Ed Tanner, Bristol zoning official, said a zoning change from general business to manufacturing at the site will make ELJ in compliance with town regulations.

Mr. Tanner said, as of now, the business is a non-conforming use. ELJ has argued in the past that the business is grandfathered because they used the property for similar uses before zoning at the property.

“They’ve done a lot of things to their operations to try to comply with our requests and the neighbors’ complaints about noise and dust,” Mr. Tanner said.

The property has been the scene of zoning battles and lawsuits dating back to 2005, when families on Brook Farm Drive sued ELJ for noise and air pollution.

The R.I. Department of Environmental Management issued a dust control “ fugitive dust ” violation to ELJ in October of 2005, citing clouds of dust traveling from the Tupelo Street property to adjacent neighborhoods. Samples taken tested positive for silica, a potentially harmful substance when breathed in.

Since 2005, Mr. Tanner said, ELJ has taken several measures to clean up the property.

There were many past complaints by neighbors of mud being dragged up and down Tupelo Street, but now ELJ uses a street sweeper to keep the dust and the mud from being spread around the neighborhood.

Mr. Tanner said ELJ also implemented several dust control  measures, including changing the way they were using their rock crusher and the storing of stockpiles of materials on the property.

ELJ now uses water and a chemical called a tackifier resin that is sprayed on material piles to hold them in place and not produce dust.

Mr. Tanner said the town hasn’t had any recent complaints about the business. “(ELJ) has certainly done some things to clean that up and to address the town’s concerns,” Mr. Tanner said.

Part of the zoning agreement involves the submission of a master plan showing a map of the property with entrances, exits and parking. The change is on the planning board’s agenda for recommendation at their Tuesday, Dec. 8, meeting and would then go before the council the next day.

Company specialists can advise on strategic air control at the development stage or integrate into plants which have been in operation for some length of time. Fanquip’s Mining Division focuses on temperature control, ventilation, management of confined space environments, dust control  both in suppression and collection, and management of toxic gases and emissions.

Most people assume there are significant regulatory requirements for large utility scale projects to supply power to the grid. But even when a company is contemplating a smaller solar energy project to help power its facilities, there are many regulatory and permitting requirements that must not be overlooked in the planning of the project. Those requirements can create tremendous obstacles depending on the project’s complexity, size and location. Below are some tips on how to avoid regulatory roadblocks when implementing a solar energy system.

Tip 1: Know The Project Requirements

When planning a solar project, it is crucial to know the facility’s energy loads to determine the appropriate technology to utilize, as well as the applicable permitting requirements that might be triggered by that technology. A key initial step in any solar energy project that is often overlooked is an energy audit. Conducting an energy audit of the facility will establish a baseline for the energy needs the solar project must meet.

The audit also provides an opportunity to utilize conservation measures, which in almost every case are cheaper to implement than paying energy costs. After the energy saving measures are added to the equation, the solar provider can suggest a solar configuration properly sized for the facility.

Once the technology is chosen, this is an opportune time to conduct an analysis on the environmental permits that may be required, such as air quality and water permits. Due to the length in time to obtain some permits, this upfront analysis can save time and money down the road. Although photovoltaic panels typically use less water than other solar technologies such as concentrated solar, there are still water needs involved with washing the panels periodically to ensure peak performance.

Many companies will usually provide water already available at the facility for maintenance of the panels, but this can be a considerable cost that should be factored into the negotiation of the price of the energy provided by the solar system. In cases where the facility’s access to water is inadequate, additional water may have to be procured through water rights or other sources.

Additionally, some areas of the country have strict air quality regulations that require unpaved access roads to the solar array to be subject to a dust control permit. It is important to know whether such a permit is necessary, because either the host customer or the solar provider will need to obtain the permit and remain in compliance with the regulatory agency during the term of the project.

Tip 2: Choose the Proper Team

In their haste to “go green,” many companies overlook the intricacies involved with implementing a solar project. Whether the technology involves photovoltaic panels or concentrated solar towers, there is much engineering that goes into the solar energy project. If the facility will be installing solar panels on a building component, such as a building roof or parking structure, there will be engineering required to satisfy the required building permits. Thus, the company should ensure that a licensed engineer is involved early in the planning process to flag any such issues.

Additionally, the contracts involved in these projects between the solar provider, the host customer and the utility are very complex and require a particular skill to ensure that the deal is fair and the risks are properly allocated. It is important to understand that the power purchase agreement between the solar provider and the host customer is not just another contract.

