Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 results

• What state or federal agencies are responsible for evaluating records from the PADOH cancer registry? Are all types of cancers considered in this evaluation [including rare and/or environmentally associated cancers]?

  A few important items to note regarding the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry:  PADOH’s Pennsylvania Cancer Registry is a statewide data system responsible for collecting information on all new cases of cancer diagnosed or treated in Pennsylvania. It is part of the National Program of Cancer Registries administered by the Centers for…

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• Where can I find older NEI data (prior to 2008)?

  The raw data and summaries that are still available (dating back to 1990) can be obtained from the web page https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-inventories/pollutant-emissions-summary-files-earlier-neis . Starting with 2001 data, a more limited selection of summary files are available.

  • Last published: March 18, 2024

• Purpose of Oil Pollution Prevention regulation

  What is the purpose of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation? When oil spills into navigable waters or onto adjoining shorelines, it can have harmful impacts on the environment, human health, and economic activity. EPA issued the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation to prevent oil spills and to assure that oil facility…

  • Last published: June 5, 2024

• Is there a Pennsylvania registry that tracks non-cancer diseases or immunological disorders?

  PADOH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services do not have a registry for multiple sclerosis (MS), MS-related diseases or immunologic disorders. Despite extensive research on the mechanisms of MS development and progress, the exact mechanism is not known and there are no definitive studies to show causation…

  • Last published: March 1, 2024

• Are biogenic emissions included in the emissions trends Tier 1 data?

  No, the biogenic emissions are not included in the emissions trends Tier 1 data. If needed, users can add the biogenic data either as a separate Tier, or specify its inclusion in the “Miscellaneous” Tier 1 group.

  • Last published: August 15, 2024

• How do we know our drinking water has not been affected over the past 40+ years when the landfill was operating and after it closed since there were no regulations governing its operation or closure?

  The Norwood community is serviced by a public drinking water source. The public water supply must meet federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act Standards. Public water systems are required to share annual reports that describe what, if anything, is found in the water supply.

  • Last published: March 8, 2024

• What sources make up the Sectors or Tiers used in the emissions data summaries?

  Tier 1 and Sector categories are assigned by source classification codes (SCCs) that are the most specific processes available in the NEI. The latest SCC list with the Tier 1 and Sector assignments can be downloaded from the EPA SCC website in Comma Separate Values (CSV) format.

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• Where can I obtain the hourly data from Continuous Emissions Monitors (CEMs)?

  The CEM emissions data are available from the EPA Clean Air Markets Program Data website.

  • Last published: August 15, 2024

• Why is it difficult to establish a link between cancers or other illnesses and environmental exposures?

  The complex nature of cancer makes it inherently challenging to identify, interpret, and address cancer clusters. Cancer is a term describing different diseases that share a similar characteristic: uncontrollable cell growth and division. As a group, cancers are very common. Cancers are the second leading cause of death in the…

  • Last published: November 26, 2024

• SPCC Training Materials for Production Sector
  

  Does EPA offer any Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) training materials specifically for the production sector? Yes. EPA has developed a “train-the-trainer” presentation for the production sector. The presentation provides information for organizations to hold trainings on the SPCC rule. The presentation is available in the SPCC Rule: Train-the-Trainer…

  • Last published: January 31, 2025

• How do we know that we have not been exposed to contamination from the Landfill for the past 40+ years?

  EPA works closely with its partner, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in evaluating potential health exposures from waste sources. ATSDR has the ability to look at the cancer registry data to evaluate potential past exposures, while EPA’s role is to evaluate current and future exposure. ATSDR…

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• Can Norwood residents be exposed to contamination if we grow and eat our own vegetables from gardens in our yards?

  To date, contamination has not been found on residential properties that would pose a risk. In addition, the concentrations of the contaminants found at the Norwood Site are often found in urban communities. Studies show that exposure to contaminants via vegetable gardens is negligible. With the exception of some root…

  • Last published: March 8, 2024

• How can I get more detailed information? What measurements/sensors are used to measure emissions?

  Access the latest NEI data set . Under 'Sector Summaries - Criteria and Hazardous Air Pollutants by 60 EIS emission sectors', > choose National > for Pollutant, choose PM10 Primary and/ or PM2.5-PRI > Sector, choose all sectors >Submit Query to see results at bottom of page. Open the results…

  • Last published: March 18, 2024

• Where can I get maps and/or emissions of facility emissions data?

  The EPA provides emissions maps in two ways. First, each of the last three NEI years have a “Facility Mapping” tab available on the main NEI page for that inventory year (for example, see the 2020 NEI page). With this tool, maps can be created for one state at a…

  • Last published: January 7, 2025