NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 24, 2006
NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF
AUGUST 24, 2006GAO Report Criticizes EPA Performance on Emissions WASHINGTON (Aug. 18, 2006) - According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lacks a comprehensive strategy for completing the unmet requirements or estimates of resources necessary to do so." The assessment was made in the recent GAO report, "Clean Air Act: EPA Should Improve the Management of Its Air Toxics Program." The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) required the EPA to regulate 190 pollutants through a multifaceted regulatory program. The GAO was asked to assess the Agency's progress and challenges in implementing the air toxics program, available information on the program's costs and benefits and the practices of state and local air toxics programs. The subsequent report criticized EPA for not carrying out that mandate as well as it could have. The GAO noted that senior EPA officials said the program's agenda is largely set by external stakeholders who file litigation when the agency misses deadlines. In addition, the EPA officials said that the Agency does not have reliable data on the degree of risk reduction achieved through its regulations. Nonetheless, the GAO report concluded, "While EPA has made some progress in implementing its air toxics program mandated by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, most of its regulatory actions were completed late and major aspects of the program have still not been addressed." Specific criticisms noted in the report included: * In an audit of the 453 requirements outlined in the CAA, the GAO concluded that the EPA completed just 12 on schedule; 202 were completed late and 89 are still overdue. The remaining 150 are not yet due for completion. * Most of EPA's progress relates to issuing emissions standards for large stationary sources, although these standards were completed about four years behind schedule. * Many of the unmet requirements pertain to limiting emissions from small stationary and mobile sources, which collectively account for most emissions of air toxics. * The Agency faces continuing implementation challenges stemming from the air quality program's low priority relative to other programs and related funding constraints. * EPA has failed to comprehensively estimate the national economic costs of all air toxics standards and lacks the data necessary to assess the benefits of these standards, such as decreased incidence of cancer. (Source: GAO)Mitchell 1 Names Scholarship, Educator of the Year Recipients POWAY, CA (Aug. 16, 2006) - Mitchell 1 recently presented a scholarship and its Educator of the Year award at the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) 2006 Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Isaac McAllister from Boones Mill, VA received the Automotive Technology Outstanding Student Scholarship. Each year, Mitchell 1 recognizes one U.S. high school senior for outstanding achievement in automotive technology scholastics and awards a $2,500 scholarship. Eric L. Babcock, an automotive technician and instructor from New Orleans, LA, was named Educator of the Year. Mitchell 1 recognizes one of the nation's top teachers annually for excellence in automotive repair instruction. Babcock was presented with a check for $500, and his school, Delgado Community College, was given a one-year extended subscription to Mitchell 1 OnDemand5 Repair software.(Source: Mitchell 1)Realtor Introduces Community-Oriented Conceptual Auto Care Centers HEALDSBURG, CA (Aug. 12, 2006) - Drive Smart LLC, a real estate development company, now specializes in building auto care centers for independent operators. "Our goal is to establish the auto care center as part of the urban landscape in emerging growth areas," says Drive Smart President Kevin McCann. Each complex will consist of a 4-acre, 10-unit condominium that will house nine different automotive businesses as well as a customer cafe. The company's condominium/garage concept consolidates traditional repair service businesses in one central location within communities, enabling independent operators to own their facilities. In addition, the customer experience is a focus of the centers. Each complex will include a condominium called "The Driver's Seat," a spacious wireless cafe with laptop stations, meeting areas and healthy food services. Construction will incorporate solar and biomass energy resources, recyclable products, and water and energy-efficient design elements. "We want to change the public perception of the 'grease pit' business image into an attractive, convenient, community-oriented environment, while helping to make the American dream a reality for independent operators across the country," says Hari Dhaliwal, McCann's partner and owner of Drive Rite Automotive Services in Windsor, CA. "I am proud to be part of this dynamic change." More information and pictures of the concept are available at www.drivesmartllc.com.(Source: Drive Smart LLC)Japanese Company Transforms Waste Oil into Fuel TOKYO, JAPAN (Aug. 14, 2006) - Fuji Energy Co. has found a way to convert used and waste oil into fuel oil. Using a compact processor, used or waste oil is mixed with Type A fuel in a 40-60 ratio, heated to 60
