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Green Mowing
Aug 22, 2010 -- 12:08pmUse a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. A people-powered push mower is perfect for small and medium sized yards and offers the extra benefit of light exercise. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings. Read more about green yard care.
Department of General Services using E-85 clean fuel
Aug 19, 2010 -- 6:37amThe Maryland Department of General Services in the past two years has completed installation of three E-85 Ethanol Fuel pumps at locations throughout diverse areas of the State including Easton on the Eastern Shore, La Plata in Southern Maryland, and the capital city of Annapolis. A fourth station will be installed at the Hagerstown Maryland State Police Barrack in Western Maryland – a DGS project – that is currently under construction. The latest E-85 fuel pump was installed in Easton in May. E-85 is a blend of fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol and just 15 percent gasoline. It is considered to be much more environmentally friendly in reducing carbon emissions compared to gasoline. Ethanol is a renewable energy resource made primarily by distilling grains including corn, wheat and barley. It burns much cleaner than petroleum gasoline, thus making it better for the environment. Ethanol is produced domestically which decreases the State’s dependence on foreign sources of oil. Currently, the U.S. imports nearly two-thirds of the petroleum it uses.Governor O’Malley has committed to purchasing new vehicles for the State fleet that can run on alternative fuels as part of Maryland’s environmental and emergency conservation initiatives. “I am pleased that DGS has installed these Ethanol stations at strategic locations all over Maryland,” DGS Secretary Alvin C. Collins, said. “Governor O’Malley is committed to reducing our carbon footprint through his nationally recognized Smart, Green and Growing environmental program and this is just one example of many that he is utilizing to accomplish his ambitious and effective goal of making Maryland one of the greenest states in the country.” DGS oversees the Statewide Automated Fuel Dispensing and Management System with 97 fueling stations located in Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. Maryland currently owns 1,200 flex fuel vehicles and is adding 200 per year. The range of a vehicle operating on E-85 is more than 350 miles on an 18 gallon tank of fuel. There is no or a very low incremental cost on the purchase of an E-85 vehicle.
Cardin Sends Letter to DOD for Fort Detrick Contamination
Aug 17, 2010 -- 6:35amU.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense urging swift action to investigate and remediate contamination on the Fort Detrick Army base located in Frederick, MD. In the letter, the Senator called on the Army to expedite the signing of a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by December 1, 2010. Signing the legally enforceable FFA is an important step forward with the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites as required by law.In April 2009, the EPA added Area B Groundwater site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). A FFA creates a legally enforceable process for detecting and remediating contaminated sites that the federal government must address. It also provides the Army with the added expertise of the EPA in conducting the cleanup of Superfund sites.In the letter to the DoD, Senator Cardin stated: “We need to provide the Frederick community with assurances that an independent federal agency is overseeing” the investigation and cleanup of all contaminants. Recent news reports indicate that Agent Orange also may have been tested at Fort Detrick. The Senator is encouraged that the base command is taking these reports seriously and conducting historical research into past contamination. “Any newly identified contamination must also be included in remediation efforts,” said Senator Cardin. From 1943 through 1969, Fort Detrick was the nation’s center for offensive and defensive biological warfare research. In 2009, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) approved plans to cap six landfill sites on Area B, which has been completed.
The text of Senator Cardin’s letter to the DoD is below:
August 16, 2010
Katherine Hammack
Assistant Secretary of the Army
Installations and Environment
110 Army Pentagon Room 3E464
Washington, D.C. 20310
Dear Assistant Secretary Hammack:
The ongoing efforts to discover and remediate contaminated sites in and around Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland are important to protecting the health of both the on-base communities of Fort Detrick and the surrounding residential and business communities proximate to the Base. I am encouraged by how serious base command at Fort Detrick is taking these issues. As new information about the extent and varied types of legacy contamination at the Fort Detrick complex comes to light, it is clear that more work will be needed.
Critical to the investigation and remediation of the onsite contaminants is the completion of the Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) between the Army and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Section 120 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund, establishes the FFA program as a means of creating a legally enforceable process for detecting and remediating contaminated sites that the federal government must address. The FFA exists to provide structure to the continuing investigations and the remedial actions to address contaminants. In addition, it provides the Army with the added expertise of the EPA in conducting a Superfund cleanup and the community with the assurances that an independent federal agency is overseeing the effort.
With recent concerns raised about the experimental use of Agent Orange at the Fort decades ago, base command at Fort Detrick has indicated that it intends to conduct additional comprehensive research into historical uses of the facility and the potential for other legacy pollutants. I urge the Army to conduct this work with all deliberate speed. All potential pathways of contamination must be examined thoroughly, including comprehensive groundwater assessments, vapor intrusion analysis and soil testing. I urge the Army and EPA to complete the FFA in advance of the legally mandated schedule. This agreement can inform the process for the completion of the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study currently underway and will help accelerate the overall restoration effort. Therefore, I ask you to commit to completing the FFA by December 1 of this year.
In addition, I urge the Army to recommit itself to being transparent with the communities surrounding Fort Detrick and to expand its plan for public participation and information. As a fundamental matter of fairness, the public has a right to know. Community support is also essential in helping the Fort meet its numerous missions.
