EPA Region 9

Jeff Scott

Waste Management Division

Administrator Jackson’s Priorities

• Reducing GHG emissions• Improving air quality• Managing chemical risks

– Risks of chemicals in consumer products, workplaces environment

• Cleaning up hazardous waste sites• Accelerate the pace of cleanup• Return properties to productive use• Reduce threats to health/environment

• Protecting America’s water

Needed GHG Reductions

• 83% by 2050?

• 14% - 25% by 2020?

• By any measure....……..A Long Road

Broad Array of GHG

reduction options needed

Conventional Accounting: Sector BasedU.S. GHG Emissions (2006)

End-of-pipe focus

Leads to technology-oriented strategies

Source: U.S. Inventory of GHG Emissions and Sinks : 1990-2006 (US EPA, 2008)

Source: Draft values from Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Materials and Land Management Practices. U.S. EPA. (forthcoming).

Systems Based View: U.S. GHG Emissions (2006)

Same GHG emissions, a new lens.

Leads to prevention –oriented strategies

• In 2006, the U.S. recycled over 80 million tons of municipal solid waste (32.5% recycling rate)– Equivalent to conserving 182 million metric tons of

carbon dioxide equivalent (MMCO2E).

• Recycling achieves short term, high impact, lower cost GHG reductions– Increase to 50% recycling nationally

• 70-80 MMTCO2E per year potential GHG reductions

– Increase to 100% recycling nationally• up to 300 MMTCO2E per year potential GHG reductions

Opportunity Knocks:

Grabbing “the low hanging fruit”

99

Advancing Waste Climate ConnectionAdvancing Waste Climate Connection

West Coast Climate ForumWest Coast Climate Forum

Region 9/10 PartnershipRegion 9/10 Partnership Connecting Waste/Materials Connecting Waste/Materials

Management to Climate ChangeManagement to Climate Change 8 States8 States Engaging West Coast Leading Cities Engaging West Coast Leading Cities Focus on Tools, Policy and InnovationFocus on Tools, Policy and Innovation

6 Principles for TSCA Legislative Reform

Chemicals - reviewed against safety standards based on sound science and reflect risk-based criteria protective of human health and the environment.

Manufacturers provide necessary information to conclude that new and existing chemicals are safe

Risk management decisions should take into account sensitive subpopulations, cost, availability of substitutes and other relevant considerations

EPA should have clear authority to act - should assess and act on priority chemicals, both existing and new, in a timely manner

Green Chemistry – encouraged, transparency and public access to information strengthened

EPA should be given a sustained source of funding for implementation

Enhanced Chemical Management Program

• New Regulatory Risk Management Actions– Lead– Mercury – Formaldehyde – PCBs – Glymes – Nano Materials – Carbon Nano tubes

Resources

• Essential TSCA Reform Principles– http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/princip

les.html

• Enhanced Chemical Management Program– http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/enhan

chems.html

• National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP)– http://www.epa.gov/waste/partnerships/npep/index.htm

Evolution of the R9 RCRA Program

• Emphasis on successful state implementation of waste program

• Expand EPA presence on tribal lands and underserved communities

• Moving beyond waste to achieve greater overall results

• Multiple years of substantial resource cuts

R9 EPA HW Enforcement Priorities

• EJ Community Initiatives• Tribal Lands• High Noncompliance –High Risk

Sectors/Facilities • National Enforcement Initiatives

– Mining/Mineral Processing– Financial Assurance reviews– Surface Impoundments

• Ensuring a Level Playing Field

PCBsPCBs

Suisun Bay, CA

Electrical insulation

Door jams

Capacitors

Metropolitan Water District, CA

PCBs in PCBs in CaulkCaulk

LUST Cleanup Challenge

• Continued challenge to close 14,000+ LUSTs

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Greening Cleanups

• Cleanup paradigm evolution:– Protect HH&E– Reuse contaminated land– Minimize climate/energy footprint of

remedy

• Better informed remedial decisions through Lifecycle Analysis of carbon, energy, and multi-media impacts

LCA Greening RemediesLCA Greening Remedies

• Reductions Achieved4.4 MMTCO2E4,290 metric tons toxics

Green Standards for Electronics

EPEAT forConsumers?

Greening Products:Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool

• Greening Existing Buildings– GHG opportunities– ARRA Weatherizing homes– Residential – Energy Star Homes– Indoor Air Issues

• Healthy Schools– Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)-

High Performance Building Products Database

• Region 9 actions to support Home Energy Region 9 actions to support Home Energy Retrofits:Retrofits:–Formed CA HERCC – CA Home Energy Retrofit Formed CA HERCC – CA Home Energy Retrofit

Coordinating CommitteeCoordinating Committee–Developing consistent standards and program Developing consistent standards and program

elements for statewide utility-and elements for statewide utility-and local government-sponsored programslocal government-sponsored programs Contact: Leif Magnuson magnuson.leif@epa.govContact: Leif Magnuson magnuson.leif@epa.gov

For CA HERCC Recommendations, see: http://www.builditgreen.org/home-energy-For CA HERCC Recommendations, see: http://www.builditgreen.org/home-energy-retrofit-programs-local-governmentretrofit-programs-local-government

Questions?