Traces of hazardous chemical PFOS found underground at Eastside Fire and Rescue's headquarters in Issaquah, WA

by: Gary Horcher Updated: Sep 21, 2016 - 1:24 AM
 

ISSAQUAH, Wash. - While searching for the source of hazardous chemical contamination in the Lower Issaquah Aquifer, researchers discovered traces of the same chemical in soils behind Eastside Fire and Rescue's headquarters at 175 Newport Way Northwest.

Experts say more tests are needed to determine if the site is the possible source of the contamination or if the chemical plume can be traced to another location.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate, commonly called PFOS, has not been manufactured in the U.S. since 2000. It was commonly used in heavy-duty firefighting foam since the 1950s, especially at airports and military bases. Laboratory animals tested with PFOS suffered liver, thyroid, developmental and immune system damage.

According to a study released by Geosyntec Consultants, hired by the city of Issaquah to investigate the contamination, Eastside Fire and Rescue's headquarters training area "Is a potential source of PFOS to groundwater and should be investigated further."

Eastside Fire and Rescue deputy chief Richard Burke told KIRO 7 his department learned about the study last week and released the information to the public immediately.

"Our No. 1 mission is public health and the care of our community," said Burke. "We want to make sure that we identify clearly whatever we have on this site." Burke said foam containing PFOS hasn't been used in Issaquah for almost 15 years. It's been replaced with safer, biodegradable foam, Burke said.

Months ago, the City of Issaquah found levels of PFOS in some water wells beyond what the EPA recommends. The city committed nearly $1 million to install large filter systems to strain the chemical out, making the water safe to drink.

The treated water is free of PFOS and completely safe, according to the city.

Burke told KIRO 7 that Eastside Fire and Rescue will hire its own experts to find out if firefighter chemical training there years ago led to groundwater contamination.

"If this is a source, the source, if it could be a source, what's the best way to clean it up? How do we identify it? What's the path to make sure we're protecting our community? Those are questions we will answer," said Burke.

A school bus caught fire on the Garden State Parkway in Union, New Jersey

Thursday, September 22, 2016 04:33PM
UNION, New Jersey (WABC) -- A school bus caught fire on the Garden State Parkway in Union, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.

The students managed to get off of the school bus and behind the guardrail before the fire broke out.

The fire was so big, it started to spread into the woods.

It was placed under control a short time later.

It's not yet known what led to the fire.

No one was injured.

Marco Proano, the CPD officer accused of firing shots that injured two black teenagers in 2013, was arraigned on federal civil rights charges

Marco Proano, the CPD officer accused of firing shots that injured two black teenagers in 2013, was arraigned on federal civil rights charges. (WLS)

By John Garcia
Updated 2 hrs 20 mins ago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Marco Proano, the Chicago Police officer accused of firing shots that injured two black teenagers in 2013, was arraigned Thursday morning on federal civil rights charges.

Proano, 41, is charged with firing his weapon 16 times at a moving car occupying five teenagers. Two of those teenagers were injured and have settled lawsuits with the city.

The shooting, captured on a dash-cam, shows Proano firing his handgun multiple times into a car occupied by the two teenagers, who posed no apparent threat. The car was pulled over for speeding.

The 10-year veteran of the police department said nothing during his court hearing, but instead let his attorney, Dan Herbert, enter his not guilty plea. If guilty, Proano could face 10 years in prison.

Herbert said the officer was acting according to department policy at the time. The teens were driving a stolen car and were believed to have a gun in their possession. Investigators recovered a pellet gun but no other weapons.

"When you find out how these police officers were trained by their supervisors, their leaders, they're told to do exactly what he did, and now they're turning their backs on him," Herbert said.

Herbert also represents Jason Van Dyke, the officer charged with first degree murder in the death of Laquan McDonald. Herbert said the anti-police political climate is what contributed to the charges.

"We all know what the climate is," Herbert said. "It's as bad as I've ever seen."

