Brown Creates Nation’s First Enforceable Lead Standards for Artificial Turf Grass Yarns
OAKLAND-Fighting to ensure the safety of children’s playgrounds and ball fields, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed off on an agreement requiring Georgia-based AstroTurf, LLC, [Crystal Products Co., Inc. d/b/a SYNLawn, UGTH Equipment, LLC, General Sports Venue, LLC, and Synthetic Turf Resources, LLC (“Settling Defendants”), among the Defendants named in the complaint,] to virtually eliminate lead from its artificial grass, creating the country’s first enforceable lead standards for artificial turf products.
“As schools and daycare centers replace grass with artificial turf, extreme care must be taken to minimize lead exposure,” Brown said. “This agreement is the first of its kind and will help make playgrounds and ball fields safe for our children.”
In 2008, Brown filed suit against AstroTurf, Crystal Products, and SynLawn for excessive lead levels after testing by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) found high levels in artificial turf products. Brown’s office independently tested AstroTurf and other artificial turf products and confirmed CEH’s findings. AstroTurf immediately took steps to begin reformulating its products.
Today’s consent judgment requires AstroTurf to reformulate its products so that they contain less than 100 parts per million (ppm), and to further reduce lead levels to 50 ppm by June 2010. Lab results found that some AstroTurf products contained more than 5,000 ppm lead. Lead was added to keep the colors vibrant over time. AstroTurf will be prohibited from selling any existing stock that doesn’t meet these standards.
AstroTurf will also provide a grant of $60,000 to the Public Health Trust to fund “wipe testing” of dislodgeable lead on artificial turf fields at daycare centers, schools and public playing fields in California. If the level of dislodgeable lead exceeds the specified replacement level, AstroTurf will provide replacement turf to the daycare center, school or public field at no cost.
AstroTurf will also provide a mailed warning to all customers who purchased its products in California in the past five years. The warning will (1) inform customers that the turf products contain lead; (2) explain “good maintenance practices” that can effectively reduce exposures to lead; and (3) advise the customers of the availability of the program to test and replace old turf products. AstroTurf will also establish a website to provide information to the public on lead content in its products.
The Los Angeles City Attorney and Solano County District Attorney joined Brown in the case against AstroTurf. In addition to its obligation to replace products that exceed acceptable lead levels, the company will pay $170,000 in civil penalties, grants and attorney fees.
“Today’s agreement with AstroTurf sets a strong standard for other companies who have not yet agreed to eliminate lead risks to children from turf,” said CEH Executive Director Michael Green. “Lead is a stunningly toxic chemical that has no place in playing fields for children. We applaud the Attorney General, the LA City Attorney, the Solano County DA and AstroTurf for this accord to protect California’s children.”
For More Information Please Contact Calif AG’s office at:
(916) 324-5500Download a copy of the PROP 65 Consent Judgment HERE
Artificial Turf Grass Displays Water Savings in SoCal Garden
With California in the third year of a drought, the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency in Beaumont is trying to demonstrate that it is possible to have a lovely garden without using a lot of water.
The agency, headquartered on Beaumont Avenue, is replacing its front lawn with landscaping that is much more water efficient.The 5,000-square-foot space will consist of rocks, a little bit of artificial turf, plants and decomposed granite. Work could be completed by the end of this week.
The agency, a wholesale water retailer, is spending $31,000 on the project. Tom Lara Landscaping in Cherry Valley is doing the work.
Board member Ted Haring said the agency is trying to show people they can have “nice-looking landscaping without a lot of grass.”
Grass lawns require a significant amount of water. In the Pass area, nearly two-thirds of the water used by individual homes is for landscaping and other outdoor uses, according to the agency, which encourages water conservation.
The agency is replacing its sprinklers with a “smart” irrigation system that will water the plants only when needed.
“It literally measures the moisture in the ground,” said Haring, a water conservation consultant.
The agency is having Lara plant greenery that mostly is native to the area, which means the plants won’t require a lot of water to thrive. The plant list includes rosemary, chaparral sage, autumn sage and blue fescue.
It will be a colorful landscape when in bloom.
Decomposed granite is a paving material used in walkways and driveways. Haring said it has an attractive yellow-beige tint.
Once completed, the landscape will resemble a dry river bed, said agency General Manager Jeff Davis.
Reach Erin Waldner at 951-763-3473 or ewaldner@PE.com
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, May 11, 2009
Calif: Water Districts Face Stiff Fines If Allocations Exceeded
Metropolitan Water District officials say districts that exceed their allocations will face stiff fines.
Goal of new water garden display in Eastern Water District is to persuade customers to use native vegetation and other water saving options – yet new
lottery-style rebate allotments are hampering customers efforts to receive relief from adoption of water-savings products.