Specialized knowledge in the environmental, legal, tax, energy procurement, real estate and finance areas is needed to fully understand all of the implications of the contract. Companies should assess their in-house capabilities in each of these areas, and make sure they are getting the proper advice from outside consultants and legal experts in areas that may be lacking.

Tip 3: Know the Utility’s Requirements

As previously noted, there are several agreements that must be negotiated to implement a solar project. In many jurisdictions, the utility provides incentive payments to customers who utilize solar energy, often in exchange for purchasing renewable energy credits to offset the utility’s use of traditional fossil fuels.

One particular agreement that the utilities require is an interconnection agreement, which covers the technical requirements of connecting to the electrical grid. It is key that companies understand the technical requirements, or get assistance from the proper consultants, to ensure that the solar provider builds the system in strict conformance with the interconnection agreement.

In most cases there are energy components which must be installed on the company’s side of the electrical connection, which in some cases can cost millions of dollars. Therefore, it is important to know what the components are so their cost can be factored into the price of the energy provided from the system.

In sum, these are just a few of the key issues related to implementing a solar project. It should be noted that these obstacles are relatively easy to navigate with proper planning. As the technology improves and the cost of implementing these projects decreases, the growth in their utilization is expected to be exponential. With some careful planning and the right expertise, many companies will be able to utilize this technology with successful results for years to come.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/12/07/how-to-avoid-regulatory-pitfalls-in-solar-energy-projects/

"Tata Steel officials made a presentation at a public hearing on Monday for environmental clearance and committed to invest Rs.2,000 crore on environment conservation," Bastar district collector M.S. Paraste, who presided over the meeting, told IANS.

Describing the hearing as "quite successful", Paraste said 2,044 hectares of land would be handed over to Tata Steel, probably by December.

District authorities have so far acquired about 80 percent of land across 10 villages in Lohandiguda block, some 340 km south of state capital Raipur, for the integrated plant that will produce 5.5 million tonnes of steel annually.

The iron ore-rich Bastar region, spread out over about 40,000 square kilometres, is one of India’s most impoverished pockets and also the nerve centre of Maoist militancy.
Tata Steel said the project would provide huge business opportunities for local entrepreneurs — "around Rs.400-500 crore while the business opportunity for other ancillary industries would be about Rs.2,500 crore".

In its presentation paper, the company said it would take special measures to abate pollution, solid waste, water pollution and noise.
"The plant is going to implement state-of-the-art pollution control equipment like electrostatic precipitators, bag filters, dust suppression systems such as water sprinklers, dry fog system etc."

As per the presentation, "estimated annual earnings from taxes and levies would be about Rs.2,400 crore for the government from the Tata Steel Chhattisgarh unit, while the infrastructure development would to the tune of Rs.1,000 crore per annum".

There are steps to reduce the amount of dust and therefore the time it takes to clean up the area. One of these is plastic, tape, staples and 2 by 4′s. Normally putting up this type of barrier is not a one-man job, if you do it alone it takes time, lots and lots of wasted time. The professional knows how important dust free construction is to the homeowner, so they take the time for two or more men to install the barrier. Most home do-it-yourselfers don’t bother, so normally projects create weeks of clean up as the dust settles throughout the house.

Now, there’s a product, which installs easily at the jobsite and blocks the dust from leaving the area. Zipwall dust control  systems include telescoping poles, plastic gripping heads with pads to protect the sealing, skid free discs for under the poles, locks to seal the side and best of all, zippers. That’s right, zippers. Getting in and out of a work area that’s taped up normally means you have to overlap some of the plastic and form a loose seal at the doors, which allows the dust to escape to other parts of the house. The Zipwall system allows you to keep the seal tight, even suck the dust out as you work by putting the hose of an operating vacuum under the plastic and not have one bit of dust go to another area of the house. The professional looking enclosed area and the dust free job site is enough to get the highest praise from even your meticulous client.

Suppose your task is to do a job where the owner has expensive carpeting. Zipwall will prevent the dust but drywall dust seldom comes out of the carpet, so you need to lay a drop cloth all over the room. What if the job goes to a second floor? The drop cloth is dangerous on steps no matter how you tape it, lay boards or make adjustments. There is a product that adheres to the steps, rolls onto the carpet or flooring and creates a safe working environment. CarpetWrap carpet protection is an easy to apply and has a sister product StairWrap. The back has a low tack adhesive to keep it in place without the use of staples or tape. Best of all, there’s no messy residue left behind once it’s removed. You simply roll it up and throw it away, with the dust and dirt still on top. It protects the carpet from hard to remove construction dust and saves hours of cleaning.