As you know, I raised similar issues at Fort Meade where the FFA languished for years and public confidence was eroded. The Army and EPA were able to commit to a date-certain for completing the process. The FFA was signed by the deadline. Since then, the Superfund process has moved forward aggressively and the community's concerns have been allayed. I believe a similar result can happen at Fort Detrick.
Thank you for your attention to these issues. I would appreciate a reply detailing the Army's plans to address the concerns that I have raised as well receiving periodic updates on the progress the Army is making to resolve these outstanding issues surrounding the contamination investigation and remediation projects at Fort Detrick. Please feel free to have your staff follow-up with Josh Klein of my staff at 202-224-4524.
The ongoing efforts to discover and remediate contaminated sites in and around Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland are important to protecting the health of both the on-base communities of Fort Detrick and the surrounding residential and business communities proximate to the Base. I am encouraged by how serious base command at Fort Detrick is taking these issues. As new information about the extent and varied types of legacy contamination at the Fort Detrick complex comes to light, it is clear that more work will be needed.
Critical to the investigation and remediation of the onsite contaminants is the completion of the Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) between the Army and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Section 120 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund, establishes the FFA program as a means of creating a legally enforceable process for detecting and remediating contaminated sites that the federal government must address. The FFA exists to provide structure to the continuing investigations and the remedial actions to address contaminants. In addition, it provides the Army with the added expertise of the EPA in conducting a Superfund cleanup and the community with the assurances that an independent federal agency is overseeing the effort.
With recent concerns raised about the experimental use of Agent Orange at the Fort decades ago, base command at Fort Detrick has indicated that it intends to conduct additional comprehensive research into historical uses of the facility and the potential for other legacy pollutants. I urge the Army to conduct this work with all deliberate speed. All potential pathways of contamination must be examined thoroughly, including comprehensive groundwater assessments, vapor intrusion analysis and soil testing. I urge the Army and EPA to complete the FFA in advance of the legally mandated schedule. This agreement can inform the process for the completion of the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study currently underway and will help accelerate the overall restoration effort. Therefore, I ask you to commit to completing the FFA by December 1 of this year.
In addition, I urge the Army to recommit itself to being transparent with the communities surrounding Fort Detrick and to expand its plan for public participation and information. As a fundamental matter of fairness, the public has a right to know. Community support is also essential in helping the Fort meet its numerous missions.
As you know, I raised similar issues at Fort Meade where the FFA languished for years and public confidence was eroded. The Army and EPA were able to commit to a date-certain for completing the process. The FFA was signed by the deadline. Since then, the Superfund process has moved forward aggressively and the community's concerns have been allayed. I believe a similar result can happen at Fort Detrick.
Thank you for your attention to these issues. I would appreciate a reply detailing the Army's plans to address the concerns that I have raised as well receiving periodic updates on the progress the Army is making to resolve these outstanding issues surrounding the contamination investigation and remediation projects at Fort Detrick. Please feel free to have your staff follow-up with Josh Klein of my staff at 202-224-4524.
Green Weeding
Aug 08, 2010 -- 12:18pmThink twice before resorting to chemical herbicides to eliminate weeds in your garden, lawn or driveway. If simply pulling weeds by hand won’t work, use a green gardening technique to eliminate the weeds by squirting them with lemon juice, vinegar or boiling water. Remember, everything you spray ends up in the Bay!
Free Green Business Support
Aug 08, 2010 -- 11:47amKate Davenport, Program Director for GreenBusiness GreenJobs will be in Cumberland on August 18th and 24th at the Western Maryland Business Resource Center providing free green business support. The center is newly located on 60 Pershing Street (the Arteco building) and Kate will be available from 10-4:30 for counseling individuals. She and Lauren Frederic will be providing support regarding cost-savings for small business through green practices, accessing financing and tax credits, and accessing new markets and increasing revenues through green products and services. These tools and resources apply to all types of businesses in our region. This green business support includes: Accessing New Markets, Cost-savings through Green Operations, and Green Financing Opportunities.
Ms. Davenport will be introducing the Resource Center staff and partners to some of the tools EcoVentures International has been working on as well as being available for one-on-one counseling sessions with entrepreneurs that need help in accessing new green markets and finding green cost-savings. This is a great way to get introduced to the opportunities environmental enterprise offers for young and old entrepreneurs alike.
EcoVentures International has a goal is to support environmental entrepreneurship and the development of micro and small enterprises that move beyond the greening of practices to providing environmental products and services to enhance and protect local resources, meet the demands of the marketplace, provide employment, and provide youth with a greater sense of where they fit into their community and the world.
The Green-Business-Green-Jobs Program is working with economic development, small and microenterprise development, workforce development and social services communities to create programs and training that support individuals to find green jobs and create green business opportunities. Their strategy centers on connecting labor demand and business development to regionally-focused sectors that are already green or becoming more green.
EcoVentures International is located in Washington, DC and can be reached by phone 202-667-0802 or email kate@eco-ventures.org. Find out more on the web at this link http://www.eco-ventures.org/organization .
Bag Lunch
Aug 02, 2010 -- 9:38amIf you bring your lunch to work, strive to discontinue packaging wastes. Small changes such as using a reusable insulated bag instead of paper bags, and utilizing washable containers instead of plastic sandwich bags, can greatly reduce your waste contribution. Click here for more ideas
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