1970
3 0 Y r. \ H s OK ENVIRONMENT A L PROGRESS
2000
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REMEMBER THE PAST
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PROTECT THE FUTURE
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&EPA
1999 ANNUAL REPORT
^y L .S. Environmental Protection Agency
*lJ Pacific Southwest/Regjon 9 i
EPA-009-R-00-001 f |
ARIZONA I C A L i F o R \ i A I H A v\ A 11 I NEVADA I PACIFIC I s L A \ D s
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CAROL M. BROWNER
EPA ADMINISTRATOR
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 chal-
lenges 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.
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I <)'><> \\MAL REPORT I'.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PACIFIC SOITII WEST
I IVntOIHI TION 1999 was a
- milestone rear for EPA
*x i/
and our state, tribal and
local government partners.
Hl!\\\llt There was good
' neivs for cleaner air from
Southern California to the
Grand Canyon.
\ EPA's
'.'focus in 1999 was
on safe drinking irater,
polluted runoff, and
improvement of irater
quality of] our beaches.
CLi;\\L\\D Our
iSuperfund and Haste
programs helped clean up
to.i'ic sites and dumps from
Las Vegas to Silicon taller.
20!
Tribal programs.
^environmental
justice, childrens'
health and sustainable
development ivere
key concerns.
24
Protecting tvater-
sheds iras at the heart
of our work from Hairaii
to the Central I alley.
HEALTHY PL Mi
9EPA carried out
major programs on
the U.S.-Mexico
border and in the
Pacific Islands.
0 aFLTlRE CHALLENGES
if MAfter three decades of
effort, environmental pro tec
tion is becoming more
complex and creative.
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HEALTHY AIR AT LAST: In on,' of 1f/,/.v. KI'.-\ n/i/irored n cim/x'ru-
tirc jilun lit reduce- ilnxl storms mill I lit' worst particulate air pollution in tin' I ..V tit
Oii'fii.i lnl/i'\~. ( A (seepage \). At the signing ceremony, from the left: Ellen Hardebeck,
(,'n'dt lidsiii \ir Pollution Control District; /t////i (lalantei; I.us . \niselcx City Council;
I t'/icid Marcus. i'.I'Vs Regional [dministrator for tin' Pacific Sonllurcsl: Santlni
Jefferson-Yonge, Loin' Pine-Paiute-Shoshone Tribe; David Freeman, I,us l/^v/r.v
Department <>j Water and Power; Lam' Hi/and. /./'I air staff.
WIDDUCnON
If if was a milestone year for the U.S.
irars than one. Of course, 1999 began our
the environment, and ire and our partners
a lot to show lor three decades of \\-ork: air pollution
and toxic releases have decreased dramatically despite
massive population and economic growth; more than
half of the top-priority Superfiind hazardous \\asie
siies have remedies in place: and treatment systems
have heeii installed on most se\va«;e and industrial
plants, yielding cleaner rivers, lakes and hearhes.
1<)()<) was also special hecause of major accomplish-
ments across the Pacific Southwest. For example.
EPA: had a banner year in enforcing environmental
laws; facilitated a landmark agreement to clean up
Southern California's smog; required better mainte-
Environmental Protection Agency in more
30"' year of protecting public health and
in slate, tribal and local gorerutneii/ hare
nance of Matii sewer systems to halt sewage spills that
contaminated streams and beaches: developed imi<|iie
pollution prevention plans for watersheds along
California's northern coast: joined with Nevada in
cleaning up rocket fuel chemicals threatening Las
Vegas and Southern California water supplies: cleaned
up a host of Superfiind site-,: approved a plan to clean
up Owens Valley, located in eastern California and site
of the nation s worst paniculate air pollution: carried
out do/ens of emergency clean-ups, such as extin-
guishing the massive \\eslley lire lire in the Central
\alley: and targeted grants to help reduce childrens
exposure to lead, asbestos, pesticides, and asthma.
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Yet as important as these tangible accomplishments
are, what is more significant is the change in how we
approach our work. While maintaining a strong regu-
latory and enforcement presence, we have dramatical-
ly enhanced our efforts to work with states, tribes,
local governments and stakeholders from environmen-
tal, business, agricultural and other communities. We
have done this within our traditional work in a num-
ber of ways: for example, by being more accessible
and responsive to community concerns in our
Superfund program; by using the legal requirement to
set water quality standards in California's Bay-Delta
as a focal point for CALFED, the massive engagement
of government and public stakeholders that has con-
tinued since 1994; and by boosting outreach efforts in
all our programs.
We have also done it through innovative and once
unthinkable collaborations - such as the Grand
Canyon Visibility Transport Commission, involving
states, tribes, utilities and environmentalists, and
Border XXI where we have replaced the binational
federal-to-federal government approach on the U.S.-
Mexico border with an historic agreement between
both federal governments, ten state governments and
over 20 tribes on the U.S. side of the border to work
jointly to solve the pressing public health and environ-
mental crises there.
With traditionally regulated entities, we have also
engaged to solve problems together in more productive
ways - such as our pollution prevention efforts like the
MERIT Partnership in Southern California with metal
platers, aerospace, refineries, even industrial laundries,
or our efforts with auto shops, metal platers and
wineries. Our agriculture initiative works with farmers
to support more environmentally friendly farming.
And for individuals, our own Hotline (415/744-1500
with an 800 number coming soon) and website
(www.epa.gov/region09] and support for similar
efforts (like the US Recycling Hotline at
800/CLEANUP) puts consumer and environmental
information into the hands of anyone concerned about
their community.
Throughout this report, you'll see examples of how
we've partnered to solve problems and, just as impor-
tant, create new capacities to fight environmental and
public health threats. Some partnerships are high-
profile, like CALFED or Border XXI. Other ventures
are less visible, like our efforts to help build up tribal
environmental and environmental justice programs.
Yet no matter what the partnership, you'll find they
have several things in common: patience; dedication;
cooperation; an openness to all communities, but espe-
cially those that have been neglected in the past, such
as tribes and communities of color; and an eagerness
to combine our efforts and knowledge with anyone
who wants to protect the environment.
The toughest thing about doing this, our first annual
progress report, is that there is not enough space to
describe with any justice the work done by EPA in
concert with others. And there is certainly too little
space to describe the more complex challenges that lie
ahead. Consider this report, then, in the spirit in
which it is offered: as a series of examples of our
enthusiasm, commitment, and energy and as an offer
of partnership to those who would work with us to
make this a better region for all.
Yours,
Felicia Marcus
Regional Administrator
EPA Pacific Southwest
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i:i'v I'Acu u: SOITIIWKST Ri:uo\ I'Kw \\NLAI lii.i'om
Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District founded; nation's first air pollution control agency. Heavy smog shuts do
"blow-by" valve on new car engines to recycle crankcase gases. Cost per car: $7. Rachel Carson's bestselling book Si
;:
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s
ince the advent of "smog" in Los Angeles in the
1940s, it's been no secret that the Pacific Southwest is
home to. some of America's most polluted air. But
fortunately, the region has been anything but compla-
cent in responding to this public health hazard. In
fact, for more than 50 years, California has been a
global trend-setter in developing programs which dra-
matically reduce air pollution without harming the
state's economy. Some would argue that cleaning the
air actually helps businesses from Los Angeles to
Phoenix maintain a quality of life which is critical to
keeping the Pacific Southwest a superior place to live
and work.
A new era for air
Normally, most city boosters like to be "number one."
But Los Angeles was only too glad to relinquish its
long-standing title as America's smoggiest city to
Houston, which in 1999 had the highest peak concen-
trations of smog.
