EPA ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL REGAN ANNOUNCES $2 BILLION FOR SMALL WATER SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS PFAS

www.GMToday.com

The tallest structure in Maysville, a landmark to nudge visitors from US Highway 17 to Main Street, is the water tower that provided 70,000 gallons of water daily to the Jones County town. 4 years ago, Lee Ferguson sampled the drinking water.

“We were caught off guard,” Ferguson, a Duke University scientist, said at a roundtable discussion with local, state and federal officials in Maysville. “We didn’t expect to see it here.” Maysville’s drinking water, sourced from the Castle Hayne aquifer, contained PFAS: 13 types totaling 334 parts per trillion. 

EPA administrator, Michael Regan, visited Maysville to announce the Biden administration is immediately allocating $2 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in their public drinking water supplies.

TENANTS CLAIMS ‘BOGUS CHARGES’ FOR OVERLAND PARK APARTMENT DAMAGE

www.KSHB.com

Former tenants at an Overland Park apartment complex believe that they were hit with thousands  of dollars in what they described as bogus charges when moving out.

“It was neat and clean,” said Rajneesh Shula, describing how he left his apartment at Corbin Greens that he had been renting with his wife and children last year. Shula was shocked when Corbin Greens did not refund his deposit and also claimed he owed $3,600 for damaging the granite kitchen countertops.

Shula’s complaint isn’t the first time Corbin Greens has charged to replace granite countertops. A judge ruled in favor of the tenant after a Corbin Greens employee admitted in mediation that the granite had not been sealed.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES CONDOS: WHICH PROPERTIES REMAIN RESTRICTED DUE TO TROPICAL STORM DAMAGE?

LocalToday.news

Back-to-back tropical storms Ian and Nicole wreaked havoc in Florida. One particular condo development, Daytona Beach Shores, has had restrictions put in place on about 30 of their properties.

The Sage ‘n Sand apartment complex was removed from the latest list following the demolition of the two-story 29-room beachfront complex.

The properties are identified as either “P,” for posted buildings, “P (limited access),” for posted buildings with engineer-specified limited access, or “R,” for buildings released with conditions.

When will restricted properties reopen? Some property owners and managers are using social media or their property’s website to keep the community updated. Phone numbers for a couple of the properties remain disconnected.

PER- AND POLYFLOUROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS): PROPOSED PFAS NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATION

www.GreatLakesNow.org

On March 14, 2023, EPA announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). The proposed PFAS NPDWR does not require any actions until it is finalized. EPA anticipates finalizing the regulation by the end of 2023.

EPA is requesting public comment on the proposed regulation. The public comment period will open following the proposed rule publishing in the Federal Register. Public comments can be provided at that time at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114.

The purpose of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) is to establish legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). EPA is also proposing health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these six PFAS.

The proposed rule would also require public water systems to:

• Monitor for these PFAS

• Notify the public of the levels of these PFAS

• Reduce the levels of these PFAS in drinking water if they exceed the proposed standards.

SAMSUNG CHIP PLANT SUES INSURER OVER $400 MILLION IN STORM DAMAGE CLAIMS

USAHerald.com

A winter storm in 2021 was the catalyst for a lawsuit for over $400 million in damages.

A Samsung Electronics Co. semiconductor plant in Texas sued its insurer for damage claims tied to a power blackout. The federal lawsuit against Factory Mutual Insurance Co. said the Austin plant sustained “catastrophic losses” from property damage and lost business.

Factory Mutual paid Samsung a fraction of the $400 million claim as part of a “broader scheme” to underpay all storm-related claims by Texas policyholders. The $126 million that Factory Mutual paid to Samsung, cited policy exclusions for events that occur off the insured property, according to the lawsuit.

During the blackout, the Samsung plant was without power for roughly three days and had to spend subsequent days slowly reinstating power to its fabrication units.

FIRE CAUSES $1.25M IN DAMAGE AT HISTORIC ILLINOIS MANSION

Patch.com

On February 1, 2023 a fire broke out at Haley Mansion in Joliet causing $1.25 million in damages. According to the Joliet Fire Department the fire was accidental and started on the third floor of the mansion. At the time of the fire no one was in the mansion and no injuries were reported.

