Report: Energy development threatens biodiversity
Saturday, January 28, 2012-- Along with the significant pollution  including greenhouse gases  associated with use of fossil fuels, the push to extract more oil and gas is also a driver in the great wave of species extinctions currently sweeping the planet. -- (full text)
[Summit County Citizens Voice]

10 Green Building Predictions for 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012-- While the economy has not been kind to most new home builders, Earth Advantage has seen a surging interest in home energy management and energy improvement among homeowners. -- (full text)
[Triple Pundit]

Consumer Demand for Energy Savings Drives Improved Building Codes
Tuesday, January 17, 2012-- A new survey notes that consumer concerns about energy efficiency are one of the major driving forces behind state-by-state improvements in building energy codes. -- (full text)
[EnergyBoom]

Fight looms over Supreme Court wetlands decision in South Carolina
Sunday, January 08, 2012-- A patch of swampy land, tucked away at a country club south of Myrtle Beach, could ignite a fiery debate when lawmakers return Tuesday to Columbia for a new legislative session. -- (full text)
[The State]

Dumpster Rental Company Explains Chemical Waste and Proper Disposal
Sunday, January 08, 2012-- A dumpster rental White Lake MI company defines chemical waste and how to dispose it. They realize that improperly handled waste will not have a positive environmental impact on the community, and they want to help reshape that. -- (full text)
[Emailwire]

Green homes test shows reduction in heat loss
Sunday, January 08, 2012-- The recommendations put forward by the group of leading developers, academics and industry professionals who make up the Good Homes Alliance (GHA) follow the completion of the first phase of its field-leading monitoring and feedback programme. -- (full text)
[Green Building Press]

January is National Radon Action Month: Test for Dangerous Radon Gas
Sunday, January 08, 2012-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging people to take simple and affordable steps to test their homes for harmful levels of radon gas as part of National Radon Action Month. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Supreme Court takes up property rights dispute
Tuesday, January 03, 2012-- Next week, the Supreme Court will take up the Sacketts' case, not to redefine wetlands but to decide whether landowners are entitled to a hearing before a judge when they are confronted by the EPA. The case is being closely watched by developers and environmentalists. -- (full text)
[Los Angeles Times]

20 Green Building Innovations of 2011
Sunday, January 01, 2012-- Our team had the great opportunity to report on hundreds of green building innovations in the form of new technologies and advanced materials. -- (full text)
[Jetson Green]

More states ban disposal of electronics in landfills
Sunday, January 01, 2012-- Seventeen states have banned electronic waste from landfills, requiring it to be recycled so its toxic materials don't leach into groundwater. Seven of these bans took effect this year, and two more will take effect soon: Illinois in January 2012 and Pennsylvania in January 2013. -- (full text)
[USA TODAY]

City establishes wetland credit bank
Sunday, January 01, 2012-- The city of International Falls announced last week that it has established a bank of credits to help mitigate the impact on wetlands of local development projects. -- (full text)
[International Falls Daily Journal]

Webinar Jan. 12, 2012. Connecting Wellness and Environmental Health: Rain gardens and Other Sustainable Landscaping Practices for Stormwater Mgt.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011-- Join EPA New England for the Webinar Connecting Wellness and Environmental Health: Rain gardens and Other Sustainable Landscaping Practices for Stormwater Management at Healthcare Facilities on January 12, 2012 from 12-2pm EST. -- (full text)
[EPA New England]

Wright Brothers Construction Company and Georgia Department of Transportation Settlement
Tuesday, December 13, 2011-- Tennessee Construction Company and Georgia Department of Transportation Agree to Pay $1.5 Million Penalty to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations -- (full text)
[EPA]

Construction material supplier will pay $740,000 penalty and spend $8 million updating its compliance programs to resolve Clean Water Act allegations
Friday, December 09, 2011-- As part of its agreement with the EPA, Lafarge will pay a $740,000 civil penalty. Additionally, Lafarge will implement a nationwide evaluation and compliance program at 189 of its similar facilities to ensure all facilities meet Clean Water Act requirements -- (full text)
[JD Supra (press release)]

"Green infrastructure'"-- a toolbox for reducing runoff and beautifying American cityscapes, too
Wednesday, November 23, 2011-- The most stirring aspect of "Rooftops to Rivers" is how much better these example cities have become  in ways that go far beyond simply reducing runoff  through creation of beautiful streetscapes, rooftop oases, public gardens, greenbelts and more. -- (full text)
[MinnPost.com]

EPA Orders Developer And Construction Company To Address Discharges Of Turbid Stormwater
Tuesday, November 15, 2011-- According to an order issued in September by EPA's New England office, Bailin & Associates Inc. of Worcester and its general contractor, Rotti Construction Inc.of West Boylston,violated requirements of the Clean Water Act for stormwater discharges, which resulted in silt traveling from the construction site into a wetland, a stream, and nearby ponds. -- (full text)
[Water Online]

EPA Develops New Planning Approach to Improve Water Quality in U.S. Cities
Friday, October 28, 2011-- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a commitment to using an integrated planning process to help local governments dealing with difficult financial conditions identify opportunities to achieve clean water by controlling and managing releases of wastewater and stormwater runoff more efficiently and cost effectively. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release)]

EPA Launches New Website to Protect Wetlands; Urges Public to Report Any Violations of the Law
Monday, October 10, 2011-- Wetlands are protected by the federal Clean Water Act, and the Corps of Engineers - or in many instances a state or territory - must issue a permit before a wetland can be impacted. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Homebuilder Ryland Group Inc., To Pay $625,000 Penalty and Implement Company-Wide Stormwater Controls
Monday, October 10, 2011-- The Ryland Group Inc., one of the nation's largest homebuilders, will pay a civil penalty of $625,000 to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites, including sites located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

WaterSense Partners of the Year Recognized for Dedication to Water-Efficiency
Friday, October 07, 2011-- More than 2,200 partners make WaterSense labeled products and new homes more affordable and easy to find, including the six Partners of the Year who have shown outstanding contributions to water-efficiency. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Portsmouth N.H. Scrap Metal Company Faces Fine for Polluted Water Discharges
Thursday, October 06, 2011-- Stormwater monitoring by the property owner of Grimmel's Portsmouth facility (Pease Development Authority) confirms stormwater discharges from Grimmels metal scrapyard operations contain metals, suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand which exceed permit benchmarks. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release)]

Feed your lawn, but choke the Indian River Lagoon
Wednesday, September 28, 2011-- The problem: The fertilizers that plump up our lawns, parks and golf courses also hurt the lagoon. -- (full text)
[Florida Today]

Green infrastructure report examines barriers, gateways to adopting GI
Thursday, September 15, 2011-- The Clean Water America Alliance (Alliance) released a report, Barriers and Gateways to Green Infrastructure, today in an international webcast as part of the Virtual H2O conference. -- (full text)
[Water World]

