bed bugs 

Has anyone tried using CO2 on the bed bug problem? You would have to seal up the house or building and use a concentrated CO2 It kills insects in greenhouses. Plants like it but insects, mammals, fish etc that breath oxygen O2 do not.

environment 

See my website for a seminal idea on land use to solve at a profit the conjoined problems of sprawl, conservation, ecological use, and energy overconsumption. I think a public-private partnership developing a demonstration project will pave the way for a beautiful, prosperous and convenient future for all peoples.
the URL for that site will be provided upon request.

afforest 

In Thailand country our queen frequently talk about afforest to reserve water resource. Today global warming problem sometime cause dry weather sometime cause flood but in plentiful forest area the violence effect cause less than in lack of forest area. Because the roots of trees can absorb moisture in soil and originate river source, preserve natural environment for wild animals and we(human)can live. So we will say if human protect forest, forest will repay by protectng all human.

Thanks for opportinuty to share idea

untrained people working on A/C units without being certifed  

While looking for something on this website

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-change-an-air-conditioner-compressor
I saw this reticle that read you dont need to have a technician to replace your compressor or add the refridgerant etc. Being a certified service tech i think this site should not be sugguesting that anyone can do this work. Besides the fact your are breaking the law working with refridgerant you are also endangering yourself as refridgerant with burn you in seconds or kill you in an enclosed area if you dont know what your doing.Sites that give advise on DIY projects should think about what they are advocating.

PRIORITIZING CLEAN STORM DRAINS 

Hello.

Thank you for being an awesome organization and caring for our environment. I am a resident of Oakland, CA. And I have recently grown very concerned about the huge amounts of garbage stuffing up the storm drains. I believe a lot of the residents of Oakland are unaware that when they choose to throw their garbage on the streets instead of the garbage can, it often ends up in the storm drain and then goes on to pollute the bay and the ocean.

Unfortunately, Many of the storm drains get neglected by city workers and aren't regularly cleaned. As I have seen many go on for months without being cleaned. Or as in the case of the El Nino year back in 1997. Where the city was sued because it neglected to clean it's storm drains and caused major floods. This appears to be happening again in the city of Oakland where the city is neglecting the storm drains.

Let's get US cities active in contributing to clean waters and environment by getting the city workers to clean the storm drains regularly. It can be pretty scary when you peer into a storm drain and see all that is being relaease into our bays and oceans! Lets start out with something as simple as doing our share in our urban environments and getting the awareness out to dispose of litter in the proper receptacles and keeping our storm drains clean.

Regulatory Reform Utilizing Academic Online Network 

I suggest we utilize online networking tools to overhaul our approach to regulatory oversight. I believe this approach has the potential to solve the difficult problem of ensuring that government can effectively keep up with the innovations of private industry without becoming big and bureaucratic.

Recent catastrophic failures of regulation have highlighted the need for upfront cost-benefit analyses of cutting-edge corporate activity whenever there is a potential for both positive and significant negative impact on society. Such decisions require a considered, risk-based approach rooted in science and objective analysis. Government, with its limited resources, does not have a broad enough knowledge base to act as an effective regulator of all private sector activity, nor should it be expected to do so. In addition, corporate and private resources should be used in a more proactive and positive way to anticipate and ameliorate the potential impacts of commercial activities rather than in defending against litigation once harm has already occurred.

As a solution, I propose that we enlist the collective knowledge of our post-graduate academic institutions to evaluate certain industry activities, through an online network designed for the purpose. The process would be:

1) Students and professors at colleges and universities would be asked to review, discuss and debate proposals related to their fields of academic study and expertise in an online forum, as part of their routine curriculum and coursework. Anyone having an employment, consulting, or financial relationship (including investments and sponsorship of research) with any of the companies submitting proposals in his/her academic field would be ineligible to participate. Selective eligibility criteria for participating individuals and/or schools could be imposed in order to convey prestige and résumé credentials as an incentive for participants.

2) The academic reviewers would debate each proposal online, subject to some rules of order to encourage a civil debate. After the end of the debate period, the decision would be submitted to an up/down vote by the pool of evaluators.

