New EPA PCB TMDL Handbook Released (PDF) (33 pp, 262K, About PDF)

EPA has issued a technical document titled Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Handbook, which provides EPA regions, states, and other stakeholders with updated information for addressing Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) waters impaired by PCBs.  PCBs rank sixth among the national causes of water quality impairment in the country, and of the 71,000 waterbody-pollutant combinations listed nationally, over 5,000 (eight percent) are PCB-related.  This handbook identifies various approaches to developing PCB TMDLs and provides examples of TMDLs from around the country, complete with online references.  It aims to help states complete more PCB TMDLs and ultimately restore those waters impaired by PCBs.

Free textbooks that volunteers, watershed groups, and formal educators may find helpful.

eMarketing: The Essential Guide to Online Marketing

eMarketing: The Essential Guide to Online Marketing is a comprehensive textbook containing holistic and integrated eMarketing tactics.

There is no doubt about it – the Internet has changed the world we live in. Never before has it been so easy to access information, communicate with people all over the globe

and share articles, videos, photos and all manner of media.

Rebuilding the Unity of Health and the Environment

This online book summarizes the results of a workshop that examined the connection between human health and the natural, built, and social environments. The book makes the assertion that a new vision for environmental health is needed because the current infrastructure for linking environmental health and public health is not working as well as it should. The book is available online for free, may be printed from PDF files, or hard copies may be ordered from the site.

Online Schoolbook "GOLD DUST"

GOLD DUST is the first online book that works on the basis of the "Papillon" educational concept. It's a combination of grand adventure, magical effects and global learning. By linking the book with the Internet, teaching books are transformed into a huge dynamic ecosystem of knowledge and allows children to see our world in a global context.

"The Best Management Practice is the Practice of Common Sense."

Please see attachment for manual.

An informational slideshow on how to build a rain garden.

Please see attachment.

Abstract

An Anchored Reinforced Vegetation System (ARVS) incorporates the combination of a geosynthetic, high strength woven, High Performance Turf Reinforcement Mat and Earth Percussion Anchors and is a system designed to provide erosion protection and armoring in the most critical of applications. Unlike traditional hard armoring techniques, this system is light weight, does not surcharge weak foundation soils, and is easy to maintain without heavy equipment and personnel. (Thompson, Propex, Inc.)  These systems have been traditionally utilized in non-agricultural situations including the Gordy Pumping Station by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans after being breached by Hurricane Katrina, as well as sites along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and by the New York and California Departments of Transportation. 

Soil bioengineering is the use of live and dead herbaceous and woody plant materials in combination with natural and synthetic support materials for slope stabilization, erosion reduction, and vegetative establishment (NRCS).  Although often thought of as a new technology, these practices have been used for many years, as early as the 1930’s by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).  This paper will present demonstration projects conducted by the West Virginia Conservation Agency to control excess streambank soil erosion along pasture land, by utilizing a combination of Anchored Reinforced Vegetation and Soil Bioengineering techniques. 

Please see attachment for additional information.

DEP releases Marcellus Shale Industry Guidance 

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has released a guidance document and permit addendum designed to better manage water use and disposal by the oil and gas industry when drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation. Full article here.