1970
:$ 0 Y i; \ R s o i L; \ \ i K o \ M i: \ T v L PR o <. it i. s s
2000
REMEMBER THE PAST
PROTECT THE FUTURE
AEPA
I .S. Environmental Protection Agfiu-y
Region in/Mid-Atlantic States
EPA-903-R-00-004
DELAWARE I DISTRICT 01 Con MKI\ I MARYLAND I PI-:\\SYLVAMA I VIRGINIA Wi:sr VIRGINIA
-------
EPA was born 30 years ago at a time when
rivers caught fire and cities were hidden
under dense clouds of smoke. We've made
remarkable progress since then. But we
can't rest on our success.
Our mission to protect the environment,
and to protect public health, is a mission
without end. New challenges loom over the
horizon as surely as the new day.
We must continue our work to ensure that
with each new dawn, the sun shines
through clear skies and upon clean waters
and all our families enjoy the blessings
of good health.
-Carol M. Browner, EPA Administrator
-------
* UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION III
165° Arch Street
PRO**- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029
Dear Friends:
The 30 years of environmental progress highlighted in this report
chart a remarkable success story. In one generation, we have reversed the
effects of more than a century of industrial pollution and environmental
degradation, and we have begun the effort to restore and protect our
treasured natural resources. We have done this and at the same time built
the strongest economy in our history.
This remarkable progress is a tribute to the work of thousands of
dedicated and talented EPA employees, to the cooperation of other federal
agencies and state and local governments, to the efforts of scores of nonprofit
organizations and their volunteers, to the tenacity of dedicated community
activists, and to the enlightened leadership of many in business and industry.
But there is so much more to do. Many communities have yet to
share fully in the benefits of our environmental progress, and the new century
presents challenges - from uncontrolled sprawl to climate change - that were
scarcely understood or anticipated at the time of EPA's founding. President
Clinton, Vice President Gore and EPA Administrator Browner have defined a
vision and a program to meet these challenges - to protect the health of our
children, ensure cleaner and more livable communities, and preserve
farmland and open space while providing all communities with clean air,
clean water, and safe drinking water.
This leadership, joined by that of environmental leaders in
communities across the country, offers the promise that we may fulfill
Theodore Roosevelt's mandate that we leave this nation "a better land for
our descendants than it is for us."
Sincerely,
Bradley M. Campbell
Regional Administrator
-------
MID-ATI. ANTIC SIVI I.S« :!ll YKAKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL I'KOUtl SS
President Kiehard Nixon si
-------
The B
erica
B
efore there was an Environmental Protection
Agency, before there was an Earth Day, before
Rachel Carson wrote "Silent Spring," there was
Donora.
On the evening of October 26, 1948, a
suffocating cloud of industrial gases and dust
from a local zinc srnelter descended upon this
western Pennsylvania town like some biblical
plague, killing 20 residents and sending 7000
people half the population to the hospital
with breathing difficulty.
The Donora tragedy shocked the nation and
marked a turning point in our complacency
about industrial pollution and its effect on our
health. Americans demanded breathable air, and
industry was forced to clean up. Many states
lacked resources or the will to address the
problem. So, in 1963, Congress passed the first
federal Clean Air Act, then amended it in 1970 to
give it teeth. States were now required to come
up with plans for reducing pollution to meet
federal clean air standards.
Since the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act, we
have removed 98 percent of lead from the air, 79
percent of soot, 41 percent of sulfur dioxide, 28
percent of carbon monoxide, and 25 percent of
the smog soup now called ozone.
We've come a long way since Donora, but our
work is not done. America no longer has black
skies or belching smokestacks. Today's air
quality problems are more insidious. We now
know that air pollution blows across state lines,
and that nitrogen oxide emissions from a coal-
fired power plant in the Midwest can cause
unhealthy levels of ozone smog for children living
in the Northeast.
Ground-level ozone today's smog is still
with us, and so are its associated health
problems. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of all
respiratory-related hospital visits'in the Northeast
can be attributed to ozone pollution. Cases of
death among children from asthma have reached
alarming levels and are on die rise.
Over the past few .years, EPA has taken several
important steps to better protect public health.
As the millennium turns, EPA continues to fight
for the right of Americans to breathe clean air
with new standards for fine particles and seek
reductions in smog-causing nitrogen oxide
emissions from power plants.
Whether it would have saved 20 lives in Donora
in 1948, or will improve life for 100 million
Americans living in areas that have not attained
basic clean air goals, protecting air quality has
become a health imperative. We may never
return to the disastrous conditions of Donora, but
the fight for clean, breathable air still presents
major challenges.
for every large project approved or'funded by (he federal government. 20 million people celebrate the first Farth Day.
plans to achieve standards. The {.'. S. Environmental Protection Agency is created with 5,000 employees and a $1.3 billion
, I
-------
MID-VII V\l l( SI'VII s :ill M Vltsol I \\ lltONMI M \\ I'KOUJKSS
He environmenl has
paid big dividends to
Americans, and none bigger
dian public licahli. IT- a
mallei' of health and hrealh.
l:coinnnic, llctillh ami
11 n i 'iron im* nl til I fan t'fils
The economic value of the
public health and
environmental benefits thai
Americans enjoy from (he
l()('0 amendments to the
Clean Air Act exceed their
cost-, by a margin ol -Ho-1.
An estimated SI 10 billion will
he saved, avoiding illnesses
and premature deaths that
would have occurred without
new clean air standards in die
amendments.
I silica sophisticated array ol
computer models and the
latest emissions and cost data.
an EPA study shows thai by
2010. implementation ol the
amendments will save 2.'$.000
people from dying
prematurely, and will averi
more HUM
attacks.
mil
I Ml
aslhi
In addition, the clean air
amendments will prevent
67,000 incidents ol chronic
and acute bronchitis. ')] .000
occurrences ol' shortness of
brcalh. -+. I million lost work
dav --. and 31 million days in
which Americans would have
had lo restrict activity due to
air pollution and related
illnesses. I hese standards also
would prevent 22.000
respiratory-related and -42.000
cardiovascular-relate*I hospital
admissions, and -Kr>00
emergency room vigils for
asthma.
Smog in //»« niitl- llltinlic
()/one smog that plagues the
mid-Atlantic stales is caused
by a combination ol local and
regional sources. Air pollution
does not slop at stale lines.
Stales in the region have spenl
millions ol dollars to reduce
unhealthy levels ol smog, but
are laced with pollution
transported from power plants
and factories hundred ol miles
away. Delaware. Maryland.
Pennsylvania. Virginia and die
Districi of (Columbia all have
/// / /6 V x/i a i/i'c hi ullcil mil 11 a1 x/,v in Pittsburgh mi ii I n n I tn r i/n\'. lira u 'iir* lu'lun- I n/i'jrrxx iinn'iiili'il I lie < In in \u \i I unit
ifiirr il li'iili. innk\' ( //r. u i r/i/ur\' n/ mill, x/i'i'l unil i'u/,'r iniikiii'j i'1'rnli'il mi nillfli'lltillf! Imzr llnil
bliickt'iirtl liiiildins.i unil hlnlli'il n/// l/if .inn nnlil llii' lull' /'l-fO\ irln'ii Pittsburgh mil .n-nunx uliinil clt'iiiiing I/if mi'.
hudifel. KI'A Uegion III is established \\ilh oHIccs in Philadelphia and laboraiories in Annapolis. \ld.. and VVIieoMng. W.Va.
puin( on cribs and (oys. (llean Water Act is passed, reducing pollution from point sources. DDT is banned. Manufacturers
-------
upgraded their auto inspection
and maintenance programs lo
ensure dial vehicle emissions
are minimized.
hi the metro Washington. D.C..
area including northern
\ irginia. more than I million
people live in this area which
does not meet health-based air
(|iialil\ standards for o/one.
Richmond and die
Shenandoali National Forest
have exceeded the standard
several limes. More than (>
million Pennsylvanians live in
areas dial do not meet air
<|iiality standards, as do more
ihan -f million people in
Maryland and oOO.OOO in
Delaware.
