Waste management

Heads for disposal facility in New Mexico

ARGONNE, Ill. (Nov. 16, 2009) – The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has been removing transuranic (TRU) waste from its site for three years, but the Oct. 15 shipment of radioactive material to a disposal facility near Carlsbad, New Mexico marked the first time the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) picked up the tab.

The cleanup work is paid for by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. The influx of ARRA funds will allow the laboratory to ship out more than four times as much TRU waste (including both remote- and contact-handled) in the next 24 months as it has since the project was conceived three years ago.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy has announced that the City of Worthington, OH has received $500,000 in appropriation funds to be used for the improvement of sewer systems for a cleaner watershed in the city. The funds for the project, which were requested by Rep. Kilroy, were included in the 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill.    » read more »

TORRANCE, Calif., November 11, 2009 - - Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS) announced today that it has joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WasteWise program. As the first national voluntary solid waste reduction program, WasteWise encourages organizations to reduce municipal solid waste through waste prevention, recycling and buying or manufacturing recycled products.

“The WasteWise program is a great opportunity to recognize the efforts of Toyota associates that contribute to our waste reduction and recycling efforts every day,” said Bob Wade, corporate manager of environmental, hazardous material and safety.    » read more »

October 13, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bart Gordon said he was pleased the U.S. Department of Energy revised its decision to send radioactive waste from New York to Tennessee for disposal in municipal landfills. The decision comes after DOE held a conference call and was met with strong opposition to the plan from interested stakeholders, including Congressman Bart Gordon, Tennessee environmentalists and government watchdog groups.

“This decision is a victory for Tennessee,” said Congressman Gordon. “This contaminated waste is radioactive and should be disposed of in a landfill that is officially certified to handle this kind of waste. There is no reason for New York’s radioactive waste to be dumped in any of Tennessee’s municipal landfills.”    » read more »

6/19/2009 -- (Helena) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have chosen the City of Conrad’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade for a low interest loan and funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009(ARRA). The new facility should dramatically improve the quality of the treated water which is discharged to the Marias River.

"Improving the City of Conrad’s wastewater treatment will keep the Marias River clean and protect the water for decades to come," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "This is a good project that needed reinvestment."    » read more »

Columbus-Based Company Will Refurbish Equipment, Reduce Toxic Electronic Waste

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today joined Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) to launch the inaugural Employee Electronic Recycling Day in Washington, D.C. Redemtech, a Columbus-based company specializing in electronic waste recovery, was on site to collect and recycle materials that pose a significant threat to the environment.

“This remarkable event demonstrates how innovation in business can create green jobs in Ohio and address environmental threats that endanger public health,” Brown said.    » read more »

Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Defiance and Paulding Counties

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the release of $5.2 million in loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Defiance County Auglaize River Project. The funds, allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will enable the construction of a new wastewater and sewage collection system.    » read more »

Senator Announces "Rubbish to Renewables Act," Legislation That Would Promote Use of Municipal Solid Waste as Clean Energy Source

May 28, 2009 -- COLUMBUS, OH— Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today visited the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). At SWACO, Brown announced new legislation that would expand the use of municipal solid waste as a source of clean energy.

“One man’s trash can be another man’s source of clean energy,” Brown said. “SWACO is leading our nation by converting landfill waste into a productive use. My bill would allow municipal waste systems across the country to follow SWACO’s lead. With the right investments, we can develop new clean energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new jobs and economic activity.”    » read more »

Funds Made Available through the USDA’s Rural Development Program

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $2,661,000 to the City of Manistique through the Rural Development Program. The city received $1,995,000 in grant funding and a $666,000 loan from USDA to improve the water treatment plant.

“This funding will help improve water quality for the Manistique area, ensuring that over 1,400 families have access to clean drinking water,” Stabenow said. “Not only will these improvements help keep Michigan families healthy, but it will also protect our environment.”    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- Pawtucket, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today visited a former industrial site in Pawtucket to announce $1.8 million in federal aid they secured to clean up brownfield sites in communities across Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) and Woonsocket will receive a total of $1.2 million in brownfield funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin supported and was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. East Providence, Glocester, and Pawtucket will receive a total of $600,000 in competitive brownfield grants.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week approved legislation Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and George Voinovich (R-OH) authored to authorize $1.8 billion in federal grants to help modernize antiquated sewer systems.

These sewers frequently overflow directly into rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters during wet weather events, threatening water quality and public health and undermining local economies. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are also co-sponsors of the bill. The language was incorporated into the Water Infrastructure Financing Act (S.1005).    » read more »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - At a special meeting today, the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) allocated nearly $40 million in federal economic stimulus funds to communities across Wyoming for water and sewer improvements.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal said he’s encouraged by the diverse list of 43 Wyoming projects that will be funded by federal stimulus money.

“I commend the staff, and the communities that moved quickly to take advantage of the stimulus funding that was available," he said. "Those funds should be put to work around the state this summer, and hopefully we’ll see people who might have jobs who otherwise might not have them. We will also accomplish the task of meeting some of the unmet needs in the communities and the counties throughout Wyoming.”    » read more »

Stimulus funding will create jobs, serve as a catalyst for future investment in Kentucky

May 07, 2009 -- SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced the approval of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the South Bullitt Waste Water Interceptor Project.

Surrounded by state and local officials and leaders in the business community, Gov. Beshear applauded the efforts of public officials and private citizens in working together to make this project a reality.    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- The Rhode Island Governor joined United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Dept. of Health and the RI Clean Water Financing Agency at a press conference to announce $45.8 million in funding though the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide funding and financing for high priority infrastructure projects needed to ensure clean water and safe drinking water in Rhode Island.

Under the Recovery Act, Rhode Island shall receive $26.3 million for clean water and wastewater management projects and an additional $19.5 million for drinking water programs.    » read more »

4/24/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced that nearly $46 million will be awarded to 36 communities in 30 counties for wastewater and stormwater projects from the first-round distribution of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Aging wastewater infrastructure from one end of the state to the other will now begin to see the benefit of the economic recovery funds,” said Gov. Perdue. “Not only will these projects help improve public health and the environment, but they’ll create jobs and boost the local economy.”    » read more »