AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION TESTING TO START NEAR FIFTH WARD CREOSOTE SITE

HoustonChronicle.com

The Fifth Ward community in Houston, Texas has been concerned for years about remnants from a wood treatment operation. Union Pacific will start testing for toxin exposure on properties near the rail yard, which operated as a creosoting operation until the mid-1980s. Vapor intrusion testing spans 342 properties, including 110 homes, two elementary schools, and a park. The tests being conducted by Union Pacific will help determine if chemical cleanup of the residential area is necessary.

EPA PROPOSES BAN ON CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICAL THAT CONTAMINATED WOBURN WATER

EcoHubMap.com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed banning the cancer-causing chemical trichlorethylene. The chemical known as TCE is used in brake cleaners, furniture care, and arts and crafts sprays. A cluster of leukemia cases in Woburn, Massachussets were found to correlate with drinking water contaminated with TCE. Two locations in the city were designated as Superfund sites as a result. The EPA’s research suggests that 250 million pounds of TCE are produced in the United States each year. The American Chemistry Council stood against the proposal while environmental groups praised it. The EPA’s regulatory power over chemicals like TCE was given by the Frank Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act of 2016.

ASK SAM: I’M BREAKING MY LEASE, AND THE LANDLORD LISTED THE APARTMENT FOR A HIGHER RENT. DOES THIS PROTECT ME FROM BEING SUED?

BrickUnderground.com

Attorney Sam Himmelstein was asked about the legal precedents for a tenant who had to break their lease and relocate for a new job. The landlord listed the apartment at a higher rent than what the tenant was paying. Himmelstein explains that the law requires landlords to rent the apartment at the lower of the fair market value and the rate agreed to during tenancy. In the tenant’s case, their landlord had violated the law by listing the apartment for more than what was agreed to during tenancy. Himmelstein says the tenant would defeat any lawsuit the landlord may bring for breaking the lease. The statute violated by the landlord is part of rent reforms under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act passed in 2019.

CREWS CONTINUE TO REMOVE CONTAMINATED SOIL FOLLOWING PIPELINE BREAK

TheGuardian.com

Property damage incident occurred on Bell Road in Erie County Pennsylvania when a 10-inch BP petroleum line ruptured, resulting in extensive contamination of the surrounding area. The incident has forced the road’s closure until remediation begins. Crews are tirelessly working to remove the 8,400 gallons of leaked gasoline from the soil, transferring supervision from the EPA to the Michigan Department of Environment. The contaminated soil will be sent to Heritage Thermal Treatment Services for safe disposal, while unaffected materials will be buried in a landfill. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the pipeline break, while roadblocks and safety measures remain in place.

HAZARDOUS LEAD LURKS IN THE DRINKING WATER OF US SCHOOLS, EXPERTS ARE URGING THE EPA TO TAKE ACTION

ChicagoTribune.com

The presence of lead contamination in school drinking water has become a pressing concern for parents and environmental groups across the United States. A recent report grades most states poorly for their inadequate response to the critical issue. The report reveals the following statistics: 27 states received an “F” grade, while only three managed a “B.” Advocacy groups are pushing for federal action, urging the EPA to lower the lead action level in school water to one part per billion. Recommendations include replacing lead service lines and installing filtered bottle re-filling stations. The EPA is working on strengthening regulations and is set to propose the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements soon, with a focus on proactive lead service line replacement and reducing complexity in regulations.

COST OF COLDWATER CREEK RADIOACTIVE WASTE CLEANUP TOPS $400M, FEDERAL AGENCY FINDS

www.bizjournals.com

A recent report federal report reveals that the cleanup of radioactive waste sites in St. Louis County, including Coldwater Creek, will be far costlier than initially estimated. The U.S. Government Accoutability Office’s findings indicate a significant increase in financial liability, soaring from $177 million in 2016 to $406 million in 2022. This surge is primarily due to the discovery of additional contamination, necessitating an expansion of the cleanup efforts.

TOKYO RESIDENTS WANT GOVERNMENT TO TEST FOR PFAS CONTAMINATION ON YOKOTA AIR BASE

Military.com

Near Yokota Air Base, Japan a group of western Tokyo residents urge the Japanese government to test water at the home of U.S Forces Japan due to concerns of toxic firefighting foam. The residents’ group tested the blood of people living downstream of Yokota and found that more than half had high levels of PFAS in their blood.

