Staff Reporter

EPA to Step Up Federal Actions in PA for Water Pollution

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Pennsylvania’s Bay Cleanup Plan Falls Short of Target, PA has 90 Days to Submit Improved Plan, Lacks Sufficient Legislative Funding and Programs

April 18, 2022

PHILADELPHIA (April 18, 2022) – After the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed Pennsylvania’s updated plan to address pollution reduction goals for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, it found that the plan falls short of those goals largely due to the lack of resources provided by the state. Approximately 25,000 miles of streams in the state – more than the Earth’s circumference – are considered unsuitable for fishing, recreation or other uses.

Pennsylvania’s draft amended Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) meets 70 percent of its nitrogen reduction target – 9.7 million pounds short, the EPA evaluation found. Much of this is attributed to uncontrolled manure runoff into streams, although there are other contributing pollution sources.

“Pennsylvania has made noteworthy progress in recent years and key partnerships are in place,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “State agencies, counties, farmers, partners and nonprofits are on board and have put in a tremendous effort. What’s missing are improved manure control policies and dependable state funding for agriculture cost-share programs for farmers. These are measures other states have had for a long time.”

Pennsylvania will now have 90 days to submit an improved final plan that meets its targets. Starting this week, EPA will be taking stronger actions statewide to promote clean-up progress, such as increased agriculture and municipal stormwater inspections, increased permit oversight, heightened enforcement actions and a redirection of certain federal funds to ensure they are spent more efficiently in Pennsylvania.

“Enhanced inspections and enforcement are a last resort, but that is where we are. Governor Wolf and legislative leaders have key proposals on the table in Harrisburg that would make a big difference,” said Ortiz, “We may live in different states in this region, but the rivers are shared by all, and each needs to do their part.”

The evaluation is available at www.epa.gov/chesapeake-bay-tmdl.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border slowdown ruined millions of dollars in food. Texas consumers will pay. | Texas News | San Antonio

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Courtesy Photo / Texas Governor’s Office

Gov. Greg Abbott and Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca show off a signed memo pledging better security measures. The agreement didn’t call for the Mexican state to implement new policies, according to reports.

The logjam from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s widely criticized move to begin state inspections of commercial trucks at the border has resulted in hundreds of millions of lost dollars from ruined perishables and shipping delays, experts say.

Losses to fruit and vegetable producers from the days-long tangle are likely to top $240 million, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, in an interview with CNN.

Consumers will feel the impact as produce distributors try to shore up their losses due to dwindling supplies, trade experts said, noting that those in the Lone Star State will be hit especially hard. Mexico’s second-largest export to the U.S. is produce, which includes not just avocados, but tomatoes, coffee and a variety of fruit.

“Texans are going to feel the pinch the most, because Texas relies so heavily on Mexico for its produce,” said Jorge Colazo, a supply chain expert who chairs Trinity University’s Department of Finance & Decision Sciences. “The governor has made a really risky bet.”

The disruptions come as U.S. supply chains are already in a state of disarray due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as consumers battle the worst inflation in decades.

Abbott, a Republican, announced the inspections last week, saying he was stepping in to thwart cartel-run smuggling operations due to the Biden White House’s failure to get tough at the border.

However, the governor faced withering criticism, including from members of his own party, that the move was a political stunt aimed at bolstering his reelection chances this year.

Abbott ended the inspections Friday, announcing that he’d struck deals with the governors of Mexican states bordering Texas requiring them to step up security. None of the Mexican governors implemented any new border-security enhancements, instead pledging to enforce existing rules, according to reports.

Trinity’s Colazo said he also expects Abbott’s slowdown to have lingering effects on the already supply chain-burdened U.S. auto industry. Auto parts, by volume, are the top Mexican import into the United States, and the delays affect not only the supply of parts coming into the United States but also shipments of U.S.-made components to parts producers inside Mexico.

“The problem with that is there’s a ripple effect across the entire industry,” he said. “It comes at a time when it’s pretty much impossible to buy a new car right now.”