Apartment complex developer to pay stormwater penalty
Thursday, September 08, 2011-- The owner of an apartment complex in east Columbia has agreed to pay a $430,000 civil penalty to the federal government for violating the Clean Water Act, capping a four-year enforcement process with the Environmental Protection Agency. -- (full text)
[Columbia Daily Tribune]

EPA Withdraws Proposal to Revise Numeric Turbidity Limit for Construction
Wednesday, August 17, 2011-- The Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have revised the numeric turbidity limit for stormwater runoff from construction sites, and plans to seek additional data, an agency spokeswoman said Aug. 16. -- (full text)
[The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA)]

Developer to pay penalty and restore wetlands at Sioux Falls housing development
Tuesday, August 09, 2011-- Candle Development must pay a civil penalty of $100,000 and is required to perform restoration and mitigation projects to address unauthorized impacts to wetlands that occurred during development near Nine Mile Creek in Sioux Falls. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA broadens wetlands jurisdiction
Tuesday, July 19, 2011-- The period for public comments on an Environmental Protection Agency document has been extended until the end of July, giving developers in the area one last chance to voice disagreement with expansion of the agency's scope under the Clean Water Act. -- (full text)
[Katy Times]

Modification to 2008 NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated With Construction
Tuesday, July 19, 2011-- This modification will extend the three-year permit so that it expires on February 15, 2012 instead of June 30, 2011. -- (full text)
[Federal Register]

EPA chief: states on track for Chesapeake Bay cleanup
Thursday, July 14, 2011-- Jackson said she is satisfied with progress made by Virginia, the bay's five other watershed states and the District of Columbia in drafting plans to cut the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that is discharged into the bay. -- (full text)
[Daily Press (blog)]

Home-builder to pay $104K to fund open space in Mount Olive in settlement of water pollution case
Monday, July 11, 2011-- Under the settlement, D.R. Horton will also pay a $99,000 penalty for violations at homes sites in Hanover and Mount Laurel of regulations that protect against pollution from stormwater runoff, according to the EPA. -- (full text)
[The Star-Ledger - NJ.com]

Update on Waters of the U.S. Draft Guidance
Tuesday, June 28, 2011-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have extended the public comment period by 30 days for the draft guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Deadline Approaches for National Water Pollution Conference
Tuesday, June 28, 2011-- The world's foremost experts on storm and surface-water quality will get together in Anaheim, CA August 21  25 to explore the newest water pollution prevention and mitigation technologies, share their recent experiences and discuss which strategies are most effective in minimizing surface water pollution. -- (full text)
[PR Newswire (press release)]

Three Weeks Left to Comment on EPA Stormwater Regs
Friday, June 17, 2011-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period for the draft Construction General Permit (CGP) to regulate stormwater discharges from June 24, 2011, to July 11, 2011, to give the Associated General Contractors and other stakeholders additional time to review the draft permit and provide comments. -- (full text)
[ForConstructionPros.com]

EPA Launches New Strategy to Promote Green Infrastructure
Monday, June 13, 2011-- To help accelerate the "green" movement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new strategy to promote the use of green infrastructure by cities and towns to reduce stormwater runoff and the associated pollution that flows off city streets, parking lots and neighborhood lawns. -- (full text)
[Water World]

Maryland passes lawn fertilizer bill to help reduce polluted stormwater runoff
Sunday, May 22, 2011-- The bill limits nitrogen and bans most phosphorus in fertilizers used by most consumers. It also restricts when it can be applied and establishes a certification program for commercial applicators. -- (full text)
[Water World]

Permeable Pavement Systems
Saturday, May 14, 2011-- Storm water flooding and runoff at homes, businesses and our communities is having a growing impact on our day-to-day lives. However, several permeable pavement systems are available to the homeowner, business owner and municipality that can significantly improve the sustainability of properties. -- (full text)
[The Lane Report]

A Coast-to-Coast Guide to Endangered Species
Saturday, May 14, 2011-- Conserved parklands, including our national parks and wildlife preserves and their state and local counterparts, provide bulwarks against further habitat loss and offer some of the best viewing opportunities for these rarities. -- (full text)
[New York Times]

US Aims to Expand Wetland Protection
Wednesday, May 11, 2011-- The new framework encompasses all current actions aimed at ensuring clean water across the country, as well as future plans for continued collaboration with communities and NGOs. It has won support from conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts and regulators alike for aiming to expand protection of waterways without requiring new legislation or violating Supreme Court decisions that threw the definition of covered wetlands into question. -- (full text)
[Ecosystem Marketplace]

EPA Expands Federal Regulation of Wetlands
Wednesday, May 11, 2011-- EPA's guidance document asserts expanded permit and enforcement authority under the federal Clean Water Act to include intermittent streams and isolated ponds, particularly in the West. -- (full text)
[Gerson Lehrman Group]

Roofs green up: Downtown's overhead gardens treat the eye and the Earth
Monday, May 09, 2011-- John Carloftis, a Kentuckian who has designed rooftop gardens in Manhattan, planned the 21c garden for the hotel's owners, Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson. -- (full text)
[Louisville Courier-Journal]

EPA Webcast Covering New Construction General Stormwater Permit on May 24th
Thursday, May 05, 2011-- EPA is holding a webcast on the new requirements in the proposed permit. It is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24 from 1-3 pm EST. Check the link below for more information. Registration will be available by approximately May 9, 2011. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA Launches New Strategy to Promote Use of Green Infrastructure for Environmental and Economic Benefits
Sunday, May 01, 2011-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new strategy to promote the use of green infrastructure by cities and towns to reduce stormwater runoff that pollutes our nation's streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and coastal waters. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA Solicits Public Comment on Permit to Reduce Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites
Tuesday, April 19, 2011-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing for public comment a draft permit that will help improve our nation's waterways by regulating the discharge of stormwater from construction sites. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Modification to 2008 NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities
Tuesday, April 19, 2011-- This proposed modification would extend the 3-yr permit so that it expires on January 31, 2012 instead of June 30, 2011. Comments on EPA's proposal must be postmarked by May 25, 2011. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Mass. Developer Protects Wetlands to Settle Clean Water Violations
Thursday, February 17, 2011-- The owner and general contractor of a residential development in Ayer, Mass., have agreed to pay a penalty of $27,500 and to donate a 7.6-acre parcel to the town to settle EPA claims that they discharged pollutants into nearby waters without the required stormwater permit and failed to apply for this permit. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA Fines DOT, 3 Contractors
Tuesday, February 01, 2011-- The Environmental Protection Agency says the Iowa Transportation Department and three contractors have agreed to pay a $60,000 penalty for violating terms of a construction permit for a U.S. Highway 30 project in Tama County. -- (full text)
[WOI]