The Independent Police Review Authority recommended firing Proano, who has multiple complaints for excessive force in his file. The officer has already been stripped of his police powers and has been working on desk duty.

The judge let Proano off on an individual recognizance bond. He is due back in court on Monday to determine the status of his service revolver, which he will have to turn in.

THE CRIMINAL COPS: Three Phoenix police officers have resigned after they forced MAN to eat marijuana found in his vehicle to avoid going to jail

3 officers resign after man forced to eat pot

Updated 38 mins ago
PHOENIX, AZ (AP) -- Three Phoenix police officers have resigned after a man alleged they forced him to eat marijuana found in his vehicle to avoid going to jail, Chief Joseph Yahner said Thursday.

A fourth officer, Jeff Farrior, was demoted from lieutenant to sergeant for being aware of last week's incident and not taking appropriate action, Yahner told reporters.

"Their actions are appalling and unacceptable. This conduct is against everything that we stand for," Yahner said.

Police identified the three officers who quit as Richard G. Pina, Jason E. McFadden and Michael J. Carnicle.

Two of them are being investigated both criminally and by the department, Yahner said, adding that the third officer is considered a witness to the act and is the subject of just the administrative investigation.

Yahner said all of the officers' video cameras were turned off and did not record the incident in which a 19-year-old Phoenix man was stopped for a traffic violation around 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 13. The man, whose name was not released by police, was issued a citation and had his car towed.

He later told a patrol supervisor that the officers demanded that he eat a small amount of marijuana or be taken to jail.

Yahner called the allegations "disturbing and upsetting."

The three officers who quit were all in their first year with Phoenix police and were probationary employees, according to Yahner.

"I was going to fire them. They chose to resign," he said.

Yahner declined to discuss details of the criminal and internal investigations.

A CSX train struck a steamroller Wednesday in Cobb County that had stuck on the trucks, driver seriously injured

Train hits steamroller in Cobb; driver seriously injured
4:48 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 A train struck a steamroller Wednesday in Cobb County. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)


A man was seriously injured Wednesday when a train struck the steamroller he was driving in Cobb County, authorities said.

About 11 a.m., the steamroller, which was working on a repaving project, got stuck on the tracks and was hit by an eastbound CSX train, Cobb police spokesman Dana Pierce said. The driver of the steamroller was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

The incident happened on New McEver Road at Hickory Grove Road, officials said. The intersection was closed for about five hours.

The driver’s name was not released.

Worker was critically injured when a railroad crane he was operating tipped over on Norfolk Southern Corp. property

Worker injured in railroad crane collapse

Bill Dolan bill.dolan@nwi.com
Updated Sep 20, 2016

SCHNEIDER, IN — Lake County, Indiana police said a worker was critically injured Monday when a crane he was operating tipped over.


Dan Murchek, assistant county police chief, said the person, who wasn’t identified late Monday, was flown by helicopter to an Illinois hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown.


Police said the victim, a 65-year-old from Lake Village, was operating a crane 10:15 a.m. Monday on a railroad car sitting on tracks near 236th and Highland in Schneider when it fell over.


County officers arrived and assisted the Tri-Creek Fire Department and several other fire departments that arrived to assist.




Officers radioed the county E-911 department to contact the railroad company to stop any incoming trains since the crane had fallen near the tracks. Officers blocked the roadway and secured the scene for fire personnel and for a medical helicopter to land on scene.


Fire personal were able to free him and he was transported by helicopter to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.


A spokesman for the Norfolk Southern Corp. said he didn’t have a report on the accident.


Murchek said the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate of the accident.

proposes an $892,500 civil penalty against Air Methods Corp. of Englewood, Colo., for allegedly operating an Airbus EC-135 helicopter on passenger-carrying flights when it was not airworthy.

FAA Proposes $892,500 Civil Penalty Against Air Methods Corp.

