EPA

The spring and summer weather is here and many of us are starting or planning to start those home improvement projects that just can’t be done in the cold and wet months. Maybe we have also heard about the dangers that can be present when working on surfaces that contain lead. As many of us now know, any home that was constructed prior to 1978 may have lead-based paint or lead containing finishes on any of the painted or varnished surfaces on the exterior and interior of the home and on outbuildings, fences and other surfaces as well.

National Women's Health Week wrapped up a couple of days ago, but there are ongoing issues that not just women need to be aware of, one of which is Mesothelioma. This rare cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos, and since
this is found naturally in South Lake Tahoe and El Doraado County, as well as in 43 other counties in California, I thought I'd share this information

What is Asbestos?

It's colorless and odorless. It's tasteless and virtually undetectable. It can be deadly when inhaled.

"It" is carbon monoxide (CO) and is responsible for hundreds of deaths a year.

You read and hear about it in the news too often: Occupant of home found dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning. In Truckee recently, two men died of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by their home's heating ventilation.

New ordinances regarding land coverage at Lake Tahoe came into effect June 19 following final approval of a key water quality plan by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and EPA announced recently.

The action updates the Clean Water Act Section 208 Lake Tahoe Water Quality Management Plan — last fully updated in 1988. The 208 Plan provides a comprehensive framework for water quality management in the Lake Tahoe basin and includes provisions for land coverage limits.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have, for the first time, developed a system that can determine which types of air particles that pollute the atmosphere are the most prevalent and most toxic.

Previous research has shown that air pollution containing fine and ultrafine particles is associated with asthma, heart disease and premature death. This new study, released today by the California Air Resources Board and the Electric Power Research Institute, marks the first time that researchers have conducted source-oriented sampling of these particles in the atmosphere.

Debate in Congress started last week on a bill the House Appropriations Committee approved in July 2011 that would cut funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by $1.4 billion and could eventually affect the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Community College Connect Community Education are sponsoring the Renovator, Repair, Painter (RRP) Training for local area contractors. The Lead Safe Worker 8-hour training for Renovators, Repair and Painters is being offered at LTCC campus in Spanish this Saturday, July 28th.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Community College Connect Community Education are sponsoring the Renovator, Repair, Painter (RRP) and Supervisor Trainings for local area contractors. The Lead Safe Worker 8-hour training for Renovators, Repair and Painters is being offered at LTCC campus on June 30th, July 20th, August 4th, and September 14th. The cost to attend the training is $50 and up to two workers from each local company are welcome to participate.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency proposed stricter requirements Wednesday for cleaning ballast water that keeps ships upright in rolling seas but enables invasive spe...