In 2012 about 800 gallons of concentrated firefighting foam seeped into the ground from a storage tank at Yokota. The ministry states that “We will take appropriate measures by consulting with related local governments in regards to entering the base and conducting a survey.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE PROMPTS EVACUATION ORDER FOR THOUSANDS AS SANTA ANA WINDS FUEL FLAMES

Sent-Trib.com

On Tuesday October 31, 2023 a wind-driven wildfire damaged or destroyed buildings in rural Southern California.. The fire was reported at about 12:45 p.m. Monday, and about 1,300 homes and 4,000 residents were put under evacuation orders. The fire was contained 10% by nighttime but still threatened about 2,400 homes and other buildings. According to the Riverside County Fire Department “Extremely steep and rugged terrain [was] a challenge.” The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.

MAN SEEKS ANSWERS AFTER CLAIMING NEIGHBOR'S PROJECT CAUSED COSTLY DAMAGE

WLOS.com

An Asheville man named Chris Lewis claims he’s out thousands of dollars after a neighbors runoff ruined his home. Over the summer Lewis’ neighbor started a landscaping project that caused runoff to run down his driveway into his basement.

"They started dumping truck loads of dirt to raise the backyard, increase the slopes on the sides as well as the back of the yard." Lewis told News 13. "A day and a half later there's a significant rain event that washed an enormous amount of mud, dirt, sediment, whatever you want to call it, out of their yard, down our driveway, clogged our drain system and proceeded to flood the lower level of our house with several inches of water, mud, sediment."

The city states that they had been out to the neighborhood eight times for routine inspections and multiple additional times in response to complaints. However, a copy of the permit for the project shows a date issued of July 25. Lewis says that's 10 days after his basement was significantly flooded.

CLEANUP COST FOR NUCLEAR CONTAMINATION SITES HAS RISEN NEARLY $1 BILLION SINCE 2016, REPORT SAYS

SeattleTimes.com

According to a report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office the estimated cost to clean up 19 sites contaminated by nuclear waste has risen by nearly $1 billion. Officials say that inflation is partially to blame for the cost as well as uncertainties surrounding the cleanup. The report claims four sites have “complicated cleanup remedies or large amounts of contamination.” Two of these sites are in New York while the others are in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and in the St. Louis Area. These sites are responsible for around three fouths of the cost increase.

PFOS IN KENDAIA CREEK FISH TIED TO SENECA ARMY DEPOT CONTAMINATION: SENECA LAKE SUFFERS

MyTwintiers.com

Small fish from a creek in the Seneca Army Depot emptying into Seneca Lake are contaminated with the “forever chemical” PFAS at tens of thousands of times the state’s limit for drinking water. Findings indicate that Kendaia Creek could be contaminating Seneca Lake. State test of fish from Kendaia creek showed PFOS levels from 81,000 ppt to 374,000 ppt. The state Department of Health requires public water systems to implement expensive cleanup measures if it exceeds 10 ppt.

The EPA has requested that the Army conduct a survey of private drinking water wells within onr mile of the former depot boundary since the extent of the contamination is not defined. According to Bill Roege, president of the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, “We clearly know the (former Seneca Army) Depot had a lot of PFAS chemicals and PFOA in particular with the firefighting foam. Given how stable the chemicals are, we fully expect to find some level of PFAS in the lake.”

IN THE WAKE OF MAJOR FLOOD DAMAGE, REDFORD WOMAN SUES PRESIDIO COUNTY

BigBendSentinel.com

A lawsuit was filed against Presidio County and Presidio Road and Bridge Supervisor after a retention pond built and owned by Presidio County burst and flooded a 10-acre property and the adobe home. The property owner’s lawsuit alleges that the county engaged in a pattern of “wrongful acts, omissions and/or negligence”.

The complaint identifies issues dating back to 2010 when a project to remove sediment from the retention pond was never completed and in 2013 when sediment was dumped into the retention pond instead of removed from the pond.

Furthermore, in 2018 allegedly Count Judge Cindrela Guevara instructed the Presidio Road and Bridge Supervisor to make repairs to the pond and to put up signs prohibiting dumping and vehicle entry into the pond or the dam, which was never completed.

The lawsuit seeks at least $250,000 in monetary relief.

HURLEY LANDFILL IN ULSTER COUNTY NAMED SUPERFUND SITE DUE TO PFAS

TimesUnion.com

The Hurley Town Landfill in Ulster County, New York, was recently added to the state’s registry of Superfund sites. The Hurley Landfill was categorized as a Class 02 which presents a “significant threat to public health and/or the environment”. Placement of the Hurley Landfill on the state's Superfund registry will allow the town to access more than $1 million of state remediation funds.

