Cities with the Best Tap Water

Educate yourself on how well your local utility is meeting drinking water standards.
Even my libertarian friends would have a hard time arguing against the idea that if local or municipal tax dollars are going to spent on infrastructure that they should be spent on ensuring a safe drinking water supply.
Interested in how your water provider is currently ranked? Check out how 100 major US cities are ranked in terms of water quality:

http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/rating-big-city-water

EWG's Drinking Water Quality Analysis and Tap Water Database | Environmental Working Group

Best yet, look at how well your local utility is meeting water quality standards by typing in your zip code into the widget at the bottom of this page.

Surprise...Safe Drinking Water Act Does Not Mean Your Water Is Safe!

Interesting interview on drinking water quality and standards. The podcast embedded below from NPR is from an interview between Terry Gross and a reporter from the New York Times, CHARLES DUHIGG, about his article that appeared in today's newspaper.

While it might be easy to dismiss this reporter's story as alarmist, my natural skepticism was tempered after listening.

The take-away point here: our drinking water standards that our municipalities may meet are not strict enough to ensure healthy, non-cancer causing drinking water. The 24:00 mark is where the interview hits the "high water" mark for me. Have a listen...




The original article is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/us/17water.html

Fixed Blade Cutting Instruments and Health & Safety (Based on a True Story)

From the whatever it is worth department, I have looked high and low for tricks on how to open a cd ROM drive that will not open.
I used the eject disc feature with the OS, I tried looking for processes in the ctrl-alt-del screen. I even tried to poke the paper clip into the little hole in the front of the tray that is used to pop out the cd drive drawer. Nothing worked.
A lot of PC sites say it might be time to open up the tower and start unscrewing screws and disconnecting things. Yet I saw one anonymous poster on one of the tech-forums say, "use a butternife".
So, I got my safety glasses on and some steel-mesh gloves, donned my hard hat and set up saftey cones around my PC so as to create a zone exclusion around the work area. My kids and dog are very curious about these things and they had a lot of questions and quizzical looks. Following procedure, I sent them to the information officer (their mom) so I could concentrate on the job at hand.
My safety training videos play through my head like so many eight track tapes. All the training, all the way back to college at San Jose State's Aeronautics Department, went through my mind... "Use the right tool for the right job". "To be a professional, you have to act like a professional". "Do not used fixed blade instruments"... "Safety stand-down". "You are not allowed to have fixed bladed instruments (including butter knives) in your toolbox".
At this point, the supervisor of this establishment's mess hall (my wife, AKA the information officer) was now asking me what I was doing in her living room with all the cones and safety tape. I told her I was preparing to service and repair the CD ROM drive on our desktop computer and that the HASP called for a zone of exclusion. "Just following the procedures, ma'am," and quickly followed with a "can you take the kids outside?" were my exact words. But then, I added in a slightly higher pitched voice, "Honey, can you please get me a butter knife so I do not have to get up and you are walking over there anyway?"
I admit I asked for and took the butterknife. I was breaking all the rules by taking this butterknife in my hand on this job.
In the interest of fair and honest blogging, it was the only option I had. I did not want to shut down the computer, remove power, remove all the cords and cables, clear off a work area on my desk, etc. I did not want to mess anything up on the inside of the PC (the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for PC repair called out this and electrocution as particular dangers).
All I really wanted was to rip a cd for the IPOD, because Wheezer is getting really overplayed and I need some new tunes on there or I will go crazy.
So, now to the present. It is just me, the butter knife and my PC's CD ROM Drive that will not open. I happen to notice I do not call it "my butterknife", because somehow this makes it seem less of an infraction.
I get down on my hands and knees and open the access door so I can see the sliding tray. I take the cool, steel blade handle of the butter knife into my hands and start pushing the end of the knife into the seam made between the part that is supposed to slide open and it's fixed housing. I try one side and then the other, but my blade is a little too thick to get inside. I push a little harder on the seam and the plastic gives a little bit and the knife slides in about a half centimeter. I leverage this half centimeter against the side bezel and notice that the sliding tray part moves a little. I take this as a good sign. I follow the same procedure on the right side of the CDROM drawer. Again I notice movement here as well. In fact, the drawer opens about an eighth of an inch, just enough to stick the fingernail of my index finger into the opening. I stick my finger in and with a slight tug, the tray slides all the way out! Glorious success!
Inside the tray, I find two CD's, one of which I have seen way too, too, TOO many times before, "Clifford THE BIG RED DOG, Reading", and one I have never seen before "Motorola Wirless Notbook adapter Instlallation Wizard" CD. Clifford, the family favorite, was on top with the Motorola CD buried below it. (literary personification, while appropriate here, is not intended and will not be referenced further in this post so please disregard). However, the fact that the Clifford CD is on top of the other leads me to conclude that one or two of my precious children were not following proper PC operational procedures! I want to write them up, but their supervisor has already put them to bed.
I remove the obstructions, push the drawer back in. It slides in very easily as it did the first time I used it. But now for the moment of truth. Will the CDROM properly open when I press the eject CD button on the PC? Will it work now?
I reach up to press the button, knowing this point is the moment of truth. I press it, gently, feeling for the click in my index finger. There it was! A tiny "click". At that instant.... nothing happened. My moment of truth turns to a moment of anguish and I envision a trip to Fry's Electronics and a whole lot of tado over one simple CD ROM tray. But my moment of anguish is short-lived! I feel the vibration of a small motor inside, a barely decipherable 'snap' and then see the tray sliding out towards me. VICTORY! It works, it works, it works!
I rise to my feet and place the butterknife and two CD's on the desk and write up the job.
The thing I learned? A butterknife can and will be used to open a cd rom drive that is stuck closed.
But I did not follow proper safety procedures and since my last blog was on Health and Safety, I must save fellow colleagues from my torment. Therefore I am officially asking all PC and CD ROM Manufactureres to add the following to their official troubleshooting, operation and maintenace manuals: "As last resort, and following all appropriate safety procedures, use a butter knife to gently pry open a jammed CD Rom Drive". This should solve it for future generations. No more angst and agony.
So it is written, so it shall be done.