MORE THAN 4,000 KILLED IN TURKEY, SYRIA AFTER POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE AND AFTERSHOCKS

ABC30.com

On February 6, 2023 a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Turkey early Monday killed more than 4,000 people there and in neighboring Syria. The earthquake occurred in the Kahramanmaras province, north of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border and was felt as far as Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

Following the initial quake dozens of powerful aftershocks occurred including one measured at a 7.5 magnitude. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the number of people killed, injured and displaced probably will climb.

LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS HEAR FROM SELAH RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION

www.YakimaHerald.com

Selah residents who are being affected by groundwater contamination near the Yakima Training Center have been speaking with local officials over concerns over the U.S Army’s handling of cleanup efforts. These concerns include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — also called PFOA and PFOS — seeping into the ground near residential water sources in east Selah arose in 2021 when the military started testing the wells near the training center. These chemicals are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” and are toxic to humans.

Water testing done by the army revealed that out of the 300 total wells tested, 62 wells providing water to 87 residences were found to contain levels of the two chemicals exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s Health Advisory of 70 parts per trillion.

NEW MAP REVEALS ISLAND EROSION TO CAUSE OVER £21 MILLION PROPERTY DAMAGE BY 2100

LawQuarter.com.au

A new map of the Isle of Wright coastline shows three areas that will lose more than £21 million worth of residential property to coastal erosion by the year 2100. These areas are estimated to lose 92 homes worth £21,561,453, with 23 around Binstead and Quar, 33 in Thorness and Gurnard and 36 in the Colwell Bay area.

Maps were plotted using Environmental Agency data and Shoreline Management Plans and shows areas where no new sea defenses will be built to defend against erosion, leaving homes vulnerable to the sea.

Angela Terry, One Home chief executive, said: “Sea levels are rising as global temperatures soar and so larger waves batter our coast during severe storms. These irreversible changes mean some cliff faces are crumbling fast. We can’t turn the tide or build a wall around the entire coast, so we urgently need to help seaside communities to prepare for the damage that will come.”

OFFICIALS: DEADLY CHICAGO HIGH-RISE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL

www.CBSNews.com

A high-rise apartment building in Chicago caught on fire after someone in the building used smoking materials, according to investigators. Investigators were also able to identify that the smoke detector in the unit where the fire broke out was not working.

The fire began on the 15th floor and moved up to the 24th floor with over 300 fire and Emergency Medical Service workers responding to the fire.

One person was killed and eight people were sent to the hospital, further details were not provided.

GOV. GREG ABBOTT ISSUES DISASTER DECLARATION FOR TEXAS ICE STORM

www.DallasNews.com

A disaster declaration was issued by Governor Greg Abbott four days after an ice storm left hundreds of thousands of Texans without power.

The counties included in the disaster declaration were for Denton, Hays, Henderson, Milam, Smith, Travis and Williamson. Additional counties may be added based off in progress damage assessments.

The declaration enabled the state to provide assistance to people and communities with property damage. Governor Abbott also encouraged residents to report damage, with details and photos if possible, through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool survey.

TEXAS TORNADOES CAUSE NEARLY $4.6B IN PROPERTY DAMAGE

www.WFAA.com

On January 24, 2023, approximately 18,600 single- and multifamily residential properties were damaged from hail, winds, and tornadoes across the Gulf Coast area of Harris County. CoreLogic computed a combined reconstruction value of $4.6 billion.

Winds gusts reached 136 to 165 miles per hour destroying homes as well as disrupted operations at petrochemical facilities outside of Houston, Texas.

MANSION DESTROYED BY FIRE LAST YEAR AND LISTED ON ZILLOW WAS OFF THE MARKET WITHIN A WEEK

www.MarketWatch.com

A listing on Zillow went viral recently after users spotted the highly unusual photos of a property that was ablaze. The home located in Franklin, Tennessee was badly damaged by a fire in September 2022 and the listing photos on Zillow show the extent of the fire damage.

Homeowner Danny Duval bought the home in 2020 and was in the process of putting the finishing touches on remodeling the home, when it caught fire.

After dealing with investigators, insurance companies and lawyers, he decided to sell the house and move on. “What I can tell you is we’ve had a major loss, and we’ve already settled with the insurance company. [But] we’ve still not been made whole,” he explained. “We want to put it behind us.”

The home received 15 calls in the first hour of being listed and was under contract within a week.

EPA PROPOSES CLEANUP PLAN FOR SULPHUR BANK MERCURY MINE SUPERFUND SITE

www.WikiWand.com

An EPA cleanup plan for the 160-acre Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund site was released to the public for review and comments. The plan focuses on cleanup in Clearlake Oaks, specifically the mine area, the sovereign territory of the Elem Indian Colony Tribe and contaminated soils in the residential area to the southwest of the site.