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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base shift in health protection allows for 100% of workforce to return

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

HPCON 0 is “routine,” meaning the routine maintenance of everyday actions to stop the spread of germs is expected.

The next condition, HPCON ‘alpha,’ is based on limited community spread, and workers are expected to routinely disinfect frequently touched surfaces. If they’re sick, they should call a medical provider for instructions before going to a clinic or hospital.

The Department of Defense has changed how Wright-Patterson and other installations determine their COVID response, now using the community levels determined by the Center for Disease Control, Miller said.

“We are at a great place right now with health protection condition alpha,” Miller said. “I’m thrilled to be here, and I can’t wait to see how we continue along in this journey and keep opening up operations across this installation.”

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Final Ohio State Fair Concert and free events announced

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

COLUMBUS – Officials have announced the final ticketed Ohio State Fair concert, as well as three free events held in the WCOL Celeste Center, completing the Ohio State Fair Concert Series powered by AEP Ohio’s Smart Grid.

The ultimate pop concert for kids, KIDZ BOP LIVE 2022, will be held on opening day of the Ohio State Fair, July 27, at 6:30 p.m. Fairgoers of all ages can sing and dance along with the KIDZ BOP Kids as they perform today’s biggest hits, live on stage, including “Good 4 U” and “Dance Monkey.” Tickets for KIDZ BOP LIVE 2022 go on sale this Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m. Fans who sign up to receive Ohio State Fair enewsletters can get access to a presale starting this Wednesday, April 20 at 10 a.m., ending Thursday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m.

Additionally, all fairgoers are invited to enjoy free shows including the All-Ohio State Fair Band and Youth Choir, The Drifters, and the Sale of Champions in the WCOL Celeste Center. The 12-day Ohio State Fair features a diverse selection of entertainment that appeals to many Ohioans and out-of-state fairgoers, including Christian, country, R&B, classic rock, funk, family, and comedy.

Each concert ticket purchased in advance includes admission to the Fair, giving music lovers and comedy fans the opportunity to enjoy all facets of the Ohio State Fair before attending a show. All concerts take place in the indoor, air-conditioned WCOL Celeste Center. Tickets will be available for purchase at ticketmaster.com/OhioStateFair at the dates listed below.

The Ohio State Fair Concert Series powered by AEP Ohio’s Smart Grid shows includes:

JUST ANNOUNCED: KIDZ BOP LIVE 2022

Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

$20

Tickets on sale Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m.

Toby Keith with special guest Alex Miller

Thursday, July 28, 2022, 7 p.m.

$60, $75

Tickets on sale now

Foreigner – The Greatest Hits

Friday, July 29, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

$40, $50

Tickets on sale now

Nelly with special guest Breland

Saturday, July 30, 2022, 7 p.m.

$35, $45

Tickets on sale now

JUST ANNOUNCED: All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir

Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 1 p.m.

FREE (no tickets required)

Dru Hill / Raheem DeVaughn

Sunday, July 31, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

$30

Tickets on sale now

Zach Williams with special guest We the Kingdom

Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, 7 p.m.

$30

Tickets on sale now

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Drifters

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, 1 p.m.

FREE (no tickets required)

Scotty McCreery

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

$30

Tickets on sale now

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, 7 p.m.

$45, $55

Tickets on sale now

Ice Cube

Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, 7 p.m.

$40, $50

Tickets on sale now

Willie Nelson with special guest Noah Guthrie

Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

$47, $62

Tickets on sale now

Lakeside / Con Funk Shun

Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, 7 p.m.

$30

Tickets on sale now

JUST ANNOUNCED: Sale of Champions Livestock Auction

Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, 2 p.m.

FREE (no tickets required)

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com/OhioStateFair. Concert tickets purchased before arriving at the Fair include Fair admission. Unless otherwise noted, there is a limit of eight tickets per person, per show on the first day of sale. Please note that Ticketmaster no longer offers retail outlets or phone centers. The Ohio State Fair plans to follow applicable state and local protocols related to the spread of COVID-19.