Builder cited for alleged stormwater-related violation
Wednesday, January 19, 2011-- EPA issued the company, along with six ohter entities in the southeast, an administrative order requiring them to conduct remediation activities. -- (full text)
[Asheville Citizen-Times]

EPA accepts Virginia's plan for Chesapeake Bay
Sunday, January 09, 2011-- Last week EPA issued its "pollution diet" for the Chesapeake Bay. -- (full text)
[Bizjournals.com ]

Highway Construction Company Agrees to Pay $60,000 Civil Penalty for Impacting Stream, Wetlands
Wednesday, January 05, 2011-- A private construction company hired by the Iowa Department of Transportation to work on a section of Interstate 35 in Clarke County, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $60,000 civil penalty to the United States for performing unpermitted fill activities that impacted a section of a nearby stream and three acres of adjacent wetlands. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov]

EPA Announces 2010 Enforcement and Compliance Results
Tuesday, December 07, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the release of its annual enforcement and compliance results. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, EPA took enforcement and compliance actions that require polluters to pay more than $110 million in civil penalties and commit to spend an estimated $12 billion on pollution controls, cleanup, and environmental projects that benefit communities. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA Region 6 Compliance and Enforcement Results for 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office announced that enforcement actions in fiscal year 2010 resulted in $887 million in pollution controls by companies, governments and other regulated entities. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA Marks 40th Anniversary
Friday, December 03, 2010-- Today marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an event commemorated both by EPA staff and by outside groups and individuals in a variety of ways throughout the week. The link will take you to a list of the activities that took place and will continue to take place this week. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Residential Homebuilder Settles Clean Water Act Violations in 21 States
Thursday, December 02, 2010-- Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a national residential homebuilder, has agreed today to pay a $925,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites in 21 states. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA's Revised Construction Effluent Guidelines Released
Thursday, November 25, 2010-- The new 280-NTU numeric limit in the final rule applies to construction activities disturbing 10 acres or more (contiguous or not) at one time. The rule will go into effect in phases: within 18 months of its publication, sites disturbing 20 or more acres will have to begin monitoring and complying with the 280-NTU limit. Four years after the rule's effective date, sites disturbing 10 acres or more will need to comply. -- (full text)
[Stormwater]

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management revises stormwater pollution regulations as EPA seeks tighter rules
Monday, November 22, 2010-- The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has sent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a revision of its stormwater pollution regulations, hoping to avoid federal intervention in the stormwater permitting process. -- (full text)
[al.com]

Bay cleanup costs further detailed for Charlottesville
Thursday, November 18, 2010-- Jim Tolbert, director of the city's Department of Neighborhood Development Services, said the Timmons Group has estimated it could cost as much as $50,000 an acre to retrofit or redevelop land to reduce pollution, with an ultimate cost in the tens of millions of dollars. -- (full text)
[Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center]

Webcast: Stormwater rulemaking for Chesapeake Bay watershed, November 16, 1 PM EST
Monday, November 15, 2010-- EPA will summarize potential provisions of the stormwater rulemaking with respect to the Chesapeake Bay watershed and audience members will be able to make 3 minute verbal statements to EPA. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Ohio Rain Gardens To Absorb Stormwater Runoff
Friday, October 08, 2010-- Grant money from the Ohio EPA is going into the construction and installation of 16 neighborhood rain gardens and five right-of-way gardens to absorb stormwater runoff. -- (full text)
[NBC4i.com]

EPA fines 2 Puget Sound developers
Wednesday, September 29, 2010-- The Environmental Protection Agency has fined two Puget Sound developers a total of $49,000 for stormwater run-off violations at their contruction sites. -- (full text)
[Seattle Post Intelligencer]

EPA stormwater regulations = Green roof marketing
Monday, September 27, 2010-- The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed changes to stormwater regulations may have quite significant financial impacts on the development industry and create opportunities for some businesses using green roof design and construction and new products and techniques, such as pervious concrete. -- (full text)
[Washington Business Journal (blog)]

Developers and Contractors Take Heed
Friday, September 03, 2010-- U.S. EPA continues to demonstrate just how serious the Agency is about muddy stormwater discharges from construction sites. EPA is seeking up to $177,500 in penalties from two Massachusetts companies constructing a residential development for unauthorized stormwater discharges. -- (full text)
[Enviro.BLR.com]

EPA to Reconsider Final Rule on Stormwater Discharges for Construction Sites
Friday, August 20, 2010-- Today the Office of Advocacy applauded the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to reexamine its final rule for stormwater discharges for construction sites. -- (full text)
[ForConstructionPros.com]

EPA looks to 'green infrastructure' solutions to flooding
Monday, August 09, 2010-- "Green infrastructure manages storm water not as a waste product but as a valued resource," the statement said, describing how widespread pavement means "storm water has fewer places to soak into the ground." -- (full text)
[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

EPA Issues New Guide to Improving Stormwater Management
Friday, August 06, 2010-- By evaluating the effectiveness of dozens of stormwater permits, EPA identified several areas needing clarification. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release)]

EPA Rejects Claims of Flawed Climate Science
Friday, July 30, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that climate change is real, is occurring due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, and threatens human health and the environment. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

3 Mass. Real Estate Development and Construction Companies Fined $150K for Clean Water Violations
Thursday, July 22, 2010-- Subject to court approval, three related real estate development, construction and engineering companies will pay a $150,000 penalty for illegally discharging polluted stormwater from multiple Mass. construction sites. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA Seeks Small Business Input on Proposed Stormwater Rule
Thursday, July 22, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses and municipalities to nominate representatives to provide input on a proposed stormwater rule. The rule would strengthen the national stormwater program under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and focus on stormwater discharges from developed sites, such as subdivisions, roadways, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings or shopping centers. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Nation's Stormwater Experts Meet at StormCon August 15 to Fight Water Pollution
Friday, July 02, 2010-- In its ninth year, StormCon will feature 100 educational sessions given by more than 150 of the nation's leading stormwater experts. -- (full text)
[PR Newswire]

EPA fines construction company $70,000 for stormwater violations
Monday, June 28, 2010-- The penalty is for stormwater violations at the construction site known as Blue Springs Rail Spur. PULA and Eutaw Construction Company, Inc. agreed upon a $40,000 settlement with the EPA. -- (full text)
[TopWireNews]

EPA Cites Sharp Homes-Hunter's Ridge Development For Violation of Federal Stormwater Regulations
Wednesday, May 19, 2010-- The complaint cites the Joliet, Ill., company for failing to prevent or minimize discharges, initiate stabilization measures, conduct inspections and maintain proper records. A penalty of $15,000 has been assessed. -- (full text)
[EPA]