Health and Safety Requirements? Yes! But To What Degree?

A woman is pulled from near the Center Street dam by construction worker Jason Oglesbee on Tuesday. A man who was with the unidentified woman died in the Des Moines River. A rescue team from the Des Moines Fire Department tried several times to rescue the woman but could not get close enough to her. (Andrea Melendez/The Register)

Is it always true that if a job cannot be done safely it is not worth doing? After viewing the photo above, what do you think?

With Health and Safety increasingly being pushed to the forefront in the Environmental field and other industries, this photo brings to mind a question I have heard many times from front line workers. These workers can regularly be seen donning hard hats, safety vests, safety glasses, etc. and can be seen working in all types of environments as part of their everyday jobs.

Where does Health and Safety become too burdensome? Where does strict adherence to mandated Health and Safety requirements cross the line between protecting workers and over-indulgence?

I do not have all the facts, but consider this inspiring rescue as a case in point:

Woman Pulled from Des Moines River

Firefighters were not able to get close enough to effect a rescue of this 60 year old lady who is stuck in turbulent waters at the bottom of a dam. Yet, they stand by as a construction worker (with a harness and preserver, but in clear disregard for most other PPE and procedures) gets hoisted by a crane over to the lady who is constantly getting pulled under the rushing water. The worker pulls the woman to safety.

The guy is a hero and his courage inspiring, wouldn't we all agree?

Yet, I wonder why firefighters were not the ones that were put out on the crane? Most likely it violated their established procedures. When that happens they can be sued, lose their jobs and be subject to any number of other consequences.

This logic leads me to conclude that it is worse for rescue workers to violate safety procedures than to try an emergency rescue via use of the crane.

Now, I believe there were likely a number of rescue personnel who would have volunteered to do what this construction worker did. But for whatever reason, they didn't. I can only surmise they did not effect the rescue because they did not have the method approved, the job safety analysis complete, the equipment inspected or the city insurance rider in place for the crane company.

