BEING AN UNPAID LAB RAT

NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) on an application for an Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit to discharge pollutants to Waters of the United States. ADEQ is issuing this notice of proposed action under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-9-A907. The Director proposes to issue an AZPDES permit to discharge to the following applicant, subject to certain effluent limitations and special conditions: Public Notice No.42-08AZ Publication Date: 5/12/08 AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025046 Rock Springs Chevron Remediation System ADEQ - UST Section 1110 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 The applicant has applied for a renewal of the AZPDES permit for the discharge of up to 0.0288 million gallons per day (mgd) of effluent from the Rock Springs Chevron Remediation System, located in Rock Springs, in Yavapai County, Arizona. Effluent will be discharged into an unnamed wash, tributary to the Agua Fria River, in the Middle Gila River Basin. The point of discharge will be in T8N, R2E, and Section 10. The discharge will be treated groundwater (derived from the UST remediation system). Groundwater contaminated with trace quantities of petroleum based organic compounds, and volatile organic compounds will be pumped, treated to remove organics, and discharged to the unnamed dry wash, tributary to the Agua Fria River. Groundwater is treated granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration prior to discharge. Pursuant to A.A.C. 18-11 Article 1, Appendix B, effluent limitations in the permit are based on the designated uses of aquatic and wildlife (effluent dependent water) (A&Wedw), and partial body contact (PBC). Effluent will be monitored for Benzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, Ethylbenzene, Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Naphthalene, Toluene, Xylenes, Chromium VI, Copper, Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, Sulfides, Total Residual Chlorine and pH. Chronic whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing will be required once per permit term to assist in determining whether synergistic effects of monitored or non-monitored parameters are occurring. With 24 hour notice, the draft permit and related documentation is available for public review Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the ADEQ Phoenix office. To review the file, contact the Records Management Center, 24 hours in advance at (602) 771- 4380. A copy of the pertinent documents may also be obtained by calling or writing ADEQ as follows. Persons may submit comments or request a public hearing on the proposed action, in writing, to: Samira Mirtalaei Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Division 1110 W. Washington - 5415A-1 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Telephone: 602-771-4678 All written comments received by ADEQ by the close of business on the date 30 days after publication of this notice will be considered in the final permit decision. Requests for a hearing must be in writing and must state the issues proposed to be raised in a hearing. If there is a significant degree of public interest, the Director will hold a hearing in accordance with A.A.C. R18-9-908(B). Additional notice of such hearing would be published at least 30 days prior to the hearing date. Please bring the foregoing notice to the attention of all persons you know would be interested in this matter. 1TC PUB May 12, 2008


A perspective for your consideration . . . ?
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) on an application for an Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit to discharge pollutants to Waters of the United States. ADEQ is issuing this notice of proposed action under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-9-A907. The Director proposes to issue an AZPDES permit to discharge to the following applicant, subject to certain effluent limitations and special conditions: Public Notice No.42-08AZ Publication Date: 5/12/08 AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025046 Rock Springs Chevron Remediation System ADEQ - UST Section 1110 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 The applicant has applied for a renewal of the AZPDES permit for the discharge of up to 0.0288 million gallons per day (mgd) of effluent from the Rock Springs Chevron Remediation System, located in Rock Springs, in Yavapai County, Arizona. Effluent will be discharged into an unnamed wash, tributary to the Agua Fria River, in the Middle Gila River Basin. The point of discharge will be in T8N, R2E, and Section 10. The discharge will be treated groundwater (derived from the UST remediation system). Groundwater contaminated with trace quantities of petroleum based organic compounds, and volatile organic compounds will be pumped, treated to remove organics, and discharged to the unnamed dry wash, tributary to the Agua Fria River. Groundwater is treated granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration prior to discharge. Pursuant to A.A.C. 18-11 Article 1, Appendix B, effluent limitations in the permit are based on the designated uses of aquatic and wildlife (effluent dependent water) (A&Wedw), and partial body contact (PBC). Effluent will be monitored for Benzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, Ethylbenzene, Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Naphthalene, Toluene, Xylenes, Chromium VI, Copper, Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, Sulfides, Total Residual Chlorine and pH. Chronic whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing will be required once per permit term to assist in determining whether synergistic effects of monitored or non-monitored parameters are occurring. With 24 hour notice, the draft permit and related documentation is available for public review Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the ADEQ Phoenix office. To review the file, contact the Records Management Center, 24 hours in advance at (602) 771- 4380. A copy of the pertinent documents may also be obtained by calling or writing ADEQ as follows. Persons may submit comments or request a public hearing on the proposed action, in writing, to: Samira Mirtalaei Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Division 1110 W. Washington - 5415A-1 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Telephone: 602-771-4678 All written comments received by ADEQ by the close of business on the date 30 days after publication of this notice will be considered in the final permit decision. Requests for a hearing must be in writing and must state the issues proposed to be raised in a hearing. If there is a significant degree of public interest, the Director will hold a hearing in accordance with A.A.C. R18-9-908(B). Additional notice of such hearing would be published at least 30 days prior to the hearing date. Please bring the foregoing notice to the attention of all persons you know would be interested in this matter. 1TC PUB May 12, 2008
Too technical… ?

That’s exactly what they’re hoping you’ll say and how you’ll react…?

Learning about MTBE might just save your life, the choice is yours…?
MTBE - MBTE, sometimes referred to as MTBE, is an additive to gasoline that is produced via the reaction of methanol and isobutylene. When this additive is put into gasoline, the fuel is then referred to as reformulated gasoline. While there are other uses for MBTE, the vast majority of large quantities produced are used as a fuel additive. The properties of methyl tertiary-butyl ether allow more oxygen into gasoline and as such it falls into a category of chemicals referred to as “oxygenates.” Other properties of MBTE include its colorless liquid phase, solubility in water, volatility and flammability at room temperature. As with virtually everything, there is a flipside to using MBTE. Many people are concerned with the use of the additive in gasoline for numerous reasons. One such reason is that trace amounts of MBTE have been found in water supplies all over the continental United States. Even the presence of these trace amounts of MBTE methyl tertiary-butyl ether in drinking water can make the water absolutely impossible to drink as it leaves the water with a rather unpleasant taste and scent. Other disadvantages of the use of MBTE have been found by determining the effects of inhalation on humans. Though no humans were actually used in the experiments conducted, the effects witnessed in animals were astounding. These test subjects developed Cancer and various other health concerns, yet there are still organizations that feel that the use of MBTE is not harmful to humans and poses no threat to the public. The researchers cannot comment on the effects of swallowing anything containing the additive, as very little data actually exists on the matter. Data only for ingestion of water containing low concentrations and as such no real conclusions can be made regarding higher concentrations of MBTE. Researchers believe however that higher amounts of methyl tertiary-butyl ether contaminating the water can be potentially cancer causing if ingested.
Looking for a solution…? Hey, if you don’t mind being an unpaid experimental lab rat maintain your robotic allegiance to Corporate America and their minions – regulators - don’t ask any questions, don’t demand answers, just drink the water and eat their genetically modified foods…?
Follow the money, but then you know where it leads, don’t you…?