Sept. 17, 2001 Issue

Rebekah A. Hall

The Waste Age Wire is an e-mail newsletter from the Waste Age magazine staff, designed to provide you with a quick view of news, events and upcoming magazine topics. For in-depth news coverage, visit WasteAge.Com.

Compiled by Rebekah A. Hall

IN THIS ISSUE:

Opinion Poll

News:

- Congress Approves $40 Billion in Emergency Aid

- Superfund May Be Used to Clean Up NYC, Washington, D.C.

- Volvo Donates Trucks and Equipment to NYC

- NTEA Conference Postponed

- Waste Industry's Support Heightens

- Arlington County Responds to Pentagon Attack

- Michelin Donates $1 Million to Assist American Red Cross

- Trucking Industry Sets Up Diesel Watch Program

- SWANA Pledges its Support for Disasters, Estimates Given on Amount of Debris

- Congress to Vote on Spending Measures for Disaster Relief

Highlights from Waste Age's September issue

For continuing news coverage of the waste industry’s role in the national tragedy, visit www.wasteage.com

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OPINION POLL:

Do you think that Donald Schregardus still should be nominated as the EPA’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance, although a recent federal report revealed his reportedly less-than-stellar environmental track record while head of the Ohio EPA?

a) yes; b) no; c) other

E-mail your comments to: mailto:[email protected].

All comments are subject to publication. Please include your name, city, state and company.

OPINION POLL RESULTS:

Interior Secretary Gale Norton recently nominated the Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill as a National Historic Landmark. The landfill operated from 1935 to 1987 and was the nation’s first "true" sanitary landfill. However, the nomination was rescinded because the landfill is a Superfund site. Do you agree with the decision to rescind the nomination?

You said: 50 percent, yes; 30 percent, no; 20 percent, other

"The site should not be considered a National Historic Landmark because the landfill has apparently has leaked. I don't know a lot about the site, but Superfund status usually indicates there is a significant release of leachate. This type of site is not the best selection to represent the solid waste industry. I'm sure there are many other sites worthy of recognition, although it may be difficult to find an old one worth recognizing."

- Ron Boyle, Earth Tech Inc., Honolulu

"Did they take Monticello off the list just because it has lead-based paint and Jefferson had a black slave mistress? The historic designation should continue, Superfund status and all. "

- F. Patrick Crowley, Montana Department of Environmental, Quality Permitting and Compliance Division, Helena, Mont.

NEWS:

Congress Approves $40 Billion in Emergency Aid

Washington, D.C. -- Both houses of Congress quickly approved $40 billion in emergency aid Friday to help the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon. The Senate vote on the bill, which doubled the amount originally requested by President Bush, passed 96-0. The House vote passed 422-0.

The bill provides an immediate $10 billion to respond to the attacks, counter domestic and international terrorism, increase transportation security and repair facilities damaged by the attacks. Another $10 billion will be made available 15 days after the White House informs Congress of a plan for its use. The remaining $20 billion will be included in spending bills for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

At least half of the $40 billion will go to disaster recovery activities in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Senators also voted 98-0 on a second measure, authorizing the president to use "necessary and appropriate force" in retaliating against the terrorists. The House is expected to vote late Friday or Saturday.

Superfund May Be Used To Clean Up NYC, Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering using existing Superfund money to help clean up the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

According to EPA spokesman Chris Paulitz, treating the two locations as Superfund sites without formally declaring them so is allowed by laws dealing with hazardous waste.

Tests of rubble from the World Trade Center show elevated levels of asbestos. However, EPA tests show that the air a mile and a half downwind from the World Trade Center shows no significant levels of lead, asbestos and other chemicals in the air, either because they are undetectable or because the levels are not high enough to cause concern. EPA administrator Christie Whitman has reassured the public that there appears to be no significant levels in the city.

OSHA also is working with Consolidated Edison (Con Edison) regarding safety standards for workers who are digging trenches because of leaking gas lines underground.

Volvo Donates Trucks and Equipment to NYC

New York -- AB Volvo president Leif Johansson has written a letter to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani offering to donate Volvo and Mack trucks and equipment to the city, according to a report published by Fleet Owner magazine. Offerings include Volvo and Mack heavy duty trucks, and construction equipment such as wheel loaders, dump trucks, excavators and motor graders. For more information on the effects of Tuesday's tragedies on the trucking industry, visit Waste Age's sister publication, Fleet Owner, at www.fleetowner.com.