Most of us are not in the rescue business, but we are encouraged to act safely at home as we do on the job. We make it a lifestyle so we are always thinking safety first. This reduces our risk.

If this construction worker acted the way we are all taught, the lady would likely have drowned with highly trained rescue personnel watching helplessly at a safe distance away.

Off the record, what do you think? As they can be mutually exclusive (as evidenced by the above situation), is strict adherence to Health and Safety about saving lives or saving something else?

Stimulus and Energy Policy Directed to Environmental and Green Issues

Like it or not, there is a lot of spending going on under the guise of "getting the economy going, once again". As environmental professionals, there are probably a number of reasons we should support the notion that if money is going to be spent, it might as well be spent in areas that support our personal and professional goals.

Yes, our kids may be paying for it well into their adult lives (if you believe in that argument), but at least they may be living longer, breathing more healthy air and consuming healthier food and water. They may also see cleaner energy and less dependence on a foreign oil supply.

There may be far reaching implications of the energy policy being crafted in Washington, DC:

Congress to pass energy bill this year: White House

By now, we should all have our views on environmental and green stimulus money. How does that support your professional and personal agenda? These are questions that may not have easy answers, but at least there is likelihood that there will be more projects with which we may become involved.

Pssst.. In Case You Haven't Heard, Check Your Local Sales Tax Rates

If you do business in California and are one of those who throw in their sales tax and do not list it separately on an invoice: Congratulations! You just lost one percent of your profits to the State of California!

Many are unaware that our local California State Sales Tax has gone up as of April 1, 2009.

The fact that most people now know who AIG is, but do not know that their tax has gone up is proof positive that their has been a shift-change in what the California populace thinks is most important to them.

What an economy!

Check out your new sales tax rate. California Sales Tax Database. Be glad you don't live in Pico Rivera or Southgate where they pay double digit sales tax rates. (Note to self: do not buy anything in those cities)

I thought I would also take this opportunity to write up something on how sales tax can affect your business.

I am no tax lawyer, but as someone who is in sales (I sell environmental remediation equipment and services) and someone who does quotes and responds to RFPs on a regular basis to dozens of folks every month, I believe it is very important to your business to make sure you charge the proper sales tax. If you forget to charge sales tax or charge the wrong sales tax rate, it is highly unlikely you will be able to go back to your customer and get them to pay it 3 months later. However, the government will want to take their due regardless. If the government force the issue and you do not have recourse, paying that back sales tax will ultimately come back and bite your business' bottom line. Who wants that headache? Get this done the right way, the first time.

Similarly, it is important that you as a buyer insure you know whether sales tax is included in the purchase price of your equipment. I can think of dozens of times where a I have sold a piece of equipment to a customer only to have them come back and say, "You didn't tell me there was going to be $3000 worth of sales tax! I did not budget for that! What can you do for me?"

That is as tough a question to answer. Usually I refer them to the quote where right under the price it says the price "does not include taxes, permits, or governmental / documentation fees". I then tell them that the proper thing to do is pay the sales tax and then pass along the charge to their customer. Of course if they are reselling the item, they can provide a resale certificate to be kept on file in case of an audit.

Last point on this: Sales tax/Use tax is usually based on where the product is being delivered, not where your office is or where my office is. The sales tax rate is higher in locations where voters have approved additional "district" taxes. Most of these districts encompass an entire county-wide area; however, some districts are limited to a single city. Since the sales and use tax rate varies statewide, you need to know where the product is being delivered and charge sales tax accordingly.

Keeping these thoughts in mind could save yourself a lot of heartache later on... Maybe pass the link above to the person that does your accounting. They might thank you for it later.

Remediating California's Underground Storage Tank Fund

I had the opportunity to attend the California State Water Resource Control Board's workshop on the topic of the Underground Storage Tank Clean-up Funds "DISCUSSION OF FUND CONDITION, DELAY IN REIMBURSEMENTS, AND SUSPENSION OF LETTERS OF COMMITMENT".