This changing of the guard was symbolic of broader
beneficial air quality trends over the last three decades
across the Pacific Southwest - thanks to the Clean Air
Act, strong working partnerships between EPA and
state and local agencies like the California Air
Resources Board, and tools like automobile smog
checks, cleaner burning gasoline, and tough tailpipe
standards.
Consider the results: hi the region's six most populous
regions (South Coast, Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley,
San Diego, Sacramento and Phoenix), peak air pollu-
tion concentrations declined dramatically over the last
30 years: 99%'for lead; 72% for sulfur dioxide, 66%
for carbon monoxide and 42% for nitrogen dioxide.
Ozone, the key ingredient pf smog, was cut by 52%
region-wide and even more in Southern California
(70% on the South Coast and-66% in San Diego).
And there's more: toxic air emissions from major.
sources (such as chrome plate finishers) have been
reduced by as much as 90 percent; sulfur dioxide
emissions from copper smelters along the Nevada and
Arizona border are down by 94 percent; and smog
alerts have been eliminated in the Los Angeles area
(down from more than 100 a year in the 1970s). All
of these results occurred despite enormous growth
rates, when population grew nationally by 27 percent,
the economy grew by 90 percent and vehicle miles
travelled jumped by 111 percent.
Yet for all the cleaner skies, much more remains to be
done. Metropolitan areas across the Pacific Southwest
continue to face exploding populations, spreading
cities and increased dependence on automobiles. Los
Angeles still has a serious smog problem. California's
San Joaquin Valley, along with Las Vegas and
Phoenix, continue to exceed federal standards for par-
ticulate matter - fine dust particles which can severely
harm the lungs of children and the elderly.
hi 1999, EPA worked at several levels to address these
problems. Nationally, EPA worked to improve our air
industry and schools in Los Angeles for most of October. OGEEb California becomes first state to regulate auto emissions; requires
Spring published; documents widespread environmental harm resulting from use of toxic pesticides and herbicides. QGG8) "Save
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rr\ I
ic sorniwKST m <;io\
» ANMAI. m.i'om
protection technologies. In
December, EPA Administrator
Carol Browner joined President
Clinton in announcing strong new
Mandard* lor controlling harin-
ful tailpipe emissions. For die
lir*i lime, sports utility vehicles.
light truck* and mini-van* will
meet the same lo\v tailpipe emis-
*ion* required for pa**enger cars.
In tandem. EPA proposed now
standards for cleaner gasoline.
Because of these initiative*, here'*
what American* iron'l *ee in
coming year*: .")() million ion* of
smog-causing pollution: 2(>0.()()()
a*ihma aiiack* in children: +..'>()()
premature death* and 173.000
respiratory-related illue.**e*.
Moving to the regional level. EPA
and a host ol' unlikely partners
made major progress on behalf of
everyone who breathes. In
Southern California. KPA facili-
tated tin- landmark settlement of
a lawsuit brought by environmen-
tal group* against the regional air
di*irict. culminating in an aggre*-
*ive and innovative plan to clean
up Eos Augele.*' smog over the
next decade. The *eulement clos-
es out 2-~> year* ol litigation asso-
.1 miioir i/ir/'rsion layer blanketing downtown Lou . |;/»T/C.< in 79.56. Although L\ still
suffers from xoine oj I hi' nation .1 irorst .iniiiii. air pollution //us ht'cn cut l>y more than
tiro-t//inls sine/1 tins />/io/o irns Inki'ii.
ciaied with Southern California's
srnog problem and enables the
region lo focus on its pioneering
work on air toxics and environ-
mental justice.
Despite the Pacific
Southwest .v galloping
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CLKAN AIH - CIJ.AIUV, I III. \VKSTS MAGNIFICENT VISTVS
Onisicle of California, there was
also good iifws. In Phoenix. EPA
put in place an interim plan to
reduce the dust from unpaved
roads, vacant lots, and agricultur-
al activities to protect public
health. Meanwhile, state and local
officials are developing long-
range measures to control tliis
"fugitive" dust.
And for those who love the
Grand Canyon. 1999 was an
exceptional year. Midway through
the year, a scrulilter system was
finally installed on the coal-fired
Navajo Generating Station near
Page, Arizona. The result of a
federal clear air plan, the S420
million system will cut sulfur
dioxide (S02) emissions at the
plant b\ 9() percent and reduce
the haze which frequeniK
obscures views of the canyon.
Later in 1999, EPA assisted in
settlement negotiations to clean
up S02 emissions from the
Mohave Power Plant, west of
the canyon. EPA and the
Department of Interior believe
that the 85 percent reduction in
these emissions will help bring the
Grand Canyon back to its full
visual glory.
These accomplishments are a
great addition to the historic
agreement of 1996, when 11 it-
Grand Canyon Transport
\ isibility (lommission - com-
prised of states, tribes and federal
agencies like EPA and Interior
agreed to improve visibility at the
canyon, working with public
interest and business groups. The
work continues through the
Western Regional Air
Improvements in /lie ('Icon Mr Ac I
iri/l lie//) i>rcrenl ninri' than 1. 7 mil-
lion asthma attacks by 2010.
Partnership, expanded lu 10
states arid 10 tribe-, working on a
host of regional air issue-..
I'rtnnisinu l<'clinoloiii<>s
Beyond these "big fixes. f.l'X
continues to help advance new
technologies to help businesses
and individuals achieve the mil-
lions of small fixes that will keep
the aii'clean, from promoting
simple water-based (rather than
chemical) solvents - which reduce
hydrocarbon emissions - to
proposing far cleaner diesel fuels.
EPA has played a major role
through our permitting and advi-
sory efforts to facilitate the Use of
high tech combined-cycle electric
generating equipment with
advanced pollution controls at
industrial facilities.
The equipment, which combines
a ga> turbine and waste heat boil-
er, reduces air pollution from ">()
to 99 percent and cuts energx
consumption l>\ up to .'U) percent.
resulting in cleaner skies and big
savings for the operators. In the
Pacific Southwest alone, this
equipment is being installed at
more than ">() facilities.
\car the Crand Canyon, tiro cool-fired electricity generating plants ore reducing
ll/cir air emissions l>y S5 to 'JO percent, helping to clear the liaze above I lux
national treasure.
shoreline development and limit Till projects. Offshore oil drilling causes Santa Barbara Channel oil "blowout;" fouls birds.
Day: April 22. Congress passes Clean Air Act. President Richard Nixon creates I'J'A. Pacific Southwest KPA region established:
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IT\ l>U:il 1C SOI IIINVKST Itl.UON l')'W \NM \l, HI-I'OU I
includes (California. Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands. Congress restricts lead-based paint in homes; bans lead paint
local governments reach secondary treatment goal set by 1972 Clean Water Act. Congress passes Clean Water Act: protects
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Keeping our water swimmable and drinkable
T,
(llean \\ aler Acl. approved by (longrcss in
l('"2. has a simple goal: making waterways sale for
fishing and swimming. But gelling there hasn't been
easy. In 1(>72. San Kranciscos Bay and beaches were
fouled by raw n-wage a her every rainfall. Phoenix's
Sail River, normally dry most of (he year, had con-
stant Hows of inadequately-treated sewage. Oahu
waters near sewer outfalls were a far cry from
paradise.
Krom the early 1(>7()s through the 1(>80s. KPA grants
financed up io 7o% of the cost to upgrade sewage
treaiment facilities. By 198(). in ihe Pacific Southwest.
I'll'A had invested over So billion in these projects.
Since (hen. KPA has made loans available through its
State Revolving Kuiid. administered by (he slates.
