EPA Region
Partnerships in
Innovation
3
Progress and
4%	United States
Environmental Protection
J % Agency
July 2008

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Message from the Regional Administrator
Over the past few years, everyone at EPA's mid-Atlantic regional office has been called upon
to continue delivering a cleaner environment for the citizens we serve as we learn to meet new chal-
lenges, adopt new management approaches, and make the best use of new technologies. Logic
models, quarterly management reports, and selected regional priorities are just a few of the new ad-
ditions to the jargon we use everyday. But these things are more than just jargon. They represent a
change in the way we think about the job we do, leading us to approach our work in new and differ-
ent ways.
The logic model process has led to a burst of new efforts that break the traditional planning
methods and allow us to begin solving environmental problems with all the tools at our disposal —
no matter which environmental statute provides the tool, or which EPA program office provides tie
funding. For instance, our energy team involves folks from almost all of our programs, and the
Heallhy Waters initiative is managed by three of our division directors. More changes are underway
that will allow us to work together more effectively to solve important environmental challenges with-
out being handcuffed by the artificial distinctions of an organization chart.
Another welcome difference that I have seen up close comes from the agency's senior lead-
ershio in Washington. Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock works with all of the assistant adminis-
trators and regional administrators to assure that we are effectively managing our resources and
programs. Marcus is a champion of using effective measures of what we are accomplishing to crive
real environmental results. This involves developing and using new measures, while paring away
those that had less value. But perhaps more importantly, he has concentrated his attention on those
efforts and practices that are getting the best results, trying to learn why they work well, and seeing if
those gains can be replicated in other programs or regions. Thanks to that emphasis, we all can
spend more time searching for new solutions and capitalizing on success, and less time assigning
blame or making excuses for targets that are missed.
It's my hope that the differences we're seeing from within the regional office will become evi-
dent as tangible environmental results for many people throughout the mid-Atlantic states. It's one
thing to merely keep up with the changes, but our workforce is leading the way. From the Schuylkill
Action Network (p. 6) to the Green Highways Partnership (p. 15), to the Linking Environmental Aca-
demic Programs (p. 15), our people are out front, delivering results. And creative tools, like the
Multi-criteria Integrated Resource Assessment (p. 15), have been invented by our staff to help us
plan "'or and measure our success.
This report allows us to consider the things we have accomplished, see where we stand, and
think about where we can take environmental protection and stewardship into the future.
Donald S. Welsh

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Table of Contents

Regional Overview
3
1
Clean Water
4
1
Clean Land
7
1
Clean Air
10
1
Community and Ecosystems
13

Images courtesy of EPA unless otherwise stated

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Regional Overview
The mid-Atlantic regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for
programs in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Co-
lumbia. Headquartered in Philadelphia, :he region has field operations and laboratories in
Wheeling, W.Va., and Annapolis and Ft. George G. Meade, Md.
The diversity of the region is mirrored in its issues, from the depths of the Chesapeake Bay to
the tops of the southern West Virginia mountains, from air quality and sewer capacity in cities
to acid mine drainage and animal feedlot operations in rural areas.
The regional office and its partner state and local pollution control agencies are responsible for
regulating more than 21,003 air pollutior sources; 12,000 water pollution sources; and 425
hazardous waste treatment, storage anc disposal facilities. Together, the agencies are respon-
sible for the investigation of 1,500 potential hazardous waste dump sites and the cleanup of
more than 165 sites that have been inclided or proposed to be on the Superfund National Pri-
orities List.
In Region 3, the achievements of our employees are leveraged through working partnerships
with states, community groups and busiresses. This report highlights some of these notable
achievements.

