 3 to make sure that the owner
implements a permanent remedy that will protect the community from future
lead exposure.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 8
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POLLUTION
PREVENTION
Improving Today's Environment
Preventing Tomorrow's Problem
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Benjamin Franklin
Pollution Prevention is source reduction
- the reduction or elimination of
pollutants prior to off-site recycling,
treatment, or disposal. Measures focus
on greater efficiency in the use of
resources, including protection of
natural resources by conservation.
Pollution Prevention can include raw
material substitution, reduced toxic
chemical use, and increased recycling.
Preventing pollution is a win-win
situation; companies reduce costs for
raw materials, energy, pollution control,
and waste disposal, while fewer
pollutants are discharged to the air,
water, or land.
State Activities
EPA's Pollution Prevention grants
support the regulated community. In
Maryland, new equipment installed in
12 drycleaners eliminated the discharge
of 11 tons per year of perchloroethylene,
a chemical contributing to smog and
health problems. Pollution Prevention
Services polled West Virginia firms
receiving technical assistance; 36% of the
respondents said that they would
probably be out of business without the
state's assistance, and over 90% stated
that they achieved compliance with
environmental laws because of the
program.
33/50 Program
In the Mid-Atlantic Region, 648 facilities
participate in a program to voluntarily
reduce their generation and release of 17
priority toxic chemicals by 33% in 1992
and 50% by 1995. By 1991, these
facilities had reduced toxic chemical
releases and transfers by 38%. By 1993,
they had achieved a 44% reduction in
the target chemicals, rapidly nearing the
50% reduction goal for 1995.
Green Lights Program
The Green Lights program, now two years old, has realized substantial reduc-
tions in atmospheric pollution emissions, and is stimulating economic growth
and savings in the Mid-Atlantic Region. This innovative pollution prevention
program encourages the widespread use of energy-saving light bulbs and
fluorescent tubes in commercial buildings. The Region's 370 participants are
cutting their lighting bills in half, and have already avoided using 178 million
kilowatts of electricity per year. Air discharges have been reduced by 2.7 million
pounds of carbon dioxide, 2.9 million pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 955,600
pounds of nitrogen oxide. This prevention is equivalent to planting 52,000 trees
and taking 25,000 cars off the roads. Green Lights has also been instrumental in
educating students about energy efficiency. Arlington Public Schools (VA) were
recognized for outstanding environmental leadership for creating a Green Lights
incentive program that awards $2,000 to the school that reduces its electrical
utility costs by 10% during the 1994-1995 school year.
FIGURES 1 & 2
Region 3 Green Lights Snapshot
CC>2 Prevented
500
at
§400
E300
§ 100
Q.
SO2 and NOX Prevented
3025 __
NOX
July Sept
1993
July Sept
1994
July Sept
1995
July Sept
1993
July Sept July Sept
1994 1995
Technical Assistance
Region 3 helps fund the Waste Reduc-
tion Resource Center (WRRC) in
Raleigh, NC, which provides an
information clearinghouse, expert
referrals, and on-site technical assis-
tance. The WRRC supports the state in
improving their technical assistance
capabilities.
Looking Ahead
The Pollution Prevention program is
continually expanding public education
about the environmental and often
economic advantages of pollution
prevention. EPA is striving to incorpo-
rate pollution prevention into everday
Agency activities.
FIGURE 3
Region 3
Releases and Transfers of
33/50 Chemicals
1988 1990
1992
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 9
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HABITATS AND
ECOSYSTEMS
Diverse Challenges to Preservation
An ecosystem is the interrelationship of
all living and non-living things in a
specific environment such as a lake, a
forest, or the whole planet. For years,
our focus has been air and water quality,
and their impacts on human health. But,
when we consider the health of ecosys-
tems, we must also consider the
quantity and quality of habitat available
for the plants and animals in that
system. Habitat protection and restora-
tion is critical to the survival of the
living things that make up healthy
ecosystems.