I he results have been dramatic. Pollution loading to
San Francisco Bay has declined by 85% since the
l()()()s. The Reno-Sparks Treatment Plan! cleaned up
the Truckee River downstream
from Reno. \V. Sewage outfalls no
longer pollute Southern California
beaches. Rivers and streams
throughoui Indian Country flow
cleaner and drinking water sources
arc lar better protected.
\el big problems remain. Recent
studies show that bacteria from
polluted runoll entering storm
drains and creeks is making surfers
anil swimmers sick. Sediment and algae still clog
many waterways, robbing oxygen that fish need to
survive. Toxics like DDT and mercury persist for
decades, reaching unsafe levels as they move up the
food chain, and rei|iiiring fish consumption warnings
to be posted at some public fishing piers.
kiiif!' ln'Hcln's *«/<
I mil last year. Imperial liearh soiiih of San Diego
was routinely contaminated with Tijuana's raw
sewage. In 1()(*o. I he beach was closed on 101 davs.
But in 1()()(). beachgoers enjoyed an eight-month-long
closure-free season lor the lirst time in over 20 years.
(hanks to the new International \\asto\vator
Treatment Plant (I\VTP). which reached full capaci-
tv at advanced primary treatment levels in early
l<><><). Construction was funded by KPA ($2:50 mil-
lion). California (SIO million), and Mexico ($() mil-
lion). KPA and the International Boundary \\alcr
Commission are now working to expand the facility to
provide lull secondary treatment.
At Santa Monica Bay. beach lovers
in 1()<)<) benefited from Kos Angeles
completion of a decade-long series
of improvements to (he eily's mas-
sive Hyperion sewage trealmenl
plain. The upgrades, mandated by a
l(>o<> legal set i lenient with KPA.
reduced sewage sludge discharges to
the bay by (H) percent - and fos-
tered an historic partnership
on cribs and toys. EPA begins issuing sewage treatment construction grants totalling $6 billion in Paeit'ie Southwest hv 1*W>: helps
wetlands, gives KPA authority set water quality standards, penalizes polluters. EPA bans DDT. California voters |»a*s Coastal
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KI'A PACIFIC SOLTll\\ LSI RI.C.ION I'lW A\M Al. HIJ'OHT
between the city iiovernuient aiul
local
environmental groups.
On the Hawaiian island of IMaui.
poor maintenance of sewage
treatment facilities in the lc>('0s
resulted in hundreds of sewage
leaks onto land. streets and
-'. in some cases contami-
nating beaches. In 1()()<). EPA and
the State of Hawaii reached a set-
tlenient with \lani (bounty ensur-
ing heiter maintenance to prevent
sewage spills. Maui al-/ coastal ii'iitrrs
harmful
.s protect surfers and sininmi'rx from
person in the state. Manure can
pollute streams and groundwater.
killing fish arid contaminating
drinking water sources. EPA took
enforcement actions against egre-
gious polluters, but assisted dairy
operators who want to do the
right thing: EPA funded the
University of California
Extension's pollution prevention
training courses for dairy
operators (in ten locations
around the state) and evaluations
of 1.000 dairies for manure man-
agement problems. EPA also
joined the California Dairy
Quality Partnership, an effort
by government and dairy opera-
tors to ensure safe foods and
clean water.
Everybody's first n4"o. Southern California scientists publish evidence that chloroflourocarbons (CI-'Cs) destroy earth's
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CI.I.AN \v vi I:K - Ki:i.piN(, out \VATKH S\VIMM \HI.I-: AND DKINK u»n:
goveminents for drinking water
improvements. By early 2000.
these loans totalled S15-S million
in California. S32 million in
Arizona. S2T7 million in Hawaii.
and S27 million in Nevada.
While nearly all public drinking
\\aier supplies have remained
safe, the discovery of water
sources tainted by the fuel addi-
tive MTBE and perchlorate (a
component of solid rocket fuel)
have sparked public concern.
EPA is working to phase out
MTBE because it has leaked from
underground fuel storage tanks
into groundwater. in some cases
contaminating public water sup-
plier. MTBE contamination
forced Santa Monica, CA to shut
down drinking water wells that
supplied most of the city s water.
Hi 11 ion* of dollars in
scira»'e I real in en t
investments hare en I
iraler pollution
throughout the Pacific
Southwest - -for
(>.rain pie, by S.7% ///
San I rancixco Ihn:
EPA and the Los Angeles
Regional Water Quality Control
Board are taking aggressive
enforcement actions against the
oil companies responsible.
In 1997. the California
Department of Health Services
Water protection is more complicated these days. million Ions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) annually. Ultimately. SO2 potln-
prolective stratospheric ozone layer. FPA requires new ears lo have catalytic converters and use unleaded fias. Lead levels
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11'\ i'\cn ic soiTIIWI si m:<;wN w> ANM \i. HKI'OKT
in urban air drop *)9% over next 20 years. Congress passes hazardous waste law which mandates phase-out of toxic ITIki
aerosol cans. Toxic waste at Love Canal, N. Y., makes national headlines. Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident
-------
/HIT in
E
PA has spent the past 30 years pursuing a dual
track to clean up the wastes - toxic and otherwise -
which have harmed our land and threatened our com-
munities. We've employed aggressive approaches to
cleaning up toxic sites created in years past, while also
finding new and innovative ways to reduce the
amount of waste we generate as a society.
Gelling il done with Superfund
During the last 18 years, EPA's Superfund accom-
plishments are substantial. More than 675 of the
nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned haz-
ardous waste sites have been cleaned up and 85 more
will be done by the end of 2000. Responsible parties
have paid 70 percent of the cleanup costs, saving tax-
payers billions of dollars, hi the Pacific Southwest,
EPA and our partners have begun or completed treat-
ment construction at nearly three quarters of the 117
Superfund sites. All the cleanups are conducted with
an eye on future redevelopment.
Waste sites that took decades to create generally
require years to clean up. However, our emergency
response program works with state, tribal and local
partners to handle immediate hazards.
On September 27, 1999, a fire broke out at the
Westley Tire Pile in the Central Valley. Flames
engulfed entire hillsides - where an estimated 7 mil-
lion discarded tires were piled up to 20 feet deep -
sending plumes of dense black smoke into the sky. At
the time, even the most optimistic projections estimat-
ed that the blaze would take months, or years, to
extinguish. Yet firefighters hired by EPA put the fire
out one month after it had started by dousing the
flames with foam, moving unburned tires to a safe
area and diverting melted tire oil through a drainage
system.
EPA crews made quick work of other potential envi-
ronmental disasters in 1999, including abandoned
plating facilities in inner-city neighborhoods. At the
Francis Plating Facility in West Oakland, field
teams disposed of more than 200,000 gallons of caus-
tic liquids and sludges that for years had been a local
health and fire threat. EPA performed a similar-
removal at the Syntrum Facility in Gardena.
The Pacific Southwest's toxic legacies
EPA, state and local officials continue to address the
myriad issues posed by abandoned mines through-
out the region. In search of gold, silver or mercury,
miners in the 19 and 20 centuries left behind a
mess: there are an estimated 62,000 inactive or aban-
doned mines in Arizona, California and Nevada.
Last year, EPA and the state completed a $3 million
emergency cleanup of the Gambonini Mercury Mine
in West Marin County. In less than a year, engineers
had closed off the mine entrance and re-contoured a
hillside that had been leaching hundreds of pounds of
mercury into a nearby creek that drained into
Tomales Bay. One local oyster harvester, reacting to
the speedy response, said: "We've known it's been up
(polychloritiated biphenyls). OSS^fe Congress strengthens Clean Air Act.
near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. EPA bans sale of Agent Orange herbicide.