If you’re working in an area and need to insure no dust leaves as you do, consider shoe and boot covers. These slide right onto your boot or shoe, have a non-slip sole and protect the floor while you’re working and keeps you from tracking any dust throughout the rest of the house. There are even mats to catch any dust on your feet as you leave the area, again providing more protection for the homeowner.

Whether you’re a home remodeler or professional, using products that create less clean up makes you a popular guy and keeps everyone happy. The professional look that you achieve by taking the extra caution to protect the house is well worth it because of all the referrals you’ll get for future jobs. People, both clients and spouses, are always impressed when they realize that the job was completed in a dust free manner, easy to clean manner.

Ray Blake is co-founder of Blake Products and has several patented and patent pending surface protection products for the construction industry. For more on Zipwall dust control and other surface protection products click on http://www.surfaceprotection.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Blake

But Al Gore Lied and the data was manipulated…

Climate change represents a greater threat to mining operations than many realize, and most fail to plan or implement any preventative measures, according to Jason Prno, president of the North Bay-based Trailhead Consulting.

"Most mining infrastructure is not designed for a changing climate," says Prno, who researched the threat the weather could pose to the industry in a study for the David Suzuki Foundation.

"The subject often takes a backseat to economic issues, legislation and as such, there tends to be little adaptive planning in place."
Speaking to attendees of the 2009 Sudbury Restoration Workshop held at Laurentian University on Oct. 28, Prno outlined how the expected temperature increases have already begun to impact the mining industry.

As an example, he points to the Rio Tinto/Harry Winson Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories, where 2006 stood as the warmest winter on record. The elevated temperatures reduced the availability of the ice road from roughly 70 days to 42, forcing officials to fly in much more freight than usual. This resulted in additional costs of $11.3 million just for fuel transportation, presenting "a real wake-up call" for the industry, says Prno.
Similarly costly scenarios are being projected for other parts of the country.

Ontario can expect to see elevated temperatures that could lead to drier summers, affecting a mine’s water intake, and potentially exposing raw tailings to the elements. The scarcity of water could also affect activities such as dust suppression  and the composition of mine drainage.

Northeastern Ontario in particular is expected to see additional precipitation which could weaken engineered berms and dams. Not all scenarios are entirely bad, however, as warmer temperatures may also result in various cost efficiencies, such as a reduction in heating bills.

Despite the threats, changing the industry’s attitudes may be a challenge in itself. The study’s authors conducted two surveys among 100 mining industry workers, engineers, managers and executives across Canada. Results indicated that decision-makers in senior management were less likely than other staff to view climate change as having an impact on operations.

This is likely due in part to the many research gaps on the issue, as well as the capital costs and the uncertainty of future impacts act as "major barriers" for mining companies to properly adapt, says Prno.

These also presents a problem when requesting the legislation for mine closure plans to include climate change-related measures, such as monitoring of tailings to ensure it remains adequately covered. The lack of any such discussion in the recently announced changes to the provincial Mining Act is "disappointing," given the 5,700 abandoned mine sites within the province, says Prno.

Thus far, the mining industry’s dominant response to the issue largely surrounds the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, with very little consideration for long-term adaptation planning, according to the report.

Prno suggests a number of possible solutions, starting with a better communication of the risks and projections of climate change. This will allow for staff to make use of climate change models in long-term planning and engineering designs.

The government also has a role to play in terms of providing regulatory certainty for greenhouse gas mitigation requirements, laying out a clear distinction of what will be expected.

The future is also ripe for innovators, suppliers and contractors willing to create and make use of new technologies to help mining firms adapt to climate change, particularly as awareness grows and shareholders begin demanding action.

Prno points to local organizations such MIRARCO and the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation as having strong potential for offering new research perspectives and technology transfer on climate change issues.

Mining officials and medical experts say education, stricter enforcement and new regulations can curb the disease, which has been on the rise in the region and has killed some 10,000 miners in the last decade.

Thursday’s meeting was the first of four informational sessions planned by Mine Safety and Health Administration.

“There is a collective agreement that we have to fix this problem,” MSHA Director Joseph Main told a packed room that included representatives from mining companies, the United Mine Workers of America and former miners suffering from the ailment.

Black lung is a collection of debilitating and potentially fatal diseases from respirable coal mine dust exposure.