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Clean Water
Partnership
Corporate Stewardship - Perdue Clean Bays Environmental Management Initiative
As the third largest poultry company in the
United States, Perdue Farms, Inc. has been
raising chickens for over 80 years. Perdue
works with more than 2,400 independent farm-
family partners to raise their chickens. That is a
ot of chickens, ard even more chicken litter.
Image from: Perdue Farms
In 2006, Perdue's commitment to environmental
P'otection and healthier waters was demon-
strated in the landmark Memorandum of Agree-
ment that Perdue Farms signed with EPA to re-
duce poultry waste runoff into nearby water bod-
ies. Known as the Perdue Clean Bays Environ-
mental Management Initiative (PCBI), the pur-
pose of this MOA is to provide training, assis-
tance, and environmental assessments related
to poultry operations. The goal is to protect the
waters of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, in-
cluding the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays,
and to enhance poultry producers' environ-
mental compliance.
To date the PCBI has resulted in joint Perdue/
EPA training sessions for more than 60 flock
supervisors, environmental managers and 18
growers who are participating in the first phase
of the initiative. Additionally, more than 50 envi-
ronmental on-farm assessments have been
completed, resulting in a number of environ-
mental improvements. Lastly, as the partnership
concludes its first year of activity, discussions
are underway to apply the PCBI to "Going Cor-
porate," a far reaching three-to-four year innova-
tive program that would include all Perdue poul-
try farms.
The program is being implemented in two
stages. The first stage, launched in January
2007, is a pilot program directed toward the larg-
est Perdue producers on the Delaware, Mary-
land and Virginia (DELMARVA) Peninsula. The
pilot program will develop and field test the nec-
essary tools to implement a program corporate-
wide. Assessments will occur three times a year
to help poultry producers comply with the Dela-
ware state Nutrient Management Plan.
When targeting inspections, EPA will give posi-
tive consideration to those poultry operations
that are effectively implementing the program
and devote more time to those areas where
there is a higher environmental and compliance
risk. The plan proposes a set of measures to
track progress toward achieving environmental
improvement and compliance as well as joint
annual and periodic evaluations involving record
reviews, environmental results analysis and site
assessments. The program also includes
Perdue's plan to develop a corporate response
to address and correct issues identified in the
assessment. The effectiveness of stage one will
be assessed after a year, and the results will be
used for the second stage, developing a corpo-
rate-wide program.
A program to recognize poultry producers that
demonstrate environmental and compliance ex-
cellence is also under development. Most re-
cently, EPA and Perdue have developed the
Clean Bays Training Handbook for training ses-
sions for Perdue farm managers who provide
support for growers and at training sessions for
growers who are participating in the pilot pro-
gram. Perdue has recently completed a number
of on-farm environmental assessments that will
provide the basis for the next phase.

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Clean Water 5
Enforcement
Reducing untreated sewage discharge in
Pittsburgh-area rivers and streams
Each yea;, an estimated 22 billion gallons of
untreated sewage are discharged into Pitts-
burgh-area waters from hundreds of sewage
systems. These discharges often occur when
the capacity of the sewer system is over-
whelmed by wet-weather conditions, including
storm water runoff and snow melts. The over-
whelmed systems are unable to treat the sew-
age that exceeds their capacity, and the ex-
cess sewage is discharged directly into local
waterways. Sewage overflows carry danger-
ous bacteria into waters where people boat,
swim and wade, and can also affect some of
the region's drinking water sources.
plan to EPA that would address wet-weather
conditions and thereby resolve a majority of
the untreated discharges from the sewer sys-
tems by 2026. The settlement also requires
ALCOSAN to pay a $1.2 million penalty for
past Clean Water Act violations and to under-
take $3 million in environmental projects.
These funds will be used for stream restoration
work and other projects to better control harm-
ful storm water runoff.
In a landmark settlement with federal,state,and
county authorities, the Allegheny County Sani-
tary Authorky (ALCOSAN) has agreed to a
comprehensive plan to greatly reduce the an-
nual discharge of billions of gallons of un-
treated sewage into local waterways.
Under the consent decree, ALCOSAN will use
a multi-year strategy to upgrade the sewage
systems serving Pittsburgh and 82 surrounding
municipalities. ALCOSAN will also submit a
Images from ALCOSAN
It is anticipated that the remedial measures
ALCOSAN will be making, and the long-term
control plan the sanitation authority will adopt,
will result in significant and lasting improve-
ments to the water quality in three rivers and
area streams in the Pittsburgh region, improv-
ing recreational and development opportunities
along the area's our waterways. This settle-
ment and a 2003
voluntary agree-
ment with the mu-
nicipalities repre-
sent one of the na-
tion's largest settle-
ments of a Clean
Water Act case
involving sewage
overflows - in
terms of the num-
ber of municipali-
ties affected and
the extensive na-
ture of the sewer
system upgrade.