Ecosystems and
Biodiversity
Ecosystems of the Mid-Atlantic Region
include oceans, estuaries, coastal plains,
freshwater wetlands, and forests. This
patchwork of ecosystems supports a
rich biological variety of plants and
animals, many unique to our area. It is
this "biodiversity" that contributes to
the quality of our lives by providing
food, income,and recreation.
Extinction of plant and animal species
diminishes our Region's biodiversity.
The Mid-Atlantic Region is home to
many federally-listed threatened or
endangered species, such as the bald
eagle. Most notably, the Region's rivers
are the last refuges of several species of
endangered mussels. These mussels
exist in some limited stretches of our
largest rivers, and habitat loss and
pollution have contributed to their
endangerment.
The world's largest population of
horseshoe crabs is found in the Dela-
ware estuary. This unique marine
organism is indispensable in medical
research, and in preventing bacterial
contamination of medicines. The crabs
are also an important part of the food
chain for migratory birds. Each spring,
females lay their eggs on the Delaware
Bay's flat beaches. These eggs are a
principal food for millions of migrating
songbirds and shorebirds. An estimated
80% of the hemispheric populations of
some shorebirds rest here, feasting on
crab eggs before flying on to their Arctic
summer breeding grounds. But, the
number of spawning horseshoe crabs
has been seriously declining; there were
over 1.2 million in 1990, but only 104,000
in 1994. Beach alterations from bulk-
heads and dikes, oil spills, and overhar-
vesting are some causes for the decline.
The plight of the horseshoe crab
dramatically illustrates our need to
preserve balance in the way we interact
with our environment.
FIGURE 1
Wetland Losses
I Original Wetlands
(1600's)
. Current Wetlands
(1980's)
5 1.0 15
Millions of Acres
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it
hitched to everything else in the universe."
John Muir
Human Activities
Threaten Our
Ecosystems
Modern lifestyles and growing popula-
tions are having profound affects on our
ecosystems and their living resources.
Between 1970 to 1990, population in the
Mid-Atlantic states increased more than
10%, from 23.4 million to 25.9 million
people (Fig.2). Construction of roads,
houses, schools, businesses, and malls
have reduced our green areas, caused
serious erosion, and destroyed wetland
and wildlife habitats. Runoff from
farms, lawns, and paved streets pollutes
our streams and rivers, and degrades
the quality of these aquatic habitats.
Acid rain, due largely to emissions from
coal-burning power plants, industries,
and autos, has affected the Mid-Atlantic
Region more than any other area in the
country, impacting aquatic life in
thousands of miles of streams and
rendering some streams essentially
sterile. Our forests, and the habitats and
species they support, are also at risk.
Air pollution is damaging our forests,
while acid rain has made trees suscep-
tible to insect infestations and disease.
Road construction, agriculture, logging,
and development has fragmented large
forested areas, resulting in smaller,
isolated patches of land that provide
less suitable habitat for forest-dwelling
birds, bobcat, and black bear.
During the past 300 years, more than
half of the original 6.5 million acres of
wetlands in the Mid-Atlantic states has
been destroyed (Fig. 1). Today, this
troubling trend continues as thousands
of acres of wetlands are filled each year
for new highways and other develop-
ments. As wetlands disappear, we lose
their many benefits, including nursery
and habitat areas for many threatened
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 10
-------
and endangered species, flood control,
water purification, and recreational
opportunities.
The introduction of non-native or exotic
species threatens our ecosystems
because these species are often invasive
and can outcompete native species. For
example, zebra mussels, Asiatic clams,
and purple loosestrife (a wetland plant)
are displacing native species, altering
food chains, and reducing biodiversity.
What does this loss of habitats, and the
unique plants and animals they sustain,
mean for us? It could mean the loss of
future sources of food and medicine, or
losses of critical ecosystem functions
such as pollination or water purification,
or just the loss of the aesthetic pleasure
of watching a bald eagle soar across the
mountaintops.
The problems we face are serious and
compelling, but they are not over-
whelming. They serve as indicators of
what could happen if we had no
concern for our environment. Today,
they are being used to mobilize all the
forces in the Region to action on behalf
of the quality of the lives we enjoy today
and the birthright of future generations.