The background:

The UST fund had recently delayed funding and essentially suspended remediation projects until revenue levels equalize. A contributing effect is that reimbursement for some or most UST remediation projects is delayed, causing consultants and others to decide on such things as whether they want to finance leaking UST projects for up to two years at what is essentially interest free financing before being reimbursed.

In this economic environment, many or most leaking UST projects have come to a screeching halt, causing consultants to adjust their business models (a euphemism for laying off staff) and responsible parties to be left with little recourse for assistance in cleaning up leaky tanks.

The workshop consisted of a PowerPoint presentation given by Allan Patton outlining a short history on the fund and a narrative to how the fund is "funded" and what has been happening to the fund over the last year (in short revenue is down and costs are up).

From their the workshop was opened up to attendees to give their thoughts, air grievances and offer up suggestions to the board leadership.

First to speak were members of CIOMA, including Responsible Parties and then their consultants. After CIOMA, individuals were allowed to speak for up to 5 minutes per person to air their suggestions and thoughts.

At a certain point, the ideas and grievances mostly started to become repetitive. The main take away points, for me at least, came down to the following:

• Increase collection activity from UST operators (a percentage of them are delinquent causing revenue shortfall)
• Reduce monitoring frequencies on sites to semi-annual wherever prudent
• Condense Roles and Responsibilities of local and regional oversight officials.
• Speed up closure process. Too many sites are being left open for seemingly illegitimate reasons.
  
• Moved to a Risk Based Corrective Action model instead of a one size fits all approach to remediation
• Convene independent board for review of cases for closure.
• Raise the UST pump tax to $0.02 per gallon. (it is currently .014/gallon)

There seems to be no question that people and officials are interested in addressing issues. Let's face it, they all want jobs and the security that comes with real progress in getting these sites cleaned-up. There are many changes that could be made to make things more efficient and I would expect that some changes will be made on many fronts.

Nonetheless, as a realist, I think the biggest question that needs to be answered is: "Will the CA UST gas tax be increased"? In this economic climate, will the motoring public pay an extra $0.75 to fill up their tank, thereby allowing the extra funding for the cleaning up of their already limited water supply?

My prediction is that a critical mass composed of business, the green movement and soccer moms will all say yes.

Playing Environmental Poker? You Have to Know the Rules

I once played poker with a bunch of guys who had been playing for years. In fact, they played so often that, in addition to the normal poker rules, they had made up some of their own rules. These house rules were used so often in their game that, in their minds, the house rules had become universal to the game of poker, whether it was their game or anyone else's.

So I was playing with them one night and they came out with this crazy rule, like "you can't throw out three cards when you checked your initial bet". I said, "What are you talking about?" and an argument ensued. I folded and left the game (they still give me a hard time about it whenever we play). It would have been great to be able to throw out a copy of the rule book and make them look up their rule, chapter and verse, but I did not have one with me at the time. Now, I just tell them, "It is good to know the rules if you are going to play the game."

I recently came across a book that Google has indexed that deals with hazardous waste operations. Huge amounts of info here for anyone who finds they need to act fast on, say, an emergency response or planned disposal of contaminated soils or liquids. Also a great source on proper procedures and rules regarding dealing with wastes.

There are notes on PPE, TCLP analysis (for spent carbon), manifest requirements and a host of other topics. A great resource, available online.

If you are going to stay in the environmental clean-up game, it is best to know the rules and not rely on what someone says. This book link comes as close as I have seen to pulling a lot of different rules together into one place. Check it out:

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Manual

Work, Life, Social Media Balance

As a relative newbie to using social media as one of the tools to marketing to customers and potential customers, I have a concern that my efforts will be seen as "Why is Brendan Coyne doing this when he should be doing X. Why is he spending so much time on facebook, or always tweeting on Twitter? He is on the computer all the time. Doesn't he have a life?"

Well, in answer to all that, it does not take a lot of time and there are people who with maybe a half hour or an hour a day devoted to networking have proven that even with obscure subject matter they can use these media's as a tool to further their cause.

