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Enviro~News Newsletter DateVolume 4, Issue 1
Enlighten Me Designs (985) 386-0704 http://EnlightenMeDesigns.com
Published by Enlighten Me Designs, an environmental non-profit working towards a cleaner Tangipahoa River in Ponchatoula, LA. Enlighten Me Designs
Recycling Ideas
DEQ orders landfill closed & covered
Do you have an idea for recycling or reusing? Send EMD your story and it will be printed in the next edition of Enviro~News and possibly posted online at the EMD web site. Just send your story to Catherine at [email protected]
BAMBOO
After a road crew cut back foliage to run new utility cables in my area, my husband and I collected the discarded bamboo, cut the stalks to a uniform
size, applied a sealer and attached them to our balcony and stair railings. We used stainless steel screws to avoid rust.
The idea allowed us to make a significant change in the appearance of our home, provide privacy without obliterating the view, saved us a great deal of money, and helped the environment, too. We think that it turned out great. Take a look and
you decide.
Special Interest Articles
Send in your recycling story
Reduce/reuse/recycle for Louisiana 1-800-305-6621
Individual Highlights
Who to Call? 2
Waterspout 3
2009 Beach Sweep 4
Reasons to Test Water 5
Contaminants in wells 6
Concrete 7
Landscapers arrested 8
2 TYPE TITLE HEREThe Advocate: Sunday, September 13, 2009. Richard Burgess, Acadiana bureau.
COTEAU – the state Department of Environmental Quality has ordered the closure of a controversial landfill on the border of Iberia and St. Martin parishes.
DEQ denied a permit in August for the expansion of Gordon’s Disposal construction and demolition debris landfill by more than 50 acres.
The existing landfill is at capacity; the state ordered the company this month to close it.
Closing the landfill involves capping the waste with 2 feet of clay and 6 inches of topsoil, then planting vegetation on the mound to control erosion.
The formal order for closure comes after DEQ informed the company in June that the landfill should be capped, said Tom Harris, waste permits
division administrator for the DEQ.
“The word that we were getting was the they had not done that, “ Harris said.
He said the company could face penalties if the landfill is not capped within 30 days.
Landfill owner Gordon Doerle could not be reached for comment Thursday. See page 4
3 Enlighten Me Designs
Who To Call?
A new way to fight stress
Recycle those rechargeable batteries
GetFitNow, by Michael O’Shea. Parade, Sept 13, 2009, p 19.
Research suggest that Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) can reduce stress better and more quickly than conventional methods of relaxation.
IBMT adapted from traditional Chinese medicine by Dr. Yi-Yuan Tang of China’s Dalian University of Technology,
helps people achieve body-mind awareness through a balance of posture, relaxation, and breathing. Learning the method requires a good coach but can yield results in less than a week.
In experiments involving students at Dalian and at the University of Oregon, participants spent 20 minutes daily for five days learning either IBMT or simple relaxation techniques. All
experienced a reduction in stress, but brain imaging revealed more dramatic gains among the IBMT group. Using the technique prior to a math test, for example, led to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. IBMT students also reported reduced anxiety, depression, anger, and fatigue, as well as slower heart rates and deeper chest breathing.
Did you know there is a recycling program specifically for rechargeable batteries? Call
1-800-822-8837
Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov 1-800-638-2772
Building material, such as formaldehyde in trailers or fiberglass in insulation, and all terrain vehicles and equipment used for children’s safety.
Noise Pollution information http://publicaccess.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/publicaccess.cfg/enduser/
std_adp.php?p_faqid=1765
Pesticides? If applied to food or the body, FDA www.fda.gov
If used to control pests, fungi or for sanitizers used on surfaces, EPA www.epa.gov
Tracking EPA Clean-ups? http://iaspub.epa.gov/cleanups/
Maps, lists & provides progress profiles for site, facilities and properties that have been contaminated by hazardous materials, and cleaned under EPA’s superfund, RCRA or Brownfields Programs. Also for federal facilities contaminated by hazardous materials and cleaned under the EPA’s Superfund or RCRA Programs.
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle for Louisiana only, call 1-800-
“Using the technique
prior to a math test, for
example, led to lower
levels of the stress
hormone cortisol..”
4 TYPE TITLE HERE
Waterspout seen on Lake Pontchartrain
CIFOR guidelines
Originally printed in the Advocate, Sept 13, 2009
NEW ORLEANS – a waterspout on Lake Pontchartrain headed toward land, and the lake rose enough Saturday to close one New Orleans floodgate.
The National Weather Service called a tornado warning for St. John the Baptist Parish and LaPlace because radar showed the waterspout moving landward Saturday afternoon.
After high tides, winds and heavy rains pushed the lake up to 2 ½ feet, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the London Avenue Canal floodgate.
That was so the city could keep pumping storm runoff into the canal.
or innovations in your field.