FIGURE 2
Change in Number of
People: 1970-1990
Loss
Moderate Gain
High Gain
Source
US Bureau of the Census
Looking Ahead
Region 3 has promoted the conservation
of biodiversity in many ways. The
Pocono Habitat Project in Monroe
County, PA, uses biodiversity conserva-
tion as a framework for land use
planning. Also, we are working in
Prince William County, VA, to identify
wetlands and streamside areas needing
long-term protection.
We are currently working to better
identify ecosystems sensitive to acid
rain, with the goal of reducing its
ecological impacts. Region 3 also
supports a multi-state assessment of the
Mid-Atlantic Highlands that will yield
enhanced data on the health of rivers,
streams, and fisheries.
Region 3 contributes to coastal water-
shed protection through National
Estuary Program projects, including the
Delaware Bay Estuary Program (see box
below), the Delaware Inland Bays
Program, and the Maryland Coastal
Bays project. We also work with Mid-
Atlantic states and watershed groups to
assess stream habitat quality, and to
restore and protect stream habitat.
People Working for Habitat Protection in the Delaware Estuary
The Delaware Estuary is an area rich in biological diversity. Oysters, blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, shorebirds, songbirds, egrets,
owls, eagles, sea turtles, shad, striped bass, and many other plant and animal species depend on the unique living and breeding
conditions found in habitats in this estuarine ecosystem. Bayshore beaches and mudflats, open waters, underwater reefs and
smooth river bottoms, wetlands, forests, and meadows are among the types of habitats that provide the food, water, shelter, and
space suitable to each species' needs. In close proximity are areas of intense human growth and use,
where the residents require clean drinking water and space in which to live, work, relax, and ^^^
enjoy the bounties of the natural environment.
Over time, growing human pressures have had negative impacts on the estuary's ecosystems.
Continuing threats from toxic substances, habitat loss and fragmentation, and development prompted
the governors of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey to nominate the Delaware Estuary to the
National Estuary Program in 1988. Since then, interested individuals and officials have formed partner-
ships to chart and manage a new course for the estuary's ecosystems. For six years, these groups studied
conditions across the estuary, and developed a management plan that will direct actions in the tri-state region
with regard to water use, land management, toxics, habitat, and living resources. A product of their efforts is a
report on the priority species living throughout the estuary, and maps that show where the habitats these
species depend upon are located. The report and maps will be used to encourage local governments to make
environmentally-sound decisions on land use issues, and to identify habitats that should be protected.
Through this process, local citizens now have the opportunity to participate in the stewardship so
essential to the long-term protection and vitality of this special ecosystem.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 11
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600 r
114
CHESAPEAKE
BAY
A Regional Partnership
Chesapeake Bay is the nation's largest,
most productive estuary, and was the
first targeted for restoration and
protection. In 1983, PA, MD, VA, the
District of Columbia, the Chesapeake
Bay Commission, and EPA signed the
first Chesapeake Bay Agreement,
creating the Chesapeake Bay Program
(CBP), a regional partnership that has
been directing restoration of the Bay
with tangible results. Striped bass and
bay grasses have improved dramati-
cally, nutrient concentrations are being
reduced, and dissolved oxygen levels
remain steady. The Bay is in much better
shape today than when we started.
There are many reasons for these
improvements. The CBP sets tough,
but realistic, numerical goals (e.g., a 40%
reduction in nutrients by 2000), and
employs ecosystem-based efforts to
achieve those goals. Thousands of
farmers have joined the restoration
effort, and over one million acres of
farmland are under nutrient manage-
ment. A ban on phosphate detergents
has led to a 16% drop in phosphorus in
the Bay. Bay grasses (submerged aquatic
plants) have increased from 38,000 acres
in 1984 to 65,000 in 1994; the CBP's goal
"Most people think that cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay is the
job of bureaucracies. While it is true that those agencies are
working to restore the Bay's water quality, fish and waterfowl,
they won't succeed unless they are helped by citizens throughout
the Chesapeake's 64,000-square-mile watershed."