My cause is three-fold: 1) Branding myself to my friends, customers, employer and future employer(s). I want people to know how to contact me both within and outside the confines of work and home. This doesn't mean I want to talk about work at 8pm on a Friday night, but if it is that important, here is a way to get in front of me.
2) It is pretty cool to see how far I can take it and it is fun. Last year at this time, I just did not get it. Now I am a believer and I do not think these kinds of things are ever going to go away. Why not be an early user of a new technology?
3) I want to become a resource for professionals who are into environmental remediation systems. This will translate directly to sales, because I am going to give customers what they want AND allow them to get to know who they are dealing with at the same time.

People resist the social medias for a variety of reasons. I say to them: Are you afraid of being a lemming? Afraid of being labeled geeky? Don't have time? Too cool for that? Too old to learn a new trick? Afraid of your privacy going bye-bye?

Who among us did not think the internet was complicated at one point? Who did not take the time to learn how to set your home page on your internet browser, or learn how to copy and paste?

It does take time, it is a little geeky, it is becoming more and more popular and there are new things springing up all the time. So you have valid concerns. So what?

Privacy? To paraphrase a popular author, "Rumors of it's demise have been greatly exaggerated." Hey, just be careful what you put out there. If you don't want someone to know where you work or where you live, don't write about it.

Do you really think you have any privacy anyway? I guarantee there are people tracking you right now! It has not changed the fact that you are reading this. This little bit of privacy you gave up really does not make a bit of difference to you does it?

Thanks for reading...

Interesting article: Work, Life, Social Media Balance

Why I have a blog

I have gone from zero to 40 mph hour on trying to use social media as a way to connect with customers and vendors. I am still in the beginning stages, but I am encouraging everyone I know to at least try it out.

Need some convincing? Bookmark this page first, follow me on Twitter @coynebrendan, then check out the following article I saw in one of my LinkedIn groups.

I think they are spot on with their ideas. I only wish I started sooner.

The next challenge is to get your customers to do this, or follow you on Twitter or at least give you their personal e-mail.

As sales people, how many times have you called on an account that you haven't heard from in a while and your one and only contact is gone, moved somewhere else? You have no way of getting in touch with them as their email is invalid and they turned in their company cell phone. The lady at the front desk won't give info.

The social medias are another semi-permanent bridge to connect with your customers. I consider this bridge an alternate route to traditional client relationships to be used whenever needed.

As good a case as you will see for social media as a sales tool (btw, after reading this, I realized I probably need to change my profile picture!):

Frank Kenny's Small Business Defender Blog: <center>Brand Yourself</center>

SCAQMD Permit Moratorium

Hey Folks:
Due to litigation issues, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has put a moratorium on all new permits within the Los Angeles Basin.
If you are a business that is affected by this, you are facing the realization that you will not be able to grow your business within the region any time soon. It does not matter if you are manufacturing the latest life-saving cancer drug, armor for troops in Afghanistan or remediating gasoline or perchlorate from the local water supply. The simple fact is, you are not going to be able to get the proper permit any time soon.
There are a handful of exceptions. If your process will emit less than one half pound of emissions per day you are excepted. Likewise, if you can trade emissions reduction credits (ERCs) or buy them (for up to hundreds of thousands of dollars) you are in a pinch.
There are two more exceptions to add to the list. Contact me and you can use our permits for Soil Vapor Extraction for up to one year. You can also use our carbon vessels and filtration media with our permits to escape this added burden. Our permits are not affected and are currently considered something like "grandfathered" under the regulations
There will be a mad rush for these as the realization sets in among the Southern California Enviornmental Consultant community. Lock in now before these permits are gone. Once that happens, look for the prices for use of these permits to skyrocket. Mark my words, somebody will pay tens of thousands to save hundreds of thousands and be allowed to operate.
If you have an old remediation system that has been permitted in the SCAQMD and the remediation equipment is for sale, contact me and I will see if we can purchase your old equipment. The permit could be worth more than the equipment!

Life Outside of Work - Art

Happy to have attended an art show last summer featuring one of my favorite local artists, Caryn Baumgartner.
Some photos from the event:
Click for pics
or
Visit Caryn's web site for more details on the works:
Click for images of art