The Cycle

Water is constantly being cycled between the atmosphere, the ocean and land. This cycling is a very important process that helps sustain life on Earth. 

Are you aware that on October 26, 2013, all citizens can drop off their unused or expired medications to specific sites to help keep our environment safe.  We strongly encourage you not to flush old medication and take advantage of this national program.  Through the efforts of the United States Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration/Office of Diversion Control – you can go to the following website and type in your zip code to find local facilities that will be participating in this national event to take back your unused or expired medication and save our environme

Sept. 23) US judge gives EPA 6 months to decide whether regulations
needed for farmland runoff pollution
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Environmental advocates in states along the Mississippi
River have won a round toward a long-term goal of having federal
standards created to regulate farmland runoff and other pollution
blamed for the oxygen-depleted “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico and
problems in other bodies of water.

The USEPA has a great deal of regulatory information available on their website www.epa.gov.  Of importance to many Operation Specialists’ currently is the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR).  EPA has a Fact Sheet available that addresses the revised regulation including timelines, monitoring requirements, and regulatory reporting.  To access an electronic version of the Fact Sheet please go to the following link:

New York Rural Water Association (NYRWA) is pleased to announce the availability of a new program to assist small communities and rural water systems with source water protection. This technical assistance program is a joint project of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), the National Rural Water Association (NRWA), and NYRWA.

EPA is trying to allay states’ concerns over the initial startup costs
of its recently issued proposal to require electronic reporting of
most water discharge data, a measure that is expected to help

Each year the Green Panel, consisting of more than a dozen environmental groups, identify bills of special significance known as “super bills”.  This year the  Environmental Conservation Committee listed the “Fracking Moratorium and Health Impacts Assessment” as a super bill.

The bill would enact a moratorium on certain types of natural gas drilling until May 15, 2015, and require the completion of a comprehensive health impact assessment.  This legislation (A.5424-A Sweeney) passed the Assembly, but the Senate has not yet taken action.

A hacking group accused of being operated by the Chinese army now seems to be going after industrial control systems.