Fran Flanigan,
Executive Director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
FIGURE 2
Acres of Bay Grasses
Potential Habitat (600,000 acres)
Interim Goal (114,000 acres)
GOAL: The interim goal is to restore
Bay grasses to all areas where they
were observed since 1971.
Source Chesapeake Bay Data Base - Baywide
is 114,000 acres by 2005. Removal of
man-made blockages has reopened 173
miles of stream spawning habitat for
anadromous fish; the Program's goal is
reopening 582 miles by 1998, and 1,365
miles by 2003.
Federal legislation, along with improv-
ing water quality and fishery moratoria
in MD and VA, has led to a resurgence
in striped bass numbers, and to limited
commercial and recreational fishing
seasons. Strong spawning stocks
indicate a solid future for striped bass.
FIGURE i
Bernie Fowler's "Sneaker Index"
White sneakers £
have similar g 4
visibility >-
to the Secchi disk j 3
scientists use 2
to measure
water clarity.
Source
Former State Senator C Bernard Fowler, 1992-1993
(Chair ot the Chesapeake Bay Commission),
Kent MullorrJ, U S EPA Chesapeake Bay Program
GOAL: Restore Bernie's sneaker visibility
to chest depth (57 to 63 inches).
40"
94
90 91 92 93
Bay initiatives have resulted in signifi-
cant reductions in many toxic contami-
nants discharged to the Bay, and is
reflected in cleaner sediments and fish
tissue. The 1994 Chesapeake Bay
Basinwide Toxics Reduction and
Prevention Strategy joins government
with industry to achieve voluntary
reductions of 75% for Toxics of
Concern, and 50% for other toxics, by
the year 2000. Federal facilities aim to
reduce releases of all toxic chemicals by
75% by 2000. The proportion of indus-
tries in violation of their Clean Water
Act discharge permits has fallen to 1%,
an all-time low. The Bay Program's
banning of the use of tributyltin (TBT)
boat paint led to a nationwide ban of
TBT in 1988.
The Chesapeake Bay Program is a
perfect example of what government
can do well. It is a cooperative effort by
states, the federal government, private
industry, and citizen groups to address a
problem that concerns most citizens of
the Bay's watershed. The Bay restora-
tion continues to generate tremendous
public support and involvement, with
everyone benefiting from the restora-
tion.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 12
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URBAN ECOSYSTEM
INITIATIVES
In the Mid-Atlantic Region
"A consciousness is emerging that no segment of society should
become the dumping ground for other people's pollution."
Robert B. Bullard
People
living in
urban
areas
share
space
with
many
polluting
facilities,
dense traffic, and abandoned industrial
sites. These factors, combined with
increased exposure to environmental
pollutants, poor nutrition, and a high
incidence of lead poisoning and asthma
in children, have brought inner cities to
the forefront of our environmental
concerns.
Chester, PA
As one graphic example of urban
concerns, the City of Chester has the
highest concentration of industrial
facilities in PA, including two nearby oil
refineries, a large infectious medical
waste plant, and several waste process-
ing plants. Over 85% of Delaware
County's raw sewage and sludge is
treated in Chester, the county's poorest
community. Residents are concerned
about the health effects of living and
working amid toxic substances, and
with the area's high frequency of
illnesses. Chester has the highest infant
mortality rate, lowest mean birth
weight, highest death rate due to
malignant tumors, and highest percent-
age of African-Americans of any
municipality in the state. Blood lead in
Chester's children is unacceptably high.
Over 60% of children tested between
1989-93, had blood levels above the
Center for Disease Control's recom-
mended maximum level of 10 micro-
grams per deciliter (Fig. 1). Both cancer
and non-cancer risks estimated from
pollution sources calculated for the City
of Chester exceed levels that EPA deems
acceptable (Fig. 2). Air emissions
contribute significantly to these esti-
mated cancer and non-cancer risks, and
it seems unwise to eat fish from the
Delaware River and tributary streams
due to concerns related to fishing
advisories.