Based on recent data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, cases of black lung are on the rise, and even young miners are showing evidence of advanced and debilitating lung disease from excessive dust exposure. Experts have been at a loss to explain why.

Gary Hairston had to retire from mining at 48 after developing the illness.

“My wind is getting shorter and shorter, and before it’s over with I probably will be on oxygen,” he said. “The things I love to do with my family I can’t do no more, just because I never did think about dust hurting me.”

The federal government has spent more than $44 billion in compensation for miners disabled by black lung since 1970.

The plan unveiled Thursday aims to address information gaps about black lung by educating miners, mine operators and mine inspectors about the ailment, Main said.

A weeklong project called the Dust Sweep will be rolled out in mines across the country, making sure required dust control measures are in place and providing the latest information on black lung.

The second part of the strategy will come in stricter enforcement of existing regulations, Main said, with mine inspectors looking for dust control shortcomings.
“We want these problems fixed,” he said.

The final component, which involves new federal regulation, is the haziest part of the plan. Main said he couldn’t go into too many details, citing advice from agency lawyers.

MSHA says it’s working on the approval of a new technology — continuous personal dust monitors.

If approved, miners would wear the monitor on their hip to measure exposure to dust levels during their work shift.

The dust monitors carry a price tag of about $10,000 apiece.

UMW President Cecil Roberts told the crowd of several hundred that black lung was “the nation’s problem.”

Roberts added that mining laws need to be updated. Miners are spending longer hours underground, which equals an increase in coal dust exposure.
“Either the law isn’t stringent enough or it isn’t being enforced,” he said.

“The nation should band together in this coalition that’s in this room today and end this terrible disease once and for all. … These miners gave their health, gave their life, to energize this nation so this nation could prosper.”

MSHA will hold additional meetings meeting Dec. 7 in Washington, Pa., Dec. 10 in Lebanon, Va., and on Dec. 11 in Frankfort, Ky.

The discharge area is uphill from the Carson River and near the Truckee Canal and has a general groundwater depth as high as 16 feet.

Tom Clark, director of governmental affairs and public relations for Bango, said the company requested this permit as a part of a Special Environmental Project issued by the NDEP.

Clark said the NDEP issued the project when Bango Oil assembled equipment prior to being issued an expansion permit. He said Bango officials thought this was permissible as long as the equipment was not operated, which was inaccurate. The NDEP issued a partial fine and special project.

The project, a water treatment facility, will allow Bango to clean water used in its operations to state standards, which Clark said is not drinkable but clean. Clark said this would also reduce trucks on Bango Road by 85-90 percent, resolving some resident concerns about traffic. Clark said the water will be used for dust control and general clean-up on Bango property.

Community members primary concern was that water containing harmful chemicals would seep into the area’s well water and possibly into the Carson River and Truckee Canal.
“I oppose this permit,” said resident Veto Quilici. “I oppose anything that will allow treated chemical to be pumped onto the ground. We don’t know what this will do. If the bureaucrats allow this they will be sorry in the future.”

Many attendees have been involved with previous odor complaints against Bango Oil and feel this will further damage their quality of life.

“I can see Bango Oil from my home, I can smell it, I don’t want to bathe in it,” said resident Holly Bute.

Clark said these concerns are not based on evidence and NDEP Public Information Officer Jill Lufrano confirmed testing showed all chemicals were treated and harmless.

“The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection would never allow us to put water back into a source that would be so heavy it would contaminate their drinking water and the Carson River,” Clark said, adding comment about the chemicals. “It’s another one of those unscientific allegations. If there were, the NDEP would never let us go forward.”
President Ernie Schank of the Truckee Canal Irrigation District said he trusts the state and county would not allow a permit that could effect their water systems.

“To my knowledge it’s not going to affect any of our facilities,” Schank said.

Another concern attendees voiced was the request for a 14,000 gallon maximum discharge per day when the facility only needs to discharge 1,000 gallons for operations.
“This permit will write Bango Oil a blank check,” said resident Lorraine Griffin. “What is to stop them from bringing in oily water from outside sources?”

Clark said originally Bango Oil wanted to make the water available to the county for any use, so Bango applied for a larger amount of discharge, but the county rejected that offer. He said it would take too much time and money to amend the maximum and could possibly send Bango back to the beginning of the application process. Still, he said there are no plans to use that maximum.

“They said it (trucking in water for treatment) would be so tremendously expensive, it wouldn’t be worth it,” Clark said.