REGION: Eastern Municipal Water District to open demonstration gardens
(Photo by Don Boomer - Californian staff writer)
Roxanne Rountree with Eastern Municipal Water District points out the native California plants, rocks, wood chips and artificial turf that makes up the district’s demonstration garden that will be open to the public Saturday. (Photo by Don Boomer – staff writer)
Goal is to persuade customers to use native vegetation and water saving options for landscape to increase water savings and meet the goal of 20% reduction by 2020 called for by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and supported by the Calif Dept of Water Resources and Metropolitan Water District.
By JEFF ROWE -
Thursday, May 7, 2009 8:49 PM PDT
Roxanne Rountree with Eastern Municipal Water District points out the native California plants, rocks, wood chips and artificial turf that makes up the district’s demonstration garden that will be open to the public Saturday. (Photo by Don Boomer – staff writer)
These agave plants are among the native California plants displayed in the demonstration garden. (Photo by Don Boomer – staff writer)
PERRIS —- In recent months, as the threat of water cutbacks has become a reality, people have been told over and over to consider replacing ever-thirsty grass lawns with water-sipping native vegetation.
So what to plant?
On Saturday, the Eastern Municipal Water District will offer plenty of suggestions when it opens its Water Wise Demonstration Garden with exhibits, vendor booths, experts and cartoon characters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In all, Eastern replanted 57 acres at its big complex in Perris, using California-friendly ground cover such as Indian hawthorn and bush lantana; shrubs such as society garlic and agave; and trees such as lemon-scented gum.
Some crushed rock and three grades of synthetic turf also has been added, some replacing nine acres of real grass.
That live grass and the other non-native bushes and trees drank way too much water for the new water-wise era.
The district was using 10.6 million gallons of water annually on the lawns and gardens, but with the native vegetation plantings, that water usage has been reduced to an annual rate of 1.3 million gallons.
All of that water is recycled, some of it from Eastern’s storage pond on the north side of the district’s complex.
“We hope this garden can serve as a model,” said Roxanne Rountree, who is coordinating Saturday’s demonstration program.
Exhibits will include water- and energy-efficiency devices and native plants.
Vendors and experts on composting, landscaping, irrigation and green energy will set up and staff booths at the event.
As are other water districts, Eastern is under pressure to reduce deliveries of water from the Metropolitan Water District, Southern Californian’s primary water supplier.
Environmental restrictions are reducing by 10 percent the amount of water from Northern California that is available for pumping to Southern California.
Metropolitan officials say districts that exceed their allocations will face stiff fines.
For example, if Eastern goes over its water delivery allocation by 500 acre-feet, that water will cost $1 million, four times the normal cost, although “normal” is rising.
Eastern said its cost will go up by 20 percent on Sept. 1 and 21 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.
How those increases will be passed on to customers hasn’t yet been determined.
Eastern buys about 80 percent of its water from Metropolitan; the rest it acquires from area wells.
Eastern and other districts hope to persuade consumers to cut usage through a combination of conservation and price incentives based on new tiered rates, and by example and persuasion through its demonstration garden.
“Almost 80 percent of our customers are staying within tier 1 and 2,” said Peter Odencrans, an Eastern spokesman.
The utility wants to teach the next generation that reducing water use is a necessity and that conservation is the new normal.
Eastern provides water for parts of Murrieta and Menifee and Perris, Hemet, Moreno Valley and San Jacinto.
On Saturday, special guests Dewie the Dragon and Princess Zoie will show children how they can reduce water usage and how water is recycled.
Captain Lo-Watt will demonstrate how fluorescent light bulbs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
The demonstration garden is at 2270 Trumble Road in Perris, just east of Interstate 215 and north of Highway 74.
For information, call (951) 928-3777, Ext. 4226.
Contact staff writer Jeff Rowe at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or jrowe@californian.com.
Eastern Municipal Water District
The water district will open its Water Wise Demonstration Garden
– What: Exhibits, vendors, experts and, for children, Dewie the Dragon, Princess Zoie and Captain Lo-Watt
– When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
– Where: 2270 Trumble Road, Perris 92570
– Information: www.emwd.org; (951) 928-3777, Ext. 4226.
Related stories:
REGION: Eastern Municipal Water District to go with tiered bills in March
REGION: Green lawns likely to become memories
Contact staff writer Jeff Rowe at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or jrowe@californian.com.
California Bill Supports Artificial Grass and Synthetic Turf
Efforts to promote water savings to encourage Californians to help achieve California Dept of Water Resources and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 20 x 2020 plan are finding ways to provide fantastic incentives for this drought-riddled state’s citizens.
California Assembly Bill 474 – sponsored by Metropolitan Water District and proposed by freshman Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield is just one of many.
Basic language of great interest to synthetic turf and artificial grass industry:
5) States that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
authorization created by this bill should be used to finance
the installation of water efficiency improvements that are
permanently fixed to residential, commercial, industrial,
agricultural, or other real property, including,
but not limited to, recycled water connections, synthetic turf,
cisterns for stormwater recovery, and water-porous concrete.