4 subdivisions named in $1 million EPA lawsuit
Thursday, May 13, 2010-- The EPA settlement reads, "Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a builder of residential homes nationwide, has agreed today to pay a $1 million civil penalty to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at 591 construction sites in 18 states and the District of Columbia." -- (full text)
[Avon Lake Ledger]

Proposed Information Collection Request for Stormwater Rulemaking
Monday, May 10, 2010-- EPA is currently developing a proposed rulemaking to strengthen its stormwater regulations and to establish a program to reduce stormwater discharges from developed sites. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Residential Homebuilder Settles Clean Water Act Violations in 18 States and D.C.
Thursday, April 22, 2010-- "Without appropriate onsite pollution controls, sediment-laden runoff from construction sites can pollute local waterways. This enforcement agreement will mean cleaner water for hundreds of communities across the country." -- (full text)
[PR Newswire (press release)]

Local governments concerned about funding as TMDLs move forward
Sunday, April 18, 2010-- The EPA this year will establish the maximum nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loads that can enter the Bay from each state and from each major tributary. By the end of the year, states must have Watershed Implementation Plans approved by the EPA showing how they will achieve those nutrient and sediment reductions. By summer 2011, states have to go a step further and allocate nutrient reduction goals to counties or small watersheds. -- (full text)
[The Chesapeake Bay Journal]

EPA Pilots Effort to Reduce Stormwater Pollution from Commercial Properties With Two or More acres of Impervious Surfaces (e.g., parking lots)
Friday, April 09, 2010-- The EPA action will apply to properties with two or more acres of impervious area (parking lots, roofs, roadways, etc.) in the Towns of Milford, Franklin, and Bellingham. These large property owners with two or more acres of impervious surfaces will now be required to obtain an EPA Clean Water permit, and to take steps to reduce pollutants in stormwater. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov]

What Explains the Incidence of the Use of a Common Sediment Control on Lots with Houses Under Construction?
Thursday, March 18, 2010-- In the United States, deposition of eroded sediments impaired 13.2% of assessed rivers and streams in 1998 (EPA, 2000) and 12.1% of assessed rivers and streams in 2000 (EPA, 2002). -- (full text)
[Water World]

Protecting America?s waters is top EPA priority for 2010 and beyond
Tuesday, March 09, 2010-- EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson issued a memorandum to agency employees last month outlining seven key themes that EPA will consider priorities going forward. Protecting the waters of the United States is one of them. -- (full text)
[Water World]

EPAs impact 'long time coming'
Friday, March 05, 2010-- In November 2009, the EPA issued a final rule to reduce water pollution from construction sites, which became effective in February. To be phased in over four years, the regulations seek to improve water quality and reduce the amount of sediment discharged from construction sites by up to 27 million pounds annually. -- (full text)
[SW Iowa News]

EPA Tests Environmentally Friendly Parking Lots
Friday, March 05, 2010-- In an effort to help reduce pollution runoff from paved parking lots, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is testing a variety of permeable paving materials at its facility in Edison, NJ. -- (full text)
[Water World]

Green Infrastructure Helping Protect Urban Waters
Friday, March 05, 2010-- Communities across the country are exploring the use of green infrastructure to protect the quality of their local rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries from the impact of development and urbanization. -- (full text)
[Water World]

Find out about rain gardens at open house
Monday, March 01, 2010-- The city is encouraging the construction of residential rain gardens as part of its agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency on reducing combined-sewer overflows. -- (full text)
[News Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN)]

EPA's Rulemaking Gateway
Monday, February 22, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new Web site giving the public additional opportunity to participate in the agencys rulemaking process. The online Rulemaking Gateway serves as a portal to EPAs priority rules, providing citizens with earlier and more concise information about agency regulations. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Too much pavement, too little oversight: EPA to tackle stormwater runoff
Monday, February 22, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is gearing up to tighten federal stormwater rules that have been criticized by environmental groups and deemed ineffective by a national panel of researchers. -- (full text)
[Environmental Health News]

Group seeks to create wetland-mitigation bank
Saturday, February 13, 2010-- Wetland banks must be permitted by the state or water district and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agencies assign a number of credits that mitigation bankers can sell based on the amount and value of wetlands to be restored. -- (full text)
[Daytona Beach News-Journal]

Developers fined nearly $45,000 for storm water violations
Thursday, February 11, 2010-- The Environmental Protection Agency has settled with seven firms and individuals accused of violating the Clean Water Act at construction sites in northern Idaho. EPA found the violations during routine inspections last fall in the Sandpoint area. The violations resulted in fines ranging from $8,000 - $14,000. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release)]

EPA Extends the Stormwater Construction General Permit by One Year
Friday, January 29, 2010-- The permit applies only where EPA is the permitting authority: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Idaho, Washington, D.C., most territories and most Indian country lands. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release)]

Why does it flood everytime it storms?
Friday, January 29, 2010-- Rampant development, with not enough thought given to a little something known as storm water runoff, is a major cause of todays urban flooding. And, if youll take a minute to think about it; those dots are easy to connect. -- (full text)
[Creative Loafing (blog)]

Storm-water discharge and new construction
Friday, January 29, 2010-- Beginning Feb. 1, a construction site of 1 acre or more will be subject to new compliance standards. -- (full text)
[Daily Journal of Commerce]

EPA Raps Violators for Stormwater, NPDES Mistakes
Friday, January 08, 2010-- EPA is requiring these four to revise their Notice of Intent for Permit coverage, modify their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, institute an inspection program, and address areas of potential discharges. -- (full text)
[EP Magazine]

EPA to Hold Public Listening Sessions on Potential Stormwater Rule
Wednesday, January 06, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold five listening sessions to provide information to the public about a potential rule to strengthen stormwater regulations and to establish a comprehensive program to reduce stormwater from new development and redevelopment. These potential regulations would help to reduce stormwater discharges that can harm water quality into nearby waterways. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Construction Site Stormwater Rules Include Numeric Limits
Tuesday, January 05, 2010-- The Environmental Protection Agency has toughened its regulations on stormwater pollution from construction sites. -- (full text)
[Water World]

City's "All Green" Stormwater Plan Raises Eyebrows at EPA
Monday, December 28, 2009-- Philadelphia has a groundbreaking idea about what to do with stormwater: Use it to feed grass and trees instead of letting it rush into the sewers. -- (full text)
[New York Times]

U.S. EPA and the Port of Stockton Agree on Improved Management of Storm Water Discharges
Thursday, December 17, 2009-- In a 2008 audit of the ports storm water management and control systems, the U.S. EPA and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board found deficiencies with the ports permit program concerning construction and industrial oversight, municipal operations, standard development, and toxicity monitoring. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release)]

