News
EPA Releases Plan For Toxic Mountain View CA Site
August 23, 2010 - The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a plan last week to prevent toxic vapors from rising into a Mountain View neighborhood's homes and businesses.
Under the plans signed by the EPA on Aug. 16, fans or blower systems may be installed underneath the foundations of buildings in the "MEW" Superfund site to remove the vapors.
The MEW site -- bordered by E. Middlefield Road, Ellis Street, North Whisman Road and Moffett Field -- was once home to industrial companies and government agencies such as the Navy. They used chemicals in their operations that remain in the groundwater, primarily the solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE. The site now contains more than 70 commercial buildings and 100 residences.
Efforts to clean up the groundwater are ongoing, but the EPA discovered several years ago that the toxins were also rising into the air inside the buildings. While the agency determined there were no immediate health risks, the vapors could present a long-term problem.
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Under the plans signed by the EPA on Aug. 16, fans or blower systems may be installed underneath the foundations of buildings in the "MEW" Superfund site to remove the vapors.
The MEW site -- bordered by E. Middlefield Road, Ellis Street, North Whisman Road and Moffett Field -- was once home to industrial companies and government agencies such as the Navy. They used chemicals in their operations that remain in the groundwater, primarily the solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE. The site now contains more than 70 commercial buildings and 100 residences.
Efforts to clean up the groundwater are ongoing, but the EPA discovered several years ago that the toxins were also rising into the air inside the buildings. While the agency determined there were no immediate health risks, the vapors could present a long-term problem.
More...
Agency: Treat Valmont PA Groundwater
August 25, 2010 - A federal agency recommends treating contaminated water below ground at the Valmont Industrial Park rather than pumping it to the surface and then removing a carcinogen.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said underground treatment will save money and time in the cleanup of the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene or TCE. A study done during the past two years at the site shows that below-ground treatment can reduce levels of TCE.
Tests found TCE leaking into soil and groundwater from the former Chromatex No. 2 plant at Valmont in West Hazleton 23 years ago. Chromatex used TCE to attach stain repellent to upholstery and rugs. The company stored TCE in two tanks in the plant and caught spills in an underground tank, where a broken pipe was discovered.
Since the discovery, authorities installed water lines so people living near the plant wouldn't drink or bathe from contaminated wells. Contractors excavated 18,000 tons of contaminated soil and installed systems to vent 17 homes containing fumes of TCE. In 2001, the agency placed the site on its Superfund list, a register of polluted areas given national priority for cleanup.
Now the agency proposed a plan to treat the contaminated groundwater.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said underground treatment will save money and time in the cleanup of the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene or TCE. A study done during the past two years at the site shows that below-ground treatment can reduce levels of TCE.
Tests found TCE leaking into soil and groundwater from the former Chromatex No. 2 plant at Valmont in West Hazleton 23 years ago. Chromatex used TCE to attach stain repellent to upholstery and rugs. The company stored TCE in two tanks in the plant and caught spills in an underground tank, where a broken pipe was discovered.
Since the discovery, authorities installed water lines so people living near the plant wouldn't drink or bathe from contaminated wells. Contractors excavated 18,000 tons of contaminated soil and installed systems to vent 17 homes containing fumes of TCE. In 2001, the agency placed the site on its Superfund list, a register of polluted areas given national priority for cleanup.
Now the agency proposed a plan to treat the contaminated groundwater.
More...
TCE Cleanup of Former NY IBM Facility Progressing
August 25, 2010 - Contamination cleanup efforts near the former IBM facility in Endicott are progressing ahead of schedule, but there is still plenty of work to do, state and IBM officials said Wednesday.
The company and the state Department of Environmental Conservation gave presentations on the remediation process to about 20 people during a public meeting at Union-Endicott High School.
IBM has been held responsible for the cleanup of trichloroethylene (TCE) pollution surrounding its former facility on North Street. TCE is a cleaning solvent used heavily by industry decades ago, and the pollution stretches into a large part of the village.
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The company and the state Department of Environmental Conservation gave presentations on the remediation process to about 20 people during a public meeting at Union-Endicott High School.
