Thank you very much for your email note regarding the situation on the Gulf Coast and in particular in New Orleans and Lake Ponchatrain. I share your concerns that the impact on Lake Ponchatrain will be severe and that its recovery may take a considerable amount of time and effort. As you've probably seen on the news over the weekend, the EPA Regional Office (Region 6) and the Office of Water national program office have a number of people in New Orleans and the other coastal parishes who are there to assess the impacts. Preliminary information indicates that there may be substantial problems with coliform bacteria, petroleum and other chemical residues and lead. EPA is monitoring the water for over 100 priority pollutants.
Because the need to remove the hazard from the city and surrounding parishes to protect human health is so dire, EPA has allowed the contaminated water to be pumped back into the lake. There appear to be no other alternatives for removing this volume of water. I think the hope is that natural processes in the Lake will break down some of the chemical contaminants before they are released into the gulf, but I think everyone acknowledges that at least for the present time there will be serious problems and hazards in Lake Ponchatrain. The EPA Regional office is working very hard to assess those conditions and advise the public about the hazards http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/chem/090305/chem2005_09_03.html
I'm not sure what may be under discussion with regard to treating the water in Lake Ponchatrain before it is released to the gulf. I expect that it would be costly and logistically difficult. Lake Ponchatrain water is already discharging into the gulf and some of the contamination, no doubt is moving with it. It seems at the moment that the hope is that natural ecological processes and dilution of the pumped water, both in Lake Ponchatrain and out in the gulf will adequately mitigate the problem over time. I think that as the assessments continue we may have additional information to guide us toward any additional steps. The driver at the moment is restoring safe conditions as quickly as possible for the people of New Orleans and the surrounding area. One of the priority steps for that will be to restore sanitary and drinking water treatment as quickly as possible. I suspect that building new infrastructure to treat the lake water before it discharges into the gulf might severely challenge the resources available to get sanitary and drinking water treatment back on line.
I wish I had a better answer.
Jerry Filbin
--------------------------------------------------- Gerald J. Filbin, Ph.D., Director Innovative Pilots Division (1807T) Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation US Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania, Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460
202-566-2182 202-566-2211 FAX ----- Forwarded by Gerald Filbin/DC/USEPA/US on 09/12/2005 12:41 PM -----
COMMENTS_OF_REQUESTOR
Lake Ponchatrain Clean Up
My question is, How is Lake Ponchatrain going to get cleaned up after they finish pumping all of this toxic materials in it? Has anyone thought of who is going to clean it up?
I came across one company that looks like it would be ideal for this situation.
Shirley Bruce, Team Leader Outreach Team (6WQ-CO) William B. Hathaway, Director Water Quality Protection Division (6WQ) US EPA Region 6 1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75202-2733 214-665-8141 214-665-6490
COORDINATORS:
Debora Browning 214-665-8025 Dorothy Brown 214-665-8141
Please help me get the word out about BUGS to the right people. The more that know and hear what BUGS can do, the better chance Lake Ponchatrain can get cleaned up.
BUGS Subsidiary Prepares Cost Estimates for New Work in Mexico
September 16, 2005 09:15:01 (ET)
CARLSBAD, Calif., Sep 16, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sub-Surface Waste Management of Delaware, Inc. (SSWM, Trade) announced that senior engineers from its Mexico subsidiary company Environmental Tec International, S.A. de C.V. (ETI) and representatives from its strategic alliance and teaming partner, the Zaragoza Graduate School of Studies of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), have been asked by the Mexican state oil corporation, Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), to submit detailed cost estimate engineering proposals to address urgent environmental compliance and remediation needs at Pemex operating facilities. The ETI/UNAM engineering team recently completed site visits to gather data for submitting their report as soon as possible in order that work can be commenced.
Representatives of ETI will be joining Governor Mario Marin Torres in his scheduled meeting Monday, September 19 with Pemex's President Mr. Luis Ramirez Corzo to discuss proposed remediation activities and a financing plan to address recent and historic releases of petroleum products from pipelines and bulk terminal facilities in the State of Puebla.
As previously reported, ETI will be responsible for restoration activities on contaminated areas including farming lands, rivers and water reservoirs in Puebla working through Governor Mario Marin Torres and his Secretary for the Ministry of Environment.
About Sub-Surface Waste Management
Sub-Surface Waste Management Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of U.S. Microbics, Inc. (BUGS, Trade) and provides comprehensive civil and environmental engineering project management services including specialists to design, permit, build and operate environmental waste clean-up treatment systems using conventional, biological and filtration technologies. SSWM is capitalizing on its patented technologies registered in Mexico with SEMARNAT, a Federal regulatory agency overseeing environmental compliance nationwide.
The information contained in this press release includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements usually contain the words "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," or similar expressions that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the Company's status as a startup company with uncertain profitability, need for significant capital, uncertainty concerning market acceptance of its products, competition, limited service and manufacturing facilities, dependence on technological developments and protection of its intellectual property. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are discussed more fully in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation" and other sections of the Company's Form 10-KSB and other publicly available information regarding the Company on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company will provide you with copies of this information upon request.
SOURCE: Sub-Surface Waste Management of Delaware, Inc.