FPA continues to work with
the stales lo reduce sources of
smog, and lo help businesses
develop new cost-saving
technologies to reduce
pollution. A clear example of
our success in reducing o/one
is seen by comparing the hot
summers of 1988 and 1<><>!!.
In 1()<>8. mid-Atlantic stales
had ()() days exceeding the
one-hour health-based
standard. But by 1(>()<>. there
were fewer than 10.
1'iihlic
of Air Q
Public awareness ol air quality.
indoors and outdoors, has
advanced significantly. Most
ne\\ home buyers now lesl for
radon, the second leading
cause of lung cancer in die
I nited Suites. Mid-Atlantic
scientists recognized the
harmful health effects of the
naturally occurring radon in
homes in Reading.
Peiiiis\ Kania and sounded the
alarm across the couulrv
Renters, home owners and
builders now know dial
asbestos is harmful. During
the summers, when press
reports alert us to o/one action
days, citi/ens now reduce
exposure to high levels of this
noxious o/one-smog.
\\itli a sophisticated urban air
monitoring network in place.
we now have a statistical basis
lUtlOV, Pittsburgh x cr/l Imir irrll \niiTirnii* run r/run n/i u jinllnlcil < il\.
tional Administrator is Edward W. Fnria. ,lr. Congress restricts lead-based paints in residences and bans lead
required to supply tovieologieal information and register pesticides. Canada and the l;.S. agree to clean up the Great Lakes
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
r
-------
Mll>- VII \\IIC SI VII s :to M VliS 01 I \\ lltONMI M VI I'liOUtl'ss
l.iirironnn'iilnl
l:nforc<>nn'nl
The mid-Atlantic region has
always IKMMI active in Clean Air
Act enforcement. Recently, (lie
region lias added sector
initiatives, where specific
industrial sectors \\cre targeted.
KPA investigated sectors where
there liarr Million (ppin)
0 ()( S()2 Suiiiilanl = ().().'? |)|>ni
TSP ^ PM-10: Less Dust and Sooi in Air
(..Mill
T
80
70
60
50
to
30
20
iili/m
TSP
Standard= 73
Micrograms per (lubic Meier1
change in
standard
(.mill
PM-10 Standard
paniculate inaiici' standard =
30 Micrograms per Cubic Meier
Source: 1,1'A AIHS Database
/-/'I .< I'll i ul* In n : I iii'<' mi IH ill ill i< 111 lifijiiii in lli \/.r 17711 TII i {iir/>i>lliitiiiit.i:i'iirlii>n innno.vitli' (CO). MI//HI i/m.iii/i' S( >_' . /mr/ii'ii/ii/i'
innllcr irlurli 1.1 i/u\l mitl .i>n>l /'I/ III . Inul I'll . nziiiti'. mill in/rnu'i'ii (liti.t'lilc. l'nif*n'x.i liu* lirrn iiiin/i1 in n'llnri/lf! till xi.t'n infill ti/nu/t SITU nix i n r ininltly mil inirfiiiritl*
In n < In i-i/ILL' ( < >. >'OJ. ;/(/ I'M- III. Ht'iinil'itlf! I I'm I I run i I nun tyixitlini' In in lii'nii'jlil nliinil iinii'i' nil ifiinlilr HIIIIK.
sntatives of 114 countries meet in Stockholm, Sweden in first global environmental conference. Congress p
out lead in gasoline. Knergy crisis grins the world, exacerbated by an Arab nations oil embargo. Theory is published on
-------
I In' iiiiliiiiinliilr i.t mil1 i>l lln' iiiii/nr
nrotlticfr.t nl siting. Mntnnsts ilnrr -/."t
jn-i'i'i'iiI I/tint1 niilrs tlnin in /'VS..
/ ri'i'inn's nrr i'lms0 2010
Siiunv: l',l'\ OAOI'S: IS CI-II.MI-
I hi n ii'^ I In1 i H ist -iti \riirs. i n r i fin ih I \' In is iniin'iiri'il si'ji/ifn'nti//\ triitlt- tlir
ii/'i'ir/n l-f-ll IHTI'I'///. lilt1 iHipnltttHHi wt'ir hv'2-f lii'rct'iit, tiitr/tin'niiwhci
iniilni I'i'/iii'/i' null's ilrii'fii increiixt'il In' lh\ /ir/i'i'/i/.
Cleaner Air for the New Century
ing muss Iruiisil. almrins " ''"/'' '"
cur /jiioliitg rcrlticcs traffic
ni r juillui nut . mill snri's nn>iti'\'.
In addition to more efficient
automobiles and cleaner
fuels, state managed
inspection and
maintenance programs
have also contributed to
cleaner air.
In December 1999, in
another key step to protect
America's public health.
President Clinton
announced the strongest
standards ever for
controlling harmful tailpipe
emissions. For the first
time, sport utility vehicles.
mini-vans and pickup
trucks will also meet the
same new low tailpipe
emissions required for
passenger cars. This also
provides for cleaner
gasoline with lower sulfur
content.
The public health benefits
of these new standards are
truly significant. Over the
next few decades, almost >()
million tons of smog-
causing air pollution will be
removed from the air. This
means 2MMMM) fewer
asthma attacks in children.
4.300 premature deaths
prevented and 173.000
respiratory-related illnesses
avoided. The new rules will
save the nation $25 billion
in medical and other
health-related costs and
prevent 683.000 missed
workdays and more than 5
million days when people
restrict their activity
because of bad air.
To gel real time information
about smog and air quality
in your area, click on to
www.epa.gov/airnow/
otect endangered species mid wild flora and Fiiiinn. KI'A begins (o phase
how chlorofluorocarbons ((TCs) destroy the stratospheric ozone layer, whicb protects Karth from ultraviolet radiation.
-------
MID-ATLANTIC STYII.S .{(I YKAKS Ol i:\VlliONMI.NTAI I'UOI.Hl SS
Congress passes the Safe Drinking \\iiUT Act. Car makers begin installing catalytic converters in new vehic
polyrhlorinated hiphenyls (PCBs). National energ) plan of I'resident Jimmy Carter focuses on conservation
-------
A,
America has come a long way since 1()(>(). when
fixers in many cities were open sewers and the
Cuyahoga River, polluted with volatile chemicals,
caught fire in Cleveland, Ohio. From a world of
\\aicr\\ ay> contaminated with industrial waste
and inadequate sewage treatment, we tackled our
problems head on and solved many of the big
ones.
Armed with legislation and funding from
(iongre.xs. the Environmental Protection Agency
led the fight to reclaim and restore the nations
rivers, lakes and harbors. The Clean Water Act.
passed in 1('T72. only two year's after EPA was
established, gave the agency its first authority to
reduce industrial discharges into public waters.
During the next 28 years, the American people
have kept more than one billion pounds of toxic
pollution every year from entering our waterways.
Responding to public concern over findings of
harmful chemicals in drinking water supplies.
EPA established health-based
standards under the 1()7-t Safe
Drinking \\ater Act. Today, thanks
to successful environmental
protection, the I 'nited Stales
enjoys one of the best supplies of
safe drinking water in the world.
Two-thirds of our people get
their drinking water from lakes
and rivers and the balance from
ground water.
CUYAHOGA
RIVER
Drinking water standards arc no\v in place for
more ilian 80 different contaminants, which
public water suppliers monitor to ensure our
safety. In 1(>('8. President Clinton called on
community water suppliers to tell customers
where their water comes from and what
chemicals it contains.
I'ish are now plentiful in rivers once too
contaminated to support aquatic life. Massive
fish kills were in recent memory common and
threatened the fishing industry in the
Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Estuary and other
primary fisheries.
People now swim and fish in many lakes and
rivers where before it was unthinkable. The
(-lean Water Act has doubled the amount of
water suitable for fishing and swimming.
Ocean dumping of sewage sludge, industrial
waste, plastic debris and medical waste has
been banned. More than 30.000
major industrial dischargers
p re treat waste before it enters local
sewers. This has removed from our
sewers 75 percent of the toxic
discharges that include heavy
metals and PCBs. Since 1 <><)().
through site planning, facility
inspection and oil spill exercises.
EPA has decreased spills at oil
storage facilities.