EPA. other agencies ban CFCs as propellants in
President Carter signs Superfund law; requires
J
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r.i'\ i'\cii it: sorm\\t,sT m:<,m\
\\M \i
there, hut as .soon as lite FPA gol
a hold of il. il \\cnl into hyper-
space - something happened.
At ihe Iron Mountain IVlino we-t
of Redding. ('A. F.I'A crews have
treated more (hail -+(>0 million
gallons of acidic mine drainage.
significantly reducing what had
been llie country's largest dis-
charge of toxic metals to surlace
waters. Our nnuoiiiii work c>
ues to protect important commer-
cial fisheries, critical \\aler sup-
plies ami (he sensitive Bay Delta
ecosystem. FP\ is also cleaning
up the (Larson Hivor Mercury
Site in Nevada and main others.
And \ve re still finding new sites.
FPA is currently proposing for
Superfund status the Leviathan
Mino outside of Gardnerville. CA,
where an entire mountain lop was
removed - a common practice at
.1 iiKixnirt' I in- fire in Westley fouled air in the- ( eiilral Valley and the liar Area, anil
c
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CLEAN LAND - REMOVING THE WASTE VM> HI < I VIVIIV, INI I \M>
of successful cleanups and huge
portions of I,mil returned to pro-
ductive use. Fort Orel house* I he
first college campus in the coun-
try - CSl' Monterey Bay - to
occupy a federal Superfiind site.
At the Presidio, a S27 million
environmental makeover of the
former Crissy Field will create a
2()-acre meadow, a shoreline
promenade, an expanded beach
and revitalized sand dunes. Also
in San I' rancisco. at I lunter s
Snpcrfiuid has
cleaned up more than
IKIIf of flie nation 's
inosl serious lit.ric
sites and nutde tlie
polluters pay 70 /)er-
cenl of I lie cleanup
ro.s7.s-. .SY/I7//H1 ta.rpay-
ers hill ions of dollars.
Point Shipyard. EPA funded a
project to train neighborhood
youth to participate in the
cleanup and transfer of former
\a\\ properly to the community.
Federal budget cutbacks also had
a ripple effect on industries that
supported the military. In the Sari
I-ernando Valley, EPA has been
working for more than 10 years
to remove M>|vents from ground-
water - a drinking water source
for the l.o> Angeles metropolitan
area - after pollutants from
defense anil aero.-.pace industries
leached through soil. Treatment is
Emergency rcxponxt' rrr/r.v /nun 1.1' I'.v 1'iii'i/ic Southwest Office arc on cull '2-f
lidiim a com-
pleted last vcar. \ similar effort is
underway in the San Gabriel
Valley.
EPA continues to \vork with its
partners to address other note-
worthy sites, including:
At the Operating Industries
Site in Monterey Park.(. \. EPA
has worked closelv with the
neighboring community - 2.500
people live within 1.000 feel of
the site - by testing indoor air
in homes and continuing to
involve residents in cleanup
decision.-.. Vie have stabilized
slopes to prevent the landfill
from falling on homes, installed
ventilation systems in many
homes, controlled leachale that
was moving into the neighbor-
hood, and nearly completed the
landfill cover. EPA has negotiat-
ed settlements with more than
.")()() smaller parties to remove
them from a more costly
enforcement process, and part
of the properly i* being pre-
pared for reuse.
I-'.PA is remediating the
Casmalia Disposal Site in
Santa Barbara County, where
more than 4..~> billion pounds of
hazardous waste - including
heavy metals, pesticide-..
cyanide and P( IBs - were
deposited. Cleanup crews have
Superl'und Program cleans up first hull'of 17.000 drums of hazardous waste abandoned at Oncral Disposal site. Santa Fc Springs.
in San Jose. (!A found in drinking water well 1.800 feet away; similar problems in 20-mile radius make Silicon Valley the nation's
-------
iTV I'xcn-ic soi ni\\I:ST UK.ION i'»'>'> XNM \\. m:i>oui
cii|)|ird one of die she's *i\
Landfills and consolidated more
llian 70 surface treatment unils
into a lew stonmvaler manage-
ment plans. hl'A is n mv finaliz-
ing an unprecedented settlement
\viili over .">()() parties that will
provide more than S-'M) niillion
toward tin' cleanup.
In I()(K). tin- I'.S. \rm\ began
operating die world's first pcr-
niitled full-scale chemical
weapons destruction facility on
Johnston Island. <>()() miles
soiiih\\esi of I lawaii. I lie Armx
has sal'eK destroyed - under
close oversight b\ I.PA - rough-
ly 1.674 tons of chemical agents
al the facility, representing
about .">.."> percent of the total
I niled Stales chemical agent
stockpile. The job xx ill lie com-
pleted later in 2000.
At the Tucson Airport. hl'A
crews have treated some 40 bil-
lion gallons of groundwater in
removing more than 100.000
pound* of io\ic compound.-'.
Ten tons of toxic PCBs have
also been remoxed IVom soils.
ti a /mm//r on It-uking
iiiirh'ri£r/1.<>* Angeles, I.I' I /.< remediating tin' nnixxiri'. I'M)
Operating Industries Sii<: wkere -'..">0f) residents lire within 1.000 feel <>/ lhf /tin
liind/ill. '
pplies alter the
gasoline addilixe MTHK leaked
from underground storage tanks.
concentration of Superfutul sites. EPA investigates groundwater contamination from aerospa<-e industry in San
India releases methyl isoeyanate, killing over 2,000 people. Congress passes tougher law regulating hazardous waste disposal.
-------
Cl.r.\\ I AM)- Itl \10\IV. Illl \\ VSII \M> 111 ( IMMI\(. INI I AM)
I'll'A is working with state, iribal
and local officials to find any
existing tanks, and also to devise
cleanup plans for groundwater
already contaminated with M TBK
and other compounds. \\ e are
also looking inio reports ol new.
upgraded tanks (ailing to do the
job many had hoped.
Making sun* inixlc isn't
nn i.v.viir iii the first plnce
Thanks to innovative ihinking. an
emphasis on partnerships and
extensive technical assistance.
KI'A has helped reduce waste out-
put from both industry and
households. Despite economic and
population growth, hazardous
\\asie from large Quantity genera-
tors in the I niled Stales declined
about seven percent per \ear
between 1<)?',.~> and l<>k of catastrophic releases.
KI'Vs Pacific Soiilhwesi office
also reaches 0111 to specific busi-
ness sectors - such as dry clean-
ers, auto repair shops, metal fin-
ishers, dairies anil even wineries -
lo encourage pollution prevention
practices. Vie have alread\
enjoyed early reliirns: A project
with l-f western metal finishers
has eliminated 1200.000 pounds of
hazardous waste mid 12.4 million
gallons of \\aste\\ater since 1')<).">.
In the home, people now compost
and recycle roughly one pound
Leaking underground .v/o/Y/yc tanks arc tin- nni.il coinnntn .imiri'i' of groundwater
contamination in the I nitedStates. \fir requirements in l()<>\ required ilml nil
petroleum underground slnnit^i' tanks nu>ri comprehensive COITO.IKHI. xpi/l. mid
overflow /m/tcc/Hiii upgrades.
1985
1992
1999
/"//c number oj hazardous irnxif \vni^rn/n.
per person per das more than
ihe\ did in l%(). More than billion lo the economv saxed
more than 1)00 million trees and
conserved enough energy lo
power ever\ home in ( ialifornia
for lo months.