3) If rejected, the company submitting the proposal would not be permitted to carry out the proposed activity.

4) If approved, the company would be granted limited immunity from lawsuit for any claims arising from carrying out the proposed activity in accordance with the approval it received, as long as the company was forthcoming in providing full and complete information for evaluators in its proposal submission.

One challenging aspect of this process would be determining what corporate activities would be required to undergo the academic review process. Logical first targets include the activities already requiring regulatory approvals from agencies such as the EPA, FDA and SEC because they have been identified as potentially risky to society as a whole. Examples include decisions regarding energy policy, use of toxins, dangerous consumer products, and complex banking and share-trading activities. It may be that the volume of regulation would exceed the capacity of this academic model, and so maybe only very novel, high risk or wide scale activities would be considered for this evaluation method initially.

Another tough question is how to choose the fields of academic study from which the experts should be drawn to evaluate a certain proposal. A broader pool of evaluators would be more likely to engage in robust debate and produce a more thoroughly vetted and politically palatable decision. For example, students in MBA programs and those in environmental studies programs would bring very different perspectives and add value to a debate on an environmental impact question.

Corporations would also need some safeguards protecting proprietary information. One possible approach would be to allow companies to disclose sensitive information only to the governmental agency involved, while positing an assumption to the academic evaluators. The government would confirm that the assumption fairly reflected the actual facts. In such circumstances, the evaluators might need the option of approving a proposal with conditions. In addition, all evaluators should have to make appropriate confidentiality commitments.

Even if the proposal above proves unworkable as described, I hope it is an idea which can be built on, improved, and implemented in some form.

CLEAN "GREEN" ENERGY 

offer incentives to businesses (manufacturing specifically) to invest in and generate clean energy by way of solar panels, windmills.

Reducing Carbon Dioxide 

Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emmisions in new vehicles may help to cut down the total emmisions of carbon dioxide, but what about the older cars? I think it would be a good idea to make some kind of filter that you can put on your older vehicle that would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emmited by the car. I am not a scientist, so I am not exactly sure of how it would work, but I think it is a good idea that could potentially help with global warming.

Create the "Depatment of H2O" (Homeland Oil Operations)  

Create the "Depatment of H2O" (Homeland Oil Operations) I have a proposal to present to you and our nation. I ask for guidance and your full support in creating a "Homeland Oil Operations" department legislation to protect and SAVE our nation.This will SAVE our environment and secure America and her people from future disasters like DeepWater Horizon. The EPA could partner with the DHS to start up this much needed department.

(H2O-short for H.O.O.) H2O will also have a deployable Recovery & Response Team (RRT). This H2O will serve as a "belly button" one stop center for operational compliance and emergency response in our surrounding waters involving oil operations. H2O would fall under existing federal agencies. The idea is to merge other scattered agencies under one umbrella to avoid realm of responsibility confusion. The owning agency could be that of the DHS and/or DNR departments. They would provide a percent of their budget and allocate existing resources to break ground on the new department. Currently the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) lacked in oversight leading up to this catastrophe. Homeland Oil Operations (H2O) Department will replace the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service oceanic responsibilities and will have primary jurisdiction. H2O will have defined objectives and a mission statement. H2O will consist of qualified technicians/engineers and response vehicles to combat emergency situations. H2O will maintain blue prints of oil rigs operating in our waters and flag/report ANY rig that may jeopardize our nation and its people. H2O and its RRT teams will be capable of being dispatched throughout the continental waters of America 24/7 and will provide on scene commanders to execute and direct Recovery & Response Teams (RRT). The RRT will be capable of being onsite in 24 hour notice of a leak or oil rig or emergency such as Deepwater Horizon. H2O will also provide oversight of federal guidelines compliance and safety compliance. It will report and correct potential violations of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and ensure regulatory obligations are met. Creation of this organization will help our oil dependant nation and environment become a safer place to live.

