Preventing Illness and Mitigating Climate Change through Clean Construction Policies and other Simple Diesel Pollution Reduction Measures

Many of the issues we work on require complicated and time-consuming approaches, but a solution to one significant health and climate problem is fairly simple. Particulate diesel soot (PM) has been linked to diabetes, stroke, heart attack, cancer and over 21,000 premature deaths in the U.S. annually. As a warming pollutant, the black carbon component (BC) is about 2000 times more potent than CO2. However, we can virtually eliminate this threat with diesel particulate filters (DPFs) that remove over 90% of PM and BC from exhaust, immediately reducing a serious health threat and a potent source of global warming pollution. Filters are required on new vehicles but old dirty diesel engines are not being replaced quickly enough and must be cleaned-up.

• Unregulated prior to 1996, pollution from construction equipment is of special concern because the durability of diesel engines means much construction equipment in use today lack modern PM pollution controls. Adopting Clean Construction practices can protect patients, staff and community members from exposure on site, encourage financial support, and be leveraged for clean air benefits elsewhere. The Diesel Clean-Up Campaign, coordinated by Brooke Suter of the Clean Air Task Force, works on the local, state and national levels.

Endorsed by over 500 organizations across the country, the campaign has a presence in all 50 states and the District of Columbia providing a robust network to leverage any action into more clean air benefits. In addition to legislative initiatives such the introduction of the bi-partisan Clean Construction Act of 2011 in both houses of Congress, the campaign is also providing “Clean Construction” and “Climate” Tool Kits to those interested in taking action locally.

Innovative solid waste permitting, organics diversion, and sustainability in the Napa Valley

Innovative solid waste permitting, organics diversion, and sustainability in the Napa Valley. Greg Pirie, REHS, Solid Waste Program Manager, Napa County Executive Office. 1195 Third Street, Room 310, CA 94559. Innovative trends in permitting composting and landfill facilities and incorporating multiple waste diversion programs have transformed the regulatory structure and solid waste facility operations for the Napa Valley in many positive ways to encourage waste diversion and increase organic sustainability.In the process of reviewing multiple compost facility plan applications, facility inspections, assisting operators in applying the regulatory planning process, and promoting organics diversion in solid waste and recycling franchise agreements, there are many areas of regulatory development that could be designed and changed to benefit the facility operator, regulator, garbage and recycling haulers, and agricultural farmer. You will learn about all of these factors and will be presented in a way to know how, as they all work together, to promote that all agencies and jurisdictions can have success from facility permitting to organics diversion in the Napa Valley wine region in California.


Problems have included updating historic solid waste franchise agreements with a focus on diversion, mandated diversion regulations, problem solve to identify appropriate facility permitting options, facility siting, and limiting the cost of to the public for garbage and recycling service.

The successful methodology and results is measured in approved and well applied facility permits, high diversion rates, low cost to the public for curbside garbage and recycling service, reuse of compost materials by large agriculture operations. Over 15,000 tons of used grape waste recycled and composted annually and then received back to the source as a soil amendment. The presentation will also include a high volume aerated static pile grape composting facility, aerated/in vessel food waste composting facility, landfill construction and demolition diversion, garbage and recycling franchise language to promote food composting.

We conclude that the “innovative” success that the Napa Valley has experienced, including all aspects of organic sustainability, can be duplicated in other jurisdiction. This presentation will assist you in how to also accomplish success.

Environmental Health, Sustainability, and Land Use Planning - A Perfect Trifecta

Come catch a vision of how Environmental Health, Land Use Planning and Sustainability are integrally related.  Learn how a local Environmental Health Division played a significant part in working with Planning Department staff to assure that the local comprehensive land use planning update (LPlan 2040) would have a stronger sustainability focus than in the past.  Environmental Public Health staff were actively involved in the process, including:

1. Presenting to the Planning Advisory Committee on the relationship between land use planning and public health, with emphasis on air quality, hazardous materials, sustainability, multi-modal transportation, and designing our community to increase physical activity.
2. Presenting at a Sustainability Town Hall, highlighting how the LPLAN 2040 land use plan would influence Energy & the Environment, Public Health & Safety, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Social Connectedness.  These are the key elements of a sustainable community. 

The process to create LPlan 2040 was guided by a citizen advisory committee consisting of members from the City-County Planning Commission and other community representatives. Health staff invited Planning staff to present to the Board of Health on several occasions to educate our Board on the interconnectedness between health and land use planning and sustainability.

Health Department Air Quality staff worked with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Technical Committee on the transportation plan.  As planners determined what the future transportation network could look like, EPA's latest computer modeling software called MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator) was used to determine potential air quality impacts.  This model estimated what the emissions of hydrocarbons (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) as well as greenhouse gases based on the planned future transportation network.

The result was a comprehensive land use plan (LPlan 2040), which clearly described the impacts that land use has on environmental and public health, and how they impact the  sustainability of our community.