AUGUST 24, 2006GAO Report Criticizes EPA Performance on Emissions WASHINGTON (Aug. 18, 2006) - According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lacks a comprehensive strategy for completing the unmet requirements or estimates of resources necessary to do so." The assessment was made in the recent GAO report, "Clean Air Act: EPA Should Improve the Management of Its Air Toxics Program." The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) required the EPA to regulate 190 pollutants through a multifaceted regulatory program. The GAO was asked to assess the Agency's progress and challenges in implementing the air toxics program, available information on the program's costs and benefits and the practices of state and local air toxics programs. The subsequent report criticized EPA for not carrying out that mandate as well as it could have. The GAO noted that senior EPA officials said the program's agenda is largely set by external stakeholders who file litigation when the agency misses deadlines. In addition, the EPA officials said that the Agency does not have reliable data on the degree of risk reduction achieved through its regulations. Nonetheless, the GAO report concluded, "While EPA has made some progress in implementing its air toxics program mandated by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, most of its regulatory actions were completed late and major aspects of the program have still not been addressed." Specific criticisms noted in the report included: * In an audit of the 453 requirements outlined in the CAA, the GAO concluded that the EPA completed just 12 on schedule; 202 were completed late and 89 are still overdue. The remaining 150 are not yet due for completion. * Most of EPA's progress relates to issuing emissions standards for large stationary sources, although these standards were completed about four years behind schedule. * Many of the unmet requirements pertain to limiting emissions from small stationary and mobile sources, which collectively account for most emissions of air toxics. * The Agency faces continuing implementation challenges stemming from the air quality program's low priority relative to other programs and related funding constraints. * EPA has failed to comprehensively estimate the national economic costs of all air toxics standards and lacks the data necessary to assess the benefits of these standards, such as decreased incidence of cancer. (Source: GAO)Mitchell 1 Names Scholarship, Educator of the Year Recipients POWAY, CA (Aug. 16, 2006) - Mitchell 1 recently presented a scholarship and its Educator of the Year award at the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) 2006 Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Isaac McAllister from Boones Mill, VA received the Automotive Technology Outstanding Student Scholarship. Each year, Mitchell 1 recognizes one U.S. high school senior for outstanding achievement in automotive technology scholastics and awards a $2,500 scholarship. Eric L. Babcock, an automotive technician and instructor from New Orleans, LA, was named Educator of the Year. Mitchell 1 recognizes one of the nation's top teachers annually for excellence in automotive repair instruction. Babcock was presented with a check for $500, and his school, Delgado Community College, was given a one-year extended subscription to Mitchell 1 OnDemand5 Repair software.(Source: Mitchell 1)Realtor Introduces Community-Oriented Conceptual Auto Care Centers HEALDSBURG, CA (Aug. 12, 2006) - Drive Smart LLC, a real estate development company, now specializes in building auto care centers for independent operators. "Our goal is to establish the auto care center as part of the urban landscape in emerging growth areas," says Drive Smart President Kevin McCann. Each complex will consist of a 4-acre, 10-unit condominium that will house nine different automotive businesses as well as a customer cafe. The company's condominium/garage concept consolidates traditional repair service businesses in one central location within communities, enabling independent operators to own their facilities. In addition, the customer experience is a focus of the centers. Each complex will include a condominium called "The Driver's Seat," a spacious wireless cafe with laptop stations, meeting areas and healthy food services. Construction will incorporate solar and biomass energy resources, recyclable products, and water and energy-efficient design elements. "We want to change the public perception of the 'grease pit' business image into an attractive, convenient, community-oriented environment, while helping to make the American dream a reality for independent operators across the country," says Hari Dhaliwal, McCann's partner and owner of Drive Rite Automotive Services in Windsor, CA. "I am proud to be part of this dynamic change." More information and pictures of the concept are available at www.drivesmartllc.com.(Source: Drive Smart LLC)Japanese Company Transforms Waste Oil into Fuel TOKYO, JAPAN (Aug. 14, 2006) - Fuji Energy Co. has found a way to convert used and waste oil into fuel oil. Using a compact processor, used or waste oil is mixed with Type A fuel in a 40-60 ratio, heated to 60