EPA issues amended citation to BP for clean-air violations at its Whiting (Ind.) refinery

CONTACT: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov
NEWS BRIEF: EPA issues amended citation to BP for clean-air violations at its Whiting (Ind.) refinery

CHICAGO (Oct. 2, 2008) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has issued an amended notice and finding of violation to the BP Products North America for alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company’s petroleum refinery at 2815 Indianapolis Blvd., Whiting, Ind.

The action amends a notice and finding of violation issued to the BP Whiting refinery in November 2007 alleging BP violated the Clean Air Act by failing to get a permit when it modified one of its cracking units in 2005.

EPA now has information suggesting that BP may have begun a project to process Canadian crude oil at the refinery in 2005 without the proper permit. BP received its construction permit for the project from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on May 1, 2008.

These are preliminary findings of violation. BP has 30 days to request a meeting with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.

Participate: Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge for Middle School Students

Students Invited to Create “Green Solutions” in National Middle School Sustainability Challenge

Middle school students across the United States are invited to submit their solutions to environmental problems in their communities for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a national sustainability education initiative.

The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, and the National Science Teachers Association have partnered for this initiative to educate, empower, and engage students, teachers, and communities to become “agents of change” in improving their community.

Student teams from sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, can register for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Teams of two to three students will identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using Web-based curriculum tools. The mentors of the first 100 teams to register and complete a project for challenge will receive a Planet Earth series DVD set.

A total of 51 teams representing each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as state finalists and an additional 50 teams will be eligible for honorable mention awards. Three of the state finalist teams will be selected as national finalists, and one of those will be named the grand prize-winner. All student teams entering the challenge will receive prizes for their participation; top-performing teams will earn cash, teacher education materials, and “Discovery Experience” trips. The grand prize winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package, which includes an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery’s eco-lifestyle network, and a Discovery Adventure Trip.

See the We Can Change the World Challenge Web site for complete competition information and program resources. The initiative will expand to elementary schools in 2009 and to high schools in 2010.

Local Home Featured in 2008 Illinois Solar Tour

The Gronko/Stange Residence at 13125 S. Winchester, Blue Island, 60406 is featured on the 2008 Illinois Solar Tour.  The home will be open to the public between 10am and 3pm on Saturday October 4th.  Visitors will be allowed to see the mechanical components of the solar domestic hot water system. 

Kudos to Gronko & Stange for their demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability and willingness to educate others!!

The Illinois Solar Tour is part of a national tour hosted by the American Solar Energy Association and is the largest solar energy event in the world! Home owners and businesses across the state generously welcome visitors to explore how to use renewable energy systems to reduce utility bills while minimizing the environmental impact of their buildings.

Get Involved: Join Lt. Governor Pat Quinn’s “Save Our State Parks” online petition drive.

Log on to SaveOurStateParks.org to tell Gov. Blagojevich to keep all our state parks open!

 

 

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn launched the “Save Our State Parks” online petition drive to prevent Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich from permanently closing 11 Illinois state parks. 

Update: E-Recycling Day – Saturday, Oct 4, 2008

E-Recycle: Oct 4, 2008

On Saturday, October 4, 2008, the City of Blue Island will be hosting 1 of 4 Electronic (E)-Recycling Events sponsored by South Suburban Mayors and Managers.  The event will take place at the City of Blue Island Public Work Facility, 3153 Wireton Rd, from 9:00am-1:00pm.  See the map below or click ‘here‘ to download flyer.

The E-Recycling events will give South Suburban communities the opportunity to recycle outdated or unusable electronic items, such as computers, computer monitors, cable/wires, laptops, printers, phones, cameras, DVD/VCR players and video games.

SSMMA has obtained the services of Vintage Tech Recyclers who will set up the event and sort, package and transport incoming materials at no cost to the municipality. Vintage Tech Recyclers is a local electronic recycling company committed to safely and securely recycling outdated electorincs at the lowest possible cost, while keeping hazardous materials out of our landfills and protecting your sensitive data. They are able to keep costs at little or nothing thanks to several IDCEO grants they have been awarded.

Vintage Tech Recyclers will perform the majority of the work, but we will be looking for approximately 15-20 volunteers to help during the day of the event. More detailed information will be available as soon as the dates have been determined.  Please call Rita at 708.388.5735 or send an email to the Community Development Department with any questions or to volunteer.