-grave regulation of hazardous waste. President Gerald Ford mandates phase-out of
renewable, non-polluting energy resources. KPA and other ageneies ban CFCs as a propellant in most aerosol cans.
L
-------
MID-\TI.\\TK: STVII s :;n u;\ns or i \\iiin\Mi vi \i i>ito(.i million people in
thousands ol communities.
More than <">"> percent of all
Americans now have safe.
healthy drinking water.
President ( Clinton has
challenged KPA to raise t
100 percent.
The
A new consumer confidence
rule requires local water
/'//< < Iliin IliriT is slinirii /]iiin/i\' II lici'linn;.
fin/iking irttlrr jnr trulhoim ofpt'opl? in /V////.V
Iiiilni/Hi nnil Illinois,
companies to tell customers
aliout the source, quality.
ingredients and possible
contaminants in their water.
and to include health
education statements lor
children, the elderly and
people with immune system
disorders.
KPA and the states regulate
more than 21,000 water
Regionally 30 Billion Callous of Sewage
will be Flushed Daily by 2025
People
(million^
10
1')()() I')"7!) l')80 1')<)() 1 <)<).-, 2000 2()0."i 2015 202.")
P(ii)iil(iti(in in I In1 innl- \tltuilit' si i ilr* linx iiH'rt'iisril ni^nijirtiiill\ uinl /.v pnyt'rlt'd lit In1
->'/ IIH//IIIII h\ -OJ.). .ifl hillinii ^tilliiiis it/ liiinitiit //7/.s7r is lliislii'il r/T/T ir inlli tin' i>iij mini inn. l!ii' irti/rr irr /Jn.s/i linlin nun' In' tin' inilrr it'i' dnilk
Innnn'i'ittr. riml s irh\' srirti^'i' ti'i'iiliiirnl uinl dnnking trnli'i sliiiiiltinl.s un1 so in/fntrtunl.
II. In. I Ills I'll'i'l' is llli' sniirrr nl
\lrnniti. O/iiii. llrsl lirmnni. /\i-n//ir/\\.
supplies in the mid-Atlantic
region. The ()()() largest
systems supply (M) |)ercent ol
the \\ater consumed by 2(>
million residents. Only 10
percent ol public water is
supplied by the remaining
20,-fOO small- and medium-
si/e \\aler sstems.
Drinking \\'ulvr
Sltimlfirds
A significant factor in cleaning
up drinking water supplies i-
eiilorcemenl of our anti-
pollution laws. During the last
five years. KPA has taken
(H-.-W3 enforcement actions
against public water systems in
the mid-Atlantic region. These
action- can be informal or
formal, ranging from a phone
call asking why a particular
report is late, to a full-blown
criminal action that can carry
a jail sentence for the worst
polluters.
In I*)').! Washington. D.C.
residents awoke to the news
that they had to boil their
water to make it sale to drink.
The citv-owned-and-manaeed
An accident at Three Mile Island, near Hai
Compensation, and Liability Act. known as Kuperfuml.
puhlic debate about the satety ot nuclear p«
-------
( I I \\ \\ VII It SMI l)UI\kl\». \\ VII I! I OH I \l inoM - V I'KI SIDIM I \l MVMUII
Billions of Dollars
in I niidini: to Improve
\VaterQualUy in Region III
\Vasic\\ ;IICT Tiviitmrm I'acilities
ITO-1999 = S70 Billion
Drinking \\alri Tirntmrnl I arililio
1997- ll><)i) = S.2.-> Billion
I lir nnil- \llmiln I'l'iiinii Ims ~>./OII
f'liniinii nit \ ' irtitrr s\ \/f 7//\ t/n/f jinirnlr
irtilfi' for iiniri' limn _' . million ncojilc.
/./' I pnn'iiles limits Inr riiiniiiiiiulii'.s In
iliifi/'i >/'< lliftr /rr/.v/i ii'tili'r mnl drinking
ii'nh'i I rt'iil nii'/il inn/ trmtts si'it'ii'ji'
in'iiinii'iil nnil drinking irulrr n/H'rutnr
In Region III ///</< un- lYiT large
drinking irater s\'steins. I lirrr //mi'
cliost'n In sm'jniss /t'l/i'fi// nml \fnlr
drinking irnln standards nnil Imrr
liri-ii recognized iritli I.I'Vx Directors
\iriinl. \hnri'. l)i'/ni/\' \dininislnitor
II. Michael McCdlie is presenting this
m/'m'i/ In I'llilmli'lj>lim '\ // ith'r
I )i'jmrl nii'nt.
utility had diverted water
revenues to other city projects.
resulting in serious
deterioration of the drinking
water1 system. FPA worked
with Congress to clean up the
contaminated distribution
system and to establish a new
regional water and sewer
authority with an accountable
financing and management
.structure.
\ctr Threats to
Drinking \Vnlpr
fhe biggest source ol pollution
to the nation s water's today i>
agricultural runoff. It affects
70 percent of our rivers and
streams and -t() percent of our1
lakes. For example, common
practice by farmers is
spreading manure on fields as
fertilizer. Over the years.
farmland has become saturated
with nutrients that far exceed
the ability of crops and soil to
absorb them. The excess
nitrogen and phosphorus How
as pollution into rivers.
streams, and ground water'.
As part of President Clinton's
(lean \\aler Action Plan in
1 <)<)«. FPA and (he I .S.
Department of Agriculture
released a national strategy to
minimize water pollution from
animal feeding operations.
Toxic waste also can threaten
water supplies.
The movie. I Civil Action,
was a reminder of how
contaminated ground water
could become toxic drinking
water. Now stale
environmental agencies are
assessing surface and ground
water our drinking water1
sources to identify potential
contamination.
For specific information
about your local drinking
water., access the web site
http://www.epa.gov/
safewaler/ which links to
more than 300 reports
serving nearly 100 million
people or call Tlic Safe
Drinking Hitter
(WO) 42(t-47VL
Drinking I Idler I lot line a I
/;Vi/«rr/ii» Iliri/rr
Qnnlily I'wmil.s
KPAs mid-Atlantic region set a
national precedent in its action
against Smithfield Foods s
pollution of (he James Uiver
basin. FPA struck a blow on
behalf of the (Chesapeake Bay
by forcing Smithfield to stop
dumping an estimated -\
million gallons a day ol animal
waste into the Pagan River.
and treat it at a sewage plant.
The $12.6 million judgment in
1()()7 is the second highest
awarded in (llean \\aler Act
litigation.
Students, seniors mnl 1'ilizriis /u'oi/nsi'
In i'niisi'1'i'i' mid protect drinking irnler
In Inking llic Him' Ilimiili /Vn/irr.
nl Orange from the L'.S. nuii'ket.
(I oudiiu's a 10-vc
?arch plar
Comprehensive Knvironmental Response.
laws (o provide hma
-------
MID-ATLANTIC STA'IT.S :(() VKAUS OK KNVIKONMK.NTM. I'KOCKKSS
safe disposal of nuclear waste from power plants and weapon production. The Chesapeake Bay Agreement signet
activities. Union Carbide plant accident in Bhopal, India releases methyl isocyanate. killing more than 2.000 people.
-------
J- here was a time when people didn't think twice
about burying their garbage and hazardous wastes
wherever and whenever was convenient. Industries
buried waste in their own backyards, and for years,
communities deposited both trash and toxic waste
at the town dump.
The infamous Love Canal provided our nation
with a much-needed catalyst for action. Used as
an industrial dumping ground since the 1930s,
community activists turned a spotlight on this
suburban area in upstate New York and it was
found to be contaminated by buried, leaking
chemical containers, in 1978. It was immediately
declared a grave and imminent peril to the health
of hundreds of residents.
Proper waste disposal was catapulted to an issue of
national significance. With Love Canal as a
symbolic poster community, Americans learned the
hard and fast way that unchecked dumping of
hazardous materials posed serious health risks.
Then came Superfund.
Established in 1980, Superfund empowered EPA
to not only protect the environment, but also to
clean our nation's worst abandoned hazardous
waste sites. Today, hazardous wastes and toxic
materials are tracked from production to disposal.