NEHA was pleased to have played a role in the process. The document provides detailed information and recommendations for each step in a foodborne illness outbreak investigation. It also provides environmental health professionals with comprehensive information, action items, resources, and best practices models to improve detection and response. To access
Environmental Health, Vol 72, No 2, p 50. 2009.
Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response Published by National Food Safety Group.
NEHA (National Environmental Health Association)
announces the release of the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response’s (CIFOR) Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response. This document is the result of an extensive development and review process involving all key federal agencies and nongovernmental organization that represent food safety professionals, current technologies
5
DEQ closes landfill (con’t)
Understanding Results
2009 Beach Sweep for PonchatoulaThis year’s event was the largest turnout for Ponchatoula, LA. 18 volunteers joined to clean an abandoned subdivision in Ponchatoula, off HWY 22. The subdivision, the LANDINGS was abandoned before construction of
residences could begin. Since that time, this area has become a popular dumping ground. Volunteers collected nearly 2,500 lbs of discarded household and construction debris.
Visit
http://www.EnlightenMeDesigns.com
For photographs and full details of the event.
When testing your well water, test for any possible contaminants in your area. Use a state-approved testing lab. Do not be surprised if a lot of substances are found and reported to you.
The amount of risk from a drinking water contaminant depends on the specific substance and the amount in the water. The health of the person also matters. Some
contaminants cause immediate and severe effects. It may take only one bacterium or virus to make a weak person sick. Another person may not be affected. For very young children, taking in high levels of nitrate over a relatively short period of time can e very dangerous. Many other contaminants pose a long-term of chronic threat to your health.
A group of residents in the Coteau area has fought the landfill since it opened in 1994, but had little success until the DEQ’s denial of the permit for expansion.
In denying the permit, DEQ cited worries by federal aviation officials and Coteau area residents that birds at the site could pose a hazard to air traffic at the Acadiana Regional Airport.
Doerle can challenge the closure order through administrative channels with DEQ or in court.
6 TYPE TITLE HERE
Chemical Contaminants in Well WaterFrom the Department of Health and Human Services, CDCP, Healthy Water 2003:2.
Atrazine: short-term congestion of heart, lungs, and kidneys; low blood pressure, muscle spasms, weight loss, damage to adrenal glands, cancer. Arsenic: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis and blindness. Copper: an essential nutrient at very low levels; high level exposure causes upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, an also
cause liver and kidney damage. Lead: delayed physical and mental development in babies; shortened attention span, hearing, and learning abilities. Mercury: kidney damage. Nitrate: methemoglobinemia; increased urination and bleeding of the spleen. Radium: increases risk of cancer. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): drowsiness and decr3eased responsiveness; skin irritation; some cause cancer after long-term exposure.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/healthywater
REASONS TO TEST YOUR WATER:
Recurring gastro-intestinal illness, test for coliform bacteria
Household plumbing contains lead, test for pH, lead, copper
Corrosion of pipes, plumbing, test for Corrosion, pH, lead
Nearby areas of intensive agriculture, test for Nitrate, pesticides, Coliform bacteria
Coal or other mining operation nearby, test for Metals, pH, corrosion
Gas drilling operations nearby, test for chloride, sodium, barium, strontium
Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry-cleaning operation nearby, test for Volatile Org), total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals
Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station of buried fuel tanks, test for VOCs
Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored, test for color, detergents
Water softener needed, test for Manganese, iron
Rapid wear of water treatment equipment, test for pH, corrosion
Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather, test for Hardness
Salty taste , or a heavily salted roadway nearby, test for chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium
Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry, test for Iron, copper, manganese
Objectionable taste or smell, test for Hydrogen sulfide, metals
“Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry, test for Iron, copper, manganese”
7
Contaminants in Well Water
EPA Drinking Water Rules …
Field Survey of Permeable Pavement
Aim to protect people from both short and long term health hazards. The amounts of contaminants allowed are based on protecting people over a lifetime of drinking water. Public water systems are required to test their water regularly before delivery. They also treat it so that it meets drinking water standards, notify
customers if water does not meet standards, and provide annual water quality reports. Compare your well’s test results to rederal and state drinking water standards. To find your state’s guidelines:
www.epa.gov/safeater/mcl.html or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
800-426-4791.
In some cases, the laboratory will give a very helpful explanation, but you may have to rely on other experts to aid you in understanding the results
American Ground Water Trust (614) 761-2215
First printed in LCN, March 2008; p 53
A recent study completed at the University of Florida at Gainesville found that regular maintenance is critical for permeable concrete and pavers. Vacuum sweepers should be operated periodically to seep away dust and grime that accumulates and clogs surfaces.