To address the problems inner-city
residents face, Region 3 has launched
several Ecosystem Initiatives. The
initiatives cited here are for a specific
city, but apply generally to other urban
areas.
Baltimore, MD, Urban
Environmental
Initiatives
The Baltimore initiative is an inter-
agency project conducted by EPA in
cooperation with the State of Maryland
and the City of Baltimore. The initiative
plans to identify and rank areas of
disproportionate risk in the city in order
to implement risk reduction, pollution
prevention, public awareness, and other
activities that can eliminate or minimize
these risks. This project has two tracks:
a "Short-Term Track" addressing issues
of immediate concern and initial data
collection and analysis; and a "Long-
Term Track" addressing issues from the
Short-Term Track that call for continued
research and action.
The Short-Term Track
activities applied
the knowledge and
experience of an
interagency team
to target areas of
environmental
concern: 1) lead, 2) hazardous
materials incidents, 3) fish consump-
tion/toxins in the harbor, 4) air toxins,
FIGURE 1
Blood Lead in Children in Chester, PA
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Blood Lead (micrograms per deciliter)
100
20 30 40 50 60 70
Blood Lead (micrograms per deciliter)
15%
10%
5%
0%
.-•RecommendedMax Level
1993
60% of Children Tested Above Recommended Max. Level
20
30 40 50 60 70
Blood Lead (micrograms per deciliter)
90
100
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 13
-------
5) ground-level ozone, and 6) indoor air
and radon. The Long-Term Track will: 1)
follow up with actions identified in the
Short-Term Track, 2) identify future
concerns requiring environmental
monitoring, 3) use public focus groups
to identify perceptions and feedback
based upon findings, and 4) use
feedback to target long-term actions for
risk reduction and environmental
improvement.
Environmental Justice
Community Pilot Project
As a result of the Baltimore Initiative,
partnerships were formed to address the
concerns of the environmental justice
movement and communities. The goal is
to develop relationships with state and
local governments to help communities
assess and address their environmental
concerns, uniting residents, businesses,
and government in addressing such
issues from the perspective of the
neighborhood. We expect the first-hand
experience of the pilot project to provide
real insight into the needs of communi-
ties, states, and the Region. The
workgroup will also consult with
many regional, state, and local staffs to
learn how we can more effectively assist
their ongoing and future environmental
justice initiatives.
South/Southwest
Philadelphia
Environmental Health
In South and Southwest Philadelphia,
250,000 people live in close proximity to
oil refineries, chemical plants, dry
cleaners, auto shops, and major high-
ways. In 1995, EPA funded Johns
Hopkins University to examine sources
and types of pollution in this area and
profile community health. To involve
the residents, Hopkins created a
Community Advisory Committee that
meets every three months. In parallel,
EPA, PADEP, and Philadelphia teamed
to find solutions to specific issues.
Region 3 is also addressing pollution
issues in S/SW Philadelphia through
other, complementary efforts. By
responding to chronic problems like
illegal dumping and traffic noise, and by
FIGURE 2
Ratio of Cancer Incidence for Selected Pennsylvania
Male Populations, 1987-1991
Graph shows a high incidence
of leukemia in the
City of Chester compared to
other areas in Pennsylvania.
Source Pennsylvania Department ol Health
Chester
City
Delaware Philadelphia Chester Montgomery
County County County County
localized air monitoring, we hope to
improve the quality of life in this highly
urbanized area.
Brownfields Economic
Redevelopment Initiative
"Brownfields" are abandoned, idle, or
under-used industrial and commercial
facilities where expansion or redevelop-
ment is complicated by real or perceived
environmental contamination. Prospec-
tive purchasers, developers, insurers,
and lenders are reluctant to acquire and
develop such properties, particularly in
urban areas. EPA firmly believes that
revitalizing contaminated property must
go hand-in-hand with bringing back
community life and economic vitality.
