Personal Observations of Environmental Engineering at the U'S' Environmental Protection Agency on th

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Personal Observations of Environmental
Engineering at the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agencyon the Occasion of Rensselaers 50th
Anniversary Environmental Engineering Colloquium

• K. Jack Kooyoomjian, Ph.D.
• RPI Class of 1974

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EPA IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

• Creating A Law Requires an Act of Congress and
  Agreement by the President of the U.S. Events
  Issues Create Such Legislation
• The Agency Operates in a Fishbowl Its A Very
  Public Process
• Creating A Regulation Implements the Legislation
• The Whole Process Creates a Need for Technical
  Staff/Support
• Must Study Understand Issues
• Stakeholder Public Involvement
• Develop Federal Register Notices of Proposed
  Final Rules
• Prepare Technical Background Docs, Preamble,
  Public Docket, etc.
• Effluent Guidelines Example
• Superfund RCRA Regulatory Support Examples

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ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

• 1899 Rivers and Harbors Act (Hazards to
  Navigation Commerce)
• 1947 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
  Rodenticide Act
• 1948 Water Pollution Control Act (PL 80-845)
• 1955 Clean Air Act
• 1965 Shoreline Erosion Protection Act
• 1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act
• 1965 Water Quality Act (PL 89-234)
• 1966 Clean Waters Restoration Act (PL 89-753)
• 1969/70 National Environmental Policy Act
• Signed into Law Jan 1,1970
• EPA is created as well as NOAA
  and CEQ
• 1970 Pollution Prevention Packaging Act

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ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

• 1970 Resource Recovery Act
• 1970 Water Quality Improvement Act (PL 91-224)
• 1971 Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act
• 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act
• 1972 Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
  Act
• 1972 Ocean Dumping Act
• 1972 Water Pollution Control Act (PL 92-500)
• 1973 Endangered Species Act
• 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act
• 1974 Shoreline Erosion Control Demonstration Act
  1975 Hazardous Materials Transportation Act

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Environmental Legislation

• 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (PL 94-469)
• 1977 Clean Water Act (PL 95-217) Its Amendments
• 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
• 1978 Environmental Research, Development, and
  Demonstration
• Authorization Act (ERDDAA, 42 USC
  4365)
• 1978 Uranium Mill-Tailings Radiation Control Act
• 1978 Asbestos School Hazard Detection and Control
  Act
• 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response,
  Compensation, and Liability Act
• 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act
• 1984 Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act

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ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

• 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
• 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right to
  Know Act
• 1987 Water Quality Act (PL 100-4)
• 1988 Indoor Radon Abatement Act
• 1988 Lead Contamination Control Act
• 1988 Medical Waste Tracking Act
• 1988 Ocean Dumping Ban Act
• 1988 Shore Protection Act
• 1990 National Environmental Education Act
• 1990 Oil Pollution Control Act
• 1990 Pollution Prevention Act others, and
• 2002 Homeland Security Act

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PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS

• Presidential Executive Orders Overlay the Process
  see examples
• Indian Tribal Governments
  below
• Marine Protected Areas
• To Protect Migrating Birds
• Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
  Supply, Distribution and Use
• Federal Workforce, Transportation
• Greening the Government Transportation
  Efficiency
• Greening the Government thru Leadership in
  Environmental Management
• Environmental Review of Trade Agreements
• Developing Promoting Bio-based Bioengineering
• Greening the Government thru Efficiency
  Management

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PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS

• Greening the Government thru Waste Prevention,
  Recycling Federal Acquisition
• Coral Reef Protection
• Protection of Children from Environmental Health
  Risks Safety Risks (Exec Order 13045 April
  1997)
• Energy Efficiency Waste Conservation at Federal
  Facilities (Exec Order 12902, March 1994)
• Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice
  in Minority Populations and Low-Income
  Populations (Exec Order 12898, Feb 1994)
• Federal Use of Alternative Fueled Cars (Exec
  Order 13101, Nov. 1993)
• Presidential Executive Orders Can Have Been
  Issued Recalled, Depending on Administration
  Policy

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CEQ Regs Implementing NEPA

• NEPA of 1969 as amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 USC
  4321-4347, Jan 1, 1970, as amended by Pub. L.
  94-54, July 3, 1975, )
• Environmental Impact Statement
• NEPA Agency Planning
• Commenting
• Pre-Decision Referrals to the Council of Proposed
  Federal Actions Determined to be Environmental
• Agency Compliance with NEPA

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State/Local Government Role in Environmental
Programs

• States Administrate Many Environmental Statutes
  Regulations
• State Laws, Administrative Rules, Regulations,
  Codes Statutes
• Standards Cannot be Less Restrictive than the
  Federal Government, but May be More Restrictive
• Localities Administer Ordinances, Codes
  Statutes, Comprehensive Plan Process
• States Localities Deal With All Manner of
  Issues e.g., Agriculture, Air Pollution Air
  Quality, Acid Deposition, Dams, Ecosystem
  Management, Endangered Species, Energy
  Conservation, Environmental Conservation,
  Environmental Remediation, Environmental
  Treaties, Fisheries Conservation Management,
  Environmental Health, Hazardous Waste Management,
  Land-Use, Municipal Landfills, Natural Resource
  Management, Non-Point Sources, Public Health,
  RCRA Implementation Compliance, Solid Waste
  Management, Smart-Growth, Storm-Water
  Management, Suburban Sprawl, Sustainability,
  Superfund Site Cleanups, Transportation Issues,
  Water, Wildlife Management many others.