For Immediate Release

September 14, 2016
Contact: Allen Kenitzer
Phone: 425-227-2015; Email: allen.kenitzer@faa.gov


SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes an $892,500 civil penalty against Air Methods Corp. of Englewood, Colo., for allegedly operating an Airbus EC-135 helicopter on passenger-carrying flights when it was not airworthy.

The FAA alleges that during a Nov. 4, 2014 inspection in Tampa, Fla., an FAA inspector discovered that the helicopter’s pitot tubes were severely corroded. Pitot tubes are components in a system that measures an aircraft’s airspeed.

The FAA immediately notified Air Methods about the corrosion. However, Air Methods continued to operate the helicopter on 51 passenger-carrying revenue flights between Nov. 4 and Nov. 11, 2014 without repairing or replacing the pitot tubes, the FAA alleges.

The FAA alleges that because of the corroded pitot tubes, Air Methods operated the helicopter when it was unairworthy; in violation of its operations specifications; after it failed to correct a known defect in the aircraft; and in a careless or reckless manner that endangered lives and property.

“Operators are expected to respond appropriately when FAA inspectors alert them to airworthiness concerns,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “It is imperative that all operators address those concerns before operating their aircraft.”

Air Methods has 30 days from receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

======


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PHMSA authorized Colonial Pipeline Company (Colonial) to construct a bypass pipeline as a temporary measure to restore service to the areas affected by a pipeline failure that occurred on September 9, 2016 in Shelby, Alabama.

Colonial Pipeline Failure - Shelby County, Alabama






September 21, 2016

PHMSA authorized Colonial Pipeline Company (Colonial) to construct a bypass pipeline as a temporary measure to restore service to the areas affected by a pipeline failure that occurred on September 9, 2016 in Shelby, Alabama.

The approval will allow the company to continue to service the affected areas while an excavation and pipeline inspection are completed, and does not affect the terms of the Corrective Action Order PHMSA issued on September 16, 2016.

September 16, 2016

PHMSA issued a Corrective Action Order to Colonial Pipeline Company following the Sept. 9 pipeline failure in Pelham, Alabama, that resulted in the release approximately 6,000 barrels of gasoline into a retention pond. The CAO requires Colonial to take corrective actions to protect the public, property, and the environment from potential hazards associated with the recent failure on Line #1, including mechanical and metallurgical testing and failure analysis of the failed section of pipe. 

The operator must also submit a Remedial Work Plan within 45 days of receipt of the final report from the metallurgical test laboratory. The pipeline remains shut down.

PHMSA is investigating the cause of the failure, any factors that contributed to the severity of the incident, and the operator's adherence to Federal pipeline safety standards. As our investigation continues, the order can be amended to direct the operator to take additional actions to address the root cause of this incident, as well as any other factors that may have contributed to the pipeline failure. 

If PHMSA determines the operator has violated any Federal pipeline standards, the agency can issue an enforcement action, levy civil penalties, or refer the case for criminal investigation.

Matthew Nathan, 19, is charged with breaking into 98 Wegman Parkway in Jersey City on Sunday morning and setting two bags of his clothing on fire. Three homes were damaged in a fire

Attorney makes plea for 'good student' charged with arson in 4-alarm Jersey City blaze



Three homes were damaged in a fire on Wegman Park on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Joe Shine | For The Jersey Journal
Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal
By Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal
on September 20, 2016 at 3:46 PM, updated September 20, 2016 at 3:48 PM



JERSEY CITY, NJ -- A court appointed attorney pleaded with a judge Tuesday afternoon to lower bail for the 19-year-old charged with setting fire to a row of homes on Wegman Parkway.

Matthew Nathan is charged with breaking into 98 Wegman Parkway on Sunday morning and setting two bags of his clothing on fire. Officials said Nathan was recently evicted from the first-floor apartment.