EPA's Brownfields Initiative empowers
states, localities, and other agents to
work together in a timely manner to
prevent, assess, safely clean up, and re-
use Brownfields. The agenda has four
broad categories: l)Brownfields pilots,
2) liability and cleanup issues, 3)
partnerships and outreach, and 4) job
development and training. To test this
agenda, five Mid-Atlantic cities/
counties (Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh,
PA; Richmond, VA; Northampton
County, VA; and Baltimore, MD) have
been awarded up to $200,000 over two
years. In addition, EPA has successfully
negotiated prospective purchaser
agreements at numerous Superfund
sites. At one such site, Publicker
Industries in Philadelphia, Holt Cargo
Systems paid $4.3 million for the rights
to develop the site as a marine terminal,
projected to employ over 1,000 workers.
Student Environmental
Development Program
This Environmental Education and
Outreach program uses a holistic
approach to teach inner-city students
about issues such as lead, radon, and
water pollution that are of particular
concern in urban communities. The
students do research projects and are
taught communication and presentation
skills that enable them to go into their
communities to teach others, especially
elementary school children, about the
environmental issues that affect their
community. They are challenged in a
manner that promotes maturity, self -
esteem, and a positive attitude.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 14
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OUR HOME
ENVIRONMENT
In the Mid-Atlantic Region
"Home is where one starts from."
T.S. Eliot
In 1970, environmental protection
focused primarily on the outdoors
through controls on emissions to the air
and waterways. Today, there is a
growing awareness that a healthy
environment begins at home.
Indoor Air
Most people spend up to 90% of their
time indoors. Infants and the elderly,
those most likely to stay at home, are
also the most susceptible to the effects of
air pollutants. Exposures to tobacco
smoke, pesticides, lead wall paints,
carpet chemicals, and other man-made
products can be many times higher
indoors than outdoors, as are exposures
to natural materials such as dust, fungi,
and radon.
In 1986, Congress gave EPA authority to
conduct indoor air research and to
disseminate information on this issue.
As one result of such outreach, radon
tests have increased from 10,000 in 1985
to nearly half a million in 1995 (Fig. 1).
EPA's research program on lead shows
that, of the 19 million homes in the
northeast with lead-based paints, 17
million were built before 1978, and 13
million were built before 1960. This is,
FIGURE 1
Region 3 Radon Readings
from Database
12,000
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Readings per Year (estimated)
by far, the highest proportion of old
homes in the nation; these older homes
are more likely to contain lead-based
paints.
Lead in Drinking Water
Lead in drinking water contributes
about 10-20% of total lead exposure to
children. Lead often enters drinking
water after
the water
leaves the
local
treatment
plant; the
source is
most likely the leaching of lead from
pipes and solder in a home's plumbing.
EPA requires public water utilities to
ensure that their customers' water does
not exceed safe lead levels at the faucet.
Pesticide Use on Food
and in Homes
Pesticide use through the 20th century
contributed significantly to better public
health and agriculture, but actual
pesticide use is now declining. About
21,000 pesticide products are registered
with EPA, a decline from about 45,000 in
1988. EPA estimates that conventional
pesticide use in the U.S. grew from 540
million pounds in 1964 to 1.3 billion
pounds in 1988. Since then, usage has
shown a slight declining trend nation-
ally, and in Region 3 as well. This trend
reflects the availability of pesticides that
are more effective at lower rates,
changes in application practices by
users, and adoption of integrated pest
management (IPM) practices.
Household Waste Trends
The trend toward increased recycling of
household trash has been a major
environmental success story (Fig. 2).
Over the past 25 years, recycling of
household waste has increased signifi-
cantly. Purchases of products made from
recycled materials are also increasing, a
trend that now makes certain wastes
valuable commodities.