The public is informed about the presence and .
potential danger of all toxic materials in their
community, whether it's emitted from a
smokestack or stored in a warehouse.
Yet solutions aren't always evident, and the hurdles
to cleanup are immense. Industries in the mid-
Atlantic states alone generate 50,000 tons of
hazardous waste a day. Cities are running out of
space to dump their waste and must dispose of it
elsewhere.
hi 1986, the ship Khian Sea left Philadelphia with
15,000 tons of incinerator ash. Waste that no one
wanted. The ship dumped some ash in Haiti and
traveled the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans
before arriving empty in Singapore. Almost a
decade after. Love Canal, the Khian Sea incident
provided Americans with another staggering
reminder of a very valuable yet limited resource
clean land.
Communities realize that the concept of
environmental protection extends far beyond waste
removal. The Superfund and companion
hazardous waste management programs go a step
further, finding creative solutions to solving the
nation's shrinking landfill space and developing
waste management alternatives like land recycling,
reuse and waste reduction.
*
Looking back over the past 20 years, EPA's
Superfund accomplishments are substantial. While
not without its problems, Superfund has cleaned up
outlining cleanup actions to rid the Bay of water pollution from sewage treatment plants, urban runoff and agricultural
Union Carbide plant at Institute, W.Va., releases methyl isocyanate, bringing home the concept that communities in the U. S.
J
-------
MII>-\TI \\lll si Ml S .10 U \US HI I \\II10\MI \l \l I'ltOUtl ss
han (>~7-> ol the nation s
mosi serious uncontrolled or
abandoned ha/ardoiis waste
site-, with {).) more completions
expected b\ the close of 2000.
In the past .seven \ears alone.
FPA has built a belter
Superfund through
comprehensive administrative
reforms. During this lime.
Superfund has completed
const ruction ill llnve limes as
main sites as in the previous 1.'?
years combined. I he program s
emphasis on involving
communities, state partners and
local governments has been an
integral facet in this surge in
construction completions.
There is a financial chapter to
the Superfund success story.
The program uses innovative
agreements with responsible
Superfund Progi-ess in Region III
Since 1983
* 'ni~iriiriioi) (lompletions I
Smdic- I nderway I
(lleanups Started
, /In' "Da on tin- Ilirrr
rrrn 'iilintn il i n'i v\\ lt> tin' nri'r. it IIY
i'/ii/i /mi in llic I'liiiiiiinnil \ nil
l inn l In nittki' /ii'/r fricndx irluli
'ri/!!.'] sites, and using
innovative technologies.
changed -f() cleanup decisions to
accelerate construction time and
save more man S100 million.
\\ here the responsible paily has
heeii defunct or financially
insolvent, the region bridged the
funding gap with S20.0 million
at 12 "orphan" site-,.
At 2.'! sites, the agency reached
settlements \\ ith hundreds of
minor defendants saving mem
and the agency millions in legal
costs and unnecessary litigation.
ami
tin* I
KI'Ys mid-Atlantic success
stories speak volumes about
lite region s emphasis on
comprehensive and timely
cleanups. For example, the
mid-Atlantic region deleted one
of the first sites ever from the
National Priorities I jst of most
ha/ardou- and abandoned
\\asie sites. Based in
Lackawanna (ionnty.
Pennsylvania, the I >ehigh
Flectric & Engineering sites
dangerously high
concentrations ol PCBs once
threatened nearby residents.
Thanks to Superfund. local
residents now rest assured thai
the site is not only clean, but
that their families are sale.
Dedication to cleaning the
environment and restoring
economic vitality back to
affected communities is a
driving force behind KPA's
success. In I*)')"7, the mid-
Atlantic region completed the
nation s 500th Superfund
cleanup at the former
Publicker Industries on the
Philadelphia waterfront.
I lailed as a redevelopment
milestone. Publicker \\as once
.severely contaminated with
laboratory wastes, flammable
gas cylinders. VCMisand P(.Hs.
loday it is being redeveloped
as a shipping terminal that will
create 1..")()() new jobs.
Nationally, more than 1-">0
Snperfmid sites have been put
back to productive use. support
1 1.000 jobs, generate revenues
for suites and local
i(is(s report a jjian( "hole" in the o/one layer is opening up each spring over the
Chernobyl mi former Soviet Union, resulting in the worst accidental release of radioactive materials in
-------
( I I \\ I VM) I liOVI SI I'l KM Mill) SI IM K I'MtkS
- nj t ninli'nri i\. ()ni'i' S{fl)t'ffllHfl .w/r,s'
ijii'() acres where
lly ash was disposed at
( Ihisman ( ireek in \nrk
( ioimly. Virginia. Once a
N id ii lo die local coninuiniu.
groundwater a1 die siie \\as
liidily contaminated.
llii'ealeninii nearby esliiarie>.
\.\\\ look aclion. parlnerinii
\\illi slale and local
ii()\cniniciils. coniniiinily
members, and responsible
parlies to develop sound
cleanup solutions resulting in a
sporls park llial is widely
enjoyed loday
(lliosen as one ol ihc 10
Snperliind recy<₯linji' pilot
projii'iiMiN in die country die
loriner .\\lex Filters planl in
Kronl Ho\al. Virginia will
provide die community with a
recreation and wildlife
conservancy, soccer fields and a
business park-office. In
addition lo nearly S20 million
spent on cleanup l>y a
responsible party, thai party
has reimbursed KPA S(). 1
million and agreed to perform
the remaining cleanup
Location of Supe
estimated ai Sd.'l million and
pav KPA a portion ol its
oversight cost.
Other regional reuse projects
include die Ohio River Park
near Pittsburgh, redeveloped
into a multi-million dollar
sports complex: Mill (ireek
I .andlill in Krie. Pennsylvania
will be a goU course: die Kane
\: I .milliard Drums site in
Baltimore has reopened as a
golf driving range: and the
Army (ireck I .andfill in \cvv
Castle. Delaware was restored
lo a nature and wildlife
preserve. Once desolate
eyesores. Snperliind has helped
transform these sites into vital.
attractive and productive assets
ol communities across die
nation.
fund Silos in IJcgion III
Antarctic. Congress increases Superfund to $8.5 billion, creates inechanis
history. Thousands die, 450.000 are evacuated within a 30-s<|iiare-kiloi
-------
MID-ATLANTIC STATUS :i() YKAKS <>!' I N\ IHONMKNTAI I'KOCKKSS
quality standards. 24 nations commit to phase out production of CFCs. Yucca Mountain. Nevada is selected as (he disposal site
Surgeon (General urge every homeowner to test for radon gas, a cause of lung cancer. Exxon Valdez spills nearly 11 million
-------
A Decent Hohg
/f~\\ '^"^
nvironment
VJor
angress mandated "a decent home and
suitable living environment for every American
family" in 1949, and reaffirmed it in 1968.
President John F. Kennedy warned in 1963 that
if we neglect our cities, we will neglect the nation.
Yet since families began moving from the city
into post-World War II houses in Levittowns, in
New York and Pennsylvania, our nation's cities
have been under attack. Seeking the dream of
home ownership, families moved to the suburbs.
New roads and freeways provided easy
automobile access to abundant and affordable
land, encouraging new development and urban
sprawl while threatening farm land and open
space.
As masses left the inner city, the character of
neighborhoods changed. Productive industrial
factories and buildings became Superfund or
brownfields sites. Vacant lots became garbage
dumps. The tax base disappeared. Schools were
neglected. America's great cities were in peril.
Cities faced a myriad of environmental problems.
Polluted air. Lead paint hazards. Asbestos.
Radon. Vehicle gridlock. Hazardous waste sites.
Aging and outdated infrastructures. All of this
threatened the health of children. As urban
sprawl expanded, many of these same problems
inevitably moved to the suburbs.
"We will help you build what we hear you are
asking for and what is no less than you and your
families deserve: livable communities, comfortable
suburbs, vibrant cities, and,, for your
grandchildren's well-being and for their
grandchildren's too, green spaces."