The Ohio Expo Center is proud to host the Ohio State Fair. With big-name entertainment, educational activities, hundreds of exhibits and one of the largest junior livestock shows in the nation, the 2022 Ohio State Fair will run July 27 – Aug. 7. For more information, visit ohiostatefair.com, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR.

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Woosh Raises $1.3M in Funding

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Woosh, a San Francisco, CA-based technology company focused on improving indoor air quality and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) performance using data, raised a $1.3M in funding.

Backers included Alex Haro, Chris Nguyen, and Matt Humphry.

The brainchild of former Google Product Manager Winston Mok, Woosh is advancing a product which will have an injection-molded frame that allows filters to be changed like a Swiffer Sweeper which reduces waste to landfills. The smart filter is connected to home Wi-Fi and transmits data to a mobile app, allowing filters to be delivered to homes in a subscription format. Woosh will use MERV13-rated filters that capture >50% of viruses and bacteria (including COVID-19).

Woosh is officially launching on Kickstarter with expectations to deliver the consumer product in Q4 2022.

FinSMEs

18/04/2022

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ABM Supports New Environmental Protection Agency IAQ Guidelines and “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” to Improve Ventilation and Reduce the Spread of COVID-19

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

ABM Industries Incorporated

NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In March, the Biden Administration launched its Clean Air in Buildings Challenge—an integral piece of the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan released by the Administration earlier in March, to encourage building owners, schools, colleges and universities, building operators, and organizations to implement practices and strategies that improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and diminish the spread of COVID-19. ABM, a leading provider of integrated facility solutions, today announces its enthusiastic support of the new “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” and continues its commitment to safeguard the places and spaces people occupy every day.

To prepare building owners and operators for the challenge of improving indoor air quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal agencies, provided a guide that details the four components of recommendations that include: creating a clean indoor air action plan, optimizing fresh air ventilation, enhancing air filtration and cleaning, and engaging the building community.

Josh Feinberg, Chief Strategy Officer stated, “At ABM, we applaud this action dedicated toward advancing the adoption of crucial indoor air quality guidelines. As we continue to navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19, it’s imperative that effective strategies are implemented to better equip organizational leaders to reduce the spread of the virus, thereby creating healthier spaces for all.”

Since the beginning of the year, states have been steadily removing mask mandates, re-opening facilities at full capacity, and no longer requiring proof of vaccination. As these protective protocols deescalate, there is an opportunity to apply key learnings and improve the health of the air within facilities. The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, along with efficient standards of enhanced cleaning practices, provide a roadmap for building owners and operators to support the slowing the spread of COVID-19 variants and providing a better overall indoor environment.

Story continues

Aligning with this objective, ABM continues to execute multipronged integrated facility service solutions for business decision makers and building owners and operators to deploy a holistic approach to facility health.

“Keeping occupants safe through incorporating proper ventilation, mechanical and control systems, along with several new and advanced technologies for biohazard disinfection of the air is critically important. The COVID-19 pandemic thrust a spotlight on the essential responsibility of companies to address the wellbeing of people, and businesses across industries must prioritize improvements to their facilities to achieve proper risk assessment in real-time,” said Nancy M. McClellan, ABM Expert Advisory Council.

Congress, along with the Biden Administration, has allocated hundreds of billions of dollars towards infrastructure investment, including for schools, public buildings, and other facilities to improve indoor air quality by funding upgrades and enhancements to Heating, Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. ABM is an industry leader in providing EnhancedFacility™ services focused on improving IAQ to foster better occupant wellbeing through improved building health, safety, and efficiency that helps reduce viral transmission.

Please visit abm.com to learn more about ABM’s EnhancedFacility program and services.

About ABM

ABM (NYSE: ABM) is one of the world’s largest providers of integrated facility services. A driving force for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world, ABM provides essential services that improve the spaces and places that matter most. From curbside to rooftop, ABM offers a comprehensive array of facility services that includes janitorial, engineering, parking, electrical & lighting, energy solutions, HVAC & mechanical, landscape & turf, and mission critical solutions. ABM delivers these custom facility solutions to properties across a wide range of industries – from commercial office buildings to schools, airports, hospitals, data centers, manufacturing plants and distribution centers, entertainment venues and more. Founded in 1909, ABM is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue exceeding $6 billion and more than 100,000 team members in 350+ offices throughout the United States, United Kingdom and other international locations. For more information, visit www.abm.com.