IBM has been held responsible for the cleanup of trichloroethylene (TCE) pollution surrounding its former facility on North Street. TCE is a cleaning solvent used heavily by industry decades ago, and the pollution stretches into a large part of the village.
More...
No Real Answers For WI Residents Without Drinking Water For a Year
August 25, 2010 - Residents who have not had access to their drinking water for about a year now were disappointed and frustrated Tuesday night after still not getting the answers they were looking for from state officials - the source of the groundwater contamination and possible solutions.
More than 60 people packed the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave., where state officials from the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health Services addressed concerns and answered questions during a two-hour public information meeting on the high levels of molybdenum found in wells in Caledonia and Oak Creek.
"Nobody wants to admit where (the contamination) is coming from - nobody knows nothing," said Josey Dorval, 68, of Caledonia. "And I don't know where to go. It's too much for me."
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More than 60 people packed the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave., where state officials from the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health Services addressed concerns and answered questions during a two-hour public information meeting on the high levels of molybdenum found in wells in Caledonia and Oak Creek.
"Nobody wants to admit where (the contamination) is coming from - nobody knows nothing," said Josey Dorval, 68, of Caledonia. "And I don't know where to go. It's too much for me."
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Business Briefs: Retired judge joins law firm - TheDoings-ClarendonHills.com
Business Briefs: Retired judge joins law firm
TheDoings-ClarendonHills.com
Stephans has been a licensed home inspector since January, 2005. For further information call (630) 392-4278 or visit www.3DHomeInspect.com.
The Inspector who noticed A Crack and Found Structural Problems - lonad News
The Inspector who noticed A Crack and Found Structural Problems
lonad News
The home inspector who notices and reports on these types of structural problems can save home owners and buyer's money in the long run by recommending a ...
5 ways to save money when buying a house - Myjoyonline.com
5 ways to save money when buying a house
Myjoyonline.com
Even though the bank brings in an appraiser, you should hire your own home inspector with experience, preferably an engineer who does home surveys, ...
Nine Things I Learned From Buying My First House - Patch
Nine Things I Learned From Buying My First House
Patch
are all very technical and a good home inspector is as much a teacher as he is there to find any major problems. In hindsight, I wished we had done more ...
Hazardous Chemical Found in Spring Water in Salt Lake City, UT
August 18, 2010 - Residents living near East High School have noticed a slight oil sheen on the spring water near their homes for more than a month. Now the health department says the water has tested positive for a hazardous chemical.
Health officials say they don't know how long the chemical has been in the spring water in this area -- or where it came from.
Salt Lake City has determined that some private springs contain perchloroethylene (PCE), primarily in the areas from 700 South to Michigan Avenue and 1100 East to 1300 East. The drinking water is safe but recommends using municipal water rather than groundwater for any food cultivation.
For further questions, contact Salt Lake Valley Health Department at 801-313-6700. The levels are low, but they wanted to warn residents about the contamination.
Employees from the Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLVHD) are hitting every house in the neighborhood between 700 South and Michigan Avenue and 1100 East to 1300 East. They're warning residents about a toxic chemical found in the springs near their homes.
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Health officials say they don't know how long the chemical has been in the spring water in this area -- or where it came from.
Salt Lake City has determined that some private springs contain perchloroethylene (PCE), primarily in the areas from 700 South to Michigan Avenue and 1100 East to 1300 East. The drinking water is safe but recommends using municipal water rather than groundwater for any food cultivation.
For further questions, contact Salt Lake Valley Health Department at 801-313-6700. The levels are low, but they wanted to warn residents about the contamination.
Employees from the Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLVHD) are hitting every house in the neighborhood between 700 South and Michigan Avenue and 1100 East to 1300 East. They're warning residents about a toxic chemical found in the springs near their homes.
More...
NY Schools Treated for PCB Still Show Signs of Contamination
August 19, 2010 - Three schools that were treated for PCB contamination in the past year still contain PCB amounts that are higher than federal guidelines for what is acceptable, the Department of Education said.
The results of the tests on the schools—PS 199 in Manhattan, PS 178 in the Bronx and PS 309 in Brooklyn—are part of an agreement between the DOE, the city's School Construction Authority and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
PCB, or polychlorinated biphenyls, is considered a harmful material, but the EPA said that the potential presence of PCBs in schools and buildings should not be a cause for alarm. The three schools were the only ones of the more than 1,500 schools tested in New York City as part of the three-agency agreement.