Update on Calif AB.474
CURRENT BILL STATUS
The Assembly Bill 474′s language – proposed by Assemblymember
Blumenfield has been amended in minor ways to reflect that the bill would
not be requiring that construction is limited to “new” building projects.MEASURE : A.B. No. 474
AUTHOR(S) : Blumenfield.
TOPIC : Contractual assessments: water efficiency improvements.
HOUSE LOCATION : ASM
+LAST AMENDED DATE : 04/27/2009
Assembly Local Government – 04/22/09
Motion: Do pass as amended.
Ayes: 5, Noes: 0, Abstentions: 2
TYPE OF BILL :
Active
Urgency
Non-Appropriations
2/3 Vote Required
Non-State-Mandated Local Program
Non-Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy
LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 04/28/2009
LAST HIST. ACTION : Read second time. To third reading.
FILE : ASM THIRD READING
FILE DATE : 05/07/2009
ITEM : 61
COMM. LOCATION : ASM LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMM. ACTION DATE : 04/22/2009
COMM. ACTION : Do pass as amended.
COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 05 Noes: 00 PASS
TITLE : An act to amend Sections 5898.12, 5898.14, 5898.20,
5898.21, 5898.22, 5898.24, 5898.28, and 5898.30 of the
Streets and Highways Code, relating to contractual
assessments, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take
effect immediately.
————————————————————————————–
Metropolitan Water District – cosponsored AB.474
“If you have any questions or wish additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thank you for your consideration.”
Kathleen Cole
MWD Sacramento Office
Rosario Kapeller
California Municipal Utilities Association
===========================================================
Sample Letter to Send In as an Example of Your Support:
( You are welcome to make changes to the following or create your own letter! )
Please copy and paste onto your own letter head and send to the following*
in show of support of this very important piece of legislation!
============================================================
RE: AB 474 (Blumenfield): – SUPPORT
Contractual Assessments: Water conservation and Efficiency Improvements
Dear Assembly Member Blumenfield:
The ________________ supports your AB 474, which would reduce water use throughout California by allowing for a voluntary financing program between public entities and property owners. AB 474 is dramatic new tool for water policy in California by how it encourages and facilitates the installation of fixed and permanent water efficiency improvements on private property.
The timing of AB 474 could not be better. Extremely limited water supply availability is forcing California and its residents to re-examine water use options that can result in greater efficiency. By establishing conservation practices today through sound water efficiency, we not only maximize currently available water, but will also ensure that future supplies will be available to meet demands.
AB 474 will provide an optional authority to public entities to finance water use efficiency. AB 474 will allow the opportunity for public entities to provide initial funding for the installation of water use efficiency projects on the property of willing property owners . AB 474 allows for the use of advanced, large-scale technologies and products that are effective, but would otherwise be unobtainable for many homeowners and businesses due to the sizeable upfront financial cost. Under AB 474, willing property owners will be required to repay the public entity over an extended period of time, while the property owner and local jurisdiction experience marked water savings.
This financing tool is not new. AB 474 is an extension of existing law, as established by AB 811 (Levine, 2008). However, as AB 811 was drafted, the financing mechanism was only limited to solar improvements. Reducing water use is as important to California as reducing energy consumption.
Water districts throughout California are expected to raise rates because of the higher costs of obtaining supplies and because of newer, more expensive forms of treatment. Property owners could benefit from new choices that would allow them to lower their water bills by lowering their water use over the long term. Your AB 474 is both timely and responsive to the need to encourage conservation.
If you should have any questions or concerns regarding our position on AB 474, please feel free to contact me at your convenience at ____Phone and Email is best_________.
Sincerely,
Your signature and name, title
====================================================================
* PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE ATTENTION OF:
Kathleen Cole, Legislative Representative
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
1121 “L” Street, Suite 900
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/650-2642 (Office)
916/650-2615 (Fax)
The Honorable Robert Blumenfield
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 6011
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/319-2040 (Office)
916/319-2140 (Fax)
California: Water Land Use Model – Changes to Title 23
Notice of Modifications to the Proposed Regulation (Model Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance) to California Code of Regulations, Title
23 Section 490-495
NOTICE OF MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROPOSED REGULATION (MODEL WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE) TO CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 23 SECTION 490-495
NOVEMBER 26, 2008 MODIFIED TEXT OF PROPOSED REGULATION
Updated Draft White Paper:Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor
STATEMENT OF 15-DAY NOTICE Doc
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
OFFICE OF WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND TRANSFERS
ATTN: SIMON ECHING
POST OFFICE BOX 942836
SACRAMENTO CA 94236-0001
If you need additional information, please send an e-mail to
mweo@water.ca.gov.