Vice President Al Gore, January 11, 1999
Working with its state partners and cities, EPA
has made tremendous progress in cleaning the
air, land and water in communities throughout
our country. Since 1978, average blood-lead
levels in children have declined by nearly 75
percent. Now, sellers and landlords must disclose
known lead paint and its hazards to both renters
and buyers. To increase citizens' understanding,
any contractor involved in remodeling or
renovation is now required to give home owners a
copy of a new booklet, Protect Your Family From
Lead in Your Home.
ji
Be|ween 1985 and 1994, 90 of the nation's
largest cities with the exception of Los Angeles
saw a 72 percent reduction in the number of
days when the air was considered unhealthy. In
the mid-Atlantic region, we went from 60 ozone
for the nation's radioactive waste. 03EB Congress bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste. EPA and the
gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. EPA announces TRI database which tells the public which toxic
I I
-------
Mllt-VII VM II SI VII S .ill M VI!S Ol I NV IKUNVII M \l I'ltOUil SS
acllon days in l()!>o to fewer
than ion in l()<>i!.
Milking ( 'i
Safer ami llwillhicr
1 lousing and facility siting
pattens to dlicn have exposed
low-income and minorii
disproportionate e\pti-ure ID
em ironmental liaxanU.
diminishing die quality ol life.
I lie agency is aggressively
addressing die issues ol
environmental justice. An
innovative selllemenl ol a
lawsuit in ( Chester.
I'eim^v Kania. lor example lias
reduced lead paint hazards in
a laround located in a
minoriiv neighborhood.
I hrough our ( ireen
( iommunities Program. \ve
Houses witli Load
Cities in Region 111
400
.'500
^00
100
_
c
-
s
ae
l/if/'i iin1 nfijiri i.iiiin ih'ly ... > million
linnet's in llif n'^inti t/nit Inn''' h'nd linsril
jiniiil. < lnlilri'ii x/.ryi'urx nlil mill
voiiiiui'i an1 //in.-:/ nilni'nilili' In Irtitl
/HIIXIIIIIIIX inn/ tlirri' HIT innrr limn _'
million lirinff in lln' ii'^imi. lf>/n'i<-i ni >!
ir/mxr finiiilii'K lire hrlnir tin1 j>iirei~lY lert'l.
\lmrf /\ mi iirii^t \ rendering "/ '/// r////v///r(p In ///< I'rf/t/i'/triii IIorka ////// ///c /;/r/\/
/iiriiiin-s in l/ir biickfcntnnd. I lie /nrini'r broii'ii/ii'ldx pni/t'cl rrl/iuix I/if I'.iislin^
historic indnx/riiil churiu'li'r <>l Hcthlelicin >/ci7 ' 'or/mrnlinii \ /nniicr jilnnl l>y
rt'lt'iilntn nnil m/n/tfin1 mm1 nf r.r/-s7///i;' hiit/ditiiZfi tunl lite addition
nf nt'ir biitldttigti detiiptned in n cont/tdtihle indnslnnl .s'/r/c.
help local communities protect
their environmental resources.
as they develop commnnily-
based partnerships lor
sustainable development. An
assistance kit is available al
vvvvvv.epa.gov/region .'Vgreenkit
which provides a step-by-slep.
framework for communities lo
take common-sense steps that
will improve the environment
and protect the health of their
families.
llwycling Land and
Itnildings
KPA has eliminated
environmental hazards in
abandoned land and
dilapidated buildings led
behind by the old economy or
urban sprawl and eliminated
the environmental hazards lo
make the properly developable
and livable generating new
jobs, an increased lax base and
a better partnership between
public and private sectors.
(i rants lo cities make the
development possible. Thanks
to a SI.() million grant.
Baltimore has inventoried
1.000 acres of potential
brownfields ranging in si/e
Irom less than an acre lo ()()
acres.
A shining example of turning a
former industrial site lo a new
use is die old Bethlehem Steel
plant in Bethlehem.
Pennsylvania, a $450 million
multi-use development called
Bethlehem \\orks. it has die
potential lo become the largest
brownfields redevelopment
projecl in die country. I he
facilities NCHV York Stnti" declares
Love Canal area habitable and
uid encourage environmental education lor people of all a^cs. (.If
-------
I l\ Mil I ( (l\l\ll Mill S \ III .('I.NT IIOMI \\DSI II Mil I I IM\(. I.NMHONMI.N I - \ ( lt\(.|{l SSIONVI M \\DVI I
mixed-use developmenl is the
result of KPA working with
slate agencies and Bethlehem
Steel. It retain-' the existing
historic industrial character of
the former steel plant. \\ hen
completed it will house the
National Museum ol Industrial
I listory. an affiliate o! the
Smithsonian Institution, a
hotel conference center.
restaurants, stores, a movie
theater complex, and
an incubator for high-tech
startup companies. An
adjacent 1.(>()() acres of land is
being developed as a
commerce center with
distribution, transportation.
manufacturing and
commercial facilities.
A stale wildlife preserve and a
I a rue recreational area willi
sports fields and hiking trails
will soon lie on land that \vas
once part ol an industrial
facility in (ilasgow. Delaware.
The site is being cleaned up by
the previous owner. \\ ith
KPAs assistance, it has lieen
acquired l>\ the State ol
Delaware and \\.L. (iore.
which will use b~>0 acres fora
manufacturing complex.
Three hundred acres ol
wetlands and woods will lie
preserved as public parks.
preserving open space and
natural habitat.
reaching t'ltiltlrvn .\houl
Hit* I'sHi'iroiinn'iil
Through its environmental
education office, each siiinmer.
the agency has been teaching
students Irom inner-city
middle schools about the
environment and training
them (o return to their
neighborhoods and schools as
mentors for others. In (> years.
the program has graduated
150 students who in turn have
been instructors lor more than
MO.000 people. Many stales
now include education about
the environment as a part of
core curriccula. Since 1()()|.
KPA has funded many
environmental education
projects oi states, cities, schools
and non-profit organizations.
IMIt'r .\nn»rica Ifomls
Recent national locus on
livability contains several
ambitious initiatives including
S10 billion "Belter America
Bonds dial cities can use to
preserve green space, create or
restore parks, proteci water
quality and clean up
brownfields sites. T.P\
Administrator (larol M.
Browner met with the National
\dniinixt ntlor ( urol I/. Hmirner
lulkx inlli I ii'lniriiri'iili I .mil Itni'i/i'l.
n/iii/il rri'iilni'j: xiixl/innililr
((iiiiiiiiinilit'x.
I In nin/i>ri/\i /<: (« /irii/i'i'f t/tcitific/rt'n
ft'itni <'.\'jmxiin1.
\ssocialioii of I lome Builders
lo launch, in cooperation with
the I .S. Department ol
I lousing «S; I rhan
Development, an iniliatixc to
reuox ale or build t million
new inner-city housing units in
the nexl 1 0 ears.
a (Join!
lo a Habitat
Families all across the region
are developing good
environmental habits. Parents
car-pool children to school. A
slop al the recyling center is
oflen on the Salurdax to-do
list. More and more native
plants are thriving in
community and backyard
gardens. KHurts lo reuse.
reduce, and recycle can be
seen al home. work, and
school. These praclices. along
with monitoring and planning.
help build sustainable, more
enjoyable c<
sales of homes hegiii. Some 200 million people participate in 20th am i Da;
Environmental justice national summit of grassroots groups held in Washing!
ad
-------
MID-ATLANTIC STATKS :t() VI AKS 01 L'NVIKONMLATAI. I'KOUtl'.SS
countries attend the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. EPA reports secondhand smoke poses a serious
recycling triples from 7% in 1970 to nearly 22% in 1993. The American bald eagle is upgraded from an endangered to
I
-------
Whe
ien explorer John Smith arrived at the
Chesapeake Bay in 1607, forests covered 95
percent of the land, sweeping in an ocean of green
beyond the western mountains. Settlement
reduced this great primordial forest the home
of all that lived in its life-sustaining embrace
by 60 percent by the late 1800s.
Today, forests once again are the dominant land
cover of the Bay region, covering 59 percent of the
Chesapeake watershed. Yet we are losing forests
at the rate of 100 acres per day to sprawl and
development.