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Clean Water
Partnership
The Schuylkill Action Network Casts Support for River
During the 18th century, much of America's fight
for independence was waged in the historic
Schuylkill River Watershed in Pennsylvania.
Industrialization anc mining in the 19th and 20th
centuries left the Schuylkill as one of the nation's
most polluted rivers. In recent years, however,
the river's water quality has improved and migra-
tory fish are returnirg. But problems remain.
Today, the Schuylkill River is not only a working
river but also the source of drinking water for
more than 1.5 million people. At 130 miles long,
and with more than 180 tributaries, the Schuylkill
drains 2,000 square miles of southeastern Penn-
sylvania and is the largest tributary to the Dela-
ware Estuary.
Major causes of degradation include stormwater
runoff, agricultural practices, abandoned mine
drainage, and sewage overflows. Contaminants
in the Schuylkill have triggered fish consumption
advisories, threatened the safety of drinking wa-
ter supplies, and affected the health of the wa-
ters for recreational use.
The Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) is a unique
partnership of more than 100 organizations
formed in 2003 to address the environmental
problems facing the Schuylkill. SAN works to
improve the water resources of the watershed
by working in partnership with state agencies,
local watershed organizations and land conser-
vation organizations, businesses, academics,
water suppliers, local governments, regional
agencies, and the federal government.
The goal is to transcend regulatory and jurisdic-
tional boundaries in protecting the river. With
EPA Region 3 as the lead, the SAN collabora-
tion is managed by an executive steering com-
mittee which also includes the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, the
Delaware River Basin Commission, the Philadel-
phia Water Department and the Partnership for
the Delaware Estuary.
Among SAN's various restorative actions is a
short-term initiative to address stormwater run-
off, agricultural practices, and abandoned mine
drainage. This will promote market-based strate-
gies, and evaluate the efficacy of the Schuylkill
Action Network as an interjurisdictional ap-
proach to water quality management.

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Clean Land 7
Innovation
Ever/thing Old is New Again Near Richmond, Va.
The days of simply erecting chain link fences
around a property and posting "Keep Out"
signs are over. Cleaning up previously con-
taminated properties for reuse can help rein-
vigorate communities, preserve green space,
and prevent sprawl. Revitalized land can be
used in many ways—from the creation of pub-
lic pa'ks and the restoration of ecological sys-
tems, to the construction of community devel-
opment projects and the establishment of new
businesses.
other electrical systems left behind at the 136-
acre site are being recycled through buyers
around the country.
The site has already undergone an environ-
mental cleanup, under the EPA's Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) cor-
rective action program. Contaminated ground-
water is still being pumped and treated, and
monitoring shows reduced contaminants. EPA
will continue to monitor the cleanup and pro-
vide assistance to Forest City regarding the
demolition debris recycling.
Demolition of the former manufacturing build-
ing on the site is done, and Forest City is not
only redeveloping the site but is going one step
further by incorporating recycling and sustain-
able design into its project.
The planning and construction of The Shops at
White Oak Village will adhere to Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
guidelines in hopes of obtaining LEED certifi-
cation - the sustainability rating system from
the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Shops at White Oak Village, scheduled to
open in October 2008, will feature several na-
tional big box retailers in a variety of categories
including grocery and home improvement, a
hotel, and 25 to 35 smaller national, regional
and local retailers and restaurants.
A former printed circuit board manufacturing
site in Henrico County, near Richmond, Va., is
a shining example for the recycling of demoli-
tion debris.
In keeping with the value of sustainability, the
developers of the property, an entity of Forest
City Enterprises of Cleveland, Ohio, is recy-
cling 93 percent of the plant and converting
four 15-to-20-foot mountains of materials —
85,000 tons of concrete and metal debris ~
into useable building materials for a future
900,000 square-foot retail, hotel, and dining
complex, known as The Shops at White Oak
Village.
The crushed concrete and twisted metal will be
used n the foundations, structural supports
and other necessary components of the future
comp ex. Even computers, transformers, and