Since I1'1)."). K|>\ grants i,, west-
ern stales ha\e contributed lo the
creation or retention of aboni
8.000 jobs. S4(>."> million in capi-
tal investment lo recycling busi-
nesses and to the processing of
nearly 14 million tons of recxclcd
materials.
Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. CA; adds sites to Superfund list. Accident al I nion Carbide chemical plant in liluipal.
Union Carbide plant at Institute. West Virginia releases methyl isocyanale: Congress debates |)otenlial for Hliopiil-like acci-
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I.I'A PACIFIC SOITIIXVI-XT KI.UON 1 <)')') XNM'AI. KI.I'OHT
in U. S. Confess passes law requiring chemical facilities to annually report toxic releases and inventories. Chernobyl
production. Department of l.ncrifv picks Yucca Mountain. NV for permanent nuclear waste disposal site. Shell Oil refinery
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Building community capacity for ihe fuiure
E
PA is typically known as a government regulator:
setting standards lor environmental protection and
then enforcing them. But in addition to ihis im|>orlaiil
role. FPA devotes a large share of our budget lo
enabling ihc environmental protection work of stale.
Irilial and local agencies and thousands of individuals.
businesses and community groups.
This cooperative approach strives to achieve real coni-
munity-based environmental protection, with local
people taking the lead. Here are a lew examples:
iif liitlinn Iriln's to
llit'ir t'ltriroiniH'iil
Since I <)}}(). FPA has liecn aulho-
ri/ed to delegate implementation ol
federal environmental laws to trihes
as it has historically done with
siale.^. Federal gouTnmeiH agencies
also have a responsibility to assist
trihes and build meaningful govern-
meiii-to-go\ernnient relations. For
the past seven years. EPA has made
it a lop priority in the Pacific South-
west io fulfill these responsibilities.
In the last five years, the number of
e^ developing their own environ-
mental programs in the region has increased from 1()
to 11(). a ()()() percent jump, \\iih I'.PA technical and
financial assistance, main tribes have completed sur-
veys of reservaiion environments anil are taking
action to clean up poll
These activities have resulted in innovative' projects
such as: the Pyramid Lake Pa into Tribe working lo
save beautiful Pyramid Lake in Nevada: ihe Navajo
Nation joining with Superfund lo survey and begin
cleanup of all the abandoned uranium sites across n
lerritorv the si/e of \\est \irginia: the lloopa Tribe
preparing water quality standards lor (he IVinilv
Kiver: the \\ashoe Tribe working to list I .ev iaihan
Mine - one of die largest (and most
toxic) abandoned mines in die
\\esi - as a Superfund site: the
Yurok and oilier tribes capping
open garbage pits: and die (>ila
Kiver Indian Community work-
ing will) FPAs emergency response
team lo stop a massive tire lire on
the Gila Kiver Reservation.
.\n environmental specialist nl
(r/iii/x> Indian Reservation
Following lhnnii>ii for rom-
HlIlll Itit'N ill IH'WI
OIK* fundamental of heallhv com
mnnilies is lo address die needs ol
nuclear reactor in Ukraine explodes in world's worst nuclear accident. 24 nations agree to phase out most of world's ('.!'(!
at Marline/. CA spills H65.000 gallons of oil in Carquinez Strait. Penally funds used lo buy 10.000 acres of bayside sail ponds for
-------
I'vciric sot Titwr.sT KI (,io\
\\M\I. iti 1'oni
Through its environmental program, tin- I'ynunid Luke I'niutc 'l'rih<< Imx in>rkclil to ki
( )ne of the mosl powerful lools
LPA has employed in the last lew
years is gelling information into
die hands of people. Our commu-
nity right-to-know program.
known as the Toxics Helease
Inventory (TRI). helps people
learn about toxic releases to air.
water, and land from industrial
facilities in their neighborhoods.
Just publicizing the amount of
loxiiis thai industries release to
ihe environment creates an incen-
tive for industry, the public, and
government to work together to
reduce harmful pollution. Since
TKI began in I'W. reported toxic
releases have plummeted in
Ari/ona (by >?%). California
(75%) ami Hawaii (82%).
lunrest sail marsh restoration on West Coast. Kxxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince \\ illiam
treatment upgrades in Pacific Southwest alone. EPA orders two canneries in American Samoa to stop polluting Pago Pago
-------
COMMl Ml IKS - IH II DIM, I.OCM. CVI'VCm I Oil III! II II Id
Another way LPA helps people
gel information is through
KM I 'ACT (Km iron mental
Monitoring lor Public Access
and Community Tracking).
I his grants program enables
communities 10 secure monitoring
e(|iiipiiienl ID lesl their D\\ n air.
waler and soil. K\ the end of
l<><>(>. EMPACT enabled: people
living near oil refineries in
Richmond. ( 1A ID Dimple iheir air
for iD.xiiis: people in Las \egas ID
develop a blueprint lor an air
mnniloring >\ stein: retirement
community residents of Creen
\alley \/ ID monitor their air
alti-r ilie\ complained about
being alile ID lasle and smell it:
children to nioniior I V radiation
levels and learn "sunwise" ways
to handle exposure to die .-.nil:
and people throughout die I'aeilic
Southwest HI cheek a website \\iih
real-time maps ol smug in iheir
area (www.epa.gov/airnow] .
ciHiiniiiiiily ih
I he lasl le\v years have seen a
"smart growth movement sweep
across America, whereby towns
and cities are working to reduce
their environmental impacts and
increase their livahilily hy plan-
ning heller communities and pro-
tecting open space. \\ hile LPA
plays no direct role in these
efforts, we pro\ ide resources ID
facilitate locally driven projects.
Through our Sustainable
Development Challenge Crnnl
program, we funded a series of
collaborative projects, including: a
sustainabilitj plan lor the Lwa
and \oiili Shore regions of
I [onolulu: ne\\ planning options
lor neighborhoods in Phoenix and
Scoiisdale. A/: communilN i:ar-
dening and ^reeninj; in San hran-
cisco. Los Angeles, and Nogales.
A/: rainforest restoration on die
I lamakna (loast of I lawaii:
"urban \illaac development lo
preseiAc farmland in California's
Central \alley: sustainable devel-
opment for rural communities on
the island ol Maui: and rejuvena-
tion plans for suburban down-
towns in Southern California.
LPA has also helped communities
h\ cleaning up and reinvesiing in
our Brownfield Inilinlirc. /-,'/' I Imx /icl/ii'il fund llic transformation <>/ tl into ii'lnil iri/l In- n vibrant commercial
l.l>\ is pfning special attention In tin
'ffects of pesticides mi children.
abandoned areas through our
Brownfields Initiative - a pro-
lira m created l>\ President
( ImiiMi in I''1'") to work \\ilh
cities, irilies. anil siale- lo clean
up and transform contaminated
properties into new homes and
businesses. In die Pacific
Southwest alone LP\ has seeded
H) brownfield pilol projects with
S2()().()()0 each and six projecis
\\iih revolving loan funds.
I lie results ol ihcse investments
have been impressive. For exam-
ple, die City ol Las \enas was the
first in die nation lo use an LPA
re\olving hmd loan and lurn a
brownfield (a decommissioned
National Cuard armory) into a
coiiiniiinity assei (including a
-in.-ill luisiness incubator, cultural
center and relail stores). Lurilier
\\cst. die cities ol Los Aniieles and
L.a^i Palo Allo. CA have liecn
designated as hroNviifield "show-
case" communities, in which
LP\ is coordinating with oilier
federal agencies and supporting
ambitious local plans i<> rejuve-
nate si/ahle old industrial parks.