Two key observations were drawn from this filed study: 1) maintenance was key to sustaining high surface infiltration rates for concrete grid pavers; 2) the siting of permeable pavement applications, including permeable interlocking concrete away from disturbed soil
areas was a significant factor in preserving high surface infiltration rates; and permeable pavement that was installed in sandy soil environments maintained relatively high soil environments maintained relatively high surface infiltration rates, without regard to pavement age of type.
From the Department of Health and Human Services, CDCP, Healthy Water 2003:1.
Bacteria’s: Campylobacter: diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever. E. coli: bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, little or no fever, can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome and kidney
failure in young children or the elderly. Salmonella: diarrhea, typhoid fever, stomach cramps; infection can spread from intestines to blood and other body sites, causing serious illness. Shigella: watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, upset stomach, vomiting and stomach cramping may also occur.
Viruses: Enterovirus: usually causes mild upper respiratory, “flu-like” symptoms with fever and muscle pains, or a rash; Meningitis is less common, and illnesses that affect the heart and brain may occur. Hepatitis A: Jaundice, dark urine, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, stomach ache. Morovirus (Norwalk): Upset stomach, cramps,
“regular maintenance is
critical for permeable
concrete and pavers.”
8 TYPE TITLE HERE
The Concrete Network www.ConcreteNetwork.com
EPA Examines Shredded Tires
Reactions to Fertilizer Ban
Established in 1999, The Concrete Network’s purpose is to educate consumers, builders, and contractors on popular decorative techniques and applications. These include stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more. In 2007, The Concrete Network Website had over 11 million visitors researching decorative concrete.
Economic Benefits: In general, initial costs for pervious concrete pavements are higher than those for conventional concrete or asphalt paving; but, total costs can be substantially lower.
The material itself is only a little more expensive, but it is installed thicker than regular concrete, said stormwater expert Any Youngs. The reason is that we know the water
is going to go through and saturate the subgrade underneath. So, we have to design for a weaker subgrade. With a pervious parking lot, 6 inches thick versus 4 inches for conventional concrete. But, when you compare overall installation and life-cycle costs, pervious concrete is the clear winner. You just cannot look at per square foot costs. You have to look at overall system costs.
First printed in LCN, July 2009; p 11.
Similar to bans in neighboring Collier, Sarasota and Charlotte counties and other areas of the country, the Lee County ban seeks to reduce algae blooms. Local landscape contractors have mixed reactions.
A new ordinance governing fertilizer use recently went into effect
in Lee County, Fla. The ordinance precludes the used of fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen during the rainy season (June to September), and limits application of the same for the rest of the year. Nitrogen must also be at least partially of the slow release variety. Application of product is banned within 10 feet of bodies of water, deflector shields are now required
on spreaders and deposition clippings and trimmings in ditches, drains, roads, sidewalks and bodies of water. Penalties are $100 for violation one, $250 for violation two.
First printed in LCN, July 2009; p 12.
Based on new research that shows shredded tires may release arsenic, lead and mercury into the products they are used in, the EPA is examining the safety of using them in applications such as playground surfacing.
Part of the investigation is a small-scale survey commissioned by the EPA. Its goal is to determine if children can suffer health risks from ingesting the toxic chemicals present in tires. In addition to playground surfacing, ground rubber is used as an additive for artificial turf, and the CDC issued
an advisory for potential lead contamination from this turf just last year.
“shredded tires may
release arsenic, lead and
mercury into the
products they are used
in.”
9
10 TYPE TITLE HERE
Landscapers Arrested for Dumping
About Our OrganizationEnlighten Me Designs is a non-profit organization working towards a cleaner Tangipahoa River through environmental education and clean-up efforts.
EMD raises monies by a variety of means, including creating and selling custom switch-plates for the home or office, custom bath salts, recycling waste products,
grants and private donations.
If you would like to volunteer, donate, or request environmental educational material, please contact Catherine
Originally printed LCN, March 2009; p 68.
Clay County, Fla. Source: Bradford County Telegraph
Clay County Investigator Robert Dews has been assigned to the Clay county environmental crimes unit for the last year.
The CCSO’s environmental crime until works with the state Department of Environmental Protection in Jacksonville and occasionally with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection.
Dews recently arrested two Putnam County landscapers
who dumped yard and landscaping waste near Inyo Court off C.R. 214.
Where financial gain is involved, (i.e. Collecting, then pocketing waste disposal fees.) any dumping is considered to be commercial, and is a felony, Dews said.
Enlighten Me Designs39920 Watters RDPonchatoula, LA 70454
Phone(985) 386-0704
Fax(985) 386-0704
Working towards a cleaner Tangipahoa River
11
CUSTOMER NAMESTREET ADDRESSADDRESS 2CITY, ST ZIP CODE
ENLIGHTEN ME DESIGNS39920 WATTERS RDPONCHATOULA, LA 70454
We’re on the Web!See us at:www.EnlightenMeDesigns.com