EPA Releases Guidance to Help Federal Facilities Better Manage Stormwater
Wednesday, December 09, 2009-- Under the new requirements, federal agencies must minimize stormwater runoff from federal development projects to protect water resources. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Most Americans dont know what a watershed is. Do you?
Wednesday, December 09, 2009-- According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a watershed is the area of land where all the water that is under it or drains off it goes into the same place. -- (full text)
[SmartPlanet.com]

Bucklen Equipment cited by EPA
Friday, December 04, 2009-- Randy Bucklen, co-owner of the gravel pit and trucking operation, told the Business Report Daily that he didn't realize that he needed a permit when he wanted to open a channel in the river where it flows past his property. -- (full text)
[Northern Colorado Business Report]

EPA grant funds watershed research
Friday, December 04, 2009-- Money from a $500,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant will be used to try some "best management practices in an urban development being built in the watershed. -- (full text)
[NewsOK.com]

New EPA regulation keeps 4 billion tons of sediment and pollutants from Nation's water
Thursday, November 26, 2009-- This regulation is projected to reduce the amount of sediment discharged from construction sites by about 4 billion pounds each year, at an annual cost of about $953 million. -- (full text)
[Examiner.com]

Board upholds wetlands rule enforcement
Tuesday, November 17, 2009-- An Ono Island property owner's challenge of enforcement of wetland regulations by the county's top planner was rejected last week by the Baldwin County Zoning Board of Adjustments. -- (full text)
[Press-Register - al.com]

Feds cite county for stormwater violations
Monday, November 16, 2009-- The U.S. Environmental Protection agency has cited the county after finding several stormwater pollution control problems at two highway maintenance yards and the county landfill. -- (full text)
[Maryland Gazette]

Home builder settles EPA violations
Friday, November 13, 2009-- John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods has agreed to pay a $350,000 penalty as part of a proposed settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Department over alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at 25 developments, including three in the Charlotte region. -- (full text)
[Charlotte Business Journal]

Builder fined $350K for stormwater violations
Wednesday, November 11, 2009-- Atlanta-based John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties for violations of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department said Monday. -- (full text)
[Atlanta Journal Constitution]

Autopia Planes, Trains, Automobiles and the Future of Transportation EPA Tests Porous Pavement, Greener Gardens
Monday, November 09, 2009-- As stormwater runoff endangers the worlds water supply, the EPA is busy planting gardens and repaving its parking lots. -- (full text)
[Wired News]

EPA seeks comments on stormwater rule survey
Monday, November 09, 2009-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on a proposed regulation to help strengthen stormwater regulations and reduce stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA Cites Unlawful Filling of Wetlands at Wicomoco County, Md. Housing Development Site
Thursday, October 29, 2009-- Under the Clean Water Act, an Army Corps of Engineers permit is required before dredged or fill material may be discharged into wetlands areas. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA Proposes to Extend the Stormwater Construction General Permit by One Year
Thursday, October 22, 2009-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on extending the 2008 stormwater construction general permit by one year to June 30, 2011. The permit applies only where EPA is the permitting authority, which is in five states (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Idaho and Alaska); Washington, D.C.; most territories; and most Indian country lands. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Phase I of New Mitigation Bank Restores over 280 Acres of Wetlands
Saturday, October 10, 2009-- Third Louisiana Resource, LLC (TLR) a subsidiary of Resource Environmental Solutions LLC (RES), today announced the approval of Phase I of the Petit Bois Mitigation Bank, located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. -- (full text)
[Earthtimes]

States to be held more accountable for nutrient pollution
Saturday, October 10, 2009-- States could be halted from issuing new discharge permits, while farmers, local governments-and even lawn owners-could be affected under a new federal plan to crack down on Bay pollution. -- (full text)
[The Chesapeake Bay Journal]

Four marine companies operating in Southern California face fines of up to $177,500 for storm water violations
Tuesday, October 06, 2009-- Today's action is part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that ports, as well as their tenants, comply with storm water requirements. The U.S. EPA and the Los Angeles Regional Quality Control Board conducted a storm water audit of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in May 2007, and issued 20 administrative orders to the Ports' tenants in November 2007, including these four firms. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Dallas-Fort Worth Builders Make Stormwater Control a Priority
Sunday, October 04, 2009-- The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the construction association representing commercial contractors in North and East Texas have signed a voluntary stormwater control agreement with the state and federal governments. The agreement is intended to keep runoff from construction sites out of Texas waterways. -- (full text)
[Eco Factory]

Help Protect Children from Environmental Risks: EPA Provides Tips during Childrens Health Month
Friday, October 02, 2009-- October is Childrens Health Month. To heighten awareness about environmental issues impacting children, EPA is providing parents and caregivers simple tips they can use to help protect children in their homes, schools and communities. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA Requiring Local Governments to Initiate Storm Water Pollution Public Awareness Campaigns
Monday, September 28, 2009-- When the Environmental Protection Agency announced that all municipal and county governments with populations greater than 50,000 had to start educating their residents on rainwater management, ten state and local agencies in the Pacific Northwest turned to Timothy Colman for help. -- (full text)
[PR Web]

Michigan DEQ says wetlands program could end Oct. 1
Saturday, September 26, 2009-- Officials with the state Department of Environmental Quality say that unless legislators find a funding source for the program, it will cease to exist when the new state fiscal year begins. -- (full text)
[MLive.com]

Agency fines contractor $1.7 million
Saturday, September 19, 2009-- The Department of Environmental Protection is fining Phoenix Construction $1.7 million for environmental permit violations at the new airport under construction near West Bay. -- (full text)
[The News Herald]

New stormwater regulations could cost developers
Tuesday, September 15, 2009-- Wichita has to better regulate the water that runs off construction sites by Oct. 1, under its new stormwater license with state and federal regulators. -- (full text)
[Kansas.com]

Virginia may tighten screws on runoff pollution
Thursday, September 10, 2009-- Here's a riddle. When is rainfall bad for the environment? Answer: when it becomes "stormwater runoff," washing sediment and excess nutrients off yards and fields, then into streams, rivers and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. -- (full text)
[C-Ville Weekly]

Developer fined for violating run-off rules
Friday, September 04, 2009-- A West Fargo real estate developer must pay $37,500 in civil penalties after violating federal standards involving storm water run-off at its construction sites. -- (full text)
[In-Forum]

EPA Seeks Public Input on National Enforcement Priorities Through Online Forum
Wednesday, September 02, 2009-- The public will be able to provide feedback through the EPA Web site until December 1, giving them a forum to submit ideas for EPA to consider for new areas of enforcement focus. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Eco-Award Winning Luxury Homebuilder Fined for Stormwater Runoff
Monday, August 24, 2009-- Just two years ago, one of the largest luxury home developers in the Southeast and Midwest was honored for its stormwater control practices, but today the same company was fined over half-a-million dollars to settle allegations of Clean Water Act violations on housing developments in three states. -- (full text)
[Environment News Service]