The question is when? When will the next inevitable disaster strike? The creation of the H2O department lets the United States lead the world from the front (not only for future Deepwater Horizons type disasters). I would love to see BP fund the birth of this department as well. By having a sole agency responsible for monitoring operational safety with trained/qualified emergency responders ready around the clock would be unprecedented! Currently our federal oversight has been poor at best and requires immediate attention in this field. The basic structure/framework of this department would include (not limited to) the following. The compiled data was gathered from the Deepwater Horizon website. http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/784431/

H2O Proposed Structure:

1. Equipped with and a stand by reserve fleet of response vehicles: To include...ships, barges, skimmers and aircraft and ground transportation. All participating agencies could be recalled through the H2O's Response and Recovery Team (RRT) in concert with the DHS (US Coast Guard). The RRT would deploy their teams and contract additional requirements. Just as the United States has a has a Civil Reserve Air Fleet, the RRT would have a listing of 3000-4000 on call vessels to respond in the event of a similar event as Deepwater Horizon. Vehicles/vessels committed should be U.S. registered and carriers must commit and maintain trained crews to man and operate each vehicle/vessel for its intended purpose. The civil maritime fleet could be activated in the time of national emergency or time of war. Military and civilian assets could be requested and operated jointly under command of the H2O.

2. Equipment: At the beginning stages would suggest 4 each 75 ton caps to be maintained in a deployable status to cap any destroyed well operating in an area that may threaten our interest. All required equipment would accompany the caps. We may also dispatch teams to respond to other countries disasters just as other countries assisted us with the Deepwater Horizon disaster. We would charge the owning rig or host government for any services provided. A set number of dedicated vehicles/vessels could be deployed in 24 hours with teams and tools to begin the initial response phase. Packages would included sucker barges and oil/water separators. A vessel capable of dispersing oil break up compounds will be available for deployment. Maintain 4 million feet of boom, a two million gallon reserve of dispersant will also be maintained on standby. This amount was sufficient to cover the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The RRT will provide and request any additional requirements.

3. Personnel: 45,000 stand-by personnel (to include military) would be identified on a recall roster ready to respond via a national recall system. The actual H2O department would only comprise of 500-1000 personnel. The rest would be available to become involved as required in accordance with the on scene commander's discretion. The H2O could also be activated by the Department of Interior or the President as needed. In the first 24 hours, the H2O RRT would recall and stand up all required agencies. H2O would dispatch an immediate tailor made package for the emergency requirements. Initial response teams will set up Command Post Centers (CPC) in the affected region. They will provide emergency response vehicles and support personnel to mitigate the situation. H2O will be there from the start to finish. They will report direct numbers and status of clean up operations to the US government. They will coordinate with all departments and monitor operations from cradle to grave. They can activate cleanup crews/vessels from any water source to the shore line clean up. H2O/RRT will train and qualify on life like underwater simulated pipeline breaks and oil rig disaster response. H2O will comprise of a team of inspectors responsible for ensuring EVERY oil rig operating in our waters is in compliance with back up/shut off procedures. H2O will carry out safety inspections to include safety drills on each rig to verify compliance. H2O will continue to develop and train on newest technology to combat oil spills and rig disasters. H2O will issue and revoke drilling permits in accordance with federal/international laws.

Current numbers for Deepwater Horizon as of 15 July 2010 - http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/784431/

RESPONSE VESSELS

Vessels of Opportunity: 2,754

Barges: more than 540

Skimmers: more than 580

Other Vessels: more than 3,000

Total active response vessels: more than 6,870

Aircraft: 119

BOOM DATA

Boom deployed: more than 3.27 million feet

Boom available: more than 855,000 feet

Total boom: more than 4.12 million feet

OIL RECOVERED

Oily water recovered: nearly 32.9 million gallons

Amount estimated burned: nearly 10.97 million gallons

Oil captured (CAP) over last 24hrs: more than 539,000 gallons

DISPERSANTS

Surface dispersant used: more than 1.07 million gallons

Subsea dispersant used: more than 762,000 gallons

Total dispersant used: more than 1.83 million gallons

PERSONNEL INVOLVED

Overall personnel responding: more than 44,000 personnel responding

Funding and operations:

Funding for this department will come from the oil companies operating in regional waters as well as DHS. Pay to play! A drilling permit and a yearly fee would be assessed on companies operating in our region. A quarterly safety permit and annual safety inspection also will be required. Companies willing to participate would not only have an incredible amount of support, but a huge weight lifted off their shoulder in the event of a major environmental disaster. They would also benefit in having a safety seal of approval from the US government easing the concern of our nation. Companies refusing will be pressured by the US government into compliance through banning operations and increased pressure to cease operations entirely. Violations could be seen and acted upon as a threat of our homeland security and dealt with accordingly. The idea is to create a role model department worthy of worldwide buy in. We must lead this culture of safety in this critical operation. I am sure every citizen in the United States would welcome this department.

Benefits:

Shutting down drilling operations in U.S. regions makes us more dependent on foreign oil. It also destroys hundreds of thousands of jobs in a down turned economy. With the proper oversight and regulation of drilling operations we can reduce the threat of another Deepwater Horizon incident. Regulation and having an emergency response plan is a Win/Win situation for both mother earth and her guests.

We can save the jobs of thousands! We will create jobs for thousands. This would be a great mission for the DHS to absorb into 24/7 operations. This department will be the first layer of defense is securing our waters from the next environmental or war time attack. This department concept could and should be a global organization. There is no single organization that has this mission as a main focus. If we can get this off the ground, we could become a much safer world producer of crude and get our economy back on the map! The department could also assist in maritime mishaps and partner with other oceanic organizations in the time of need. We will have a PLAN! The H2O department will use existing resources and personnel as well as hire in new positions. Department size would stay at a lean 500-1000 full time, with a recall listing of approx 45,000. This is not about creating big government. This is about creating NEEDED government.

To not think of a solution is becoming be part of the problem. This idea is from a VERY concerned citizen. Thank you for your time and thank you for caring about OUR America. I do look forward to your response.

Kevin Taggerty

Moving Industry to Wealthy Areas 

If Industry were only permitted in areas like Beverly Hills, and Georgetown, we would see a big movement of Environmental Soundness. Regulatory agencies would be given closer scrutiny, and the filthy habits of "stock-piling" waste by products and wholesale dumping would come to a halt.

What you cannot see, you can ignore.

measure to reduce and prevent oil spill at mexico bp 

In the recent past when i was seeing your oil spill prevention procedures and attempts to preserve the environment this idea struck me.
method 1: a pressure should be applied slightly more than the outflow of oil pressure from the well.
method 2: pressure applied by method of accumulators and membranes in a row with hydraulic and pneumatic sealing methods. as a principle inserting this membranes inside the well by robotic method and by pressurizing the membranes will expand. this expansion can be controlled from top to increase or reduce the pressure underneath or mid length of the well.
method 3: some compound which can be injected or blown and expand in a ratio of 100 to 200 times and solidifies instantly inside the well. i do not have any idea about the compounds which has these properties that will not cause fire during this process.

if u want i can send the detailed drawing about the accumulator and membranes which can be placed inside the well and pressurized. if u tell me what is the approximate pressure of the oil flow out of the well with that i can decide the methods of putting the membranes inside the well with your existing robotic operations.

Oil Spill Idea 

I know I am not supposed to submit ideas here for the BP Oil Spill disaster, but I wanted to remind everyone how difficult this task is. The federal government and EPA has been getting a lot of heat, but really, how much can anyone do for a FUBAR this big? Anyway a tip of the hat to those actually trying to help.

Gulf Oil Spill 

I have maybe a possible way to stop the leaking. If you go to the following link http://www.polytungstate.co.uk/heavyliquids.html, you will read about a material substance that can stop the leaking. If you could transport this material to the broken parts (holes)of the pipes. This material is heavier than water and the oil and the material will fill the entire pipe and will crystallize in the pipes due to the low temp of the water. The material has low toxicity. Naturally the pipe will be close and not available for use.
Please email me back if this idea has already been discussed.
Paul

about the oil spill : 

the general idea consists in sending a steel stopper(or crock)30-40 m (or more)long and 20-40 tons weight at 1600 m of depth, towards point which is the mouth of driling from 50-70 cm of diameter.bee released slowly from surface untill optimal distance for which one piloting at sightwill bee possible by the eclairage of the well(laser for exple),at this moment the system of propulsion(as a torpedo)will bee starts what amend the engine in straight line, in high speed straight ahead in the well,pushing it at most.it can bee guided by several systems(sonar filoguidance GPS ultrasounds..).After binding the stopper a mecanism of air "air bag" will be tragger forming"airtight joints"of silicone disposed like floors rings ,and powerful hooks inhibing repulsion.....detail is at mape Excuse my english thanks.