Solutions Are Often
Simple
In many cases, home environmental
problems are now being reduced or
eliminated by simple steps. These
include: inspecting furnaces, not
FIGURE 2
Types of Recycled Waste
4% Compost
3% Glass
smoking indoors, testing for radon and
asbestos (and preventing or reducing
exposure if necessary), damp mopping/
dusting in homes with lead paint,
flushing water from
SB
the taps in /^, \
the morning
(use this
water for
cleaning or
watering),
buying
organically-
grown food,
buying natural alterna-
tives to harsh pesticides
and chemical cleaners, and many other
simple activities.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 15
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INTO THE
FUTURE
Planning for the 21st Century
"Those who cannot remember the past are
condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana
EPA Region 3 has used strategic
planning to identify the Mid-Atlantic
Region's most pressing environmental
problems, and to set goals for the year
2000. The areas of prime concern are: 1)
Acid Pollution, 2) Ozone Pollution, 3)
Chesapeake Bay, 4) Using Sound Data,
5) State Partnerships, and 6) Managing
for Change.
Acid Pollution
Acid pollution affects our region in two
ways. First, air emissions from factories,
power plants, and vehicles contribute
to acid deposition that falls as acid rain
or snow, or as dry deposits between
storms. Second, low pH water seeps
from working and abandoned coal
mines as acid mine drainage (AMD).
Acid deposition can be controlled by
reducing the amounts of sulfur dioxide
(SC»2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emitted
by industries and power plants; thus,
one strategy is source control through
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Vehicle emissions are also a
major source of NOX. Strategies for
reducing auto emissions focus on
driving habits, fuel composition, and
auto maintenance, and have been
somewhat controversial. Region 3 is
following national guidelines in
addressing these issues.
We can control AMD from working
mines through discharge permits
administered by EPA, the Office of
Surface Mines, and the states. AMD
from abandoned mines is often difficult
to control because we cannot always
locate the sources of the drainage, or
even the responsible parties. However,
local sportsmen's groups and watershed
associations have become effective
partners of government in addressing
AMD from abandoned mines. Our basic
approach is to work on a watershed
FIGURE I
EPA Region 3 Air Quality Trends
91 92 93 94 95
Source US EPA AIRS Database
Particullate Matter (PM10) Standard promulgated 1987, Ozone Standard Revised t979
basis with concerned organizations and
residents. This is an example of EPA's
Community-based Environmental
Protection Initiative.
Ozone Pollution
The goal set by the Clean Air Act -
meeting the health-based ozone
standard across the Mid-Atlantic Region
by the year 2006 - is a major challenge.
The urban corridor, from Richmond, VA,
to Portland, ME, experiences ozone
violations in most years. Region 3 is part
of a broad effort to reduce ozone along
this corridor by controlling pollutants
that combine in the air to form ozone.
Acid Rain
The Mid-Atlantic Region is the nation's largest consumer and producer of fossil
fuels, particularly coal, which results in significant emissions that contribute to
acid rain. Coupled with this problem is the fact that the Mid-Atlantic Region
receives additional emissions from coal-burning sources outside of the geo-
graphic boundaries of the Region by atmospheric transport.
The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments provide for reductions in these emissions
nationally. However, given the extent and magnitude of the problem, the Region
developed a five-year Acid Pollution Strategic Plan to further address ecological
concerns. Key features of the Acid Rain portion of this Plan include: forging
partnerships and alliances with other federal agencies, states, businesses,
industry, environmental groups, and academia to promote innovative ap-
proaches to further reduce acid rain emissions; promoting energy efficient/
conservation programs (e.g., Green Lights); coordinating with the Department of
Energy, state public utility commissions, and regional utilities on programs such
as energy demand/supply management, renewable energy sources, and electro-
technologies; enhancing expeditious source regulatory compliance, providing
technical assistance, and promoting Supplemental Environmental Projects in
enforcement negotiations to reduce acid rain emissions; and enhancing public
educational and outreach programs to further promote energy conservation
measures.
OUR MID-ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 16
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Such pollutant sources include cars,
chemical plants, gas lawn mowers,
bakeries, and many other sources. Due
to a combination of factors, ozone levels
can show sudden increases amidst a
declining trend (Fig. 1). Increased
driving, use of gas-powered tools, and
other activities have shown that
additional strategies, including broad
public education, are needed to reach
our goal.