CONTACT

Media:
Michael Valentino
848-255-5040
[email protected]

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Childhood love of axolotls leads Fargo man to breed endangered ‘water dragons’ – InForum

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

FARGO — When Ray Erickson was in kindergarten, he found a book on a strange breed of Mexican salamanders in a public library. Hungrily, he studied the book for years, and even to this day he’ll flip through it for the memories of where his love for axolotls began.

“It was just that they were weird. I’ve always been biology-minded, growing up on a farm, I was always running around turning over logs, finding all kinds of creepy crawlies,” Erickson said.

The axolotl — pronounced ax-uh-la-tull — is sometimes known as the Mexican walking fish, water dog or even water dragon. They’re a breed of water-bound salamanders that are nearly extinct. The smooth-skinned, flowery-gilled creatures also closely resemble dragons in the 2010 computer-animated film “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Erickson has raised floppy-eared rabbits, giant frogs, hedgehogs, rodents, classic rats, fancy mice and exotic reptiles. But axolotls are special to him — even his license plate says axolotl.

“They’re just my favorite. I like all animals, but they’re just kind of my thing. After that movie came out, they became a pretty big fad. Most recently, I’m not a gamer, but there are some video games that have characterized the axolotl,” said Erickson, now 40 years old.

A pair of large axolotls owned by Ray Erickson of Fargo.

David Samson / The Forum

Although nearly extinct, axolotls are being raised in homes around the world, he said.
Erickson pointed to what he called a black dragon, a father of hundreds of baby axolotls, and then to the mother, who he’s had since 2017. Outside of changing water on a daily basis, they don’t require a lot of maintenance, he said.

Axolotls can live longer than 15 years, and they’re paedomorphic, meaning they retain their larval traits their entire lives, changing only if introduced to iodine, which artificially forces metamorphosis into a land-roaming creature.

In the wild, they’re vulnerable to all kinds of predators, and while they have regenerative capabilities, they prefer to hunker down in the mud, snacking on passersby like small fish and anything they can suck into their mouths.

Ray Erickson shows a small axolotl. One of his female axolotls recently laid 240 eggs.

David Samson / The Forum

Formerly a certified nurse and massage therapist, Erickson has devoted much of his time recently to feeding the babies. Carrying water back and forth and separating the axolotls into their own habitats has also given him a regimen of physical therapy after he suffered injuries from a car crash in January.

Always hungry, new axolotls eat only living food like tiny shrimp. As they grow, Erickson gradually changes their diet to worms and commercial food.

Armed with powerful suction instincts but no teeth, axolotls can be cannibalistic while young, so he has to separate the baby “dragons” into separated bowls. Each bowl is filled with tap water that has been dechlorinated and aged.

A trio of axolotls owned by Ray Erickson of Fargo.

David Samson / The Forum

“Now, the babies have gotten so accustomed to me feeding them that they sit and watch me, like little puppy dogs,” said Erickson, who peered over their water bowl. The three baby axolotls turned their faces up toward him.

In the United States, some axolotls have been genetically modified with a green fluorescent protein that can make them glow under a ultraviolet light, a process that is illegal in the United Kingdom, he said.

When parents or children ask him for an axolotl that glows, he tells them that the fluorescent protein that is passed on through their genetic makeup isn’t good for the creatures.

The Fargo area has native tiger salamanders, which mature and evolve into land crawlers, losing their gills and amphibious tails. The water dragons prefer cooler temperatures and could survive naturally in the fierce North Dakota winters, Erickson said.

While he has no intention of releasing his axolotls into the Red River, he is trying to sell recently hatched babies. His copper-colored mother axolotl recently laid about 240 eggs, most of which are maturing now. He has nearly 150 left.

