EPA issues rule to reduce water pollution from construction sites

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 23, 2009 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a final rule to help reduce water pollution from construction sites. The agency believes this rule, which takes effect in February 2010 and will be phased in over four years, will significantly improve the quality of water nationwide.

Construction activities like clearing, excavating and grading significantly disturb soil and sediment. If that soil is not managed properly it can easily be washed off of the construction site during storms and pollute nearby water bodies.

The final rule requires construction site owners and operators that disturb one or more acres to use best management practices to ensure that soil disturbed during construction activity does not pollute nearby water bodies. In addition, owners and operators of sites that impact 10 or more acres of land at one time will be required to monitor discharges and ensure they comply with specific limits on discharges to minimize the impact on nearby water bodies. This is the first time that EPA has imposed national monitoring requirements and enforceable numeric limitations on construction site stormwater discharges.

Soil and sediment runoff is one of the leading causes of water quality problems nationwide. Soil runoff from construction has also reduced the depth of small streams, lakes and reservoirs, leading to the need for dredging.

Economic Stimulus Plan and The Environmental INdustry

When President Barack Obama signed an environmental economic stimulus bill into law in 2009, he earmarked $500 million for green jobs training, according to the New York Times. Environmental careers are considered one of the top fields for graduates and for people searching for new careers, due to the impact of global warming and the support of the federal government for new jobs that help the environment. The New York Times identified four main career paths for people looking to start an environmental career: green organizations that will benefit from the stimulus package, jobs in renewable energy, environmental lawyers and environmental consultants who will help companies follow guidelines to make their businesses and products more environmentally friendly. Additionally, there are environmental jobs that have been around for years, including environmental scientists, environmental engineers and environmental educators.

Green Organizations

1. Environmental organizations like Green Corps train people to work at places like the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, the Endangered Species Coalition and the National Wildlife Federation. These jobs are mainly organizing jobs, where efforts are placed in fundraising and growing awareness. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has federal offices as well as state offices that hire people to fill jobs such as environmental specialist and staff assistant. Job boards at TreeHugger.com and Idealist.org regularly post green jobs from the private and public sectors.

Renewable Energy Jobs

2. With $62 billion of government stimulus money for clean energy, environmental projects and research efforts, there are many businesses and nonprofits that will receive grants and open new jobs in renewable energy. These jobs are for people who can build, design or contribute to research for solar energy, wind energy, water energy, biomass and fuel cell energy. RenewableEnergyJobs.com and GreenJobs.com are two job boards that specialize in renewable energy careers. Some of these jobs include environmental architects, energy efficiency engineers, wind analysts and project managers.

Environmental Lawyers

3. Environmental lawyers may work in-house to advise their companies on best environmental practices, or may work out in the field by suing companies that illegally pollute the environment. EnvironmentalLawyers.com is a job board for these types of attorneys, and EarthJustice.org bills itself as the top environmental law firm. Earth Justice hires interns, associate attorneys and law clerks all over the United States.

Environmental Consultants

4. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental consultants work closely with their clients' projects to identify and solve and environmental problems. For example, an environmental consultant might inspect a construction site to make sure there is no environmental pollution. The BLS reports that environmental consulting firms are one of the largest specialties in scientific consulting. Environmental consultants are employed by government agencies, as well as private clients.

Environmental Scientists and Engineers

5. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies two main lucrative environmental careers: environmental scientists and engineers. Environmental scientists work in the government, as well as with private companies to identify and solve environmental problems. Environmental chemists may analyze chemicals in soil, for instance, while environmental biologists may work to protect endangered species. Environmental engineers use their engineering backgrounds to help design environmentally safe structures. According to the BLS, they may work in such fields as waste treatment or pollution control.

UST Clean-Up Fund Delaying Payments

The California Underground Storage Tank Clean-Up Fund has suspended payments to priority "C" claims and is now delaying payments for 6-18 months on Priority "A" and "B" Claims. The reason for the delay is reportedly due to the decreased demand for gasoline/diesel, resulting in less taxes being collected. The Clean-Up Fund will post which claims they will pay each month on their website. www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ustcf/