Publication Date 11/24/2010 Source: Miami Herald (FL) Drywall manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin agreed this week to pay to repair dozens of houses in Homestead that were part of a class-action suit over Chinese drywall — and cover their attorneys’ fees and other expenses. And the homeowners won’t have to pay back the manufacturer if less than […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental By Bob Hallenbeck, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Environmental Group Since the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1988, almost 200 military bases have been shuttered, mothballed, closed. Fortunately, while the military activities has long ceased, many closed military bases have not sat idle. Closed Bergstrom Air Force Base, near Austin, […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental By MaryAnn Susavidge, Executive Managing Underwriter, Environmental As Deepwater Horizon was added to the list of names — Exxon Valdez, Bhopal, Love Canal — synonymous with environmental disasters, businesses received a stark reminder that their activities have the potential to incur environmental liabilities. While they may have made a mental note of […]

Publication Date 11/20/2010 Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it will remove and replace lead-contaminated soil around 11 schools and 16 child care and Head Start centers in St. Francois County. The soil removal is expected to protect more than 5,300 children in Park Hills, Bonne Terre and Desloge […]

Publication Date 11/22/2010 Source: BestWire Services Energy and environmental insurers are eagerly eyeing an emerging energy boom: the development of the Marcellus shale natural gas area. “It’s a major, major find that I think will impact the energy market not only locally, but globally,” said Chris Moscardelli, director of Societe Generale’s energy project finance group. […]

Publication Date 11/21/2010 Source: Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA) A former Monticello circuit boards manufacturer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Thursday for storing toxic waste and dumping the waste into Kitty Creek. Gene Riddle, 74, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of violation of the Clean Water Act, and also pleaded guilty on behalf of […]

Publication Date 11/12/2010 Source: Daily Gazette (Sterling, IL) Nov. 12–DIXON — The substance found in the Lancaster gym at Dixon High School is asbestos, officials confirmed Thursday. The 51-year-old gym, closed since the discovery Monday, will remain off-limits until the problem is solved — however that may be. Air-monitoring devices will be installed. Other than […]

Source: http://envfpn.advisen.com/#top   Publication Date 11/11/2010 Source: Business Wire NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Chartis today announced the expansion of industries addressed by NextGen Protection, a suite of environmental insurance solutions developed by its Environmental division. The additional industry segments within the NextGen Protection suite are: PLL MuniProtect SM for Municipalities PLL MuniProtect has been developed to address the environmental exposures […]

Publication Date 11/06/2010 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Nov. 06–Day after day, thousands of commuters are breathing high levels of toxic diesel pollution trapped in Chicago’s two major rail stations and even inside the trains they ride, a Tribune investigation has found. Testing by the newspaper found the amount of diesel soot lingering in the air steadily […]

Publication Date 11/06/2010 Source: Kansas City Star (MO) Nov. 05–State officials will host a meeting Tuesday to discuss the results of sampling of tannery sludge on farms in northwest Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency began an investigation last year after Cameron residents raised concerns about a high number […]

Publication Date: 11/06/2010 Source: Record-Eagle, The (Traverse City, MI) Nov. 06–GREILICKVILLE — Additional contamination discovered at a former dry-cleaning and laundry business forced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to expand cleanup efforts there. The EPA planned to remove about 380 cubic yards of contaminated soil at the former Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co. site on […]

Source: http://fpn.advisen.com/#top Aug. 23–An engineering firm that consulted on the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed three years ago has agreed to pay $52.4 million to victims. San Francisco-based URS Corp. had been sued by more than 100 people. They accused the company of missing warning signs on the bridge before its rush-hour collapse […]