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Cleaning Is A Family Affair

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Cleaning is a family affair for the Porfirio sisters of California.

Wanting a better work-life balance for themselves and their families inspired the four sisters to start their own business together. After researching different commercial cleaning franchise options, the sisters opened JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting of San Diego in 2008.

Business aspirations

Originally from Toluca, Mexico, the Porfirios held various jobs prior to entering commercial cleaning. Elvira worked in radiology and cared for an elderly woman. Laticia cleaned houses. Maricela was a housekeeper. Bernarda assisted her husband in construction. However, as mothers, they all sought to work more flexible hours, have the opportunity to be their own boss, and earn better or additional income.

“I can earn as much as I want,” Bernarda said. “Also, I can manage my time so that it makes sense for me.” Maricela agreed. “I saw the flexibility in the schedule. But the most important thing was the growth potential,” she said.

Their journey as business owners has included learning how to set up their business, manage it, and develop leadership skills with support from their franchisor. They are now considered strong businesswomen and leaders in the Latino community in which they serve.

Paul Mascarenas, who has worked with the sisters since 2008, offers them high praise. “Professionalism, ambition, stay-with-it-ness, business-minded, kind, courteous, and team players all around,” he said.

A family business

The sisters are now teaching the same skills they have learned over the past 14 years to their children with the hope that they might one day join them in the family business.

“This type of business has the opportunity to be done as a family,” Elvira said. “I personally am teaching my son how to work and be a businessman and my franchise is a business.”

“I decided to make this a family business because it is something that we can all contribute to and help each other in the future,” said Maricela. “It also teaches my children and teens good ethical skills.”

Bernarda’s husband left his construction job and is now a cleaning specialist for the company.

Impact on the greater community

The sisters are helping other families in their community too by providing employment opportunities and referrals. “I have referred five other families to JAN-PRO who now have a franchise,” Elvira said. “They now have steady income. Also, I bought my house in California and other families also now have a home.”

“My business has impacted my community by promoting a clean environment that disinfects work environments,” said Maricela. “This makes the community feel safer and happy knowing that it is clean.”

Future growth

The sisters plan to keep growing their family business. “In the next five years, I see myself growing the business even more and hiring people to help me,” Leticia said.

The business financially supports their family while giving them more time to spend together. It also brings them a sense of pride they can carry forward into the next phase. “All my hard work means that I am able to support my family—knowing that the work I am doing is producing results that are important to people,” Maricela said.

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How Federal Agencies Can Improve Americans’ Health and Well-Being

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

In 2020, U.S. life expectancy fell to its lowest level since 2003, ranking 26th out of 35 OECD nations despite having advanced medical technology and spending more on healthcare than any other country. Traditional medical care isn’t enough to improve those sobering statistics. Public health experts are now focusing on the role of the social determinants of health, factors related to where Americans live, work, and spend their leisure time. Factors including employment status, education, income, housing, food security, transportation, and the environment can have a major impact on health outcomes. Federal agencies responsible for these and other aspects of American life have the opportunity and responsibility to integrate the SDOH into their missions and their work.

The Department of Health and Human Services has made improving the SDOH a high priority. HHS has integrated the SDOH into Healthy People 2030, an ambitious program that sets data-driven national objectives for health and well-being. HHS brought in outside experts to help develop Healthy People 2030, and has engaged federal agencies through the Social Determinants of Health Workgroup.

Last September, HHS and the nonprofit Center for Open Data Enterprise co-hosted a roundtable building on this work by bringing together experts from different sectors for discussions on improving the SDOH. This Roundtable on Cross-Sectoral Collaboration on the Social Determinants of Health showed how interrelated the different aspects of the SDOH are.

The roundtable also identified cases that demonstrate how SDOH factors in different sectors can affect health and well-being, and how federal agencies could address them. For example, recent work by the Federal Transit Administration demonstrated the importance of transportation to healthcare access, and health and well-being. The Department of Transportation could apply these learnings to improve transportation options in the interest of health. The agency could support programs to connect communities that are far from healthcare facilities with reliable and affordable transportation, or to develop infrastructure like sidewalks and bike paths that make it easier for people to exercise.