The 19-year-old was being held on a $75,000 cash-only bail before he made his first court appearance. Nathan's attorney, Chris Godin, asked that bail be set at the bottom of the guidelines -- $35,000 cash or bond -- so the "good student" could return to school.

Godin said Nathan is a second-year psychology major at New Jersey City University, less than a mile away from where the 4-alarm blaze occurred. The attorney said Nathan attends the school on a full scholarship.

A spokesperson from NJCU could not immediately confirm Nathan's enrollment status at the school.






Was 4-alarm blaze in Jersey City intentionally set?

A four-alarm blaze ripped through a row of houses early Sunday morning on Wegman Parkway, destroying decades of memories for the families that lived in the homes.

Sunday morning's blaze quickly spread to two neighboring homes. Residents at the scene hours after the fire erupted suspected arson from the beginning.

Judge Ramy Eid said he felt the state was being fair by asking for bail to be set at $50,000 cash or bond. Godin asked if a 10 percent cash option could be applied, but that was rejected by Eid. 

==========


Evicted teen started fire that destroyed 3 Jersey City buildings, authorities say

Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal
By Michaelangelo Conte | The Jersey Journal
  on September 19, 2016 at 7:59 PM, updated September 20, 2016 at 8:17 AM



JERSEY CITY, NJ -- A 19-year-old man has been charged with setting fire to a his former home on Wegman Parkway, sparking a blaze that destroyed three buildings, injured four firefighters and displaced 20 residents yesterday.

Officials say Matthew J. Nathan, who had been evicted from his apartment at 98 Wegman Parkway, broke into the unit using a ladder and set two bags of clothing on fire at about 3 a.m. He then escaped the fire, which reached a fourth alarm, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said today.

Nathan was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Sunday and has been charged with aggravated arson, causing a risk of widespread injury, criminal mischief and failing to report a fire, the criminal complaint says.






Was 4-alarm blaze in Jersey City intentionally set?

A four-alarm blaze ripped through a row of houses early Sunday morning on Wegman Parkway, destroying decades of memories for the families that lived in the homes.

The complaint alleges Nathan purposely or knowingly placed the entire family living on the building's second floor in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Nathan, whose bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond, has been remanded to the Hudson County jail in Kearny and is expected to make his first court appearance on the charges tomorrow.

Arson investigators and residents quickly had their suspicions Sunday about the cause of the fire that ripped through the row of buildings at the corner of Ocean Avenue.

A 27-year-old Myrtle Avenue man, who asked that his name not be published, was standing outside of his step-mother's home that has been owned by the family for over 60 years. He said arson investigators told his family the fire appears to have been intentionally set. 

a hit-and-run black male driver almost struck a child and then reversed his vehicle striking a crossing guard in Philadelphia

Driver hits Philadelphia crossing guard walking child



(Shutterstock)

Updated 1 hr 35 mins ago
NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police say a driver almost struck a child and then reversed his vehicle striking a crossing guard.

It happened around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Devereaux and Summerdale avenues.

Police say the 56-year-old crossing guard was stopping traffic to walk a child when the driver of a silver vehicle made a left turn, almost hitting the child.

The crossing guard yelled at the driver as he passed her.

Police say the driver of the vehicle stopped his vehicle, placed it in reverse, ran over the median, and struck the crossing guard, knocking her to the ground.

The driver then placed his car in drive and continued driving southbound on Summerdale Avenue.

The crossing guard sustained injuries to her right forearm, hand, left knee, and a possible fracture to her left shoulder.

She was transported to Aria Health Torresdale in stable condition.

The driver is described as a black male, light complexion, 20 to 30 years old, with a white or gray baseball cap, driving a silver vehicle.

Northeast Detectives are investigating.