Ready-Mix Concrete Producer Agrees to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations
Friday, August 07, 2009-- The alleged violations included failure to document routine facility inspections and failure to perform quarterly monitoring and annual evaluations. In addition, the company allegedly discharged process waste waters, sanitary waste waters and storm water without proper permits from several facilities. -- (full text)
[PR Newswire (press release)]

Runoff Is Polluting Our Water
Thursday, August 06, 2009-- Data indicates water pollution from developed properties threatens to outpace the progress that's being made with agriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plants. -- (full text)
[Harrisonburg Daily News Record]

Landowners Ordered to Restore Wetlands in Sumner, Washington
Thursday, August 06, 2009-- Landowners who plan to work in wetlands or other aquatic resources must obtain the right permits and follow the requirements to protect these valuable resources, said EPAs Eaton. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov ]

City starts tests to install natural drainage in Ballard
Monday, August 03, 2009-- Seattle Public Utilities hosted the first of three public meetings with the Ballard community to present their plans to install bio-retention facilities to help manage the storm water runoff in a 10-block radius of the neighborhood. -- (full text)
[Ballard News Tribune]

EPA Fines Companies for Improper Stormwater Management at Construction Site
Friday, July 31, 2009-- F&R Contractors failed to obtain permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, and Palmas Lakes, Inc. failed to meet permit requirements. NPDES is a program under the federal Clean Water Act that regulates stormwater discharges associated with sewer systems, and industrial and construction activities. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Idaho Landowner Ordered to Restore Wetlands and Streams on Lamb Creek
Tuesday, July 28, 2009-- The order alleges that Barron placed rock and other fill material into four acres of wetlands and stream channels near Lamb Creek without necessary permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Landowner Ordered To Restore Wetland Habitat
Thursday, July 16, 2009-- Walker allegedly used heavy equipment to place 3,000 cubic yards of fill material, including shot rock and gravel, into one acre of wetlands and intertidal areas of Port Frederick. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release) - Washington, DC]

EPA Calls for Transparency as "First Step" to Improving Water Quality
Thursday, July 16, 2009-- In a July 2 memo to top staff, the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson, called for greater transparency of water quality enforcement and compliance information. -- (full text)
[OMB Watch - USA]

Low Impact Development Key to Washington's Stormwater Permit Changes
Friday, June 26, 2009-- The Washington Department of Ecology is modifying municipal stormwater requirements to provide for low impact development, and the timing of the move is intended to help cash-strapped local governments comply without compromising environmental protections. -- (full text)
[Environment News Service - USA]

Westervelt Co. creates mitigation bank to help firms offset developments
Monday, June 22, 2009-- A pine plantation in southeastern Tuscaloosa County soon will see its final harvest. Once the trees are cut, no new pine trees will be neatly planted on the 1,060-acre site near the Duncanville community. The land instead will return to a wild state, with some extra help from humans. -- (full text)
[Dateline Alabama - Birmingham, AL]

Senate committee votes to expand Clean Water Act
Monday, June 22, 2009-- Despite strong opposition from agricultural groups and private property rights advocates, a bill that would expand the federal reach of the Clean Water Act, and that could have sweeping effects on everyday farming activities, passed out of a key U.S. Senate committee last week. -- (full text)
[California Farm Bureau - Sacramento, CA]

Senate Moves to Restore Strong Protections for America's Waters
Monday, June 22, 2009-- The Clean Water Restoration Act would clarify Congress' intent to extend Clean Water Act protections to all the nations wetlands, streams and other waters. -- (full text)
[Arizona Reporter - Winslow, AZ]

40 Years Later, Blaze On Cuyahoga River Lives On In Law
Monday, June 22, 2009-- Fire and water don't generally mix, but 40 years ago Monday the two elements combined to attract national attention to the problem of industrial and urban pollution and to give birth to major federal environmental legislation. -- (full text)
[AHN - USA]

For Jackson, EPA Feels Like Home
Friday, June 19, 2009-- In an interview with National Journal's Margaret Kriz, Jackson discussed what's on the EPA's plate beyond climate change. -- (full text)
[National Journal - Washington, DC]

Idaho developer pays nearly $13,000 for failing to control runoff and violating the federal Clean Water Act
Thursday, June 18, 2009-- G.F. Barnes Construction, Inc. will pay $12,900 for allegedly mismanaging runoff from their Granite Peaks condominium construction site near Sandpoint, Idaho. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release) - Washington, DC]

Is this Man's 'Nutrient Farm' the Mitigation Bank of Tomorrow?
Thursday, June 18, 2009-- Like wetland mitigation banking, his scheme finances the rescue and restoration of wetlands, but it emphasizes the sale of water quality credits rather than wetland mitigation credits. -- (full text)
[Ecosystem Marketplace - Washington, DC]

Facilities Throughout the Southeast Ordered to Comply with Clean Water Act and Pay Penalties Totaling More Than $92,000
Monday, June 15, 2009-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Consent Agreements and Final Orders against 10 entities throughout the Southeast since the beginning of the fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2008. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Regional habitat conservation plan closer to reality
Monday, June 15, 2009-- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will grant $1.3 million to Bexar County and the City of San Antonio to fund the development of a regional habitat conservation plan. -- (full text)
[Bizjournals.com - Charlotte, NC]

Green Infrastructure Projects Promise Environmental Results in Ipswich River Watershed
Wednesday, June 10, 2009-- A series of low-impact development or green infrastructure projects are demonstrating techniques that show promise of improving water quality and stream flow in the Ipswich River Watershed. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Worcester Builder Faces Clean Water Act Fine of $157,000
Saturday, June 06, 2009-- The agency says the company faces up to $157,000 in penalties for failing to apply for a necessary permit between 2003 and 2008, failing to install and maintain safeguards like sedimentation control barriers and discharging stormwater from the construction site without a permit. -- (full text)
[Worcester Business Journal - Worcester, MA]

Wetlands infractions to cost Tea developer $469,500
Saturday, June 06, 2009-- Restoring a portion of the Big Sioux River drainage damaged by storm runoff and by placing fill in a wetland will cost Tea developer Mel Zelmer almost $500,000. -- (full text)
[Sioux Falls Argus Leader - Sioux Falls, SD]

Connecticut Rethinks Stormwater Permit, Water Quality Standards
Friday, May 29, 2009-- In view of concerns raised by the construction industry and environmentalists over proposed modifications to the state's General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has begun a new process of determination and public hearing. -- (full text)
[Environment News Service]

Muddy Water Watch Class to Train Volunteers on Sediment and Erosion Control
Monday, May 11, 2009-- The purpose of the Muddy Water Watch (MWW) program is to train volunteers in identifying sediment and erosion control problems at active construction sites, and procedures for working with regulatory officials to correct sediment and erosion problems. -- (full text)
[PRLog.Org (press release) - TX]