Transportation options can be closely tied with the location and quality of people’s housing. Substandard housing, often compounded by environmental factors, negatively impacts health and well-being. According to a 2017 assessment by the Government Accountability Office, 15% of rental units have issues including rodent infestations, water leaks, and defective heating that combine with environmental factors like cold weather or low air quality to hinder health. The Department of Housing and Urban Development could set SDOH-driven targets around lead abatement, indoor air quality, air conditioning for residences with extreme heat risk, and other factors. It is vital to proactively address these issues, many of which are being compounded by climate change.

In fact, climate change acts as a threat multiplier across the SDOH. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy are already exploring ways to expand and improve climate information and services for the public around hazards like fire, flooding, and drought. They can look at these issues through an SDOH lens and develop specific objectives and targets to address the impacts of climate hazards on health and the SDOH.

CODE’s report on the roundtable includes a number of action opportunities for federal agencies to improve SDOH conditions for all Americans. CODE is also publishing a cross-sector SDOH data hub that shows the wealth of data on SDOH factors that already exists, and makes it easily accessible for analysis. CODE’s report highlights opportunities to make progress by adapting and applying Healthy People 2030 to the state and local level; coordinating work on the SDOH within and between federal agencies more effectively; setting targets for progress in underrepresented areas, using an equity lens; and making SDOH data easier to access and use.

CODE is also continuing its work on SDOH with a focus on its application to racial equity. On April 6, CODE co-hosted a webinar to explore that topic and other applications of open government data for racial equity in healthcare, and featured speakers from government and the private sector.

Ultimately, agencies across the federal government share responsibility for protecting Americans’ health and well-being in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, racial injustice, and economic inequity. The SDOH provide a framework to meet that challenge, building on the strong foundation that HHS has established. Federal agencies have an opportunity to work together, to collaborate with coalitions of stakeholders outside of government, and to set ambitious goals for improving Americans’ health and set about achieving them.

Joel Gurin is president of the Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE), where Matthew Rumsey is research and communications manager.

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CO2 pipelines are coming. A pipeline safety expert says we’re not ready.

April 18, 2022 by Staff Reporter

A year ago, a different kind of pipeline project was announced in the Midwest. Most pipelines pick up oil or gas from a well and deliver it to customers who burn it, emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This one would run almost in reverse. A company called Summit Climate Solutions planned to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol refineries in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, and then transport it via the proposed pipeline to a site in North Dakota where the CO2 would be buried deep underground.

In the months since, two more companies have proposed similar CO2 pipeline projects in the Midwest, and another wants to expand an existing pipeline in the South. The sudden boom is being driven by federal and state incentives for carbon capture and storage, or CCS, as well as a new low-interest loan program for CO2 pipelines passed by Congress last year and general support from the Biden administration to grow the “carbon management” industry in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.

But as the number of pipeline proposals multiplies, a new report commissioned by the Pipeline Safety Trust, a nonprofit advocacy group, warns that CO2 pipeline regulations aren’t up to the task of keeping communities safe.

“The country is ill prepared for the increase of CO2 pipeline mileage being driven by federal CCS policy,” writes report author Richard Kuprewicz, an independent pipeline safety consultant hired by the Pipeline Safety Trust. “Federal pipeline safety regulations need to be quickly changed to rise to this new challenge, and to assure that the public has confidence in the federal pipeline safety regulations.”

Pipeline safety is overseen by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, a subdivision of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The agency began regulating carbon dioxide pipelines in 1991. Today, there are just over 5,000 miles of CO2 pipelines in the U.S., most of which deliver CO2 to oil fields, where companies pump it underground to stimulate oil production. But researchers assert that capturing carbon dioxide from industrial facilities and sucking CO2 directly from the air will be essential tools to tackle climate change. In order to deliver that CO2 to sites where it can be permanently sequestered underground, they estimate the U.S. could need between 30,000 and 65,000 miles of pipeline.

