Staff Reporter

Resident complaints about water quality at mines outside Nederland cleared but enforcement continues

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Mar. 13—Although enforcement related to a cease-and-desist order at Cross and Caribou mines outside Nederland continues, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety has cleared resident complaints regarding the potential impacts of mine discharge on surface water and groundwater in the vicinity.

Most of the complaints, which came in after the department issued its cease-and-desist order in November, were made by Boulder County residents and focused on potential impacts to water resources, particularly downstream wells.

Complaints related to whether the mining operation was directly affecting the quality of people’s drinking water as well as general concerns about whether the mining operation was adversely impacting Coon Track Creek, according to Michael Cunningham, senior environmental protection specialist at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, also known as DRMS.

DRMS reviewed data from a domestic well with a single sampling provided with an anonymous resident complaint as well as information provided by the state water quality control division and surface water sampling data from Coon Track Creek, Middle Boulder Creek and Barker Reservoir provided by the city of Boulder.

“After reviewing that data, we could not make any determination that any of those water resources had been impaired, which of course is good news,” Cunningham said.

Still, he noted this determination has no bearing on the corrective action put in place after the state issued a notice of violation and cease-and-desist order due to a violation of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and a discharge permit by releasing heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and zinc into the watershed at levels exceeding what’s permitted by law.

The cease-and-desist order remains in effect until the state is satisfied the new water treatment facility is doing what it’s intended to do, Cunningham noted.

“I think the most important thing is to note that this is an ongoing issue,” he said. “We did not get past the enforcement. We’re going to continue to be monitoring the site.”

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“There’s really not an end date for responsibility to ensure that they’re protecting water resources out there,” Cunningham added.

The operation, run by Grand Island Resources LLC, discharges treated wastewater associated with the mines, which have produced gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead. According to the notice of violation, that wastewater is directed to a series of lined ponds. The water from both mines combines in the second pond and is discharged via pipeline to Coon Track Creek, which feeds into Barker Reservoir and Boulder Creek.

As part of the violation, the mine had to install a new water treatment filtration system, which it says is now fully operational.

In addition to being required to install a new water treatment facility, the mines are required to submit regular progress reports. The operation also was issued a $5,000 fine with the caveat that if the system fails or there is continued noncompliance the amount could be increased to $17,000.

For the mine, the fact that the DRMS cleared the residents’ complaints is a win.

“The water leaving our mine is and has always been safe to drink. We remain committed to meeting and improving upon the Cross and Caribou Mines’ legacy of ‘mining with respect for the environment’ while being exemplary stewards of Boulder County’s land and water,” Grand Island Resources president Daniel Takami stated in a news release.

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Kindergarten attendance affected by Covid, concerns fuel prices won’t help

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Bejon Haswell/Stuff

South Canterbury Kindergartens general manager Dave Hawkey says attendance at kindergartens is down due to Covid.

Covid is impacting on kindergarten attendance across South Canterbury, and there are concerns high fuel prices are likely to be another barrier to children’s pre-school education.

South Canterbury Kindergartens general manager Dave Hawkey said attendance was down across the 13 kindergartens the organisation manages in Timaru, Temuka, Clandeboye, Fairlie, Tekapo and Twizel due to Covid.

“Parents are not sending their children to kindergarten if they have even the slightest flu symptoms and there are a few who are preferring to keep them at home as we head toward the peak of this outbreak.”

Hawkey said it was not a concern in the short term.

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Waimate Kindergarten Association general manager Terina Eade said some families were dealing with a roll over of Covid. As one family member recovered another came down with the virus and the entire household had to isolate for another seven days.

She said though they were prepared for online learning with two lockdowns and one-on-ones with teachers, and parents by phone for those who did not have computers, it was still hard. Waimate Kindergarten was also offering hard copy Covid packs to families isolating, so children could continue learning.

“It is difficult for them staying home and isolating. If a parent has Covid, then the children may not be receiving Educa (online learning programme). It will affect some more than others depending on their environment.”

Eade said Waimate had the last mobile kindergarten in the country which covered rural areas including Hakataramea, Waituna, Waihao Downs, Hook, Glenavy and Esk Valley.