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Clean Land 8
Revitalization
Heart of Lehigh Valley, Pa. Beating Once Again
A Smithsonian museum. A power plant. A state
of-the-art cold storage facility. A skating rink. An
intermodal freight terminal. Two biotech compa-
nies. A comrr unity college building. These are just
some of the redevelopment projects that are com-
pleted or underway at one of the largest redevel-
opment sites n the country ~ the former
Bethlehem Steel Corporation plant located along
the Lehigh River in Bethlehem, Pa.
At one time, this flagship mill forged gun barrels
for battleships and steel girders for bridges and
skyscrapers, sjch as the Golden Gate Bridge and
the Empire State Building. The Bethlehem Steel
plant, once the heart of the Lehigh Valley, con-
jures up images of volcano-like blast furnaces and
giant ladles filled with molten metal, as more than
30,000 steel workers helped build our country.
However, in 1998, the plant ceased operations,
and sadly, thousands lost their jobs, leaving be-
hind 1,600 acres of land with an unknown environ-
mental legacy and a very uncertain future. As a
result of a cooperative effort among those who
shared a common vision to revitalize this property,
this huge tract of land is being cleaned up and
redeveloped to provide new jobs, community ser-
vices and tax revenue for a community that was
decimated by the loss of its largest employer.
It took a team of creative and motivated individu-
als from Bethlehem Steel, the consulting industry,
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (PADEP), and EPA to realize this vi-
sion. When Bethlehem Steel subsequently dis-
solved through bankruptcy and sale, a new owner,
Lehigh Valley Industrial Park (LVIP), assumed
much of the property and continued to make pro-
gress.
Parcel by parcel, this Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action site is be-
ing converted into mixed-use redevelopment. The
work done at Bethlehem Steel is the model for
PADEP and EPA Region 3's One Cleanup Memo-
randum of Agreement. This agreement expedites
work by enabling facilities subject to EPA require-
ments to use the administrative process of the
state's Voluntary Cleanup Program to investigate
and clean up contaminated sites.
The Bethlehem Steel plant played a significant
role in the creation and preservation of modern
America. As revitalization and restoration con-
tinue, optimism abounds as this historic location
once again contributes to the prosperity of the
Lehigh Valley.
The new Bethlehem Commerce Center received the
esteemed Phoenix Award in 2006 for brownfield revitali-
zation. The Phoenix Awards, given by the non-profit
Phoenix Awards Institute, honor individuals and groups
working to transform abandoned industrial areas into
productive new uses.
This commerce center is one of many examples of how
Region 3's RCRA corrective action program has suc-
cessfully facilitated property reuse.

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Clean Land 9
Partnership
Philips Lighting: Lighting in More Green Ways
When you hear the name Philips, you probably
think of flat screen televisions and DVD play-
ers. Perhaps you think of lighting. You should
also think of environmental innovation because
Philips Lighting, a world-leader in the manufac-
ture of industrial and consumer lighting prod-
ucts, has pledged to substantially reduce mer-
cury and eliminate lead in the making of fluo-
rescent lighting products at its four U.S. plants.
The company vol jntarily cut the use of two
compounds as part of an EPA effort to reduce
:he presence of 31 priority chemicals in our
nation's products and wastes.
In EPA's mid-Atlantic Region, 47 partners have
pledged to reduce some of the most harmful chemicals
in their manufacturing and operational activities.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips em-
ploys approximately 125,500 employees in more
than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of 34 bil-
lion U.S. dollars in 2005, the company is a market
leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient
monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solu-
tions, personal care and home appliances.
Philips committed to reduce 780 pounds of mer-
cury by 2007 from the manufacture of its fluores-
cent lighting products. This equates to a reduc-
tion of nearly two tons of mercury in the manu-
facture of light bulbs over the next five years.
In addition, the company has pledged to elimi-
nate lead from its manufacturing processes, for
a reduction of 1.5 million pounds by 2010. Mer-
cury and lead are among 31 harmful chemicals
and metals identified by EPA as a priority for
reducing or eliminating their use. The cuts to be
made by Philips Lighting are significant because
they represent 37 percent of EPA's national goal
for reducing the 31 chemicals by four million
pounds by 2011.
EPA's National Partnership for Environmental
Priorities program challenges businesses and
manufacturers to become more environmentally
aware and to adopt a resource conservation
ethic that results in less waste, more recycling,
and more environmentally sound products. The
program seeks solutions that prevent pollution at
the source, by recovering or recycling chemicals
that may be hard to eliminate or reduce at the
source.

