Contamination cleanup creates thousands of jobs

CARSON CITY, NV — Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that thousands of jobs will be created over the next three years to assist in environmental cleanup work at a Nevada test site and across 11 other states, according to Mesothelioma.com.

The cleanup is part of $6 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $44 million of which was funneled toward the Nevada cleanup, the story stated.

According to the story, the facilities that will be demolished and necessitate cleanup include an engine maintenance assembly facility in Area 25, the Pluto Disassembly Facility, the Reactor Maintenance Assembly and the Disassembly Facility and two ancillary structures used in Test Cell C.

Workers will clean up asbestos, lead, mercury, batteries and light bulbs, among other things, and install groundwater monitoring wells, the story noted.

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Cabin at ski lodge is LEED-Platinum certified

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA — Cabin 11 in Tamarack Lodge located in California's Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to First Tracks magazine.

The 1,336-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath cabin is one of only 12 projects in the state to earn Platinum certification, the story stated.

Rusty Gregory, CEO of Mammoth Mountain, said: "Constructing the Tamarack cabin to LEED-Platinum standards is one of many important steps that Mammoth Mountain is taking to fulfill our commitment to the environment. As one of only a dozen Platinum certified projects in California, we’re proud to be taking a leading role in what can be accomplished with sustainable building practices."

Sustainable aspects of the cabin include: Environmentally friendly hardwood flooring, recycled carpeting and decking material, pest-resistant siding, recycled drywall and energy efficient windows, the story noted.

The USGBC awards LEED certification based on pre-specified features in categories such as innovation and design process, location and linkages, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality, the story added.

Tennant wins Business Innovation of the Year Award

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Tennant Company announced that its breakthrough ec-H2O™ technology has won the 2009 European Business Award for the Business Innovation of the Year, according to a press release.

Tennant was chosen for the honor out of more than 7,000 applications from various companies, the release stated.

The Business Innovation of the Year competition is designed as a way for companies to benchmark their success against other top performing companies and aims to foster, inspire and encourage others to emulate the winners' success, the release noted.

Karel Hujiser, international vice president of Tennant, said: "We are very pleased with this independent recognition of our ec-H2O technology. It strengthens our belief that developing more environmental cleaning solutions is the right way to go for Tennant Company, also — and perhaps especially — in these challenging economic times. Our customers benefit from the cost-savings and efficiency increase while at the same time they can preserve natural resources."

ec-H2O technology converts plain tap water into a powerful cleaning agent without any added chemicals, the release added.

California's Green Ribbon Science Panel selected

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) recently announced the selection of 27 members to the state’s new Green Ribbon Science Panel, an advisory panel created for California’s Green Chemistry program that strives to remove or reduce toxic chemicals in products sold in California, according to a press release.

The DTSC selected the 27 panel members from more than 80 applicants based on the following criteria: Education, expertise and practical experience; experience serving on scientific and environmental policy advisory panels; and proven excellence with collaborative problem-solving skill and communication skills, the release stated.

Of those selected is Roger McFadden, chief scientist for Staples CE who has worked as a formulating and consulting chemist and product design engineer for several product manufacturing companies in the U.S. and Canada, the release noted.

The initial meeting of the panel will be held April 29-30 at the Red Lion Inn in Sacramento; the panel will meet a minimum of twice per year, the release added.

Fumes sicken several students and staff

CARPENTERSVILLE, IL — Several students and staff at Golfview Elementary School were hospitalized yesterday after complaining of headaches and nausea caused by a strange odor, according to the St. Charles Sun.

Students were sent to the gymnasium while air quality tests were performed throughout the school, the story stated.

Joe Stevens, president of the School Board in District 300, said: "It smells like a lemony odor or like ant spray."

An odor was found in two classrooms and in the library, but air quality tests found nothing noteworthy, the story noted.

Officials believe the symptoms were caused by fumes left in the building from cleaning products used after contractors removed tile and asbestos from the building during spring break, the story added.

According to the story, the school remains closed today so it can be properly ventilated.

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MEMPHIS, TN — The Memphis City School Board approved an $875 million budget for the entire district, which means 246 custodians will lose their jobs, according to WPTY-TV.

The Memphis City School District hopes to save $2.83 million from the 346 total layoffs, the story stated.

Many argued against the cuts, but when facing severe budget deficits, job cuts are a necessity, the story noted.

The district still needs to come up with another $1 million to cover operating costs, but claims there will be no other layoffs, the story added.

$750,000 state park restroom facility

GRAND HAVEN , MI — A $750,000 restroom facility at Grand Haven State Park earned an honor award for sustainable design from the Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, according to the Grand Rapids Press.

The restroom features windows that allow lots of natural lighting, solar panels, timer-controlled showers and on-demand water heaters and is the prototype restroom facility for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the story stated.

The facility was designed by Integrated Architecture LLC, and the state plans to use the design in parks throughout Michigan, the story noted.

Architect Ryan Brouwer said: "They wanted to come up with a new, sustainable prototype. It's good to see the state thinking about these things."