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Environmental Protection Agency

• A Decentralized Organization 10 Regions, Labs
  Field Offices
• Stove Pipe Legislation Still Does Heavily Drive
  Programs
• Work With the States in Implementation of
  Programs (e.g., RCRA Permitting, NPDES Permits,
  Wetlands issues, etc.) is Essential
• Other Agencies, Dept., Commissions are Involved
  e.g., CDC, HDS, DOD (includes U.S. Army Corps of
  Engineers), DOE, DOI, NIH, NRC, NIST, USDA, etc.
• Need for More Integrated Cross-Media
  Problem-Solving and Issue Management, as Risk
  Assessment/Risk Management Coordination
• Emphasis on Risk Reduction, Harmonization,
  Integrated Risk, Benchmarking Sustainability
• Since 9/11, More Emphasis on Homeland Security
  Issues (Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment
  Plants, Information Security, Web Access, etc)

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SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD

• Established by Congress in 1978 by the
  Environmental Research, Development, and
  Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDAA, 42 USC
  4365)
• Emphasis on Providing the Administrator the
  U.S. Congress with outside, independent advice on
  scientific, engineering , economics social
  science issues that impact the technical basis
  for EPA positions, regulations, research plans,
  etc.
• Since Its Inception, the SAB has Published over
  600 Reports, Commentaries, Advisories,
  Consultations, etc.
• Among Many of the SAB Messages is that
  Ecosystem Health is as Important as Public
  Health, More Attention Needs to be Paid to
  Cross-Media Issues, and Integrated Risk
  Assessment is Difficult to Achieve, but is to be
  Encouraged.

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SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD

• The Board (Currently around 35 members)
• Standing Committees Include DWC, EPEC, EEAC, EEC,
  EHC/IHEC, RAC, Separately Chartered CASAC
  COUNCIL (totals around 100)
• Many Ad Hoc Panels (Includes Approx. 300)
• (e. g. Childrens Health, Regulatory
  Environmental Models, Second Generation Model,
  etc.)
• For SAB Reports, Meetings, etc. go to
  www.epa.gov/sab

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Fresh Water Institute Beginnings

• 1965- 1975 Time-Frame
• Gull Bay on East Side of Lake George (Town of
  Putnam) leased from Mr. Harold Strang (RPI
  Trustee VP GE, Retired)
• Dr. Richard Folsom, President of RPI
• Dr. Clayton Dohrenwend, Provost of RPI
• Obtained NY State Science Technology Foundation
  Grant to purchase Specialty Laboratory Equipment
• Research Theme was discussed with endorsed by
  Dr. C. Mervin Palmer, Dr. Cornelius Weber Mr.
  Kenneth Mackenthun of the US PHS/ FWPCA
• RPIs Proposal for the FWI was taken to Wash., DC
  and received funding through US DOIs OWRR US
  PHS FWPCA (later FWQA the pre-US EPA
  Organization)

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Fresh Water Institute Beginnings

• Multi-Disciplinary, multi-institutional Proposal
  to US National Committee of the International
  Biological Program (IBP)
• Lake George was Selected as a Study Site in the
  Eastern Deciduous Forest Biome (EDFB) within the
  US IBP
• Management for the EDFB resided with the Oak
  Ridge National Lab, with Dr. Stanley I. Auerbach
  as the Biome Director
• The US IBP Received Multi-Year Funding from NSFs
  Ecosystem Analysis Division
• Many Graduate Students were supported by the FWI,
  not only at RPI, but also at other district-area
  universities

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Fresh Water Institute Beginnings

• Dr. Alfred E. Emerson. Noted Pioneering (retired)
  Ecologist from the University of Chicago was
  Honorary Advisor to the IBP Research at Lake
  George, where he Resided
• Mr. David M. Darrin Visited Gull Bay Lab
  become benefactor (and later Mrs. Peggy Darrin)
  for the Lake George Water Research Center
  (LGWRC), later named the Fresh Water Institute,
  which continues today
• Dr. Ruth Patrick (noted Limnologist) President
  of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
  visited the FWI favorably received its mission
• An Endowment was Obtained for the FWI from the
  UPS Foundation (formerly the 1907 Foundation),
  and continues today. UPS Funded Workshops at
  Lake George with Acadame, Govt Industry.
  These Workshops were hosted by Dr. Emil. Mrak,
  Chancellor Emeritus, UC Davis

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THANKS TO PROF. KILCAWLEY THOSE THAT FOLLOWED,
THOSE THAT CONTINUE THE LEGACY, ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING AT RPI HAS A LEGENDARY, NOBLE
COMMENDABLE PAST, AS WELL AS A BRIGHT
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE !

• End of Talk

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Identification of Future Problem, Initiating
Event, or Public Policy Mandate
RISK MANAGEMENT
Formulate the Problem
Define Risk Management Objectives
RISK ASSESSMENT
Identify and Evaluate Risk Management Options
Dose-Response Assessment

• Public Health Considerations
• Statutory/Legal Considerations
• Social Factors
• Economic Factors
• Political Considerations

Risk Management Decision
Risk Characterization
Hazard Identification
Implement Decision
Exposure Assessment
Develop Environmental Indicators
Measure Environmental and Public Health
Improvement
Reduced Environmental and/or Public Health Risk