I his ellort is expected lo result in
12.300 new johs in LA and more
ihan S I million a \ear in ue\\ lax
I'excnues lor f.asl Palo Allo.
Sound; worst oil spill in I'. S. history. KI'A completes 18-year grant program providing $6 billion to local governments for sewage
Harbor with fish canning waste. Canneries comply: harbor gels visibly cleaner. Congress further strengthens Clean Air Act to
-------
i:i'\ I'VCII 1C SOI TIIWI SI HI UON !'»<»»
\l. Ill I'OKT
address acid rain, air toxics, stratospheric ozone: passes law giving F.PA lead role annum l'e
-------
ff*
tecting watersh
E
Pacific Southwesl region California,
Nevada, Arizona. Hawaii, tribal lands and numerous
I'acil'ic Inlands - harbors thousands of species of fish.
wildlife, and plant*. The regions ecosystems range
from desert mountain* to tropical coral reels. Beyond
providing habitat, these ecosy*tem* provide for
human needs. Mich a* clean water, fisheries, flood pro-
tection, and opportunities for recreation and scientific
*tudy. But they lace a multitude of threats.
Over the past lot) year*, intensive mining, water and
agricultural development, and increasing human pop-
ulation and urbanization have degraded or reduced
many of the region's ecosystems, along with their
species. For example. California's original wetland*
have declined to roughly 10% of their original area.
.Nevada'* lakes and wetlands have
also been severely reduced. In
Arizona, riparian forests are threat-
ened by excessive groundwater
pumping. I rihal laud- ha\ e been
overgrazed and eroded. In Hawaii
and the Pacific l*land*. fragile coral
reel* are damaged by polluted
runoff and fill projects.
KPA efforts in 1999 to protect and
ivMnre eco*v *iems in the Pacific
Southwest included:
iversity
I/I'
Luke
CALFED Bay/Delta: The San Francisco Bay-Delta
watershed include* the va*t Sacramento/San .loa<|iiin
river system, providing water for over 20 million (iali-
fornian*. all Central \allev farm*, and 120 specie* of
fish and wildlife. I'.PA wa* a partner in negotiating the
I('(H Bay-Delia \ccord. which broke the gridlock
over California water policy, and set the agenda for
CALFED. the consortium of Mate and federal agencies
working to resolve Bay-Delta water i**ue*. In the pa*t
five vear*. CAITFD funded S2~>0 million \\orih of
ecological restoration project*, \\hich comprise the
nation s nio*t complex restoration effort. Among the
many projects underway: restoration of 42 mile* of
salmon and sleelhead spawning habitat on Battle
Creek (near Bed Bluff), which invoKe* removal of five
low dams and construction of fish ladders on others.
LakeTahoe: Following the l')()?
lahoe Presidential Summit. F.P\
helped coordinate federal effort* to
protect the lake* famed clarity. In
l<>'><>. we funded efforts I,v I'.C.
Davis, the 1 . S. (ieological Survey
and the lahoe Regional Planning
Agency to develop monitoring
method* anil measure the effective-
ness o| various pollution control
measures. These projects con-
tributed to a comprehensive \\aier-
ediiraliou. Train derailment spills loxic mclam sodium into Sacramento Kiver near- Diinsinuir. ( V. killing all aquatic life in
curtain" in riverbed to dissipate (he chemical before il pollutes the Lake. In Washington. !).(!.. grassroots groups hold national
-------
I l'\ I'M II 1C SOI I ll\\ I SI ItK.ION I'»<><> \\\l \l. UI.I'OHT
shed as.sessmeiii published in
I ebruary 12000. The assessment
will be used io set priorities for
cosl-el leclive actions, and Io
develop pollution reduction plans.
including one already underway
lor Heavenly Valley Creek. KP\
supported projects to restore
native plants in eroded areas: and
to map all drinking water wells
and lake water intakes around
Tahoe. so thai development
ihreals to drinking waier can be
avoided. KP\ worked with the
\\ashoe Tribe and the I .ahonlaii
Regional \\aler Oualily (iontrol
Board on these efforts.
San IVaneisco Bay: A partner-
ship of federal, slate, and local
agencies, environmental groups
and the business community -
organized by I.P\ and die Army
(iorps of Engineers - liiiali/ed a
long-term strategy Io reduce
dumping ol dredged mud in San
Francisco Bay by more ihan 7.)
percent from 1('0() levels.
Dredging wi
the Bay s shipping channels deep
enough for large ocean-going
cargo ships. Bm instead ol dump-
ing most ol the mud in the shal-
low Bay. which can harm migrat-
ing fish, the new strategy will
deposit more mud at a designated
deep-ocean site beyond ihe
Farallon Islands, and quadruple
the volume re-used for wetland
restoration, levee repair, and
landfill cover. A pilot wet lands
restoration using dredged mud.
the Sonoma Bay lands at the
northwest corner of San Pal do
Bay. is under way.
Vernal Pools: KPA won a prei e-
dent-setliug S1..~> million judg-
ment, the largest -ever court-
ordered penalty lor unauthorized
destruction of wetlands. A devel-
oper had destroyed seasonal ver-
nal pool wetlands at Burden
Ranch (near Sacramento. CA) by
deep ripping, a plowing technique
that uses bulldozers to tear apart
the impermeable clay layer
underlying the lopsoil. \ernal
pool wetlands provide essential
habitat lor certain species of
unlive \\ildllo\\ers. endangered
species of fairy shrimp, and
migratory waterfowl.
(losiimiii's ltiv«T Wa(erslic
million loan to the Sacramento
\alley Open Space Conservancy
Io add o-H acres to the
Sacramento \ernal Pool Prairie
Preserve, which will ultimately
include 3.000 acres. These pro-
jects were die first to use I .PVs
Slale Revolving Kund to acquire
land for watershed protection.
\u .s s million loan /nun 1.1' I helped expand I/if I 'iixiiiiiiii'x River Preserve in Sacramento ('oiinlv. (' 1. which /ira/i'iix run1 ird-
landi inn/ I'lpnrnin /iin'.i/.i.
environmental justice siininiit. KPA \vins $86 million settlement from Hughes Aireraft to clean up contaminated groundwater al
II.I/.M iluu- \\aste (lisposal site near Santa Maria. ('A; pursues responsible parties to pay for long-term remediation. KPA wins
-------
in vi ii i\ i'.c.os\ si i:\is- I
.cTiM; WATERSHEDS v\n BIODIVIKSITV
l.v i>nrl <}j a nni/ cli'iui lift /lie \ln IIin ('anal in Honolulu, IH/ the canal.
Ala Wai Watershed
Improvement (Oahu): KPA.
stale and local governments, and
business and community groups
arc working lo reduce water pol-
lution in the Ala Yiai \\aterslied.
which includes Honolulu's most
densely populated areas. The pro-
ject will improve water quality by
combining modern technology
with the ancient I lawai ian .sys-
tem of land division from the
uplands to the sea - the
ahupiia a. The Project will serve
as a model lor watershed
improvement projects in Hawaii.
as well as for incorporating
Native I lawai ian cultural and
historical practices.
Uedncing Polluted Kunon":
Runoff from urban areas, high-
ways, farms, nnpaved roads, and
logging and construction site.s can
carrv sediment, oil. grease, toxics.
pesticides, pathogens and other
pollutants into nearby waterways.