EPA Budget Aims to Create Jobs, Protect Human Health and the Environment
Monday, May 11, 2009-- Administrator Lisa P. Jackson released EPAs fiscal year 2010 budget blueprint, which takes significant strides to ensure that our air, land, and water are safe and clean. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Developers pay $86,000 for storm water violations at construction site
Sunday, May 03, 2009-- The settlement reached with EPA covered a long list of alleged Clean Water Act violations, including: failure to obtain a Construction General Permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting program and sediment discharge from the construction site into Easley Creek. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Congress Looks to Green Technologies for Stormwater Control
Thursday, March 26, 2009-- Green technologies for controlling urban stormwater runoff took center stage Thursday at the nation's Capitol, as the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee heard testimony on how to reduce barriers to adopting these methods of reducing runoff. -- (full text)
[Environment News Service - USA]

Idaho Developers Fined over $64,000 for Clean Water Act Violations
Thursday, March 05, 2009-- The violations were discovered in the summer of 2008 during routine EPA construction site inspections -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release) - Washington, DC]

EPA Blog: How has your community used smart growth for environment-friendly development?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009-- Communities grow to meet demand for homes, schools, shopping, offices, roads, and everything else. But community growth can affect the environment due to increases in traffic, energy and utilities, waste, and more. Share your answer! -- (full text)
[EPA]

Green Billions Fertilize the US Economic Stimulus Package
Monday, February 23, 2009-- The act specifically includes $7.22 billion for projects and programs administered by the EPA. These programs will protect and promote both green jobs and a healthier environment, Jackson said. -- (full text)
[Environment News Service - USA]

EPA sponsors green building conference in Atlanta
Monday, February 23, 2009-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring the 2009 Southeastern Lifecycle Construction Conference Feb. 25 and 26 in Atlanta. -- (full text)
[Asheville Citizen-Times - NC]

Request for Applications: Smart Growth Implementation Assistance
Monday, February 16, 2009-- EPA is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure webcast series
Wednesday, February 11, 2009-- The 2009 schedule of webcasts on Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure. Webcasts are free. The flyer provides information on how to register. Registration for the first webcast will open in about 2 weeks. -- (full text)
[EPA]

EPA fines developer for stormwater discharge
Friday, February 06, 2009-- Federal officials say an Idaho developer will pay more than $47,000 for illegally dumping storm water into a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Payette River. -- (full text)
[LocalNews8.com - Idaho Falls, ID]

Stormwater Pollution Solutions
Tuesday, February 03, 2009-- After a rain event the water has two options; soak into the ground or runoff. As we increase development and impervious surfaces we also increase our runoff potential. When stormwater runs off and flows over the ground into our storm sewer systems, it collects harmful pollutants and can deposit them (untreated) into our waterways. -- (full text)
[The Beacon - Port Clinton, OH]

New EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Testimony
Friday, January 23, 2009-- Read Administrator Lisa Jackson confirmation hearing text before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on January 14, 2009. -- (full text)
[Committee on Environment and Public Works]

Video Shows Green Practices to Manage Stormwater Runoff
Monday, January 19, 2009-- The film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters. The goal is to mimic the natural way water moves through an area before development by using design techniques that infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse runoff close to its source. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Stormwater Violations Costly for Massachusetts Developer
Friday, December 12, 2008-- A Massachusetts construction company building a public high school on 35 acres next to the Aberjona River will pay a $135,000 penalty for discharging polluted stormwater from its Reading, Massachusetts construction site and four other sites in Massachusetts. -- (full text)
[NBC Dallas-Fort Worth - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX]

US polluters to pay record $11.8 billion in 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008-- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcement actions during the 2008 budget year resulted in a record $11.8 billion in pollution controls and projects to clean up the environment, the agency said on Thursday. -- (full text)
[Reuters - USA]

Agencies Revise Guidance to Protect Wetlands and Streams
Thursday, December 04, 2008-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army are issuing revised guidance to ensure America's wetlands, streams and other waters are better protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The guidance clarifies the geographic scope of jurisdiction under the CWA. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Charles River Property Owners Must Now Control Stormwater
Thursday, December 04, 2008-- The federal and state actions will require the owners of industrial, commercial and residential facilities in the upstream towns of Milford, Franklin, and Bellingham with two or more acres of impervious area - such as parking lots, roofs, and roads - to operate under a Clean Water Act permit. -- (full text)
[Environment News Service - USA]

Wetland banking has fans, critics -- Developers' boon called inferior by environmentalists
Saturday, November 29, 2008-- Every wet acre added will replace a wetland destroyed by future development elsewhere in central Ohio. The practice, called wetland banking, is praised by developers as key to helping them meet state and federal environmental protections. -- (full text)
[Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH]

Northborough excavating firm to pay for mishandling stormwater
Tuesday, November 25, 2008-- A local excavating company has agreed to a settlement for illegally discharging stormwater at a subdivision building site in Holden. -- (full text)
[MetroWest Daily News - Framingham,MA]

'Green Street' program helps soak up storm runoff naturally
Thursday, November 13, 2008-- The infrastructure program, known as Green Streets, uses natural techniques to encourage absorption, filtration and re-use of stormwater. -- (full text)
[The Tennessean - Nashville, TN]

Agency cites village, Arbor developers
Thursday, November 06, 2008-- The village and a local home builder have received violation notices from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency regarding work being done in the Arbor of Plainfield subdivision. -- (full text)
[Joliet Herald News - Joliet, IL]

Agencies Partner To Offer Green Development Grants
Sunday, September 21, 2008-- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Tennessee Stormwater Association to offer a grant program designed to help local governments fund green infrastructure and low-impact development projects. -- (full text)
[The Chattanoogan - Chattanooga, TN]

Call to Action: Help Protect Water Resources
Thursday, September 18, 2008-- Today, EPA and several other organizations are joining together to kick off the 5th Annual World Water Monitoring Day. World Water Monitoring Day is a month-long international effort aimed to increase public awareness and involvement in water monitoring and protecting water resources around the world. -- (full text)
[EPA]

Boise Construction Sites Fail to Meet Federal Storm Water Requirements
Friday, September 05, 2008-- Braman-Lambdin Enterprises LLC, SouthFork Landing, Inc., and Warner Construction, operators at construction sites near Boise, Idaho, recently paid $20,150 to settle two enforcement cases for Clean Water Act (CWA) violations filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). -- (full text)
[Media Newswire (press release) - New York, NY]