Though no teachers were down with Covid, Eade said it was slowly coming into the community in the past week, and she expected they may be affected in the coming weeks.

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Children do not have to wear masks at kindergarten. (File photo)

Under Ministry of Education guidelines, there are no bubbles for kindergarten children and teachers don’t wear masks. Parents who are not vaccinated must wear a mask and are allowed to stay for a maximum of 15 minutes to settle their child and pick them up. Anyone wishing to stay longer must show a vaccine pass.

“We can’t exclude children from an education. Most parents just drop off and pick up their children at the gate.”

Though the association offered a free service, many parents were worried about the recent fuel price hikes as some families had to travel 30 or 40kms in rural areas to get to the mobile kindergarten, Eade said.

JOHN BISSET/Stuff

Petrol prices were sitting above the $3 per litre mark at Z Caroline Bay on Saturday.

Wholesale petrol prices have been affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent volatility of the Brench benchmark, used to price the majority of the global oil trade. It has seen a litre of fuel hit the $3 mark in New Zealand in the past week.

On Monday, of the four service stations in Waimate the highest price per litre was $3.19 and lowest $2.81. While in Timaru the highest was $3.09 and the lowest was $3.03.

Ministry of Education Hautū (leader) Operations and Integration/Te Pae Aronui Sean Teddy said along with schools/kura, early learning services have layers of preventative measures in place to protect staff and children.

“We know that the more layers of protection in place included good hygiene practices, handwashing, ventilation, cleaning and disinfecting high touch areas regularly. The harder it is for the virus to be transmitted,” Teddy said.

He said where there were Covid cases in the community kindergartens were following guidance from Health and the Ministry of Education, and supporting those cases to stay at home.

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Addibond™ obtains Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

BRUSSELS, March 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Solvay’s water-soluble Addibond™ polymer, used as a thin layer to strengthen bonding between aluminum and adhesives in automotive applications, has obtained a Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label.

Founded by the Solar Impulse Foundation, the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label highlights existing solutions that are both sustainable and profitable. With the addition of Addibond™, Solvay currently has 13 labeled efficient solutions which, in line with its Solvay One Planet goals, provide sustainable solutions for batteries, exhaust gas treatments, semiconductor applications, thermoset composites developed for high volume automotive applications, rare-earth-based formulations, biostimulants for farming, wastewater adsorbents, amongst others, benefiting various industries such as water, energy, and agriculture.

“Strengthening the metal-to-metal adhesive bond of aluminum parts allows automakers to reduce or eliminate the array of fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws, rivets) – a contributory factor for the light weighting of vehicles for better fuel and energy efficiency,” says Dr Marie-Pierre Labeau, metal treatment platform project leader at Solvay. “This created a need for improving the reliability of metal-to-metal adhesive bonds, for which proper surface treatments are critical.”

Solvay’s Addibond™ polymers are designed to deliver a surface pre-treatment that will maximize the strength of adhesive bonds by combining two functional groups: one reacting with the metal substrate, normally before it is shaped, and the other reacting with the adhesive during assembly.

Moreover, Addibond™ helps component manufacturers and assemblers align their metal surface treatment with stricter HSE standards and regulations. The products are free of chromate, heavy metals, and fluorides, eliminating the risk of toxic exposure for operators.

For major weight reductions to be achieved, metal-to-metal adhesive bonding targets body-in-white (BIW), chassis, interior, powertrain, under-bonnet and other structural components such as electric vehicle (EV) battery casings and have already been successfully implemented in premium and mass production vehicle assemblies.

Addibond™ polymers can be an effective enabler for leveraging the light-weighting potential of aluminum and other light metals in a wider range of industries such as construction, industrial equipment, electronics, and aerospace while also meeting higher standards of sustainability in the manufacturing processes.

The innovative benefits of Addibond™ in adhesive bonding have been recognized multiple times in the industry and received the Potier Prize in France and the Chinese Automotive award in 2021 as a clean and profitable solution.

™ Addibond is a trademark of Solvay

Related media

Solvay’s Addibond™ obtains Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label

About Solvay

Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 21,000 employees in 63 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet roadmap crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering a better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of €10.1 billion in 2021. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB). Learn more at www.solvay.com.