The contaminants of concern at the Hurley Landfill are PFOS and PFOA contamination which was detected on-site groundwater monitoring wells, in a leachate collection tank, in surface water and sediment samples adjacent to the site, as well as in private drinking water wells downgradient of the site. Additional investigation is required to further determine the extent of contamination and the appropriate actions to mitigate potential exposures.

CALIFORNIAN HOME ON THE MARKET FOR $1.55 MILLION THAT COMES WITH METH LAB IN BASEMENT

WashingtonPost.com

A listing for a 6-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 2,743 square foot property in San Jose has gone viral with the description, “[h]ome has an inactive Meth lab and meth contamination”. The listing states there is no access to the home until the property has been cleared by the Santa Calara County’s Health Department Guidelines and remediation responsibility will be passed on to the new buyer. With the disclosure of the meth lab and contamination, the property was listed for sale at $1,550,000 million.

TETRA TECH AWARDED $800 MILLION MULTIPLE AWARD TASK ORDER CONTRACT FOR PFAS REMEDIATION

LABusinessJournal.com

Tetra Techn, Inc is the recipient of a $800 million 5-year award provided by the U.S. Army Engineering Support Center, Huntsville to remove PFAS from fire suppression systems at installations around the United States. Tetra Tech, Inc. provides high-end consulting and engineering services and has a history of supporting the U.S. Department of Defense to safely address potentially harmful chemicals in bases and the surrounding environment.

The source of the PFAS is in the aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) which has been used for decades in fire suppression systems. Tetra Tech, Inc will look to evaluate it’s proprietary PFAScrub cleaning agent along with performance verification methods in order to remove residual PFAS from the interior of fire suppression systems.

WILDFIRE, DROUGHT CAUSE $11.2 BILLION IN DAMAGE TO PRIVATE TIMBERLAND

today.oregonstate.edu

Between California, Oregon, and Washington, wildfires and droughts over the past decade have resulted in approximately $11.2 billion in damages to privately held timberland according to a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.

Data utilized in the study included over 9,000 sales of privately-owned timberland that were over 10 acres and transacted from 2004 to 2020. Results found that drought stress reduced the economic value of timberland by 1% on average. In addition, wildfires reduced the value of timberland by an additional 8.7% over the past two decades.

The study found that the decrease in value from wildfires was largely attributable to the frequent proximity of neighboring fires that altered landowners’ expectations of fire arrival and increased risk of investing in private timberland.

PENTAGON INVESTIGATING SIX SITES IN MINNESOTA FOR PFAS CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER

MinnesotaReformer.com

The Department of Defense found PFAS chemicals in drinking water wells near military installations in Duluth and Little Falls, Minnesota. The Defense Department is now investigating six sites in the state for PFAS contamination. PFAS is a class of industrial chemicals that do not break down in the environment and can build up in humans over time. They are associated with reproductive problems and some cancers. The Defense Department is testing water supplies near military sites that have used firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals.

FINANCE MINISTRY INVESTIGATORS CHARGE 5 INDIVIDUALS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE THROUGH TAX FORGERY

AARP.org

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry charged five individuals with manufacturing and using forged tax documents, resulting in a “large amount” of property damage. The offenders established two fictitious companies to produce eight forged documents that alleged performance of works. They created and used $38,676 in VAT assets through the false documentation. The Service said that the state was being compensated appropriately for the damages caused and the crime was punishable by four to seven years in prison.

METHODIST CHURCH SUES CITY OF OKEMAH FOR CREATING A STINKY MESS

OkemahNewsLeader.com

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit against the city of Okemah on Monday, September 25. The church alleges the City of Okemah and the Utility Authority were responsible for the maintenance, repair, and operation of the sewer system partially located on the Plaintiff’s real property. The property located at 202 North 3rd Street was flooded with raw sewage and caused substantial property damage. The church affirms that the sewer system is an ongoing nuisance, both private and public. The church and other plaintiffs are seeking abatement and over $75,000.

MORROW, UMATILLA COUNTIES RECEIVE $1.7M TO ADDRESS NITRATE CONTAMINATION

HermistonHerald.com

Nitrate contamination is impacting residential wells in two counties in northeast Oregon. As part of a congressional spending bill, Umatilla and Morrow counties will receive $1.7 million in federal aid to address the contamination. The funding will be used to implement a standardized well-testing program for domestic wells and to develop permanent drinking water solutions.

It is estimated that 3,291 private domestic wells may be polluted with unhealthy levels of nitrate within the management area. State agencies and volunteers are offering to test residents’ wells for free. Bottled water is now being delivered to 341 households. Water treatment systems have been installed in 28 homes.