Collaborative Project serving as one voice to answer emerging issues in food safety

The intent of this project was to bring positive change and address the Centers for Disease Control’s 10 Essential Public Health Services. It is important for food safety regulators, businesses, farmers, academia and the public to have a better understanding of the regulatory requirements in growing and offering their fresh, locally grown foods. There are a variety of state constitutional exemptions, rules and regulations related to selling and serving food. The interpretation and dissemination of the exemptions varied widely throughout the State. This led to stakeholder confusion. To address this concern, a collaborative work group from regulatory agencies and academia developed food safety factsheets addressing common frequently asked questions and provided clarification. The factsheets serve as one voice to establish a more effective food protection model that achieves compliance through partnership, collaboration, training and enforcement by utilizing the strengths and resources of local farmers, vendors, market managers, restaurateurs, regulators, educators and community stakeholders.

The outreach addressed individual experiences with buying/selling as well as dispelling misconceptions regarding state and local rules and regulations. The result was teaming together in the development, writing, editing and dissemination of user-friendly topic specific factsheets. These factsheets address commonly asked questions regarding federal and state statutes, rules, regulations and policies. By proving one unified voice, we help support and improve the health of the public in eating or purchasing safe, fresh, locally grown foods.

Topics included:

1. Serving Locally Grown Foods in Food Facilities, June 2010
2. Existing Food Facilities Planning to Can Fresh Foods for Sale or Service, June 2010
3. Existing Food Facilities Planning to Freeze, Dry or Otherwise Preserve Fresh Foods for Sale or Service, June 2010
4. Harvesting and Selling Wild Mushrooms in Minnesota, June 2010
5. Hand Sanitizers: Not a Replacement for Hand Washing in Food Service Settings, June 2010.

These fact sheets can be found at:
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/food/safety/food-safety-resources.aspx

Confronting climate change health risks in the Pacific Northwest

Climate change has serious consequences for public health, with effects varying among communities. University of Washington researchers are investigating the impact of climate change on health in three Pacific Northwest counties. One research team is using quantitative risk analysis to forecast the health impacts of increasing heat events and worsening air pollution in those communities. A second research team is collecting information about community attitudes, needs and resources related to climate change. The findings of both study components are then used to work with the local health departments in developing communication strategies and credible messages that effectively engage their communities (policy makers and the public) in actions to address the health effects of climate change. Local health departments are active partners in shaping the research, and the specificity of the research findings enables public health officials to identify the most vulnerable populations and make evidence-based decisions about programs and policies. Using this research, local health departments may opt to focus on reducing the factors that contribute to climate change (mitigation), on reducing the severity of health impacts (adaptation), or a combination of the two.

LEED Versus Human Health

US Green Building Council (USGBC) certifies buildings through their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards which are based on the idea that LEED-certification implies “sustainability.” Since there are no universally accepted definitions or measurements for sustainability as it relates to their inhabitants, how do we know if LEED certification produces a healthy building? These buildings are human habitats. It is important to establish criteria for sustainability based on empirical evidence and measures which are public health- related. Human health must be incorporated into these standards and measures to assure that the buildings are not only environmentally sustainable, but protective of public health. This presentation will look at various aspects of LEED certification in terms of the ten essential services; particularly as it pertains to the three core functions of public health and suggest a beginning point for measures and standards.

Sustainable Policy in Environmental Public Health

Climate change, population growth, and public opinion are just some of the factors driving Environmental Public Health (EPH) to strategically incorporate sustainable policy into the way we do business.  Sustainability can be defined in two ways as it relates to EPH policy.  In the first definition, sustainable policy means that it can live, breath, and evolve with the changing times and technology.  Policies should have the backbone to persist, yet the surface should be moldable to changing data and technology.  In the second definition, sustainable policy must address the protection and enhancement of our most critical resources such as water, food, and air safety.  For example, finding ways to protect our drinking water resources while also improving the quality is paramount to our future.

This presentation will take a systems thinking approach to identifying some of the primary issues surrounding EPH sustainable policy development.  We will examine why in some areas EPH has lacked a true leadership role as well as determining the leverage points where EPH leadership can swing the momentum.  The case will be made for developing a shared vision among EPH, elected officials, and the community to build truly sustainable policy.  This process will identify a method for identifying and evaluating stakeholders that are important in policy development, grant writing, and building efficiencies within current structures.  The audience will be introduced to some of these and other systems thinking tools that can help in isolating the source of an issue and then follow up with realistic solutions.

A Sustainable Way to Reduce the Lifecycle Cost of Odor Treatment in Collection Systems

The cost to manage odors from sewer collection systems has become a significant expenditure for many municipalities. Pumping stations and manholes can be located close to existing development, requiring highly effective H2S and odor removal to minimize the risk of complaints and reduce capital replacement expenditure caused by corrosion.

Traditional solutions like carbon are limited to areas with low H2S due to the high and frequent cost of media replacement, organic biofilters have a large footprint and are limited to levels of H2S 98% odor removal measured through olfactometry at inlet concentrations up to 125 ppm H2S.

The testing has shown that very high removal rates can be achieved with a shell based system. The high efficiencies and the low cost of the media has significant potential to lower the life cycle cost of pump station odor treatment in a ecologically-friendly way.