Ventura County Firefighter Killed in Rollover Crash of OES-WT-12 Water Truck While Headed to the Canyon Fire

Ventura County Firefighter Killed in Rollover Crash While Headed to the Canyon Fire
Posted 10:11 AM, September 21, 2016, by Tracy Bloom and Steve Kuzj, Updated at 06:35pm, September 21, 2016





A 38-year-old Ventura County firefighter was killed Wednesday morning in a rollover crash while driving to the 12,300-acre Canyon Fire on the Central Coast, authorities said.  
The water tender had designations indicating that it was a California Office of Emergency Services apparatus. OES vehicles are often farmed out to local fire departments, such as Ventura County FD.

Unfortunately rollovers of fire vehicles, especially water tenders, happen far too often.  The sloshing water makes the truck very unstable to drive and make even the slightest turns.  It can probably accommodate a g force of 0.2 or less.

A Ventura County firefighter was killed in a rollover crash in Lompoc on Sept. 21, 2016. (Credit: KEYT)

Two firefighters assigned to the massive blaze were in a water-tender truck when it crashed around 6:20 a.m. on Highway 246 at Purisima Road in the Lompoc area, according to a Ventura County Fire Department news release.

The passenger became trapped in the vehicle after it rolled over multiple times and died, local authorities told Santa Barbara-area television station KEYT reported.

The driver survived, sustaining minor injuries.

The Fire Department identified the deceased firefighter as Fire Engineer Ryan Osler. He was stationed at Fire Station 42 in Moorpark, and had worked for the department for the past 18 years, according to the release.


Fire Engineer Ryan Osler is seen in a photo released by the Ventura County Fire Department.

Osler began his career as a member of the Ventura County Fire Handcrew. He was hired as a trainee firefighter in 2006, and was promoted to the rank of fire engineer six years later.

“Our collective hearts are broken at the loss of our friend and brother Ryan. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said in the release. “We are deeply moved by the outpouring of public support for Ryan and on behalf of all the men and women of the Ventura County Fire Department, we thank you for your continued prayers.”

Osler was from Santa Clarita and is survived by his wife and two children, according to a statement from Gov. Jerry Brown, who said the death saddened him.

"This tragedy reminds us of the dangers firefighters face every day," Brown said.

An investigation is underway to determine what caused the fatal solo-vehicle crash.

Osler was headed up to Vandenberg Air Force Base to help with fight the Canyon Fire. The blaze erupted on the base Saturday and had grown to 12,353 acres as of Wednesday morning.

More than 1,000 fire personnel have been deployed to battle the blaze, which is 50 percent contained, according to the federal InciWeb page for the incident. Full containment is expected Friday.

Following Osler's death, flags were ordered to half-staff, according to the Fire Department. Mourning bands would also be worn for an undetermined amount of time.

Funeral arrangements have not been set yet.



=========


Ventura County firefighter killed in fatal crash identified
Passenger killed after truck rolls over and crashes in Lompoc

Joe Buttitta, KEYT - KCOY - KKFX Anchor/Reporter, jbuttitta@keyt.com
POSTED: 07:25 AM PDT Sep 21, 2016 UPDATED: 06:08 PM PDT Sep 21, 2016


Ventura County Firefighter Killed in Hwy 246 Crash
LOMPOC, Calif. -

Authorities say a Ventura County firefighter has died after the truck he was in rolled over multiple times Wednesday morning.


Ventura County Fire Chief Mike Lindbery announced the tragic loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler in line of duty vehicle.

The accident happened at about 6:20 a.m. on state Route 246 at Purisima Road in Lompoc.

"We are trying to determine how the fire truck actually ran into the roundabout at Purisima," says Srgt. Dan Clotworthy, with the California Highway Patrol.

Officials on the scene of the accident say two firefighters were in the Ventura County water tender truck when it crashed. They were headed to help fight the Canyon Fire at Vandeberg.

"It's from what we understand it's loaded with about 2000 gallons of water and they use that for fire suppression and putting out spot fires," says Srgt. Clotworthy.