Since the site was placed on the Superfund cleanup program in August 1990, the EPA has completed eight early cleanups in an attempt to protect human health and the environment and reduce contamination in soil, lake water and sediments, fish and wildlife, and tribal and residential properties near the mine.

The cleanup plan is open for public comments until April 10, 2023. The EPA will host virtual Q&A sessions, in-person open houses, and in-person final meetings in the coming months.

AGRICULTURE POLLUTES UNDERGROUND DRINKING WATER IN MINNESOTA

DailyYonder.com

Residents in Wabasha County, Minnesota are seeing elevated levels of nitrate in their groundwater. With each periodic test, the nitrate concentration increased until it surpassed the EPA’s safety standard of 10 parts per million in 1990 and eventually climbed to 22 ppm.

Drinking water with high levels of nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Nitrates also have been linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

BAY AREA STORMS CAUSE MORE THAN $55M IN DAMAGE, SANTA CRUZ OFFICIALS SAY

www.SFChronicle.com

Costs for repairs to storm damage in Santa Cruz are piling up due to the mudslides, downed trees, and power outages, as well as flooded businesses, roadways and residences. The number tied to storm damages is expected to grow as first responders are still finding and experiencing damages.

Santa Cruz County emergency official David Reid told the Business Journal that the storms have caused more than $55 million in damage including more than $21 million for roads. Plus, lost revenues for area businesses are estimated to be between $5 million and $10 million.

HEAVY RAIN, WIND CAUSES DAMAGE THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY

www.USAToday.com

The storm on January 16 caused downed power lines and trees throughout San Diego County.

In Golden Hill, a 60-70-foot tree fell from the golf course onto the street around 2:30 a.m. Monday morning at Golf Course Drive and 28th Street. In Pacific Beach, a large tree crashed into powerlines in front of a residence, knocking out power to 2,100 units on Ingraham Street and Fortuna Avenue around 3:20 a.m. In Serra Mesa, several people were evacuated from their homes around 5:18 a.m. after a large pine tree fell onto the roof of a two-story apartment complex. No injuries were reported.

CALIFORNIA APPROVES $1.7 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH RESTAURANTS FOR COVID-19 CLOSURES FEES

www.NYTimes.com

COVID-19 forced restaurants to close or limit their service during the pandemic. Two class-action lawsuits allege restaurants still had to pay their health permit fees and license fees despite government-mandated closures.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.7 million settlement to resolve the two lawsuits brought by restaurant owners looking to recoup fees paid to the county during the pandemic.

Restaurants will receive credit against future fees if they paid their annual permit fee between the settlement period of March 17, 2020 to June 15, 2021 and are still in business. If they are no longer in business, but paid fees during the settlement period, they will receive reimbursement.

Similar lawsuits were also filed in Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Riverside, San Diego counties as well as Northern California counties. In San Diego, a settlement of $4.5 million over permit fees was finalized.

CITY OF SARTELL RECEIVES $50,000 CONTAMINATION CLEANUP AND INVESTIGATION GRANT

WJON.com

The city of Sartell, Minnesota has been awarded $50,000 for riverfront redevelopment at the old Verso Paper mill site. The city will use the money to fund a study for the 45.8-acre site to be redeveloped into a mix of residential and commercial use. The redevelopment project is anticipated to create close to 100 jobs and increase the local tax base by $647,000. Matching funds will be provided by the City of Sartell.

The funding was awarded by DEED’s Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grant Program, which will leverage more than $411 million in private investment.

There was a deadly explosion at the paper mill in May of 2012. The mill was permanently closed in August of that year. AIM Development bought the site from Verso in 2013 and demolished the buildings. It has been vacant ever since.

A PALM OIL SPILL ON MELBOURNE BEACHES

www.TheGuardian.com

An oil spill of mostly palm oil in Melbourne, Australia has spread across oceans and beaches. Some beaches have been temporarily closed by the city, despite the city’s hot summer temperatures. City officials are still trying to figure out exactly how this happened.

The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria) reported that its officers were investigating the source of oil contaminating St. Kilda Beach and Elwood Beach in Melbourne, Australia. Various tests are being conducted by EPA Victoria and forced the agency to issue a water quality alert to a number of neighboring Melbourne beaches. Beach visitors were recommended to stay away from the water.