The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened a new office in Las Vegas that houses staff who will travel throughout the country to respond to environmental accidents.

Fifteen emergency responders provide 24-hour, immediate technical and scientific expertise in various areas including assessing and responding to chemical, biological and radiological threats; on-site identification and analysis of contaminated materials; environmental risk assessments; bioremediation; health and safety protocols; and hazardous waste cleanups at complex or sensitive sites.

The new Las Vegas office, ERT-West, is part of EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

ASCR Provides Guide On Mold Remediation
The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) recently released a “best practices” document for its members who deal with mold remediation.

The document is designed to give ASCR members a better understanding of the major issues related to mold remediation work; a description of accepted practices within the industry; and citations to the sources that support the information.

The ASCR site also features a compendium of written positions taken by leading authorities in government and scientific associations. The document describes 28 distinct issues in a chart format.

U.S. Access Board to tackle IAQ issues
The U.S. Access Board is addressing the chemical sensitivity issue related to facility interiors. People who suffer from chemical sensitivity are known to react adversely to chemical emissions from cleaning products, deodorizers, pesticides, and wall and floor coverings.

The board is launching a project this spring to improve the accessibility of indoor environments for people with chemical sensitivities by working with various groups. The board plans to involve product manufacturers, building owners and operators, model-code and standard-setting organizations, environmental and health professionals and government agencies in the project.

The Access Board is an independent federal agency committed to developing and maintaining accessibility requirements for the built environment.




POSTED ON: 4/1/2003