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EPA Awards Rebates Totaling $17 Million to Fund Clean School Buses that Reduce Diesel Emissions and Protect Children’s Health (NJ)

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Six Entities in New Jersey Receiving Funding to Replace 34 Old Diesel Buses

March 10, 2022

NEW YORK — Earlier this week, at an event with Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of two school bus rebate opportunities: the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates, and the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates. The $7 million in ARP funding is directed toward school districts in underserved communities to replace old diesel buses with new, zero-emission electric models, and the $10 million in DERA rebates will assist with 444 school bus replacements across the country. Six awardees in New Jersey will receive almost $950,000 in funding to replace 34 old diesel buses under the ARP and the DERA program.

In addition to the $17 million announced today, in the coming weeks, EPA plans to announce a new Clean School Bus rebate program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion over five years, to replace existing school buses with low- or zero-emission school buses.

“The historic investments in clean transportation resulting from President Biden’s leadership will have lasting impacts on protecting clean air for children for generations,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This round of school bus grants from the American Rescue Plan is just the beginning. The unprecedented $5 billion investment that’s on the way for clean and zero-emission school buses from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will transform how millions of children get to school and help build a better America for a new generation.”

The two rebate awards total approximately $17 million in combined funding for schools and bus fleet owners to replace older, high-polluting diesel school buses. Replacing these buses will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and better protect children’s health overall. Since 2012, EPA’s school bus rebates have awarded, or are in the process of awarding, over $73 million to replace more than 3,000 old diesel school buses.

This program will also prioritize projects that help achieve the goals of President Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to ensure that federal agencies deliver at least 40 percent of benefits from certain investments to underserved communities.

2021 American Rescue Plan Electric School Bus Rebate Awards

The first rebate awards are the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates. This new $7 million program provides funds to replace old diesel school buses with new, zero-emission electric school buses. The funds are reserved exclusively for school districts in underserved communities, Tribal schools, and private fleets serving those schools. This program will award funding for 23 electric school bus replacements and associated charging infrastructure.

Holcomb Transportation, Inc., is receiving a $300,000 award to replace one bus serving the Camden City School District.

2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebate Awards

The second rebate awards are EPA’s latest round of funding for longstanding DERA School Bus Rebates. This year’s program awards approximately $10 million to fund the replacement of old diesel school buses with new electric, diesel, gasoline, propane, or compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses meeting current emission standards. This program will award funding for 444 school bus replacements.

Garden State Transport: $200,000 award to replace 10 buses serving the Lenape High School District in Shamong
George Dapper Inc.: $40,000 award to replace two buses serving Linden
Lower Cape May Regional School District: $60,000 award to replace three buses
Safety Bus Service: $149,060 award to replace eight buses serving Atlantic City
Student Transportation of America, Inc.: $200,000 award to replace 10 buses serving Parsippany-Troy Hills Township schools in Parsippany

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean School Bus Program

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides an unprecedented $5 billion over five years for the Clean School Bus Program to replace existing school buses with cleaner models. In Spring 2022, EPA plans to announce a new Clean School Bus rebate program for applicants to replace existing school buses with low- or zero-emission school buses. EPA may prioritize applications that replace school buses in high need local educational agencies, low-income and rural areas, Tribal schools, and applications that provide cost share.

To learn more about the upcoming Clean School Bus Program, please visit http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

To learn more about the rebate programs, applicant eligibility, and selection process, visit https://www.epa.gov/dera/rebates.

22-019 ###

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As Mask Mandates End, King County Begins A New Pandemic Chapter

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

SEATTLE — On the day before mask restrictions ease across Washington, King County’s health officer hosted a news briefing detailing some promising signs in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, just as the globe reaches another pandemic milestone.

“It was two years ago, on March 11, when the World Health Organization first declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic,” Dr. Jeff Duchin said Friday. “Today, we mark that anniversary with some relatively optimistic news for all of us.”

The health officer said a steep decline in case counts have kept apace across all age groups and regions of King County since the omicron surge peaked in January, with new infections now close to the level they were before the winter surge began.