The passenger was pronounced dead on scene. The driver self-extricated from the wreck and was taken to Lompoc Valley Medical Center with minor to moderate injuries, according to Capt. Dave Zaniboni.

The California Highway Patrol says the deceased firefighter was trapped inside when the vehicle crashed.

Officials are calling the accident tragic.

"We are extremely saddened at the loss of a firefighter, one of our brothers in uniform in route to help others and it's the sadness of what we do as emergency responders," says Srgt. Clothwothy.

The CHP is investigating the cause of the crash.   These trucks are easy to rollover due to the sloshing water.  RIP.

Here are some photos of the OES-WT-12 truck prior to the rollover crash.

BASSTED!! Mint employee accused of smuggling $180K of gold up his rectum

Lawrence set off the metal detectors at work more than once, but security could never find anything on him. (KTRK)

Thursday, September 22, 2016 11:53AM
CANADA -- An employee at the Royal Canadian Mint is accused of smuggling $180K worth of gold in his rectum.

Lester Lawrence is accused of transporting several cookie-sized gold pieces called "pucks" out of the Mint and selling them to a gold buyer. His dealings allegedly netted him almost $180K over the course of a few months.

Although the prosecution couldn't definitively identify the pucks Lawrence sold, they did say they matched an exclusive mold the Mint uses.

Investigators say that he used Vaseline that they found in his work locker.

During testimony it was revealed Lawrence set off the metal detectors at work more than other employees, but they never seemed to find anything on him.

A security employee then tested the idea that the pucks could be concealed in an anal cavity and not be detected by the wand.

Lawrence is charged with five criminal offences, including possession of property obtained by crime and theft over $5,000. He was also fired from the Mint.

CTV reports that the court won't reach a decision in the case until November, but the defense claims the Mint isn't even sure any of their gold is missing.

An EPA report finds that air pollution at the nation’s ports can be reduced significantly at all port types and sizes through a variety of strategies and cleaner technologies.

EPA Releases National Assessment of Strategies to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports
09/22/2016
Contact Information:
Christie St. Clair (stclair.christie@epa.gov)
202-564-2880

Washington – An EPA report finds that air pollution at the nation’s ports can be reduced significantly at all port types and sizes through a variety of strategies and cleaner technologies. Implementing these approaches, the report finds, would reduce greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions from diesel-powered ships, trucks and other port equipment.

“The National Port Strategy Assessment: Reducing Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases at U.S. Ports” examines current and future emission trends from diesel engines in port areas, and explores the emissions reduction potential of strategies like replacing and repowering older, dirtier vehicles and engines and deploying zero emissions technologies.

“This report shows that there are many opportunities to reduce harmful pollution at ports that we know will work,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “This is great news for the roughly 39 million Americans who live and breathe near these centers of commerce.”

U.S. ports are set to expand significantly as international trade continues to grow, and the size of ships coming to ports increases. This growth means more diesel engines at ports emitting carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. These engines also emit fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants that contribute to serious health problems including heart and lung disease, respiratory illness, and premature mortality. Children, older Americans, outdoor workers and individuals with respiratory and heart conditions can be especially vulnerable. Many ports are located in areas with a high percentage of low-income and minority populations, who bear the burden of higher exposure to diesel emissions.

Accelerating retirement of older port vehicles and equipment and replacing them with the cleanest technology will reduce emissions and increase public health benefits. For example, the report found replacing older drayage trucks with newer, cleaner diesel trucks can reduce NOx emissions by up to 48 percent, and particulate matter emissions by up to 62 percent, in 2020 when compared to continuing business as usual. In 2030, adding plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to these fleets could yield even more NOx and PM2.5 relative reductions from drayage trucks.

The new assessment supports EPA’s Ports Initiative’s goals to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, to achieve environmental sustainability for ports, and improve air quality for all Americans working in and living near our nation’s ports. Through this initiative, EPA is engaging a wide range of stakeholders including ports and port operators, communities, tribes, state and local governments, industry, and other technical and policy stakeholders. EPA developed this national scale assessment based on a representative sample of seaports, and the results could also inform decisions at other seaports, Great Lakes and inland river ports, and other freight and passenger facilities with similar profiles.