As Smith sailed the bay, huge oyster reefs filtered
all the water in the Chesapeake Bay in less than a
week, a process that now takes a year for the
reduced oyster population that remains due to
pollution and overfishing. In response to public
demands EPA and Bay states have developed
more than a dozen protected artificial reefs.
Diseases still threaten mature oysters, but
Maryland's 1997 new young osyters were the
second highest since monitoring began in 1939.
Between 1988 and 1997, industries have reduced
toxic releases into the bay by 67 percent. Some
3,600 species of plants and animals live in the
Chesapeake ecosystem. Striped bass are back in
record numbers. Streams have been unblocked
and fish passages constructed to restore migratory
spawning for shad and herring, an important food
source for many birds and fish. Unfortunately, the
harvest of blue crabs and oysters, once plentiful
and economically significant, is down
dramatically from 20 years ago because of
overharvesting and disease. But restoration efforts
have begun.
Healthy ecosystems are vitally important to man.
Man both threatens and restores the ecosystems of
the mid-Atlantic states, from extensive shorelines,
wetlands and coastal plains to the rolling foothills
of the Piedmont Plateau and the Appalachian
Mountains. Forests help filter and clean the air
while wetlands filter and clean water. Both are
disappearing.
Where urban sprawl and changing land use have
destroyed habitat and wetlands, Maryland has.
developed a model "smart growth" policy mat
deters development that would have adverse
environmental effects. And many states are
buying land to preserve farmland and open space
and retard sprawl. Urban runoff and farm
health risk to nonsmokers. EPA implements strategy governing hazardous waste incinerators and industrial furnaces. Curbside
o
threatened species. President Clinton orders government agencies to make environmental justice part of their mission.
J
-------
MID- \TI \MK sivrrs :tii M
s or i \\IUO\MI MAI
/» \nucuxtid bnnrtijii'ldx finifimin. in /ini/i-rl. I In1
"Dm mi tin' llti'i'i' I'niu'niiii 1.1 mi/1
fii'n^niiii (/('.itu'tli'd !» LVi't' I'liininiinil \
\'()s.
Today the Chesapeake Bay is
one ol die most closely
monitored bodies ol water in
the world.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
/l/c Ilin n'ci'tn'.i ulin/il luilj <>l i/x fn'alnriitt'r flair /nun llir Sii/M/neluiiiim Iliri-r.
/nl/ii/m/ li\~ nnir /nun lln1 I'litiiltKIC mill .liniii's rin'/'n. I In1 rr.il tlniinn /nun lilt'
thousands / r/vr/.\ ;/ .i/mtnis I/nil fi'is.icro.i.i llic l!i/\J.i l>-t.1)1)1) .it/nun' nnli'
iriilt't'xlit'fl. I In' I'iri'i'x mill niiiiii liny nrr (ijftvtt'd In I/if niiliirnl luliil /J/nr /nun llic
\tliiniir (h'i'iiit. I lit' Itin jirn'^niiii tn rrsinri' mill jinih'rl lln- ( ht'Stlpt'tlkf l!n titnl n'cn'ittiontil
opportunities, >V//rr /"SO. 50percent
/I/ /III' ri'irilltl .1 l/'li/lllll/.l Illll'i'
fll-lfl/IIX'tlll'l/.
Superl'uiid olraimps accelerated, resulting in as many cleanups in 12 months as were completed in program's first decade.
them to productive use. List of toxic chemicals reported to public under community right-to-know law doubles. Ii
-------
Ill U llh I ( OSNSII MS
IION 01 II Mil I \l \M(I'IOI'I
Loss of 1 lorseshoe Crabs
1.5r
l.rrn inlli ii xrrinux ili-i-liiii' in
iiiiinhiji\i. tin1 tMuu'tire <'x/n< >l mil it it >n irf Imntfx/HH' rnihx. 1 tits
iniii/iii' iiniruii' nr^iiiii.iin is un
iiiijxt/'hitil fimil xttiircr til tnin'ri-nlin'j
Ixiclt'riiil i-niiliiiiiiiiiiliiiii nl iiirilii'inc.
////A' c/lfll't n'xi'rri' billdlicc in ///<'
ii'nv in1 inlt'ini I inlli nui
i urn tuinii'iil.
controllable niitcienis entering
the hay hy l200() will he met '
for phosphorus. The nitrogen
goal, however, can he met only
if current reduction efforts are
accelerated. Scientists estimate
dial '2 I percent of al
nitrogen
ha\ COMICS Ironi
Tin1 Ih'laii-tirc ttiwr
and llnlnnrit's
Anoilicr significanl mid-
Allanlic cslnar\ is the
Delaware River and its related
inland hays. In the I'HOs and
1('.~>()s. the Delaware was acidic
and Mack, bacterial levels were
very high and the stench.
which overcame many riverside
workers, could he smelled hy
people in planes >.()()() leet
high. In what was once the
hesi fishery on the east coast.
the lish had virtually
disappeared. I lulls of ships
blackened. I hese conditions
persisted until the 1()7()s.
\\ilh help from KP\ funding.
three major wastewaler
treatment plants were
constructed. In response to
new regulations, industries
upgraded or installed new
equipment to reduce pollutants
being discharged Icom their
facilities, loday. along what
was once the worst stretch ol
the Delaware, lie marinas.
condominiums, parks.
amphitheaters, restaurants and
a state aquarium. The striped
hass and shad have returned.
More still needs to he done.
especially in controlling
siormwaler runoff from streets.
homes and businesses ol
pollutants such as pesticides.
Uasoline. anlilree/e and salt.
Delaware Kstuarv Wulcrslu'd
Delaware River Drainage liasin
rani launched, with Brunts to coniinnni
III archivt's niorp than 3.t)()() sites of concern, removing liability barriers and encouraging the redevelopment and reu
-------
MID-VI I.\M 1C 1(1 UON :(0 \T.\HS ()! KNVIHOMMKNTAI. I'I{O(,KI SS
properties. I'PA ensures (hut cleanup actions reflect cost-effective technological advances. Updating remedies at Superfund
toxic emissions by "0%. Project XL Initiative launched: companies, facilities, states and localities develop innovative ways to
-------
ions
.hreats to clean air, clean land, and clean water
recognize no national borders or continental
divides. They are global problems, ultimately
requiring solutions that span oceans and
continents. Planet Earth is, after all, a large
ecosystem.
This is especially evident with global warming and
climate change. Look at what has happened in
the past 100 years. The average temperature
worldwide has increased one degree Fahrenheit;
the polar ice caps are melting and Glacier National
Park, Montana has lost 70 percent of some of its
glaciers. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at
all-time record levels, the highest in the last
160,000 years. Sea level has risen, and is
projected to rise from six to 37 inches,
permanently flooding many coastal areas in the
next century.
The 11 hottest years on record have occurred in
the past 13 years. Last year was the hottest since
recordkeeping began 100 years ago. Throughout
the world, extreme and erratic weather has caused
violent hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, drought, fire,
ice, and electrical storms. Catastrophic wildfires in
Florida, Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia only made *
matters worse by releasing carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere from burning forests. -
To slow climate change, all nations must reduce
emissions of greenhouse gases. These gases cause
acid rain and smog, and trap the sun's heat close
to the earth's surface. As global temperatures rise,
the planet drifts closer to a greenhouse effect.
Recognizing that the United States is the world's
largest energy consumer and emits 22 percent of
all carbon dioxide, Vice President Gore negotiated
the global warming treaty in Kyoto, Japan. All
developed nations agreed to reduce greenhouse
gases during the next decade. The treaty still
needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate.
Helping Other Countries
Americans know that industrialized nations can
help emerging Third World nations prevent many
pollution problems that industrialized nations
already have solved.
EPA actively assists countries all over the world.