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Clean Air 10
Partnership
Increasing Energy Efficiency, the SmartWay
The SmartWay Transport Partnership program
is an innovative collaboration between EPA and
the freight industry to increase energy efficiency
while significantly reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and air pollution. The key to the
SmartWay program is creating partnerships with
companies and organizations to improve the
environmental performance of their freight op-
erations. EPA provides tools and expertise to
assist these organizations in developing meth-
ods to become more efficient and environmen-
tally aware. Although key to our economy and a
backbone of the nation's businesses, the move-
ment of goods has staggering environmental
consequences. Moving freight accounts for 20
percent of enercy consumed in the transporta-
tion sector. Additionally, truck and rail con-
sumes more than 35 billion gallons per year of
diesel fuel, and creates 350 million metric tons
of carbon dioxide, a major component of green-
house gas pollution.
In June 2007, through the SmartWay Transport
Partnership, EPA helped to establish the first
E85 pump, which opened in the District of Co-
lumbia. E85 consists of 85 percent ethanol and
only 15 percent conventional gasoline. EPA pro-
vided technical assistance in several areas re-
lated to fuels and permitting. The agency's ef-
forts will help pave the way for other E85 pumps
that are planned in the metropolitan Washington
area.
EPA recently established the nation's first re-
newable fuel standard. The goal is to ensure
that a minimum of 7.5 billion gallons of renew-
able fuel is produced for vehicle use by 2012. It
is an important first step toward meeting the
President's call to increase America's use of
renewable and alternative fuels to 35 billion gal-
lons by 2017.
The renewable mandate and fuel-efficiency im-
provements in the President's "20 in 10" plan
would reduce our gasoline usage by 20 percent
within a decade and would cut annual criteria
emissions from cars and light trucks by up to
175 million metric tons. (The six criteria pollut-
ants are ozone, carbon monoxide, particulates,
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and lead.)
SmartWay "
Transport Partnership
U.S. Enviro NMi-frrw. Protection Agency
EPA is also creating greater demand for renew-
able fuels through the collaborative efforts of the
SmartWay Transport Partnership. SmartWay
promotes E85 through its innovative Grow & Go
program. There are more than 560 companies
and organizations participating in SmartWay,
including major truck and rail carriers as well as
shipping and logistics companies. To date, part-
ner commitments will result in annual C02 re-
ductions of more than three million metric tons,
saving these firms an estimated $760 million in
fuel costs.
Community Air Toxics Program
Air toxics, also known as hazardous air pollutants,
can lead to cancer or other serious health effects,
such as reproductive problems, birth defects and
aggravated asthma. These pollutants can also
harm plants and animals.
EPA has provided financial support to projects that
educate citizens in high risk areas about the bene-
fits of reducing emissions of air toxics. Through its
Community Air Toxics program, the agency aims to
do more. The program promotes industry partner-
ships that challenge locally based businesses and
industry to voluntarily reduce emissions of toxic
pollutants in cooperation with federal, state, and
local regulators and other stakeholders. Partici-
pants commit to reduce routine hazardous air pol-
lutants and to take steps to decrease the potential
for accidental releases in the communities where
they operate. Industry partners can accomplish
these goals by fostering communication, exchang-
ing ideas and increasing awareness of technology
with community and government representatives.
EPA encourages partnerships in geographic areas
at risk of high levels of hazardous air pollutants.
Partners agree to voluntarily reduce emissions of
priority chemicals with the buy-in of relevant stake-
holders.

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Clean Air 11
Resources and Stewardship
Energy Star Saves Money
Committing to energy savings is not an easy task, but continually achieving high ratings for
energy conservation exemplifies dedication worthy of recognition. One organization that has
displayed this attentiveness to reducing energy costs is Delaware's Seaford School District,
having received national recognition for decreasing its energy use by 40 percent. In 2005, the
district joined the Energy Star program in search of ways to reduce energy costs in all its build-
ings. E3A Region 3's Energy Star program coordinator worked with the district utilizing an
Energy Star benchmarking tool available at www.energystar.gov. With the Energy Star portfo-
lio manager on-line tool, the district developed a plan enabling lower energy consumption at all
six of its buildings.
Seaford School District remains a leader in energy savings and a model to school districts and
other organizations across the country by continuing to look for ways to remain energy effi-
cient. In 2007, Seaford was nationally recognized at the Energy Star Annual Awards Cere-
mony as an Energy Star Top Performer.
Clean Diesel for Better Air
Since its unveiling in 2002, the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit program has morphed into a larger, more
expansive crusade. Reduction of diesel emissions is a high priority because of the harmful effects the
exhaust has on young children, the elderly
and people with chronic respiratory syn-
dromes like asthma. In 2005, EPA launched
a broader campaign called the National
Clean D esel Campaign to combat diesel
exhaust.
The Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative sup-
ports this national campaign by promoting
partners-iips among states and various or-
ganizations to tackle diesel pollution
within the region. The partners work to raise
awareness about the public health effects of
diesel pollution and the need for projects to
cut emissions. Since 2004, EPA Region 3
and the Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative
have supported 122 clean diesel projects,
improving more than 7,000 diesel-powered
engines. These projects have ranged from
retrofitting diesel particulate filters on older
school bus engines to providing state funding
for the construction of advanced electrification
depots a: truck stops to reduce idling of diesel
engines.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh
(middle) awards a check to representatives of the District of
Columbia Dept. of the Environment and DC Public Schools
Division of Transportation. EPA's funding will help the district
cut diesel emissions from school buses.

