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  • Do settlement communications, such as past “agreements in principle,” impact the implementation of the final Consent Decrees?

    The parties are bound by the terms of the various final, publicly available consent decrees. These consent decrees were made available for public comment before they were finalized and entered by the Court. Past settlement communications and documents created in the course of settlement discussions have been incorporated (or not)…

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  • How does EPA ensure that the potentially responsible parties complete their work?

    All cleanup activities performed by the PRPs are subject to enforcement instruments (i.e., consent decrees or administrative orders) that provide for EPA approval of all deliverables and oversight of all work performed by the PRPs.

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  • What is the Confidentiality Order?

    The Confidentiality Order (Order) is a court order entered by the Federal District Court for the District of Montana (Court) on August 8, 2002, and amended by the Court on December 31, 2003, that applies to Superfund settlement negotiations in the Clark Fork River Basin, including the following sites: Silver…

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  • What should I do if I am concerned about my family's exposure to lead?

    Answer : A blood test is the only way to find out whether you or a family member already has lead poisoning. Call your doctor or local health department to arrange for a blood test. You can protect your family every day by: Regularly cleaning floors, window sills, and other…

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  • What are some of the health effects of lead in children?

    Answer : Lead is especially dangerous to children under six years of age. Lead can affect children's brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ and learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies. To learn more about the…

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  • What is the purpose of a cellulosic biofuel waiver credit?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Under EISA, EPA is required to make cellulosic biofuel waiver credits available for years where we waive some portion of the statutory volume for cellulosic biofuel. These credits can then be used by obligated parties to comply with…

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  • Why is the Confidentiality Order important?

    The Confidentiality Order (Order) has been, and continues to be, effective in assisting the parties in reaching settlements under the framework established by the Court in US v. ARCO and still pending in court – six consent decrees to date have been entered since the Order was issued. There are…

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  • Is fuel sold in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, required to comply with RFS2?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . United States territories, such as Puerto Rico, are not included in the RFS2 program unless they opt-in according to §80.1443. See also §§80.1407(f) and 80.1426(b).

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  • Could you please expand upon the definition of the cellulosic biofuel waiver credit that may be for sale? I am not certain when, or if, a paper or pulp company could obtain a waiver credit or benefit from selling a waiver credit?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Cellulosic biofuel waiver credits may only be purchased by obligated parties (e.g., gasoline and diesel fuel refiners and importers) from EPA. See section 80.1456(c).

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  • What information can I get about lead-based paint in a home before I buy or rent it?   

    Answer : Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have some lead-based paint. Lead from paint chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting or buying pre-1978 housing. Sellers and landlords must: Disclose information…

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  • I thought lead-based paint had been phased out. How many homes still contain lead-based paint?

    Answer : The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing estimated that 38 million permanently occupied housing units (40% of all housing units) in the United States contain some lead-based paint that was applied before the residential use of lead-based paint was…

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  • What is Lead?

    Answer : Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead also can be emitted into the air from motor vehicles and industrial sources, and lead can enter drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead-based paint is present in many…

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  • What projects has EPA been involved with in Butte related to the Superfund site?

    A variety of actions and activities have been implemented to address the contamination in Butte, including: Assessments of risk have been conducted to quantify actual and potential human health risks due to potential exposure to tailings, waste rock, yard soils, indoor dust, attic dust, mercury vapor, surface water, and ground…

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  • Why were the consent decree negotiations under a confidentiality order?

    The confidentiality order was issued by the federal district court in 2002 to encourage and facilitate settlement negotiations. The court determined that the confidentially order was appropriate to ensure that the parties were afforded the opportunity to engage in frank, open discussion so that litigation could be settled promptly and…

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  • Is the Renewable Fuels Mandate in ethanol equivalent gallons?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The percentage standards applicable under RFS are intended to be met with ethanol-equivalent volumes of renewable fuel. As a result, a gallon of ethanol counts as one gallon of renewable fuel for purposes of compliance with the four…

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