Since 1990, EPA has conducted more than 70
environmental projects abroad. This includes
sharing expertise and training in assessing
sites save potentially responsible parties and the program more than $1 billion. EPA requires municipal incinerators to reduce
'achieve results in common-sense and cost-effective ways. lflWj)TIie Safe Drinking Water Act is revised to require public water
I
-------
MID-VII. \M It s| \|| s . :lii \| \ Its (II I \\ I IK IN Ml M \l I'ltOUil ss
l.v hnsii i< v w A tint I nuitirt'iiHilitit'fi I In tnt^fttml tin1 iri irli I CIHI >lt i\' in nnri if in' jirn^i'i nil
In in/iici' tlit'i'r I'lH'itp' //.«. llii'V xiil'i' iitfiiii'V fiml /Hl'l'cill I ml In I inn.
env iionmenlal impacts.
managing air ijualily and
controlling ha/ardous waste and
licipal trash.
Ihe result cleaner air. cleane
water, cleaner land, sustainable
waste management plans and
technology1 llial saves enemy
and keeps on pav ing dividends
years inio ilie luinre.
Lor example, the mid- \ilaniic
region has just completed a
comprehensive 10-year program
in Poland that includes helping
that nation develop
environmental policy and
enforcement.
I he region is also helping
environmental partners in South
\lrica. ('lima and (ihinese
Taipei. This year a new
program was launched in (ihana
and irainini:' has been provided
in Jordan and Israel. The
expenses of ihese initiatives are
borne hy the recipient countries
or international oranizations.
I'olliilion
EPA has introduced and
adapled successful I .S.
programs to other countries.
Our \\aste\\ iSe program
encourages business and
industry to reduce solid waste
through prevention, reuse and
recycling, and buying or
manufacturing products with
recycled content. In the Knergy
Star Building program.
organizations upgrade their
buildings with energy-efficient
lighting. In our region alone.
5()() participants are saving S.'!2
million in energy costs, and
achieving pollution reductions
that would equate to removing
"7"). 000 automobiles from
highways annually and planting
100,000 acres of trees.
Other programs include: Project
XL which allows companies to
lest alternative approaches that
achieve cleaner and cheaper
environmental results than
would be realized under existing
requirement AgSTAK which
promotes cost-effective methods
for reducing methane emissions
at dairy and swine operations
through improved manure
management: and Pesticide
Environmental Stewardship
which promotes integrated pest
management and reduces
pesticide risk in agriculture and
nonagricullural settings.
//if 1'iilin* of safe
drinking irtilt'r
Kach year. >.'*> million people
die world-wide from diseases
caused by unsale water.
according to a studv released in
March by the I niled Nations. A
child dies every li seconds from
water-related disease, and tiO
percent ol diseases in the
developing world are linked to
contaminated water, according
to I .N. Environment Program
statistics.
suppliers (ell customers what's in (heir water, where it eomos from and how i( mods waler quality sUuulards. Sellers and
Shope Landfill. I'a.. is (he 400th Superl'und construHion completion in (he nation. The Food Quality Protection Act require*
-------
HIM I in I'l VM-'I -1111 III sl>o\sllill mill Ml \\llu\s
Infant Mortality Rate
Japan
Sweden
*iest (.ermany
France
I niled Kingdom
United Stales
Bulgaria
Poland
0 .", 10 1.1 20 25
Dcalhs per thousand
tiiirt'r in inilnxlritil ruiiii/rii'x irlicrt
llnllllllilll 11(1.1 Ili'i'll ft/I'd iri'l\
Air Pollution
r :{()()
r" 100
l.cii.l DM>I S02
^Poland ^m
.\().\
Life Expectancy
USA vs. Poland & Bulgaria
7-+
/
! 73
^
72
71
70
1966
1086
Working with slate and local
governments, the agency prolecis
chi/ens. businesses, and the
health of the environment in
emergency situations. Since its
inception, the region lias cleaned
107 million cubic yards of solid
hazardous waste and 5 billion
gallons of liquid, and removed
more than 13,000 drums and
tanks from various sites.
(liii/eus can be informed about
chemicals in their community
through the Toxics Release
Inventory. Ipdated annually,
the TR1 reports toxic chemical
pollution released into the
environment by businesses
throughout the country. It is
available on the internet at
www.epa.gov/enviro or at
www.epa.gov/oppliiilr/lri. \\ ith
TRI data the public, stale and
local government, and EPA can
analy/e industries progress
toward reducing pollution and
make informed decisions. An
integral parl of community life.
citizens discover the types and
amounts of loxic chemicals
released in or near their
neighborhoods.
hi addition to the Superfund
program, recycling of laud and
buildings also is achieved
through the brownfields ^
program. Through its innovative
assessment pilots. EPA awards
$200,000 grants to qualified
communities to a>se^s. clean and
reuse abandoned and mildly
contaminated properties.
The (lape (Charles Sustainable
Technology Park in \irginia
leveraged S-f..~> million in federal
funds, including a grant from
the mid-Atlantic region, to
I
develop the nation's first eco-
induslrial park thai emphasi/es
/(M'o emix-iions. i-esource
('fficiencN and pollution
prevention.
The mid-Atlantic region created
I he popular Rrownl'ields Vllo\\
Pages, used In municipalities as
a \aluable redevelopment tool.
The Yellow Pages highlight
I'.PYs partnership \\'ith oilier
federal agencies lo help
coimnunilies in their
ivdevelo|)ineni effori>.
/./' 1 Regional Mintnulmtor limillc
Ciiin/ihi'll l'/iilliin
/fxiilfiilx intikc their neighborhood*
landlords must disclose lead-based paint to buyers or renters. Heal estate aifents share responsibility for compliance: Lord
reasonable certainty of no harm from pesticides used on foods.
KPA Administrator Carol Browner en-ales Office of
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MID-ATLANTIC SI VI'I.S .'id YLAItS Ol LNVIUONMLNTAI. I'HOCKLSS
Children's Health Protection. American Heritage Hivers Initiative is launched to help communities restore and revitalize water
together to fulfill the goal of fishahle and swiniinahle waters for all Americans. Underground storage tanks must meet stric
-------
\ULL
I
n the past 30 years, a basic American equation has
changed. Prosperity does not equal high levels of
pollution. We have the strongest economy in history
while setting even tougher standards to protect
human health and the environment. We have
learned that pollution prevention pays. Investments
in new technology to improve the quality of our air,
water and land have returned substantial cost
benefits in both health and productivity. This trend
continues under pressure from a growing
population's increasing demand for energy.
EPA has progressed from reducing immediate
human health threats to improving human and
ecological health. The agency's direction is long-term
habitability and global sustainability. Many of the
obvious, visible sources of pollution are largely under
control, but pollution from past years still must be
cleaned up, and many subtler pollution problems are
equally pernicious. We also are moving to control
pollution from smaller businesses and runoff, which
cumulatively causes environmental and health
problems.
In the mid-Atlantic states and across the country, the
foreseeable future challenges include urban sprawl,
the essential need for safe food, protecting low-
income communities living near heavy industrial
areas, the invisible menace of pesticides and toxics,
and erratic climate change.
Acidification is a regional challenge which impacts
4,500 miles of streams. Acidification comes from two
sources, abandoned coal mines and sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxides in the air, primarily power
plants. It destroys aquatic life and degrades water
quality. EPA has a goal to reduce 150 miles of
acidified streams a year. This will take cooperation
and collaboration with our state partners, many
agencies and organizations.
Land use in the mid-Atlantic states has changed
dramatically in the past century. The region has
become a victim of urban sprawl. There are more
paved surfaces and less forests, especially in the
western rural communities. These trends result in
polluted natural resources and increased flooding,
human diseases, and loss of recreational
opportunities? As sprawl continues, there will be
further increases in runoff of pollutants, forest
fragmentation, habitat loss in streams, and a use of
vast amounts of energy.
and waterfronts. USSS Clean Water Action Plan announced to have local, state, and federal organizations and agencies work
requirements for spill, overfill, and corrosion protection. 0318) The Revere Chemical Company becomes the nation's 600th
-------
VIII) VII \\ll( s| Ul s ail M VliSOl I \\IUONMI M VI I'ltoUil ss
Two recent reports, lilt-
EjCological (ssessrnent of the
nnJ l/ic
mid- [tlantic Estuaries, describe
these trends. Ihe reports were
produced hv tlic mid-Atlantic
Integrated Assessment program.