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Clean Air
12
Technology
Port Growth and Reducing Emissions
Between 1970 and 1995, U.S. international wa-
terborne freight nearly doubled, and is forecast
to triple by 2020. Air quality, specifically diesel
emissions, has been a mounting concern for
ports and the neighborhoods that surround
them. Local areas across the country first
looked at industrial sources for emission reduc-
tions to improve air quality, and many of these
sources are now well-controlled. In recent
years, focus has shifted to ports as areas for
reducing harmful emissions. Although EPA has
set tough standards for new diesel engines,
these standards don't reduce emissions from the
engines of existing fleets. EPA and its state and
local partners are working to ensure that envi-
ronmental protection will not be sacrificed during
ongoing expansion of goods movement.
EPA has developed a Vision, Mission and Strat-
egy for Sustainable Ports to help guide the
agency as it continues to engage public port
authorities and other stakeholders in voluntary
efforts to recuce the environmental impacts as-
sociated with moving goods through the marine
transportation system. EPA's mission for sus-
tainable ports is to "collaborate with marine port
authorities, their business partners and port
communities to promote sustainability and to
minimize the negative effects of inter-modal ma-
rine and land-side goods movement on human
health and the environment."
EPA is working to help mid-Atlantic ports inven-
tory emissions from ocean-going vessels, loco-
motives, hanor craft, dockside cargo-handling
equipment and trucks. This information will help
ports establish emission reduction programs and
make the most cost effective use of funding to
promote increased operational efficiency, retro-
fit, repower, and accelerate replacement equip-
ment, as well as demonstrate and advance new
technologies.
Examples include:
•	83 pieces of cargo handling equipment at
the Philadelphia port were retrofitted with
diesel oxidation catalysts and other reduc-
tion technology.
•	The port of Baltimore has begun using Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel in many pieces of their
equipment before EPA's mandate.
•	The ports of Baltimore and Norfolk have
electrified their cranes and are promoting a
low interest loan program to retrofit the dirti-
est trucks serving the ports.
•	The port of Norfolk is replacing its dirtiest
cargo-handling equipment (e.g., rubber-tired
gantry cranes) and switcher locomotives
with cleaner equipment.
•	The port of Baltimore is assessing potential
"sister-port" cooperative efforts to share
technical information, best practices, and
explore potential mutual strategies relating
to emission reduction measures on the
European and Asian end of the Baltimore
supply chain.
•	All ports are assessing the potential reduc-
tions from harbor craft and ocean-going ves-
sels through a variety of potential projects
including cleaner fuel, engine replacement,
retrofits and the use of shore-power while
docked.
Balancing economic, environmental, and social
considerations is a challenge, even for those
ports that have traditionally viewed themselves
as environmental stewards of coastal resources
and waterways. EPA remains involved with
port authorities and community partners working
to reduce health and environmental risks from
port activities.