EPA’s regulations are already reducing port-related diesel emissions from trucks, locomotives, cargo handling equipment and ships. For example, the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea Emissions Control Areas require lower sulfur fuel to be used for large ocean-going vessels. This requirement has reduced fuel-based particulate-matter emissions from these vessels by about 90 percent. In addition, some port areas are already applying the emission reduction strategies assessed in the report. The emissions reduction strategies assessed in the report would make a significant difference in reaching the nation’s air quality goals, and would help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

To view the report, visit www.epa.gov/ports-initiative/national-port-strategy-assessment. For more information on EPA’s Ports Initiative, visit www.epa.gov/ports-initiative.


Port-related diesel emissions impact public health and the climate.
Emissions from diesel engines, especially PM2.5, NOx, and air toxics such as benzene and formaldehyde, can contribute to significant health problems—including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart and lung disease, and increased respiratory symptoms—for children, the elderly, outdoor workers, and other sensitive populations.10 

EPA has determined that diesel engine exhaust emissions are a likely human carcinogen,11 and the World Health Organization has classified diesel emissions as carcinogenic to humans.12 

Many ports and portrelated corridors are also located in areas with a high percentage of low income and minority populations
who are often disproportionately impacted by higher levels of diesel emissions.13

Port-related diesel emissions, such as CO2 and black carbon, also contribute to climate change. Research literature increasingly documents the effects that climate change is having and will increasingly have on air and water quality, weather patterns, sea levels, human health, ecosystems, agricultural crop yield,
and critical infrastructure.14 

Other health impacts that are projected from climate change include heat
stroke and dehydration from more frequent and longer heat waves and illnesses from an increase in water and food-borne pathogens.15 

This assessment provides options to inform voluntary, place-based
actions that may be taken by federal, state, and local governments, Tribes, ports, communities, and other stakeholders to reduce these impacts and enhance public health and environmental protection. 


10 Third Report to Congress: Highlights from the Diesel Emission Reduction Program, EPA, EPA-420-R-16-004, February 2016, https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100OHMK.pdf; and EPA’s Health Assessment Document for Diesel Engine Exhaust, 2002.

11 Health Assessment Document for Diesel Engine Exhaust, prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment for EPA, 2002.

12 Diesel Engine Exhaust Carcinogenic, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization, June 12, 2012, http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol105/.

13 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Control of Emissions from New Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder, 75 FR 24802 (April 30, 2010).

14 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Indicators in the United States, 4th edition, 2016, https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators.

15 United States Global Change Research Program, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment, April 2016, http://www.globalchange.gov/health-assessment.

Bricklayer worker with CDF (Construction Dion & Fils) fell to his death from the seventh floor scaffolding of the building at Nuns' Island worksite in Montreal, Quebec

 
The worker fell from scaffolding that was positioned at the seventh floor of the building on Berlioz Street. (Simon-Marc Charron/Radio-Canada) 
 Worker dies after fall at Nuns' Island worksite
Mason fell working on a nine-storey building on Berlioz Street

CBC News Posted: Sep 21, 2016 4:30 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 21, 2016 5:16 PM ET

A construction worker is dead after falling from scaffolding at a worksite on Nuns' Island Wednesday morning, a company representative has confirmed.

The man was a bricklayer working for Construction Dion & Fils on a nine-storey building at 200 Berlioz Street.

The company was redoing the brick on the exterior of the building.

Serge Asselin, the building's superintendent, said the worker fell through a hole in the scaffolding's floor.

"His colleagues tried to pull him back up, but he was too heavy and he slipped," Asselin said.

Police and inspectors from Quebec's workplace health and safety board are investigating.