Stop the oil leak in the gulf 

In order to stop the leak you should use rods that have an industrial balloon. Keep it deflated until it is inserted deep enough into the well; keep an air hose attached to the balloon, such as a tire inflating method. Then, when the balloon is deep enough, inflate it, this will cause the balloon to act like a cork that will trap the oil from leaking out and allow more time for sealing off the well.

Oil Spill 

Insert a heavy duty rubber bladder into the pipe and pump air into it to completely inflat the bladder. If inserted deep enough into the pipe it should hold long enough to then fill with cement.

Contingecy Cap installation 

Every deep water oil drilling company should be obligated( as part of start up cost)to invest in and install , a contingency cap structure before drilling begins.
Four concrete casons or footings anchored deep into the seabed with heavy duty stainless steel threeded screws set into each pylon forming a perfect square around the base of the oil pipe that goes into the seabed. These screws would be set up with a heavy duty stainless steel frame with screw -om pluge mounted at the center of frame. The frame would be set up(upside down to one side) over 2 of the 4 screws with a built-in pivot allowing it to be turned over and above the remaining 2 screws.It would remain to one side of structure and ready to be utilized in case of a dissatrous leak.(hopefully never). In case of eruption and leak the frame can be pivoted over the remainung 2 screws (after the oil pipe is cut off at base) and lowered over the gushing pipe hole by screwing down evenly the fram at each threaded srew and finally in the middle with screw plug directly in the pipe hole.May sound primitive but the idea is based on machine shop presses and winewmakling presses. My sketches are easier to understand, but engineering would have to test the feasability of such an idea. This is a cintingency idea like many others that srequired to fine tune .one hopes never having to use such plans. However, Mandatory installation of such contingency mechanism would cost much less than any clean up costs..

Contingency oil cap 

Every deep water oil drilling should be obligated to install a contingency cap installation before drilling begins.
Four concrete casons or footing deep into the seabed with heavy duty threeded srews set into each pylon forming a square around the base of the oil pipe going into the seabedé. These srews would be set up with hd steel frame withe center srew plug. The fram would be set up over 2 of the 4 srews with a built-in pivot. and would remain to one side of structure and ready to be utilized in case of a dissatrous leak.. In case of eruption and leak the frame can be pivoted over the remainung 2 screws (after the oil pipe is cut off at base) and lowered over the pipe with tapping scew plug. sKETCHES ARE EASIER TO UMDERSTAND IF i CAN SOMEHOW SEND THEM.engineering required to fine tune .iF IT CAN BE DONE IT WOULD CERTAINLY COSAT MUCHLESS THAN THE COST OF CLEANUP.

Economic/Environmental Stimulus Idea 

Dear Ms. Secretary (and the rest of our national leaders),


I have a suggestion on both improving the local and national economy while at the same time, making a real difference in the efforts to improve the environment and our national energy consumption challenges.

I've been long frustrated with the measures being taken to improve our economy through the various stimulus efforts. While of course, this isn't the single answer, it seems to me that a more productive, and effective step that could be taken is to provide a 100% credit and/or refund to any individual or business that elects to purchase, install, and use a fully renewable energy source for their operations. As a minimum, this should cover wind turbines of any size and solar panel/tile systems of any kind.

Logistically, this would be an exceptionally effective program if mechanisms were set up to allow that credit right at the point of purchase. Most Americans, myself included, can not afford the initial outlay of funds for the equipment and maybe the installation, but if the refund were applied at the time and place of purchase, that hurdle would be removed.