NTEA Conference Postponed

Dearborn, Mich. -- Due to this week's tragic events, the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) has indefinitely postponed its 2002 Economic Outlook Conference scheduled for Sept. 17 and its Model NTEA Truck Product Conference scheduled for Sept. 18-19, 2001, in Dearborn, Mich. Contact the NTEA for rescheduling and refunds. Phone toll-free: (800) 441-6832. Website: http://www.ntea.org.

Waste Industry's Support Heightens

Washington, D.C. -- According to a press release issued by the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA), garbage companies are working with New York City and Washington, D.C. authorities to clean up the debris as quickly as possible to find possible survivors and minimize public health problems caused by the debris. Several waste companies in New York City, including Waste Management Inc., Allied Services and IESI, have supplied containers and trucks, and work crews are cooperating with federal, state and local authorities.

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC) have received many phone calls from members to discuss the situation and see what they can do to help, according to Bruce Parker, president and CEO.

Arlington County Responds to Pentagon Attack

Arlington County, Va. -- Arlington County has responded to the attack on the Pentagon by providing support for firefighters and traffic control in the area.

According to Carl Newby, solid waste division chief for the county's Department of Environmental Services, they are providing light towers and fuel to keep the fire trucks running in their efforts to put out fires.

They also have been providing regular municipal solid waste (MSW) support to keep up with the day-to-day operations in the county. "It's important for us to get regular residential curbside collection services up and running," says Newby, adding the importance of returning to a sense of normalcy in the area. The county also is helping to provide information to citizens in the area on major announcements and decisions related to the attack.

The American Red Cross and countless other organizations have helped to pick up trash in stationed areas in the Pentagon's south parking lot.

Michelin Donates $1 Million to Assist American Red Cross

Clermont-Ferrand, France -- The Michelin Group has contributed $1 million to assist the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The Michelin Relief Fund has been opened to all 128,000 Michelin employees wishing to make donations.

Trucking Industry Sets Up Diesel Watch Program

Minn. -- Minnesota's trucking industry has initiated Operation Diesel Watch, a nationwide reporting program designed to prevent and report instances of diesel fuel price gouging in response to the recent attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit the Minnesota Trucking Association's website at http://www.mntruck.org for more information.

SWANA Pledges its Support for Disasters, Estimates Given on Amount of Debris

Silver Spring, Md. -- The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) recently pledged its support to help affected local governments in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., after the recent tragedies.

SWANA estimates that 1.25 million tons of demolition waste was generated in the fall of the World Trade Center towers and the attack on the Pentagon. According to SWANA, that accounts for nine times the amount of demolition waste generated in any one day in the United States.

Regarding its pledge of assistance, SWANA executive director and CEO John Skinner noted that "SWANA is ready and able to work with public and private sector municipal solid waste professionals and aid in the removal, recycling.

Congress to Vote on Spending Measures for Disaster Relief

Washington, D.C. -- House and Senate Republican leaders and top appropriators agreed today to redraft a $20 billion supplemental spending measure allowing President Bush to spend the money on recovery efforts in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks without line-item authorization from Congress. The House is pushing to vote on the bill later today, with the Senate likely to act tomorrow.

House leaders also have submitted a proposal for a "resolution of resolve" to the Senate in hopes of bringing up such a measure on both floors. The non-binding resolution would state Congress' support for the president to take action against parties responsible for Tuesday's terrorist attacks against

IN WASTE AGE'S SEPTEMBER ISSUE:

Features:

- Waste Age 100: Our annual ranking of private waste management companies.

- Truck &Body Report 2002: Waste Age's 22nd annual digest of the latest garbage trucks.

- Keeping It Cool: New software and management techniques can help reduce methane and minimize greenhouse gases.

Business Trends:

- Squeezing Money out of Debtors

- Landfill Rides on a Performance-Based Contract

- Companies Shuck Health Insurance Costs

Business Briefs:

- Labor Department Seeks To Improve Squashed Ergonomics Rule

- Old Process Aims To Convert Tires into New Oil

- Federal Appeals Court Upholds Flow Control in New York

Columnists:

- Profiles in Garbage: Batteries, by Chaz Miller

- Circular File: Whose Capacity?, by Chaz Miller

- EIA: DOT Upholds Medwaste Hauling, by Alice P. Jacobsohn

- Legal: Stealth Litigation Upheld, by Barry Shanoff