Cal/EPA Announces 16 New Technologies

For Immediate Release (C-14-96)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
April 22, 1996

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

SACRAMENTO -- On Earth Day 1996 Cal/EPA reported continuing progress in its path breaking environmental technology certification program.  This program accelerates the use of the new environmental technologies needed to further environmental improvement in California and around the world.

"Cal/EPA has made great strides in recent months to advance our  national model program.  To date, 26 technologies have been certified.  With the experience gained through these certifications, we can help other states and the federal government design and launch their own programs,"  Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock said.

The overall benefits of certification include:  independent, third party verification of the technology's performance; accelerated regulatory acceptance; immediate credibility with potential lenders and consumers.  California started its environmental technology certification program in 1994, under legislation introduced by Assembly member Ted Weggeland [Health & Safety Code 25200.1.5 (Stat. 1993, c. 412)] and signed into law by Governor Wilson.  The law resulted from recommendations of the California Environmental Technology Partnership, an innovative public-private effort established by Governor Wilson in 1993.

Cal/EPA's certification program was expanded from hazardous waste to include air pollution control equipment in 1995, after legislation introduced by Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle [Health & Safety Code 39620 (Stat. 1994, c. 429)] was signed into law by Governor Wilson. 

Secretary Strock's comments were made before the U.S. Navy's Site Characterization and Analysis Penetrometer System (SCAPS) equipment which has just completed California's certification.

The SCAPS technology uses laser-induced fluorescence to provide real time detection of subsurface petroleum contaminants.  The certification of the SCAPS technology will expedite regulatory acceptance and aid in the rapid commercialization and transfer of this technology to industry.

"The Navy's penetrometer system  is an excellent example of how a new technology can be used to improve our nation's environment.  By enhancing and speeding monitoring of contaminated soil, the penetrometer system promises to help return to productive use not only closed federal facilities, but also the thousands of Brownfields which dot our nation's urban areas,"  Strock said.

Of the 26 technologies certified to date, 16 have been certified since Earth Day 1995.  The 16 technologies include one pollution prevention technology, four vapor recovery systems, seven site characterization technologies, and four low NOx boilers.  The pollution prevention technology substitutes safe, ionized gas for hazardous cleaning materials.  The vapor recovery systems reduce the emission and exposure to toxic air contaminants when refueling automobiles.  The site characterization technologies provide fast field results of the detection of pollutants in water and soil.  The low NOx boilers reduce the emissions of nitrous oxides to the atmosphere.

Cal/EPA has been called upon by the U.S. EPA to develop a model program which might be duplicated by other states.  The project, the "Cal/EPA - U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification Pilot", seeks innovative environmental technologies to participate in this newly established national performance verification pilot.  Benefits to participants will be significant, including national recognition as an environmental technology leader.

California has also entered into an MOU with New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois for reciprocal certification of environmental technologies.  The MOU greatly expands the reach of the states' shared commitment to promote environmental technologies.

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