In California's forested North
Coast watersheds, sediment-laden
runoff from unpaved roads and
logged areas smothers fragile
salmon and trout eggs. In urban
areas, garden I'erlili/ers and pesti-
cides, motor oil. anil house pet
waste washes into streets anil
then into streams, lakes, and die
ocean. Under the Clinton Admini-
stration s (lean \\ater Action
Plan. KPA is working with slates
to develop comprehensive plans
to reduce polluted runoff. In
I')')'). KPA approved landmark
plans submitted by Arizona and
Nevada: California and Hawaii
expect in submit plans in 2000.
Once KPA approves a plan, the
stale or Pacific Island receives its
share of $18.6 million in funds
allotted lor reducing polluted
runoff in the Pacific Southwest.
TMDLs: In 1')<><). KPA completed
pollution reduction plans (official-
ly known as TMDLs - Total
Maximum Daily Koads) for the
Noyo. \an l)n/en. and South
Fork Eel Rivers in California's
North Coast. These plans, which
are designed lo restore coho
salmon and steelhead trout habi-
tat, lake into account all pollution
sources in a watershed, including
polluted runoff. The North Coast
Regional Water Quality Control
board is pulling the plans into
cllect through regulations and
voluntary efforts, including
reducing erosion from dirt roads
and logging, and plaining trees to
shade streams, keeping them cool
enough for salmon and trout.
In Southern (lalifornia. KP\
agreed to meet mandatory dead-
lines fora hundred more TMDKs
lor I .os Angeles and \eulura
County watersheds, including the
I .os \ngeles River, \entura River.
Santa Clara River. Malibu Creek.
and l2.~) beaches in Kos Angeles
and Ventura counties. The efforts
will benefit beachgoers as well as
endangered runs of southern
sleelhead trout. In settling a law -
suit. KPA guaranteed that these
100 plans will be completed. The
Kos Angeles Regional \\alcr
Quality Control Board will devel-
op many of them. Additional
plans are being developed for sev-
eral Arizona streams to reduce
mercury pollution, which can
build up to toxic levels in the food
chain, poisoning fish eaters such
as eagles and people.
Get Involved! To find out what's
happening in your area, v isil
KP.A's watershed web page.
www.epa.gov/surf. There are
maps of every watershed in the
nation, accessible by typing in
your zipcode. city, county, school.
or Indian tribe: plus contacts lor
over .")..")()() local watershed pro-
tection groups.
Tucson Airport. 178 nations take part in U. N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. EPA takes charge of abandoned Cnsmnlia
million settlement from Chevron for polluting Santa Barbara Channel with oil and grease from offshore drilling. EPA report§
-------
I'.I'V I'\CII 1C SOI TIINVI.ST IU.(,ION 1W ANNUAL RKI'OKT
\
^1
(hat secondhand smoke is a serious risk to non-smokers. EPA begins major groundwater cleanup in the San Fernando Valley.
mission. EPA launches Brownfields Initiative to clean up, redevelop abandoned inner-city properties. EPA signs Bay-Delta Accord,
-------
Crossing borders for environmental protection
A,
we move toward a global economy, we are con-
staniK reminded dial environmental i limits are global
problems, requiring solutions that span oceans and
continents. In EPAs Pacific Southwest Office we con-
front these problems in many ways: through our
ambitious work along the Mexican Border: our efforts
in Pacific Islands such as Guam and American
Samoa: and working with environmental officials
worldwide to provide cleaner air. land and water.
Hi-faking in'ii" ftrimml irilh our
m'ifflilmrs lo llw South
A unique part of die world is the 2.000 mile-long bor-
der region between the I'nited States and Mexico. The
rapidly growing part of North America, the bor-
der's population has grown from 1 million in 1()(>0 to
over 1 l.o million today. At the cur-
rent growth rate. 25 million people
will live in the region by "2020.
EPA is working with the Mexican
Government and I .S. state, tribal
and local officials through the
Border XXI Program to increase
cooperation between our countries
in addressing this astounding
growth and its enormous impacts
on a fragile environment. Through
Border XXI, EPA's Pacific
Desert l><
Southwest office lias ;i\\ arded lens of millions of dol-
lars in grants and devoted countless hour-- of technical
assistance to build sewage treatment plants, run air
monitoring programs, manage solid and hazardous
waste, anil train environmental professionals.
The Border \.\l Air Work Croup recently complet-
ed its third year of monitoring, which showed harmful
levels of o/one in I ijuana-Rosarito. and high levels of
ozone, carbon monoxide, and paniculate mailer in
Mcxieali. Officials are now studying strategics to
reduce air pollution that for years has ihreaieued pub-
lic health in these areas. Efforts are underway to
reduce motor vehicle emissions in Ambos \ugales.
where a recently completed air study identified auto-
mobiles as (he greatest health risk. These projects -
and several others like them in bor-
der communities from Texas to Baja
(California - constitute the first-ever
attempts at binational cooperation
in combating air pollution along a
shared I .S. border.
In December. EPA and Mexico's
National Ecology Institute signed a
major agreement commuting both
countries to share information on
existing and proposed waste sites
within ()() miles of the border. Never
funded hy responsible parlies. : President Clinton orders government agencies (o make em ironmenlal justice part of their
begins process to resolve San Francisco Ray-Delia waler issues. Bald Eagle upgraded from "endangered" lo less-erilieal
-------
I'M II l( SOI TIIVW S I 111 (,ION 1'1'W ANNfAI. KKI'OKT
before have residents til l>oth
naiion* had cross-border access 10
information about hazardous
waste facilities - and tin- opportu-
nity In affect future siting deci-
sions.
Vie are also working to handle
wa*te from the estimated -'L'iOO
maquiladoras operating in Mexico
foreign-owned assembly plants
that use raw material-- from the
I nited Slates to manufacture
products for export. In 1(W).
Mexico reaffirmed its policy of
returning hazardous waste from
maquiladoras to the I nited States
lo ensure thai hazardous wastes
generated by these companies are
managed appropriately.
On both sides of the border, more
than four million residents will be
*erved by lo water projects
under way or already constructed
through investment* of more than
S-MH) million certified by the
Border Environment Cooperation
Commission. (See the C/i'd/i
//a/rr section lor a description ol
a major project, the International
\\ a*ievvaler Treatment Plant.)
Other ambitious sewage svsiern
upgrades are underway in
Mexicali and Nogale*.
A critical goal of all border activi-
lie* i* lo bring all affected panic*
logeiher lo share information and
ideas. The I .S and Mexican gov-
ernments achieved a major break-
through last year by welcoming
all border states and tribes as full
partner* in the Border XXI
Program. KPA has also spear-
headed efforts to include the pub-
lic in ihese meetings.
/// !'>'>'). Mexican mid ( .S. officials irorkcd together In monitor air i-iiiixxions along
///i' harder (i/iiiam
and Saipan that could signifi-
cantly reduce public health
threats and protect sensitive local
ecosystems, for decades.
Cnaiiianian* have brought
garbage lo the Ordol Dump, a
huge, overflowing open landfill
that catches fire regularly and
endangers neighboring villages.
Roughly 120 mile* to (he north.
Saipan residents have been
dumping trash in the Puerto Rico
Dump, which extend* into a
lagoon near-a tourist center-and
national park. EPA staff are
working vviih local officials on
both islands lo replace the old
"llirealened" listing, reflet-ling birds' recovery since 1972 DDT ban. EPA requires incinerators to reduce toxic emissions by ')()%.
protect children. EPA wins $280 million from 4.000+ responsible parties for toxic cleanup at Operating Industries Inc. landfill in
-------
IILAI.TIIY PLANET-CKOSSI.M; mi: BOKDKKS IOH i N\IUO\MI:\T\I PROTECTION
dumps with municipal landfills ID
reduce future threats to land and
\\nlcr quality.