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation's
largest estuary. The Bay, and most of its
drainage basin, lies within Region 3,
which has been working with state and
local governments, other
federal agencies,
and concerned
citizens for ,-—•>
v'*N«' .'
more , * v-
than 20 ,-' ' J
V i
years ' - •'
. . ,' -.Chesapeake
toset ; \! Drainage
f \ Basin
common goals for the Bay. The first
major goal was a 40% reduction in
nutrients by the year 2000. This set the
stage for an additional 25 specific,
measurable goals such as increasing the
use of integrated pest management to
reduce toxics and nutrients entering the
Bay and its tributaries. Some of the
Bay's restoration goals have already
been met; others are in sight.
Using Sound Data
We are committed to using sound
science and high quality data to assess
environmental trends, and to plan for
the future. Our goal is to develop good
Environmental Indicators to track
progress and plan future operations.
Region 3 has conducted two projects to
establish baselines for setting priorities.
Our 1988 Comparative Risk Study
ranked the relative threats from a broad
array of environmental problems, while
our 1993 Environmental Indicators
Transition Project looked at environ-
mental and human health data to gauge
the health of rivers and streams, forests,
and human populations in Region 3.
The results were used to set our Year
2000 Strategic Goals.
State Partnerships
Environmental protection in this
country has always focused on the states
as the logical units of government to
implement laws and programs. Before
1970, the federal role was secondary,
focusing mainly on support of state
efforts. With the passage of the Clean
Air and Clean Water Acts, EPA had the
broader role of establishing and
overseeing consistent baseline programs
across all states, addressing problems
that cross state boundaries, and leading
national environmental protection
efforts in general. Starting in Fiscal Year
1996, EPA will enter into Performance
Partnership Agreements with states.
These agreements will focus EPA-state
cooperation on an shared set of desired
environmental outcomes, and will use a
more flexible grant structure.
Business Initiatives
Region 3's staff is dedicated to finding
new ways to achieve our environmental
and public health goals. A strong
enforcement program historically has
helped achieve many environmental
improvements. To supplement enforce-
ment, EPA has initiated other programs
(many described in this report) that
challenge industries to change raw
material usage and prevent pollution at
the source. Specifically, Region 3 is
working with the printing industry
under the Common Sense Initiative to
help this mainly small-business sector
comply with regulations and reduce or
prevent pollution. Our Business
Assistance Center and hotline opened in
August of 1995, informing businesses on
regulations, pollution prevention, and
even overseas marketing of environ-
mental services.
Managing for Change
EPA's strongest asset is its work force.
In recent years, efforts to reinvent and
streamline government and to reduce
spending have presented new Agency
challenges. We in EPA Region 3 recog-
nize that we need to assume leadership
of the process and manage the changes
that are occurring. To this end, we
recently reorganized and streamlined
our component divisions and offices,
and are actively developing new tools to
improve our performance without
disrupting staff or interrupting
operations. We are also developing a
new focus on Customer Service to
improve our ways of doing business
with the public throughout the Region.
Our Mid-Atlantic Environment
is published by
The Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 3 Office,
841 Chestnut Building,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107.
For more information call'
General Information Hotline
(800) 438-2474
Business Assistance Center Hotline
(800)228-8711
Project Team-
Ed Ambrogio, Catherine Brown, Larry Brown,
Henry Brubaker, Ed Campbell, Linda Carlson,
Simmer Crosby, Glenn Hanson, Laura Janson,
Rich Kampf, Stu Kerzner, John Krakoiviak,
Bob Kramer, Mick Kulik, Peter Marx,
Olga Serrano, Janet Vintski
Cover Photos
Farm Scene
by George Claflen
Crab Vendor, Girl at Fountain, and Children
by Steve Delaney
Earth
by NASA
Treatment Plant
by Philadelphia Water Department
EPA
The report was printed with vegetable based inks
on recycled and recyclable paper
OUR MID-A TLANTIC ENVIRONMENT 17
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-I- I *.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Official Business
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