EPA ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED COAL ASH REGULATIONS (TWO IN REGION 3) EPA is hosting seven public hearings - one in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania - on a proposal to regulate the safe disposal of coal ash waste and its residues of mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic metals from coal-fired power plants. EPA has proposed two approaches to manage safe disposal: one approach phases out surface impoundments and moves all coal ash to landfills; the other allows coal ash disposal in surface impoundments, but with stricter safety criteria. The agency will consider the public comments in its final decision. Meetings in Region 3 will take place on Aug. 30 at the Hyatt Regency, Arlington, Va. and Sept. 21 at the Omni Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa. For information on the hearings and the proposed regulation, go to _http://www.epa.gov/coalashrule_ (http://www.epa.gov/coalashrule) To pre-register to speak, please call (703) 308-8429 or sign up online at _http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-fo... (http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-fo... m) See charts comparing the two approaches at _http://www.epa.gov/coalashrule/ccr-table.htm_ (http://www.epa.gov/coalashrule/ccr-table.htm) CEMENT MAKERS ORDERED TO LIMIT AIR POLLUTION, INCLUDING A FIRST FOR MERCURY EMISSIONS EPA is setting limits on toxic air emissions from cement plants to meet more stringent Clean Air Act standards by 2013. Cement plants will be required to upgrade their pollution control equipment, increase their reporting requirements, and reduce their yearly emissions of mercury, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, acid gases and nitrous oxide. EPA estimates these reductions will cut more than 16,000 pounds of mercury annually from the nation's cement kilns and prevent illnesses and up to 2,500 premature deaths per year. For information on cement plant pollution, go to _http://www.epa.gov/oecaerth/civil/caa/cement/index.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/oecaerth/civil/caa/cement/index.html) For information on mercury pollution's health effects go to _http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm_ (http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm) PROPOSED RULE WILL IMPROVE CHEMICAL REPORTING OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, PROVIDE GREATER PUBLIC ACCESS, PROTECTION EPA is proposing to improve the chemical reporting that manufacturers must make public under the Toxic Substances Control Act's chemical inventory reporting rule so that the agency can use the information to better identify, disclose and prevent the serious potential risks commercial chemicals may pose to human health and the environment. This proposal will undergo public comment in time for the next reporting period, scheduled for June 1 - Sept. 30, 2011. To submit comments, see docket EPA–HQ–OPPT–2009-0187 at _http://www.regulations.gov_ (http://www.regulations.gov/) . For information about the proposed rule, go to _http://www.epa.gov/iur_ (http://www.epa.gov/iur) COMMENTS NEEDED ON EPA'S DRAFT STRATEGY FOR CLEAN WATER EPA is inviting the public to provide comments on the approaches outlined in the new draft strategy "Coming Together for Clean Water: EPA's Strategy for Achieving Clean Water." The public's input is needed to protect and restore America's lakes, streams and coastal waters in light of national trends in water quality and recent environmental disasters. Public comments on the draft strategy should be submitted by Sept. 17. EPA will review all comments and post a final strategy later in the year. For more information and to comment, go to _http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/_ (http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/)