Texas builders working to prevent storm water pollution
Monday, August 04, 2008-- Keeping Texas waterways free of storm water pollution is the goal behind an agreement signed today by the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Environmental Protection Agency. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Massachusetts Construction Company Faces up to $157,500 in Fines for Clean Water Violations
Monday, August 04, 2008-- TLT Construction Corp. faces an administrative penalty of up to $157,500 for violating requirements of the federal Clean Water Act at a construction site in Reading, Mass. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Choosing a hot top for a greener parking lot
Monday, July 28, 2008-- Paying a premium to line a parking lot with pavement full of cavities may sound strange for a dental office, but here it makes great sense, economically and environmentally. -- (full text)
[Boston Globe]

Idaho Developers Fined for Storm Water Violations
Friday, July 18, 2008-- Operators at three construction sites in Nampa, Idaho just paid a total of $21,800 to settle Clean Water Act (CWA) cases filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Stormwater 101: The Basics (EPA Webinar, July 23, 2008)
Monday, July 14, 2008-- This webcast will describe why stormwater is a significant water quality problem, and present an overview of the NPDES stormwater program, including a discussion of the laws, regulations, and permits that shape this complex regulatory program. A summary of the stormwater requirements addressing municipal, construction, and industrial facets of the program will also be discussed. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA Re-Issues Permit for Construction Site Stormwater
Thursday, July 03, 2008-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is re-issuing a stormwater Construction General Permit (CGP), which expired July 1, 2008, for a two-year time period. The permit will apply only where EPA is the permitting authority, which is in five states (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Idaho and Alaska); Washington, D.C.; most territories; and most Indian country lands. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

Two Massachusetts Construction Companies Fined for Storm Water Violations
Monday, May 26, 2008-- Two Massachusetts residential housing developers have agreed to pay fines totaling $35,109 to resolve storm water release violations that took place at construction projects in Millbury and Kingston. The settlements stem from construction projects that either improperly discharged storm water or occurred without having the necessary storm water permit coverage for the construction site. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA's 2008 Report on the Environment --- A Key Resource for the American People on the Environment
Friday, May 23, 2008-- EPA today released its 2008 Report on the Environment (EPA 2008 ROE), an important resource that citizens can use to better understand trends in the condition of the air, water, and land and related changes in human health and the environment in the United States. The EPA 2008 ROE will also be a valuable resource that can inform and focus EPA activities to improve and protect America's environment. -- (full text)
[U.S EPA]

EPA Increases Transparency of Regulatory Development
Tuesday, April 15, 2008-- Starting today, EPA is using Action Initiation Lists (AILs) to notify the public about new rules and other regulatory actions. AILs will be posted on the EPA Web site at roughly the end of each month; each will describe those actions that were approved for commencement during the given month. Formerly, the public had to wait for EPA's Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, which is updated only every six months, to learn about new regulatory actions. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA]

EPA announces grants to fund two South Sound water projects
Friday, March 28, 2008-- Two South Sound projects to better protect water quality in the face of development pressure are among eight Sound projects funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. -- (full text)
[The Olympian - Olympia, WA]

Proposed MA bylaw addresses stormwater issues
Monday, March 03, 2008-- Lexingtons (MA) Planning and Public Works departments have drafted a stormwater bylaw that will be reviewed and acted upon at the Annual Town Meeting that starts in March. The bylaw would create a stormwater authority and a stormwater permit process. -- (full text)
[Lexington Minuteman - MA]

Storm water management plan workshop to be held May 15 in Shreveport
Monday, February 25, 2008-- LSU AgCenter and EPA Region VI will conduct a series of three workshops throughout Louisiana to help local officials and consultants develop storm water management plans and ensure the ones they have will fulfill the requirements of the new storm water permit. -- (full text)
[Shreveport Times - Shreveport, LA]

Companies join forces to build replacement wetlands
Monday, December 10, 2007-- Wal-Mart turned to landscape architectural and environmental consulting firm Earth Source Inc. To help Wal-Mart comply with environmental laws, Allen County-based Earth Source and related company Heartland Restoration Services Inc. designed and built a replacement wetland several times larger than the parcel affected by the stores construction. -- (full text)
[Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne, IN]

EPA fines company $21,400 for hazardous waste storage violations
Friday, September 28, 2007--  During an April 2006 inspection, EPA investigators found numerous violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, including:
* failure to comply with labeling requirements for containers of hazardous wastes;
* storage of hazardous waste exceeding the 90 day limit allowable for large quantity hazardous waste generators;
* failure to conduct weekly inspections of hazardous waste;
* failure to provide, and document hazardous waste handling training for its personnel;
* an incomplete emergency contingency plan;
* failure to obtain an EPA identification number. (full text)
[US EPA]

Environmental enforcement is a priority for Florida DEP
Monday, August 13, 2007-- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently announced significant changes to the agency's enforcement guidelines, also known as our penalty guidelines. Underscoring a commitment to protecting Florida's environment, the updates will result in stiffer penalties for the most serious environmental violations and highlight the leadership of Gov. Charlie Crist in protecting our natural resources.

Utilized for nearly three decades now, DEP's penalty guidelines provide direction to calculate monetary penalties for violations of our environmental protection statutes and rules. In 2001, the Legislature passed the Environmental Litigation Reform Act (ELRA) to provide further direction by outlining a clear and efficient process to address less significant violations, which represent approximately 90 percent of enforcement cases annually. (full text)
[Ocala.com - Ocala, FL]

California, Connecticut, Vermont Tops in Energy Efficiency
Thursday, June 07, 2007-- The states of California, Connecticut, and Vermont led the United States in energy efficiency policies, programs, and technologies in 2006, according to a ranking issued Tuesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy, ACEEE.

The organization's new report, "The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for 2006," places the three states in a tie for first place because of their spending on energy efficiency programs, their efforts to set efficiency standards for buildings and appliances, and other energy efficiency programs.

Other energy efficient states are Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. (full text)
[Environment News Service - USA]

EPA, Army Corps Issue Joint Guidance to Sustain Wetlands Protection under Supreme Court Decision
Wednesday, June 06, 2007-- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued joint guidance for their field offices to ensure America's wetlands and other water bodies are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This action reinforces the Bush Administration's commitment to protect and enhance the quality of our nation's wetlands and water bodies. -- (full text)
[U.S. EPA.gov (press release) - Washington, DC]

GUEST VIEW: Communities work together on stormwater
Tuesday, April 10, 2007-- Stormwater contaminated with sediment, oils and grease, fertilizer nutrients, pet feces, various decaying plant materials, trash and illegally disposed hazardous materials (paint, cleaners, used oil, etc.) degrades local water quality.

As taxpayers, we can take actions to prevent rain water falling on our properties from getting dirty, or the municipalities will be required to build infrastructure to remove the materials when they are transported during rain events. This is why the EPA requires public education on the topic. (full text) [LaCrosse Tribune - LaCrosse, WI]