Many residents also expressed fear of a lack of oversight if Bango receives the permit, pointing out the application states it is Bango’s responsibility to provide some environmental information to the NDEP.

“You’re expecting Bango Oil to tell you what they’re doing,” said resident Dave German. “They’re not doing what they’re saying.”

Lufrano said the NDEP is going above and beyond because of complaints. She said the NDEP is requiring Bango to install a ground water meter to alert the NDEP of contamination, and she said NDEP will do at least two-three visits per year, and more the first year, along with at least one unannounced visit to collect samples.

“The NDEP’s got us under a microscope,” Clark said. “If we do anything they have not permitted us to do, they are not going to be happy with us. If the NDEP sees us watering anything other than our property, the NDEP can come out and shut us down.”

Residents also suggested solutions. Some suggested continuing to truck water out, and others said they would feel better with strict oversight and regular environmental testing.
County Manager Brad Goetsch asked the NDEP to research why lined evaporation pools were not being used. Goetsch said lined pools were installed originally, and the county and Bango approved them, but the NDEP removed them.

Clark said that decision was made by the NDEP for fear the ponds were a source of the odors.

Chief John Palm of the Bureau of Water Pollution Control informed the audience their questions would be answered after the final decision was made. Attendees said they felt placated.

“We’re sick of it,” said resident Richard Wideman. “We’re tired of these meetings night after night … It seems like this is just to appease these people — to have another meeting before saying yes.”

Others said they are taking their issues with Bango to large media outlets and the governor, who oversees the NDEP.

“They’re not going to listen to us,” Quilici said. “These bureaucrats will do whatever they want.”

Lufrano said she understands people are concerned, and there is a lot of confusion about the process. But she said comments are taken into consideration and all questions are looked into prior to the decision even though answers are not distributed until after.

Here is the problem. When you use a dust suppression product like Top-Seal Dust Control, You cause the soil to become less permeable. Thus Causing the water in the lake to stay in the lake. Eventually you will Flood your Solar Farm and then it will just be a nice place to dive.

In Los Angeles, California, the city’s Department of Water and Power (DWP) is eyeing flat, dusty, arid Owens Lake as the potential site for a future mega-solar farm, but the initiative is focused less on clean, renewable solar energy than on preventing the interminable dust storms generated by the dry lake bed.

Owens Lake started to run dry when, in 1913, the city began diverting water from the Owens River. By 1926, the former lake was a shallow hardpan. Today, it ranks as the largest single source of PM10 dust (windborn dust particles smaller than 10 microns) in the United States. In fact, one estimate suggests the lake produces up to 8 million metric tons per year.

The DWP thinks that covering 616 acres of the lake bed with solar panels could cut down on dust storms, which threaten the health of nearby Keeler and Ridgecrest residents by delivering up to 23 times the amount of airborne particulate matter federal levels suggest as safe.

The plan may be a good one, since attempts to achieve dust control by flooding the lake bed have met with limited success, and flooding – at least this year – may be further hampered by a cutback to California’s 2010 water delivery, limiting the state to 5 percent of the water it has normally been allotted over the past 40-some years.

The solar project is backed by $500 million in funding, which buys a lot of solar panels, but the proposal still has to win the approval of the California State Lands Commission, largely because the DWP wants the commission to waive an environmental impact review.

Another project deterrent may be the designation, by Audubon California this year, of Owens Lake as one of the 17 most important avian sanctuaries in the state, and an emerging “wetland in the making” as bird watchers record the return of record numbers of migrating waterfowl to the partially flooded lake basin.

The DWP has promised to continue flooding at least a portion of Owens Lake to appease these environmentalists, and is in meetings with Inyo County officials, ranchers and residents to win regional support for their proposal.

The response of the former is likely to be guarded; the response of the latter looks largely promising as the state eyes renewable energy resources like solar not only as power sources but badly needed boosts to a failing economy. California is in such dire financial straits that Los Angeles recently raided its recycling initiative fund to balance the budget.

Another plus on the project side is that flooding Owens Lake sufficiently to reduce dust uses enough water to supply 60,000 households. If the DWP plan, which proposes to flood a smaller area than normal for dust control, can salvage even a third of that water, it looks like an environmental win-win.

The DWP proposes starting the solar array with a small test plot, to see if solar panels and migratory waterfowl can coexist, and if a field of solar panels can actually help prevent dust storms.

This pilot project would generate about 50 megawatts by 2012, and save 2,460 acre feet of water per year, or enough to provide for about 4,000 households practicing water conservation measures.