Find out what’s happening in Seattlewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“King County is emerging from our omicron surge and our situation is improving every day,” Duchin said. “Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are continuing to fall and, if we’re lucky, the arrival of warmer weather and more outdoor activity may further limit COVID spread.”

Related: Washington’s Indoor Mask Rules End Saturday: What To Know

Find out what’s happening in Seattlewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Daily case counts soared to 6,467 on Jan. 10, and over the last week have averaged 226 in King County. COVID-19 hospitalizations, which hit 60 in a single day at the height of omicron, have fallen to six per day, helping hospitals recover some capacity and start to make headway in providing deferred care from the last few months.

“At this time, hospitals are beginning to treat a large backlog of patients whose procedures and surgeries were delayed when hospitals were overloaded during the omicron outbreak,” Duchin said. “Ongoing staffing concerns and high volumes of patients continue to challenge our health care system, however.”

Duchin said King County’s seven-day case rate sits at 70 per 100,000 residents, which is comfortably within the low bracket in CDC’s updated community transmission framework. COVID-19 patients now account for 5 percent of hospital beds, down from the peak of 21 percent, and deaths have declined 55 percent since peaking in early February.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

“Our numbers place us in the low community level, well below the cutoffs for medium or high level,” Duchin said. “At this level, CDC does not recommend universal indoor masking but does recommend vaccination, enhancing ventilation, COVID-19 testing, isolation, quarantine, and that immunocompromised persons have a plan with their health care provider for rapid testing and treatment if necessary.”

With all COVID-19 metrics continuing to fall, state and county officials say they are comfortable with removing broad masking requirements Saturday but note some may choose to continue wearing masks based on their personal needs, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces.

“This does not mean that COVID-19 is over,” Duchin said. “It does not mean that COVID-19 is no longer a problem, and it remains very reasonable for individuals to make the choice to continue to mask indoor settings, based on their personal risk assessment and preferences.”

(Public Health – Seattle & King County)

The health officer pointed to strong community vaccination rates, including 85 percent of the eligible population having at least two doses, and added protection from the widespread number of omicron infections, which together should help guard King County against another surge in the short term. However, not all groups are equally protected.

“In addition not protection from vaccination, the large number of adults and children that were infected during the omicron surge will likely provide some additional community immunity for at least the near future,” Duchin said. “But COVID-19 is still circulating and some risks remain, especially for people with weakened immune systems from disease or medication, people with certain underlying health conditions that place them at increased risk for severe disease, advanced age, and those who are unvaccinated and unboosted.”

Though overall vaccination rates are high, booster participation is lower among younger age groups. While nearly 84 percent of residents 65 and older have received a booster, just 38 percent of people in the 18 to 34 age group are boosted.

(Public Health – Seattle & King County)

“People who have completed their primary series but have not gotten their booster dose are more likely to be hospitalized or die compared to people who have been boosted,” Duchin said. “For the best protection, please get your booster as soon as you’re eligible.”

For the unvaccinated, the county estimates they were 2.4 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, 12 times more likely to be hospitalized, and 24 times more likely to die over the last month than residents up to date on their vaccinations and boosters.

(Public Health – Seattle & King County)

In closing out his Friday briefing, the health officer said successfully carving a path forward, with fewer restrictions in place, will require everyone to tap into the defenses that are available and for better systems to be established while transmission remains low.

“While we celebrate this progress today, it’s critical to understand that COVID-19 remains with us, both in the U.S. and globally,” Duchin said. “High levels of vaccination, with boosters, plus immunity from recent omicron infection in the population should protect us from another major surge coming soon. We need to use the time we have left now, while COVID is not surging, to build COVID preparedness and resistance.”

Some of the “system-wide efforts” named include reaching more age groups with booster doses, improving indoor air quality and filtration inside homes, businesses and other public spaces, ensuring access to testing and treatments, providing adequate sick leave for workers, and improving health care capacity across the region.

“I hope the worse days of the pandemic are behind us,” Duchin concluded. “Although much uncertainty remains, I’m optimistic that if we continue to take the necessary steps, and don’t take our eye off the ball, over time we’ll continue to decrease the damage this virus will do and its impact on our lives.”

