RSS Subscribe Industrial Hygiene: A Good Strategy Provides Value

Industrial Hygiene

As an industrial hygienist, I’m frequently asked to assess people’s exposure to hazardous chemicals. Usually, the conversation starts something like this:

“Hi. I’d like to set up some air monitoring to assess employee X’s exposure to chemical Y. September 18 would be good because we’ll be running our highest level of production, so that should be worst-case.”

The person making this request typically expects me to conduct this air monitoring and then write a report summarizing the results compared to some limit, such as an OSHA Perm

RSS Subscribe Brownfields 101: The Third Generation

Brownfields

The concept of the “third generation” of Brownfield application integrates environmental remediation and economics with the impact the redevelopment and restoration of contaminated property has on a community. Approximately 50 people participated in a workshop facilitated by MFA at the Brownfield Redevelopment and Land Revitalization Conference in what was hailed as “the best program experienced at a conference.” In a typical brownfield conference session, attendees listen to speakers talk about how other communities have succeeded

RSS Subscribe The View from My Desk at a Former Brownfield

Brownfields

I recently attended the National Brownfields Conference hosted by USEPA. I learned about some great programs across the country such as New York’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program, the Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center at Carnegie-Mellon, and the West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center. What got me most excited were the synergies around brownfields in USEPA Region 10. A few examples:

• The Port of Portland’s Troutdale project winning the national Phoenix Award
• The innovation and passion behind brownfield redevelopment

RSS Subscribe How Northwest Tribes are Planning for Rising Sea Level and Flooding Rivers

Planning, Tribes

Faced with seasonal flooding and limited land for development, the Skokomish Indian Tribe has embarked on an ambitious plan to build new neighborhoods — eventually an entirely new community — on higher ground overlooking Hood Canal. The first phase of streets and utilities is now complete and ready for the construction of new homes. Future phases are being planned to best suit the current and future needs of Skokomish families.

Historically, the Skokomish — “SqWuqWu’b3sh”, People of the River — were the largest of nine Twana commun

RSS Subscribe Update of Ecology's Sediment Management Standards

Sediment

Sediment cleanup actions present many complexities in investigation, risk assessment, and design as sources of legacy and ongoing impacts from a multitude of historic and current sources within an entire watershed must be considered. While the Washington Department of Ecology has suspended non-critical rule making for the next year due to budget constraints, Ecology is continuing with the Sediment Management Standards (SMS) rulemaking. Ecology considers the update of the existing SMS rules (WAC 173-204) critical in order to restore

RSS Subscribe How-To Guide for Redeveloping Brownfields

Brownfields

Cities and towns across the Northwest are looking for ways to create jobs and revitalize their Main Street business districts. In many of these communities, there are derelict or abandoned properties like former gas stations, dry cleaners, or repair shops that drag down the appearance and economy of the town. The concern that environmental contaminants linger beneath these properties hinders their redevelopment. The Washington State Department of Ecology has recently developed a new guidebook for local government and community orga