Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Water Security. California. U.S. EPA Orders Water Utility in Kern County to Reduce Arsenic in Drinking Water

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2020
Media Contact: Soledad Calvino, 415-972-3512, calvino.maria@epa.gov

U.S. EPA Orders Water Utility in Kern County to Reduce Arsenic in Drinking Water

NORTH EDWARDS, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently ordered North Edwards Water District to address ongoing arsenic violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The California’s State Water Resources Control Board – Division of Drinking Water (DDW) referred the system to EPA for enforcement.

"A number of smaller drinking water systems in the Central Valley struggle to provide consistently safe drinking water,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator John Busterud. “EPA will work closely with this Kern County system to ensure its 600 customers have the benefit of alternative drinking water until the North Edwards Water District can supply water safe to drink."

The North Edwards Water District system serves approximately 600 residents through more than 200 connections. The system's current source of drinking water is groundwater from two wells.

Arsenic, a naturally occurring mineral found throughout the United States, can be found in groundwater. Drinking high levels of arsenic over many years can increase the risk of lung, bladder, and skin cancers, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and neurological damage. Arsenic also inhibits the body’s ability to fight off cancer and other diseases.

As part of EPA’s order, North Edwards Water District must comply with the arsenic maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 micrograms per liter no later than April 30, 2023. The system has been serving water with arsenic levels above the MCL since at least 2013.

The District must provide a compliance plan by the end of October 2020 outlining how it will comply with the arsenic MCL standard. North Edwards Water District is also required to provide EPA with quarterly progress reports and participate in quarterly meetings with EPA and California DDW on its progress towards compliance. The District has applied for funding from the California State Water Resources Control Board – Division of Financial Assistance to provide residents with alternative water until the system complies with federal and state drinking water requirements.

EPA will continue to monitor North Edwards Water District’s efforts to provide safe drinking water and may levy penalties if the utility fails to meet the compliance provisions in the order.

For more information on EPA's drinking water program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Preparedness Month. Mobile App. ERG 2020 (Emergency Response Guide 2020). Training & Workshops.

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/erg/erg2020-mobileapp

ERG2020 MobileApp

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has developed a free, mobile web app of its Emergency Response Guidebook 2020 (ERG). The new safety tool provides the nation's emergency responders with fast, easily accessible information to help them manage hazardous material incidents. This software is available from the Apple iTunes store for iPhone, and from the Google Play website for Android.

ERG 2020 for Android

ERG 2020 for iPhone

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Hazardous Materials Transportation Training One-Day Workshops

PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Safety Assistance Team conducts workshops specialized to meet the needs of industry or the public safety community. These free one-day events are scheduled across the nation to help meet the needs of local communities.

Transportation workshops provide a basic overview of the regulatory requirements - what they are, how they apply, and how to comply with them - for shipping and transporting Hazardous Materials. The workshops address the same information as the Hazmat Basics track given at the Multimodal Seminars and include overviews of the Training and Security Requirements.

Public safety workshops are specifically designed to help emergency responders understand the Hazardous Materials Regulations as set forth in CFR 49. The seminars cover the use of the Emergency Response Guidebook, locating emergency response information, and information that every emergency responder should know in order to safeguard themselves and the public.

One-Day Workshop Calendar and Details

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Webinars

PHMSA offers Hazmat transportation training workshops and webinars throughout the year. These free training opportunities are for anyone who offers or transports hazardous materials in commerce, or has a desire to learn more about DOT's Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).

PHMSA conducts webinars specialized to meet the needs of industry or the public safety community. Transportation webinars provide a basic overview of the regulatory requirements - what they are, how they apply, and how to comply with them - for shipping and transporting Hazardous Materials.

To register for any of the webinars below, please use the following link:
https://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/hm_seminars/default_webinar.asp

How to Use the HMR

This session will help you understand the 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and help you to use the Hazardous Material Table to help make sure you are shipping hazmat correctly. At the end of the session attendees will be able to describe the purpose of the 49 CFR; Identify basic roles and responsibilities of shippers; and How to locate reference numbers in the HMR for both Hazard Identification and Packaging Requirements. Time commitment: 90 minutes. Learning Level: Beginner.

The following learning aids will be used during the webinar:

eCFR:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9066bf422d632df74cb60b99e8a77437&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49tab_02.tpl

How to Use the HMR brochure:

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/how-use-hmr

Training and Security

This session will help you to understand everyone's responsibilities and roles when hazardous material is on the move in the transportation system according to the 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). We will explore testing, recordkeeping and training sources and then end up learning how to discuss threat assessment through a written plan. Time commitment: 90 minutes. Learning Level: Beginner.

The following learning aids will be used during the webinar:

eCFR:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9066bf422d632df74cb60b99e8a77437&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49tab_02.tpl

Security Requirement brochure

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/security-requirements-brochure-english

Transportation Training Requirement brochure

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/hazmat-transportation-training-requirements

Guide to Developing Hazmat Training Program brochure

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/guide-developing-hazmat-training-program

Do You Know If You're Shipping Hazardous Materials? brochure

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/do-you-know-if-youre-shipping-hazardous-materials

Preparedness Month. Learn how to use the ERG for Hazardous Material incidents. Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

You are invited to the following event:

AAACERT Monthly Training -- Emergency Reference Guide (ERG)

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:

Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)

via Zoom
Virtual
Annapolis, MD 21403

Attend Event

Learn how to use the ERG for Hazardous Material incidents

We hope you can make it!

Cheers,

Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis CERT

Critical Infrastructure. Agriculture and Transporation\Roads. Black Farmers and Ranchers. Comments Proposed Jarales Rd NM 109

As a long time resident of the Jarales/ Pueblitos area I have attended and participated in all of the meetings held regarding this issue. Although my property is West of the immediate area to be impacted, what does take place on either side of the tracks has an effect. In 2017 we had a major flood in Pueblitos and the only access road into Pueblitos was through the Jarales juncture. For several weeks the use of the Jarales Road for any purpose including emergencies was our only option. The time table as well as an environmental impact statement should have an established timeline. That timeline should now have projected purchases options for the residents directly impacted in addition the dates for proposed construction.

Due to the use of the road as a major route for Farming and Ranching activities it is of the utmost importance that this long over due project have a defined and expedited proforma.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input.

Eugene Pickett

Due to the use of the road as a major route for Farming and Ranching activities it is of the utmost importance that this long over due project have a defined and expedited proforma.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input.

Eugene Pickett

Black Farmers and Ranchers New Mexico

PO Box 183

Jarales, New Mexico 87023New Mexico

PO Box 183

Jarales, New Mexico 87023

Volunteer to Be a Poll Worker on Election Day

Happy National Poll Worker Recruitment Day!

America needs more poll workers in November. If you are healthy and able, please volunteer and ensure free, fair, and accessible elections for all.

#HelpAmericaVote

Check Out Poll Working 101 Video

For information on how to work at the polls on Election Day go to: HelpAmericaVote.gov

Twitter: @beapollworker

Facebook: @HelpAmericaVoteBeAPollworker

Thank you for stepping up.

National Puerto Rican Agenda
http://www.puertoricanagenda.org/