Mil inleragencN consortium. I hey
demonstrate Kl'\s new role in
integrating anil analyzing
comple\ dala. Kl'A is also
providing nuii'c high quality
scientific analyses ami real-time
data aboul ihf condition of (lie
cn\ ironmenl. I hese are
ini|iorlani tools for scientists and
decision makers in lake on lulure
challenges, including those
brought about h\ land use
changes.
West Virginia
lias The Highest Per Capita
Knergy Consumption
-M)r
Suilo Consumption
I I Mill,,II Bit
IVr ( ,i| iii.i (lonsuinption
Vhlli,,,, Illl , I
'r /x liilnl t'//i'i^\ //\r firr t'uintii.
ilioirti tn rlmrf tut tlir n>( a
At home, families can reduce
pollution and save money by
conserving electricity using
public transportation and
restricting the number ol auio
miles driven. There will be
further reductions with a
properly maintained, hid
efficient car which can slow the
spread of o/one-siuog.
< 'hi/en- can help minimi/e the
negative impacts of landscape
changes by gelling involved with
local organizations thai monitor
land management and manage
growth by improving existing
roaiU and schools instead of
Pennsylvania Leads in
Total Energy Consumption
4.0
'a. \M. Md. \\.\a. Del. D.C
((> #ir> #2.") #:H #4i> #.")(:
Snperl'und completion. The Environmental Science Outer opens at I'ort Meade. Md.. featuring fireen buildii
or hall' ol' all site cleanups are completed. Hudon testiiifj is required to buy a home in most states. Occupants living in pr
-------
II II lil (II VI I I.M.I S« \Vr.TKSTIU.COI \ I OM. \\ U TOCO
building new infrastructure.
Hauling trees, especially near
waterways, reduces non-point
source pollution riinoll.
\tt eniire industry has been
created to meet today s
environmental challenge by
solving problems lell Irom our
industrial and agricultural
heritage. I lundreds ol thousands
ol people now work in
environmental protection and
technology in the private and
non-profit sector's and in federal.
Male and local governments.
This new environmental industry
includes scienlisls. physicians.
engineers, technicians.
journalists, researchers, and
policy makers: and educators in
schools, nature centers and
businesses. Colleges and
universities oiler courses and
degrees in environmental law.
business, science, engineering.
and communications. Kxperis
assess, communicate, anil
manage environmental risk.
Non-profit organizations focus
on areas of environmental
concern.
In the mix ol growth and
change, government s role has
expanded as well. KPA
maintains its traditional and
important role in selling
I.')()%
National Environmental Improvements/Economics
and Population Growth
Toxic Hrlrasrs (down .">')%)
Siirlnrr Water \oi Fishable. Swirninable (down -K2%)
\ir Kmi.vions of (IriteriaPollutants (down 32%)
Population (up .'53%)
CDP (up 1 *()%)
00%
30%
hi "\,
"II. */,-,./
''V,
iiriniiiint'iil Ims unln'ri'il unit /mir il .<
n'sixinxiliililY In /n'nli'i'/ llir I'lirlli.
1070
1988
standards and enforcing la\\ ^ ^o
that polluters will pay the
penally for not meeting their
environmental responsibility.
I lowever. the agenc\ just as often
is a coUaborative partner and
regulator, sharing resources.
data, anil other en\ ironmenlal
expertise.
(lontinued use ol sound science is
essential to deal with many of
the l21sl (leiitury s pollution
problems, thai \\ill most likely be
more insidious, more
complicated, and pose even
greater challenges lo our
scientific and business leaders.
Our uaiiiin can. and must lace
die tomorrow^ challenges to
protect human health and the
environment and create
communities live from toxic
wastes, with lieallhlul air i|iialit\.
restored rivers, lakes and
streams, and healthx children.
technologies, energy-saving lighting, and an environmentally-friendly climate control system. Nationally. <>50 Supcrfiind
1')7H multi-family housing must be notified prior to any renovation. Signing of the new Chesapeake 2000 agreement
-------
MID-ATLANTIC STATES 30 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS
REGION III U.S.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 814-5000
Regional Administrator
(215) 814-2900
(215) 814-2901 (Fax)
Bradley M. Campbell,
Regional Administrator
campbell.bradley@epa.gov
Thomas C. Voltaggio, Deputy
Regional Administrator
voltaggio.tom@epa.gov
Assistant Regional Administrator
for Policy and Management
(215) 814-5200
(215) 814-5108 (Fax)
James W. Newsom, Acting Assistant
Regional Administrator
newsom.jim@epa.gov
Catherine Mastropieri, Acting
Deputy Assistant Regional
Administrator
inastropieri.catherine@epa.gov
Air Protection Division
(215) 814-2100
(215) 814-2101 (Fax)
.Judith M. Katz, Director
katz.judidi@epa.gov
Elaine B. Wright, Deputy Director
wright.elaine@epa.gov
Chesapeake Bay Program
(410) 267-5700"
(215) 814-2200
(410) 267-5777 (Fax)
(215) 814-2201 (Fax)
William Matuszeski, Director
matuszeski.bill@epa.gov
Diana Esher, Deputy Director
esher. di ana@epa. gov
Communications and
Government Relations
(215) 814-5100
(215) 814-5102 (Fax)
Rene A. Henry, Director
hemy.rene@epa.gov
Robert J. Mitkus, Deputy Director
mitkus.bob@epa.gov
Criminal Investigation Division
(215) 814-2360
(215) 814-2383 (Fax)
Lori A. Hanson,
Special Agent in Charge
hanson.lori@epa.gov
(703)235-1113
(703) 235-1118(Fax)
Susan Helbert, Assistant
Special Agent in Charge
Washington Area Office
helbert.susan@epa.gov
Enforcement, Compliance &
Environmental Justice
(215) 814-2950
(215)814-2905 (Fax)
Samantha Fairchild, Director
fairchild.samantha@epa.gov
Environmental Data
(215) 814-5701
(215) 814-5718 (Fax)
Alvin R. Morris, Director
morris. alvin@ep a. gov
Environmental Services Division
(215) 814-2700
(215) 814-2782 (Fax)
Stanley L. Laskowski, Director
laskowski. stanley@epa. gov
John A. Armstead, Deputy Director
armstead.john@epa.gov
Hazardous Site Cleanup Division
(215) 814^3000
(215) 814-3002 (Fax)
Abraham Ferdas, Director
ferdas.abe@epa.gov
Kathryn A. Hodgkiss,
Deputy Director
hodgkiss'kathy@epa.gov
Regional Counsel
(215) 814-2600
(215) 814-2603 (Fax)
William C. Early, Regional Counsel
early.william@epa.gov
Lydia Isales, Acting Deputy
Regional Counsel
isales.lydia@epa.gov
Reinvention
(215) 814-2714
(215) 815-2782 (Fax)
Barbara Z. D'Angelo, Director
dangelo.barbara@epa.gov
Waste and Chemicals
Management Division
(215) 814-3110
(215) 814-3114 (Fax)
James J. Burke, Director
burke, j ames@epa .gov
Water Protection Division
(215) 814-2300
(215) 814-2301 (Fax)
Jon M. Capacasa, Acting Director
capacasa.jon@epa.gov
Joseph T. Piotrowski,
Acting Deputy Director
piotrowski.joe@epa.gov
SATELLITE OFFICES
Annapolis. Maryland
Chesapeake Bay Program Office
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109
Annapolis, MD 21403
(410) 267-5700
(410) 267-5777 (Fax)
Toil-Free: (800) 968-7229
Fort Meade, Maryland
Environmental Science Center
701 Mapes Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755-5350
(410) 305-2600
(410) 305-3099 (Fax)
Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania
400 Waterfront Drive,
Washington's Landing
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 442-4124
(412) 442-4194 (Fax)
Wheeling, West Virginia
1060 Chapline Street, Suite 303
Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0231
(304) 234-0257 (Fax)
(304) 234-0234
(304) 234-0258 (Fax)
HOTLINES and WEB ADDRESS
Customer Service Hotline
(800) 438-2474
Business Assistance
Center Hotline
(800) 228-8711
Superfund Hotline
(800) 553-2509
www.epa.ifov/region3
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