The most concerning finding in the new report, according to Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, is that regulations for assessing the potential impacts of a CO2 pipeline rupture were not developed specifically for CO2. Every pipeline developer has to identify potential “high consequence areas” where an accidental release would have significant negative impacts on human health or the environment. High consequence areas for oil and gas pipelines are well defined, but the report notes that CO2 has different considerations and likely a much larger radius of concern. CO2 is heavier than air, and a plume of CO2 can travel for miles, depending on wind and terrain, and settle into low-lying areas. The report warns that such an event would be difficult for people in the vicinity and first responders to detect, since CO2 is colorless, odorless, and nonflammable.

“If I had to pick one finding of the report that would keep me up at night as a public safety advocate, it’s that one,” said Caram.

The residents of Satartia, Mississippi, learned this the hard way in 2020 when a CO2 pipeline ruptured and a plume of CO2 settled over the town, causing people to feel dizzy, nauseous, and disoriented. Many passed out. Forty-nine people went to the hospital. PHMSA has yet to release an incident report detailing the cause of the rupture.

“That incident happened over two years ago,” said Caram. “It’s crazy that communities are being asked to bear the burden of the risk of these pipelines when this report sits unreleased with all these unanswered questions.”

In addition to urging PHMSA to update how potential impact areas are assessed, the Kuprewicz report recommends that PHMSA require pipeline operators to inject an odorant into CO2 pipelines, as is standard for natural gas pipelines, to help alert the public to potentially dangerous leaks. It proposes new requirements for informing and training local officials and emergency responders on the unique dangers posed by a CO2 release. It also recommends setting purity standards for the CO2 transported by pipelines, as impurities can introduce additional risks.

A spokesperson for PHMSA did not comment on the missing Satartia report or the concerns raised in Kuprewicz’s report. But the agency did say it was reviewing his findings and working on new measures to strengthen safety standards for CO2 pipelines, as the White House instructed PHMSA and other agencies that oversee CCS projects to do in interim guidance put out in February.

Similar to Kuprewicz, the White House guidance calls for CO2 pipeline-specific emergency planning and training. It cites a need for new tools to monitor and improve safety but stops short of describing which tools are needed. It also notes that the impacts of climate change, like flooding and storms, should be taken into account in the design, construction, and maintenance of CO2 pipelines.

Lee Beck, global director for carbon capture at the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit that advocates for CCS deployment, said the Pipeline Safety Trust report “provides important insights and raises really important questions.” But from her perspective the Biden administration’s guidance document shows it “is well aware of what needs to be done to ensure regulatory safety.” Beck also noted that since 2010, there have only been 66 reported CO2 pipeline incidents and no reported fatalities. According to PHMSA data, the incident rate per mile of CO2 pipeline in 2020 was about half that of crude oil pipelines.

But Caram is concerned that PHMSA does not have the funding or capacity to effectively make new rules. “I would consider them a notoriously underfunded and understaffed agency,” he said.

Rory Jacobson, the deputy director of policy at the nonprofit Carbon180, also raised this issue. “Ultimately, PHMSA will need Congress to enhance its regulatory capacity, funding, and jurisdiction to effectively and lawfully oversee the implementation of newly-passed carbon management policies,” he said in an email. Carbon180 advocates for policy to support carbon removal, a category of climate solutions designed to suck carbon directly out of the atmosphere, some of which would utilize CO2 pipelines.

Other pipeline proponents emphasized the industry’s track record on safety. “PHMSA and the natural gas and oil industry have decades of experience ensuring the safe transportation of CO2,” said Robin Rorick, the vice president of midstream policy at the American Petroleum Institute, in a statement. The oil and gas industry group has been a key player in developing regulations for CO2 pipelines, since oil companies buy CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. Rorick did not comment on the report’s findings.

Jesse Harris, a spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions, the company that is developing the Midwest carbon dioxide pipeline, said that PHMSA “clearly specifies multiple layers of protection for CO2 pipeline operations to ensure public safety.” He added, “We look forward to continuing to meet and in many cases exceeding all local, state, and federal requirements.”

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Originally Appeared Here