Region 7

Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations

EPA Spotlights Green Technologies at Grand Opening of Zarco Earth Friendly Fuels Station in Lawrence, Kan.

(Kansas City, Kan., June 30, 2008) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency highlighted green technologies at the June 30 grand opening of the Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels Station in Lawrence, Kan. Besides offering a variety of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, the station at 2005 W. 9th Street is being designed and built with a number of environmentally-friendly aspects. News Release

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Air Sampling, Monitoring Shows No Health Risk in Parkersburg

(Kansas City, Kan., June 27, 2008) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air sampling for asbestos and air monitoring for particulates in Parkersburg, Iowa, has shown no health risk. The Agency has been providing ongoing sampling and monitoring since June 10. A tornado struck the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, on May 25, 2008, destroying approximately 240 homes and damaging 400 more. News Release | Region 7 Response Page

Region 7 Staff Gets First-Hand Look at Renewable Energy

Nearly 40 EPA employees took a three-city tour of diverse energy resources in Missouri recently. They learned about the LifeLine Foods ethanol production facility in St. Joseph from Mike Sobetski, vice president and chief operating officer (in photo). LifeLine Foods produces both food products and ethanol at their facility. The EPA Region 7 group also visited the Loess Hills Wind Farm that supplies the city of Rock Port with nearly all of its electricity, and the Northwest Missouri State University Power Plant in Maryville. The plant burns wood and manure pellets to provide at least 90 percent of the university's steam for heating and cooling the campus.

Dana Corporation Agrees to Allow $24M Bankruptcy Claim for Cleanup Costs at Superfund Site in Hastings, Neb.

(Kansas City, Kan., June 18, 2008) - An Ohio-based auto parts manufacturer has agreed not to contest more than $125 million in environmental claims brought by the federal government for cleanup costs and civil penalties associated with six Superfund toxic waste sites in five states, including a claim of more than $24 million related to a former auto parts manufacturing facility in Hastings, Neb. News Release

EPA Presents $200,000 to Carter Lake, Iowa, and $400,000 to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in Brownfields Funding

(Kansas City, Kan., June 17, 2008) - EPA Regional Administrator John Askew will present a $200,000 check to Carter Lake, Iowa, and a $400,000 check to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to assess hazardous substances and petroleum under the Brownfields Program. Carter Lake and Council Bluffs were among the 26 applicants in Region 7 selected to apply for brownfields funding in 2008. News Release

EPA Recognizes Two Ethanol Facilities in Iowa and Kansas that Demonstrate Exceptional Energy Savings

(Kansas City, Kan., June 17, 2008) - EPA has recognized POET Biorefining in Ashton, Iowa, and East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC in Garnett, Kan., for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR awards were given to these facilities at the 24th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Nashville, Tenn. News Release

Magellan Midstream Partners to Pay $5.3M in Civil Penalties for 11 Petroleum Pipeline Spills in Six Midwestern States

(Kansas City, Kan., June 16, 2008) - Magellan Midstream Partners has agreed to pay $5.3 million in civil penalties for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act related to illegal spills or discharges of petroleum products from its pipeline network at 11 locations in six states over the past 10 years, officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice announced today. News Release

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