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The results of the tests on the schools—PS 199 in Manhattan, PS 178 in the Bronx and PS 309 in Brooklyn—are part of an agreement between the DOE, the city's School Construction Authority and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
PCB, or polychlorinated biphenyls, is considered a harmful material, but the EPA said that the potential presence of PCBs in schools and buildings should not be a cause for alarm. The three schools were the only ones of the more than 1,500 schools tested in New York City as part of the three-agency agreement.
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The Earth Will Move: Poisoned CT Neighborhood Braces For Epic Cleanup
August 22, 2010 - Think of it as the big scrape.
An entire neighborhood, poisoned for decades by industrial waste buried beneath homes, yards, schools and playgrounds, is poised for the largest residential cleanup in state history.
Starting Monday, the top four feet of earth in 18 square blocks will be scooped up and hauled away. Clean soil will replace it and trees, lawns, bushes and shrubs will be replanted. The whole process will take up to five years and 230 houses will be affected.
For the Newhall neighborhood, it’s a $60 million do-over.
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An entire neighborhood, poisoned for decades by industrial waste buried beneath homes, yards, schools and playgrounds, is poised for the largest residential cleanup in state history.
Starting Monday, the top four feet of earth in 18 square blocks will be scooped up and hauled away. Clean soil will replace it and trees, lawns, bushes and shrubs will be replanted. The whole process will take up to five years and 230 houses will be affected.
For the Newhall neighborhood, it’s a $60 million do-over.
More...
New Audio Webinar - Home Inspection Marketing Success with Jeremy Martin - PR-USA.net (press release)
New Audio Webinar - Home Inspection Marketing Success with Jeremy Martin
PR-USA.net (press release)
He recently interviewed Jeremy Martin, a home inspector who followed Ken's ideas and developed his own home inspection company. Ken explains, "The kicker ...
and more »
Don't Get Caught Short When Buying a Home - Patch
Don't Get Caught Short When Buying a Home
Patch
An inspection of the property by a qualified and licensed home inspector or contractor is strongly suggested. Whether this home has been vacant for a few ...
and more »
MORAL: LET THE BUYER BEWARE - WatertownDailyTimes.com
MORAL: LET THE BUYER BEWARE
WatertownDailyTimes.com
The staff sergeant bought the house on Mechanic Street two years ago for $151300 — including fees — after hiring a Realtor-recommended home inspector for ...
Finding an unbiased home inspector is crucial - HeraldNet
Finding an unbiased home inspector is crucial
HeraldNet
Another reason to hire a full-fledged home inspector rather than a pest inspector is that most pest problems cannot be solved by traps or chemical spraying ...
More owners offer 'take-back' financing - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
More owners offer 'take-back' financing
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Instead of suing the seller, it would be better to first contact the home inspector. Unlike the seller, the inspector can't claim that he simply did not ...
Do not seal off front door to save heat - Chicago Daily Herald
Do not seal off front door to save heat
Chicago Daily Herald
When I sell my house, the buyer will probably hire a home inspector to check it. Should I go around with him as he inspects the house? ...
Experts say electrical panels may be a fire waiting to happen - Dallas Morning News
Dallas Morning News
Experts say electrical panels may be a fire waiting to happen
Dallas Morning News
"They're everywhere," said Bob Charvoz, chief home inspector for the American Association of Professional Inspectors in Plano. ...
Experts say electrical panels in Dallas-area homes may be a fire waiting to happenDallas Morning News
all 6 news articles »
New Audio Webinar - Home Inspection Marketing Success with Jeremy Martin - PR.com (press release)
New Audio Webinar - Home Inspection Marketing Success with Jeremy Martin
PR.com (press release)
Ken Compton, founder of Home Inspection Marketing Center, recently interviewed Jeremy Martin, a successful home inspector. That interview is now available ...
GreenStreet upgrades modest urban houses - Arizona Republic
GreenStreet upgrades modest urban houses
Arizona Republic
Today, she loves the 1358-square-foot home's programmable thermostat, the dual-flush toilets, even the attic insulation that wowed her home inspector. ...
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