E-Recycling Event Flyer: Details, map & list of ‘accepted’ items [.pdf]

View Larger Map

October 2: GreenTown-The Future of Community

Join mayors and elected officials, city managers, public works directors, park district directors, planners, developers, engineers, architects, landscape architects, builders — and many others interested in sustainable development — at GreenTown: The Future of Community at the historic Paramount Theatre in Aurora, October 2.

It’s Our River Day – Saturday, 9/20

A Celebration of Illinois Rivers Through Education, Recreation, and Conservation

On Saturday, September 20, a statewide celebration of our precious resources will occur in towns across Illinois. It’s Our River Day will feature dozens of activities and events promoting recreation, conservation and education about Illinois rivers.

The goal of “It’s Our River Day” – which will be held on the third Saturday of every September – is to boost awareness of rivers by offering hands-on conservation activities as well as lively recreational opportunities. Broad citizen participation is needed to protect this natural resource, and “It’s Our River Day” is an important organizing tool for private and public agencies concerned with protecting this asset.

Area Events:

Conservation
Powderhorn Prairie Stewardship Workday (60633)
9 AM to Noon
Powderhorn Prairie Nature Preserve, Exit I-94 at 130th St and travel east. Turn right onto Saginaw Ave, which becomes Brainard Ave. Cross Burnham Ave. Parking lot is on left. Chicago, IL

Join other volunteers in caring for one of the highest quality natural areas in Illinois with over 280 species of prairie plants as well as a diveristy of wildlife. We will be cutting invasive plant species to allow native plants to thrive using handsays and loppers. Gloves and tools are provided. Please wear long pants, sturdy hoes and bring water and a snack. www.fotfp.org
Alice Brandon, 312-356-9990
Friends of the Forest Preserves, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, The Field Museum

Education and Conservation (60614)
Illinois’ Urban Wildlife Workshop for Teachers (60614)
9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago
$10 and must pre-register

Wildlife is all around us, even in downtown Chicago! Educators of grades four through six are invited to participate as we learn where to look for urban wildlife, what you can expect to find, how to identify species and how to improve urban wildlife habitat at your school. Natural resources professionals and educators will instruct about these topics and more, including how species adapt to the urban environment, how humans affect urban wildlife, and control of nuisance species. Receive supplemental educational materials to enhance your teaching.
www.ilcf.org/Workshop/Courses.asp
Valerie Keener, valerie.keener@illinois.gov
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Conservation – Illinois RiverSweep
Various Locations

Chicago – Des Plaines River
Dean Parker, (312) 704-3000, DParker@hinshawlaw.com

Lemont – Des Paines River (60439)
Sue Murphy, (630) 257-2821, smurphy1146@sbcglobal.net

Frankfort – Hickory Creek Sweep (60423)
Douglas Hoag, djwillenborg@sfoecology.org

For details on the many “It’s Our River Day” activities on September 20, call the Lt. Governor’s Office at 312-814-5220 or visit the “It’s Our River Day” event page online.

Event Sponsors:
AT&T Pioneers

We encourage you to pass this message along to your colleagues and friends. For more information on Lt. Governor Quinn’s clean water initiatives, please visit: http://www.cleanwaterillinois.org

Win a Free Rain Barrel from Lt. Governor Pat Quinn!

Conserving water and protecting water quality are important to our community. Rain barrels reduce water consumption by storing rainwater for later use during droughts and dry spells. This ensures that we conserve our community’s or home’s drinking water supply for droughts and for future generations. You can also reduce pollution by storing water from your property at your home. During heavy rainfall events, the deluge can overtax sewer systems and local streams while causing combined sewer overflows and streambank erosion.

Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is giving away three professionally painted rain barrels that will help three lucky Illinois residents collect water at home. The rain barrels are donated by Austin Grammer (AustinGrammer.com), a manufacturer of rain barrels from Central Illinois.

Enter to win a professionally painted rain barrel by September 12, 2008 and kick off the campaign to make Illinois the rain barrel capital of the world! Please visit cleanwaterillinois.org for more information.

Kick the CO2 Habit!! Celebrate World Environment Day – June 5, 2008

World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.  For more information, please visit the UN 2008 World Environment Day website.

LINKS

• Reduce Your Impact:  Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
• 12 Steps to Help You Kick the CO2 Habit

Blue Island Goes Green

Blue Island Goes Green
On April 22 2008, Mayor Peloquin announced ‘Blue Island Goes Green’ – the City’s new initiative to develop and implement environmentally-friendly programs and projects that enhance local community and economic development.