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Pharmaceuticals in our Nation's Water Bodies
Wherever there are people, pharmaceuticals
show up in the water as medication residues
pass out of the body and into sewers, and exter-
nally applied drugs are washed down the
shower drain. Also, unused or expired medica-
tions are typically flushed. Research suggests
that certain drugs may cause ecological harm.
But more research is needed to determine the
extent of ecological harm and any related hu-
man health effects. Because study of this issue
is relatively new, some call the chemicals
"emerging contaminants."
Sources of PPCPs
Concerns about pharmaceuticals in our water
vary. Medications are generally intended to be
effective at low doses, meaning that much of
what we take may end up being excreted into
the sewer system by our bodies. Sewage treat-
ment plants are not equipped to eliminate phar-
maceutical chemicals, so they pass directly
through the treatment systems to the river where
they may negatively impact fish, frogs, and other
aquatic species. Large quantities are constantly
entering the water due to the large number of
prescription and over-the-counter drugs we take
on an annual per capita basis.
The risks to aquatic life and humans from these
medications in our water systems are uncertain,
largely because the concentrations are so low.
Only the development of much more sensitive
monitoring equipment has allowed us to find
such low levels in our water. There are no
known human health effects from such low-level
exposures in drinking water, but possible im-
pacts to sensitive populations such as fetuses
require more study.
The mid-Atlantic region has been involved in
studying the issue of pharmaceuticals in the en-
vironment, as well as investigating possible
treatment technologies and developing steward-
ship activities.
Several Region 3 researchers are studying the
possible connection between pharmaceuticals
and fish kills on the Potomac River. Pennsyl-
vania has collaborated with the U.S. Geological
Survey to study the presence of pharmaceuti-
cals in streams and ground water. The Philadel-
phia Water Department has been part of several
national studies by research foundations about
emerging contaminants. One university in the
Philadelphia area is researching into a treatment
technology that may be able to remove at least
some pharmaceuticals from wastewater at sew-
age treatment plants.
The mid-Atlantic region is also partnering with
businesses and the non-profit community to de-
velop sustainable stewardship programs in the
Philadelphia area. One such effort will educate
healthcare workers and senior citizens about
proper disposal of unwanted medications.
Regulatory barriers have prevented develop-
ment of regular, sustained pharmaceutical return
programs for the public and healthcare workers
in private home settings. However, in response
to the public's interest in preventing environ-
mental harm caused by flushing unwanted medi-
cations, the federal Office of National Drug Con-
trol Policy issued guidelines on proper disposal
of unwanted medications in February 2007. For
individuals, the guidelines suggest mixing un-
wanted drugs with a substance such as coffee
grounds or kitty litter to render them unusable
and putting them into the trash. The guidelines
also recommend taking advantage of consumer
return programs where they are available.
-	OTC
-	Prescriptions
-	Internet pharmaoes
-	Black market
-	Nulraoeuttcals

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The Good and Bad Side ofStormwater
While most peoole associate rainy days with blos-
soming spring flowers, the water that collects from
a major storm can also have negative environ-
mental impacts. Stormwater is water from rain and
snow which flows over impervious surfaces such
as paved streets, parking lots, and building roof-
tops. As stormwater flows over land, it picks up
heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides, suspended sol-
ids, nutrients, and floating materials. The polluted
stormwater then makes its way into nearby water
bodies.
In the United States, stormwater runoff from resi-
dential, commercial, and industrial areas is respon-
sible for 21 percent of impaired lakes and 45 per-
cent of impaired estuaries. In the mid-Atlantic re-
gion alone, stormwater is responsible for more than
4,000 miles of impaired streams. The impacts from
stormwater are caused not only by the pollutants in
the runoff, but also by its volume. As the water
flows over land il can erode soil and then redeposit
that soil in streams, causing muddy water and de-
grading aquatic habitats.
nity. The project is a useful model for other river-
side communities looking to improve their quality of
life and environment by creating new green public
amenities that also help manage stormwater runoff.
Maps were created depicting existing conditions,
constituencies, land uses, and other features on
the ground. The maps were then used to help iden-
tify optimal places for further investigation. Images
of existing progressive stormwater-managing inter-
ventions from across the country were paired with
images of places in East Falls where similar ideas
could be implemented. Based on the analysis, five
sites were selected for further investigation. A pub-
lic meeting was held to ask residents about their
visual and design preferences while educating
them about stormwater management. Concept de-
signs based on their ideas were devised for the five
sites. The concepts imagine vibrant, green futures
that include stormwater-managing interventions
and physical improvements.
To help create new and innovative approaches to
managing stormwater in the East Falls community,
a design contest was held among Philadelphia Uni-
versity landscape architecture students. The task
was to design rain barrels with innovative designs
which would make them more desirable to home-
owners. Rain barrels are large containers that col-
lect stormwater during precipitation, which can then
release the stored water at a later time. A social
marketing approach was used in an effort to under-
stand the perspective of the local residents.
EPA is working with neighborhoods to help reduce
stormwater impacts on local water bodies. The
Philadelphia neignborhood of East Falls is a unique
community and a useful stormwater laboratory be-
cause it is located on a hillside above a river and
has a diverse set of landscapes, land uses, resi-
dents and features. Since 2007, EPA has been
providing technical assistance to the East Falls
Development Corporation, the Pennsylvania Horti-
cultural Society and other partners in a joint effort
:o address stormwater problems within the commu-