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Sewage-laced Tap Water Riles Residents | Madurai News

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Madurai: The residents of Villapuram in ward 86 in Madurai have been unable to use the corporation water supplied through their taps for the past one week as it has a foul smell. The residents have planned to stage a demonstration on Monday demanding that their councillor Booma Janasri Murugan to take action immediately.
T Shanthi, a resident of Villapuram, said that she and some of the other women in their ward had told all the candidates who had come to their ward seeking votes that they should promise to solve their drinking water problem.
In many of the streets in the ward including Anna second street, Rajan street, Mariappa Pillai street, Velupillai street and Kanakkapillai street, water is not supplied to all the houses on the entire street due to lack of pressure. Now, as sewage was mixing with water people are unable to use it either.
They said that the corporation tanker lorry had come a week ago, but as they had run out of water most of them were buying mineral water for all their needs.
Councillor Booma Janasri’s husband Murugan, who spoke on her behalf, said they were rectifying the UGD work in their ward for the past ten days after assuming office. “Once, this is completed, the problem that is being reported of sewage mixing with the drinking water would be addressed,” he said.
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Mask mandate for Franklin Transit Authority passengers to remain in place another month | Community

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

The Franklin Transit Authority announced Friday that mask requirements for passengers on its vehicles and in its transportation hubs will be extended until April 18, in accordance with recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Extra precautions and measures, by the Franklin Transit Authority, in sanitizing and disinfecting the buses and Franklin Transit Center, continue daily to help keep transit passengers and drivers safe. Masks are available in the Transit Center lobby and on board all buses.

For more information on routes, visit the website or call 615-628-0260.

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KP proposes Rs107bn water supply project for Peshawar

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has proposed clean drinking water supply project for Peshawar from the under construction Mohmand Dam.

However, the project will cost Rs107 billion, therefore, the provincial government has asked the central for financial support.

According to KP Local Government Department sources, a plan to supply clean water from Mohmand Dam to Peshawar has been sent to Islamabad stating that the estimated cost of the project is Rs107.55 billion.

According to sources, it is not possible from provincial government to fund the project from its own resources due to which the federation has been requested for financial support.

It has been requested to include the project in the proposed Public Sector Development Program of the Fiscal Year 2022-23, i.e. the development program of the Federal Government so that all the expenses incurred on it would be borne by the Federal Government or both the Provincial and central Governments.

Another plan has also been proposed to supply water from Jabba Dam to Hayatabad and Khyber while for the rest of Peshawar, clean water will be provided from the under construction Mohmand Dam.

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CDC: Improve ventilation to reduce virus | Northwest

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — With masks becoming less of normal practice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging people to be mindful of ventilation in indoor spaces.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “proper ventilation with outside air can help reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants, including viruses, indoors,” the website states.

The EPA says that with more people in an indoor space, the more need there is for good ventilation.

The EPA encourages people to open windows and doors, and run systems that keep air flowing, such as air conditioners or heaters. The EPA also recommends that in places where ventilation is hard to regulate, to limit the number of people in the indoor space.

According to the EPA, “When used properly, air cleaners and HVAC filters can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a building or small space.”

Using an air purifier or sanitizer for your home could help with ventilation and making sure the air you and your family breathe is clean and safe, whether from virus particles or other possible pollutants.

In addition to opening windows and using air cleaning systems, the CDC also recommends using a fan to push air out from your house, moving unclean particles from inside to the outside by putting a fan in a door or window blowing outdoors. Fans can also be used to create airflow, such as turning on ceiling fans.

You can also help circulate the air in your home by turning on your stove or bathroom fans.

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Citric acid cleaning hacks: Three things to avoid cleaning with citric acid

March 13, 2022 by Staff Reporter

“Although harder to get hold of in significant quantities and a little more expensive than our other hero products, this is a fantastic ingredient when you need something stronger than lemons or baking soda.”

Despite its amazing qualities, the cleaning experts noted a few things citric acid shouldn’t be used to clean.

Delicate surfaces

Delicate surfaces include marble or stone worktops.

While some may advise using citric acid, cleaning experts caution against using it on marble or stone due to its corrosive properties.

Instead, try and find specialist marble cleaners to ensure it stays looking its best for as long as possible.

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