EPA is alsD working with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and the
Commonwealth of Northern
Mariana Islands Division of
Environmental Quality to speed
the cleanup of toxic polychlori-
nated biphenyl (PCB) contamina-
tion in Taiiapag Village on
Saipan. where local residents have
expressed fear and frustration
over delays in soil remediation.
The Republic of Palau is glob-
ally known for its marine
resources, biodiversity and rela-
ti\el\ pristine nature. On the
island of Babeldoab. EPA. the
Department of Interior, Army
(iorps of Engineers and the
Republic of Palau are ensuring
ihat const ruction of 53 miles of
ne\v paved road is done in an
environmentally responsible man-
ner. As mitigation for the project,
the Republic of Palau has com-
mitted to establish two conserva-
tion areas encompassing 30.000
acres of mangrove, sea grass.
patch coral, fringing reefs and
upland habitats.
Pago Pago Harbor in American
Samoa has seen dramatic
improvements in water quality in
the last decade, thanks to a part-
nership by EPA and the American
Samoa EPA. The two agencies
worked together to require the
two harbor fish canning opera-
tions to relocate their discharges
to the outer harbor, separate their
waste streams and barge wastes
to an ocean disposal site. The
results have been impresMvc:
water quality standards are now
regularly met. and new coral is
returning to the harbor. The two
EPAs are now focusing on why
harbor sediments remain contam-
inated with heavy metals and
oilier pollutants.
ll.riniinliiiif our n>s
In the same way we ha\e \\orkcd
with Mexico and die Pacific
Islands. EPA has collaborated
with do/ens of environmental
programs in other parts of the
world. Since 1990. EPA has con-
ducted more than 70 environ-
mental projects worldwide on
issues such as air quality, com rol-
ling hazardous waste and munici-
pal trash and performing environ-
mental assessments.
Our Pacific Southwest office con-
tinues to draw the most interna-
tional visitor* of any EPA regional
office to share program knowl-
edge' and technical experience.
and staff have been inviied
abroad to assist countries around
the world who are developing
environmental programs, includ-
ing Central and Eastern Europe.
('entral and South America and
\sia and the Pacific Rim.
Eroin l('('() through 1999. at the
reque-i of the Philippine govern-
ment, a team ol scientists from
EPA's Pacific Southwest office
developed a groundbreaking
watershed management plan for
the Butuanon River on the island
of Cebu that now serves as a
model throughout Southeast Asia.
EPA is working iri/h local officials from ///< Hi'/>nlil/C of Palau hi American >ri'in'rri' nni
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:i'\ I'ACII 1C SOI 'I ll\\LSI Itl.UON 1 ANNl'AI, KKI'OKT
KPA brokers $80 million deal to save Bolsa Chica . Southern California's largest remaining tidal marsh. I-'.PA Administrator
tank owners face deadline to upgrade tanks to prevent leaks. Superfund Kinergency Response Program reports 420 emergenej
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Environmental protection gets more complex
W,,
lis report documents major progress Inward
environmental protection during 1()9(), we think il s
wise to end on a cautionary note: because KPA and
oilier agencies have helped clean up many of the cen-
trali/ed sources of pollution, we're left with a wider
array ol problems lor which there is no easy solution.
Most of these problems can be characterized as dif-
fuse, persistent and pervasive. For example, when it
comes lo air pollution, the new enemy is rarely a sin-
gle smokestack: il s air and dusl pollution produced
by millions of sources - from cars to vacant lots -
spread throughout vast metropolitan areas. \\ hen the
issue is toxics, ihe enemy is not just concentrated
Siiperfund siles. but tenacious and
multi-sourced poisons like mercury
and dioxin. Vv hen the problem is
\\aler pollution, the concern is no
longer a big sewage plant, but mil-
lions (if storm drains or logging
roads, which flush a bouillabaisse
of pollutants into fragile rivers.
lakes and estuaries.
Among the lop problems KPA sees
today and on the horizon in the
Pacific Southwest are air toxics and
the lung-damaging pollution of
Diesel fumes find air toxics /tnxr n
major public health challenge.
diesel engines, non-point sources of water pollution.
habitat and watershed destruction. trick\ water conta-
minants like Ml HI', and perchlorale (which is a com-
ponent ol rocket fuel), cancer-causing chemicals like
dioxins and other PBTs persist ei it-bioaccum la live
toxins - which can move up the food chain through
fish, fowl and people, and the large volume of pesti-
cides used lo produce American food. Other chal-
lenges requiring slud\ and science include endocrine
disrupters and genetically tillered food.
hi addition to these relatively new problems, we have
plenty of work \el to do in the ^traditional environ-
mental protection arena - especially along ihe I .S.-
Mexico border, on tribal lands and
in low income communities. Vie are
catching up with work that should
have been done years ago and will
require main more years of inten-
sive effort. 'There are Superfund
siles still lo be reclaimed. Vie have
only begun lo prepare watershed
recovery and pollution prevention
plans - known as Total Maximum
Daily Loads - all hough the (llean
\\aler Act envisioned their imple-
mentation years ago. \\etlands are
still disappearing. ecos\ stems are
Carol I
ol Browner forms Office of Children's Health Protection. I.PV announces ('lean Water Action Plan. Underground fuel
cleanups completed since 1981 at siles posing an imminent threat lo human health or the cnvironmcnl. Toxic releases in
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r.rv i'\cii K sin TIIWI si HI-'.UON iw» \NMAI. HI.I'OHT
tailing, and we arc siill striving
\\iili our partners to bring closure
lo a scries of complex negotiations
- such as (1ALI- KD. ilic process lo
help solve California's water wars.
thai we're playing eaicli-ii|) - also
applies lo our enforcement work.
Kven (hough 1(>()(> was a record
enforcement year, we know we
have onl\ addressed the tip of the
iceberg in enforcing environmen-
tal laws on llic hooks. And e\en if
all of ihese hi\\s were enforced
peiieeily. we know thai signifi-
cant environmental and public
health risks would remain .since
the law represents a nationally-sel
minimum level of protection, not
necessarily lhe\er\ best emiron-
menlal outcome.
I'lial's a key reason why I'.PA has
set ii|i more than a score of pro-
grams to help business and indus-
try clean up their act and attain
superior outcomes - programs
like Project XL. Waste \ViSe.
Energy Star Building, and Water
Alliances for Voluntary Klfieiency.
It's the reason behind KPA grants
to help California dairy operators
conirol I heir waste streams before
they ruin water supplies. It s die
reason for KPA partnerships for
pollution prevention, whether it's
working wiih metal platers to cut
(heir use of toxic solvents or sup-
porting communities in their
quest to design new developments
that - because they require less
driving and have fewer paved
surfaces generate less air pollu-
tion anil polluted water run-off
up front. And it's why we ve
launched a green energy program
and transformed our Richmond.
('. \ laboratory into the first feder-
al government facility using
100% renewable energy
Because as America confronts a
new set of environmental chal-
/,/' I irill ni'i'il new partnerships lo confront neir eliJ our inofsl iiino-
r/iiirc collaborations huts liee/t tr/ili metal platers, like Dan Durkiewicz of Phoenix,
trim linn' di'diiiiiiicully reduced I lie hazardous iraxte enerated b ilieir oeniitonx.
I rlxi/t sprawl, traffic /tn/i.i anil
increased vehicle miles travelled .
I'acifie Southwest are down 75% from a decade earlier, according to KPA'.s Toxic Release Inventory. Superfund's 650th construc-
tion completion, at MEW site in Mountain View, CA, marks halfway point for cleanup of nation's roughly 1,300 Supcrfund sites.
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