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Leading Innovation 15
New Tools and Partners
Charting New Directions With Green Highways
The Green Highways Partnership is a prime
example of the strength of partnerships and how
much more can be achieved when people pull
together. In just a few short years, EPA Region
3's effort to foster collaboration between the
community of environmental agencies and stew-
ards and the transportation sector are paying off.
The Green Highways Partnership is a voluntary
public/private initiative that is revolutionizing our
nation's transportation infrastructure. Integrated
planning, regulatory flexibility and market-based
rewards are some of the concepts used to incor-
porate smart environmental management and
stewardship into all aspects of the lifecycle of
highways.
This network of environmental, industrial and
governmental collaborators is ensuring that sus-
tainability becomes the driving force behind
building and maintaining better and safer high-
ways.
In March 2008, EPA Region 3 and the National
Ready Mixed Concrete Association signed a
memorandum of agreement to promote environ-
mental management tools to help ready mixed
concrete plants across the country comply with
Clean Water Act obligations. This cooperation
exemplifies the Green Highways Partnership's
environmental stewardship principle of "going
beyond compliance."
Solving Problems with MIRA
Region 3's Multi-criteria Integrated Resource
Assessment (MIRA) — a new approach to mak-
ing environmental decisions — captured an hon-
orable mention for EPA's national Scientific and
Technological Achievement Award. MIRA is
changing the way Region 3 does business.
MIRA is a process that uses analytical tools,
data, a hierarchy of indicators, and other relative
information to examine alternatives for solving
environmental problems. This new approach is
enabling planning and leveraging of resources
across the various programs in Region 3, merg-
ing science, resources and common sense to
best protect public health and the environment.
Environmental Learning, Building Leaders
Region 3's initiative to support Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is growing by
leaps and bounds. It started out with a memoran-
dum of understanding with Lincoln University in
Chester County, Pa., and the Philadelphia Acad-
emies, Inc., an organization supporting public
school students. A $100,000 grant funded two
summer 4-week intense academic environmental
science programs in 2003 and 2004. The National
Science Foundation funded this model and gave
Lincoln University $2.4 million for five years to con-
tinue the Linking Environmental Academic Program
or LEAP.
EPA Region 3 has extended LEAP to the Univer-
sity of Maryland Eastern Shore. With support from
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
and Maryland Department of the Environment, the
program will enhance research, teaching, outreach,
career development and stewardship in environ-
mental sciences. Approximately $350,000 was
provided through in-kind services and a $50,000
EPA grant to UMES funded a summer environ-
mental program. In Virginia, the Department of
Environmental Quality and EPA are partnering to
enhance environmental learning at Hampton Uni-
versity and Norfolk State University.

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Environmental Report

Subject
Link
Page 4
Clean Water Act
www.epa.gov/water
Page 4
Perdue Farms,
Inc.
www.perdue.com
Page 5
Alcosan
www.alcosan.com
Page 6
Schuylkill Action
Network
www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/san.htm
Page 7
Leadership in
Energy and
Environmental
Design (LEED)
www.usgbc.org
Page 7
RCRA Corrective
Action
www.epa.aov/correctiveaction
Page 8
Bethlehem Steel
Corp.
www.eDa.aov/rea3hwmd/bfs/success/PA-
bethlehem.htm
Page 9
Royal Phillips
Electronics
www.philips.com/alobal/index.paae
Page 10
Clean Air Act
www.epa.gov/water
Page 10
SmartWay
Transport
Partnership
www.epa.gov/smartway
Page 11
National Clean
Diesel Program
www.eDa.aov/diesel/
Page 11
Mid-Atlantic
Clean Diesel
Program
www.epa.aov/rea3artd/diesel/index.htm
Page 11
Seaford School
District
www.seaford.kl2.de.us/
Page 12
Vision, Mission &
Strategy for
Sustainable Ports
www.eDa.aov/ispd/ports
Page 14
Stormwater
runoff
www.eDa.aov/reQ3waDd/stormwater

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