Think of the immediate stimulus to the suppliers. Think of the incentive for many others to get into the renewable energy product and service business. Think of the innovation that would arise from such opportunity and competition. Think of the kick start this nation would receive in weaning ourselves off the oil-based or coal-based systems. Think of the stimulation to the efforts in green economies. Think of the positive impact this would have on developing countries like China who are rapidly becoming chief contributors to the global energy and environmental challenges.

Instead of spending vast sums on money on areas that masquerade as economy stimulators that only line the pockets of a few (my favorite example is all the highway repaving of perfectly fine pavement, including the gall of posting large and expensive signs telling me how our stimulus funds are being use to pay for that waste), literally millions of Americans would directly benefit in their monthly energy bills and the entire economy and environment would immediately benefit as well.

I have not spent the time to do a fiscal evaluation of the expense of such a plan when compared to nonsense like highway repaving but my gut instinct tells me it's a wash (and has much larger payoffs for the long term).


Thank you for offering this vehicle for communication.

Respectfully,

Steve Jacobson
Millbury MA

cap the well 

How about trying to use a cryogenic liquid to freeze the well long enough to place the proper repair equipment in place?

Free Oil! 

I want to know where the oil that is being recovered is going. I BP getting it back? How about we offer the other oil companies ALL the oil they can scoop? All the oil companies have clean up capabilities. What great PR it would be for Exxon or Shell to show up and recover oil? I think once it is out of the well it is fair game to anyone who wants it. If they all worked together.....

Oil Bladder 

why can't they secure a large 'bladder', rubber product around the opening that will contain the oil for enough time to start pumping from the other end of the bladder. Won't be rigid and break.

Former First Responder Region 9 & 10 ERCS Contract Level A 

As A former First Responder for region 9 and 10 under the ERCS Contract I was on call 365 days a year My Back Ground is IDLH and Level A PPE.
During the Exxon Valdez spill the Coast guard Experimented with a Biologically
Engineered Bug that Ate oil and wasn't harmful to the Environment, However the water temps were to cold and the organism didn't preform as Expected.
This Same BioRemediation method has been successfully used in the Gulf and in the wet lands there with no harmful effects.
Actually benefiting the environment because when the oil "food" is gone the organism dies drops its carbon and then this carbon is used in the food chain for all plants and other organisms.
NOW WHO MAKES CORTEX>>>>>>who ....Profits
The use of cortex is warranted when you want to keep the public unaware of the gravity of this spill...
BTW MY LAST JOB FOR YOU FOLKS WAS THE LA RIOTS DOWN TOWN LA CHROMIC ACID CONTAMINATION WHERE THE COUNTY JAIL NOW SITS
the Coast Guard Guys from the Exxon Spill were our EMT's this was a level B job and everything Was video taped because this field of work was new and we were Ground Breakers....USE YOU HEAD>>>>>>> BIOREMEDIATION use the BUG

Bubble wall to reduce the initial oil spread 

In the Gulf oil spill, by the time the leaking oil reaches the ocean surface from the 2 km depth it spreads over a large area, which makes it difficult to control. The suggestion is to pump a large amount of air and disperse it as bubbles at the place of the oil leak, using the dispersing nozzles that form a ring around the leak, few feet in diameter, so that the raising bubbles form an air “wall” (“air tube”) around the raising oil. Since the bubbles will raise much faster than the oil, the expectation is that the area where the bubble’s flow will exit to the ocean surface will be relatively small. If the oil will stay within the bubble tube, which should occur if the intensity of the bubble is sufficient, it will be easier to collect or burn it.
The oil that will try to penetrate through the bubble wall might saturate with them, and the result might be as an “external version” of an IGF (e.g., http://www.gatellc.com/cms-filesystem-action/gat2004-gkp-2010.003-induced_gas_flotation-a_unit_operations_perspective-mar-08-2010.pdf).
A small scale experiment in an aquarium can be conducted within a day to get a first estimate of the feasibility of the idea.
Michael, Canada

Oil spill cleanup 

Oil appears to bond very good to feathers and water does not. Can't we gather a bunch of chicken, emu, and other bird feathers that are normally discarded and create absorbent devices with them. It is enviromentally safe and very effective.