Sub-Surface Waste Management of Delaware, Inc. Alan Kau, 888-795-3166 http://www.bugsatwork.com/19.asp Copyright Business Wire 2005
-------------------- Pennies...Get in, Get out, Get a profit!
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Governor of the State of Puebla, Mexico Directs the National Autonomous University of Mexico to Fund SSWM Subsidiary Projects Thursday September 8, 9:45 am ET
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2005--Sub-Surface Waste Management of Delaware, Inc. (OTCBB:SSWM - News), announced that its Mexico subsidiary company Environmental Tec International, S.A. de C.V. (ETI) was named specifically in an official correspondence dated September 1, 2005 signed by Governor Mario Marin Torres of the State of Puebla, Mexico directing ETI strategic alliance and teaming partner the Zaragoza Graduate School of Studies of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to provide immediate funding for engineering assessment and remediation of hydrocarbon discharges due to antiquated pipelines and storage tank farms. The recent Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipeline spills in Puebla have accounted for the contamination of hundreds of acres of productive farming land, rivers and lakes. ADVERTISEMENT
Bruce Beattie, CEO of SSWM stated, "In the Governor's letter UNAM was also instructed to work with ETI to form an Emergency Response Center in Puebla coordinating with the State's Ministry of Environment to train specialized environmental Engineers and Technicians to respond to future spills of hydrocarbons in the State."
On Friday September 2, 2005 Governor Mario Marin Torres held a press conference covered by local and national media reprimanding Pemex, the state owned oil company, for the irresponsible management of their petroleum pipelines in Mexico, specifically in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche. The following day, September 3, 2005, Mexico's leading newspaper -- The Reforma -- quoted the Governor as he stated that the three most recent spills of crude oil and gasoline have contaminated water reservoirs, farm lands and rivers, in some cases impacting up to hundreds of acres.
Governor Mario Marin Torres has formed an alliance with the governors of Veracruz, Mr. Fidel Herrera, Tabasco, Mr. Manuel Andrade and Campeche, Mr. Jorge Carlos Hurtado Valdez, to ensure immediate restoration and remediation of the areas affected with Pemex's crude oil and gasoline releases, as these states have experienced hundreds of hydrocarbons spills during this year.
Governor Mario Marin Torres has requested an immediate meeting with the President of Pemex, Mr. Luis Ramirez Corzo to obtain Pemex's immediate acceptance of these remediation activities and their financial support for the same.
Environmental Tech International will be responsible for the majority of the restoration activities vis-a-vis these contaminated areas, i.e.: farming lands, rivers and water reservoirs in Puebla working through Governor Mario Marin Torres and his Secretary for the Ministry of Environment.
About Sub-Surface Waste Management
Sub-Surface Waste Management Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of U.S. Microbics, Inc. (OTCBB:BUGS - News) and provides comprehensive civil and environmental engineering project management services including specialists to design, permit, build and operate environmental waste clean-up treatment systems using conventional, biological and filtration technologies. SSWM is capitalizing on its patented technologies registered in Mexico with SEMARNAT a Federal regulatory agency overseeing environmental compliance nationwide.
The information contained in this press release includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements usually contain the words "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "expect" or similar expressions that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the company's status as a startup company with uncertain profitability, need for significant capital, uncertainty concerning market acceptance of its products, competition, limited service and manufacturing facilities, dependence on technological developments and protection of its intellectual property. The company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are discussed more fully in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation" and other sections of the company's Form 10-KSB and other publicly available information regarding the company on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company will provide you with copies of this information upon request.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: Sub-Surface Waste Management of Delaware, Inc. Alan Kau, 888-795-3166 http://www.bugsatwork.com/19.asp
It's nice to know that the Mexican Government has all ready ok'ed the funding for the work that BUGS will be doing in Mexico to clean it up. Now we just need to know how much BUGS will be getting in these contracts.
1 $10 million contract = about .20 in Price Per Share
"FEMA already is sending more than $100 million to reimburse the city for recovery expenses, and the city is close to signing a number of contracts for the work, Nagin said. The city’s only final contract as of Monday was for a waste-management company to clear debris."
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CEOCFO: Will you tell us about the magnitude of the environmental problem in Mexico? Mr. Brehm: “The magnitude of the problem is significant. PEMEX, the Mexican National Oil Company, which provides approximately 80% of the revenue for the entire country, wants to spend about $3 billion dollars over the next five years to clean up their mess. They have currently allocated about $1.1 billion to do that. Currently, there are very few vendors who tap into that funding. We have been given the opportunity, by meeting with the top officials in the PEMEX subsidiaries, to pick prime projects that are of deep concern. We expect significant project revenue over the next couple of years from both PEMEX work and State government work related to the environment. throughout Mexico. It is interesting to note that most of Mexican water is classified as contaminated in different degrees of contamination. There appears to be very few areas classified as “clean water” in the country, and that is why most of us in the U.S. that go down and drink the water, get sick. Therefore, BUGS is going to help solve that problem for the locals and for tourists.”
CEOCFO: Is there any direct competition? Mr. Brehm: “When you clean up contamination, there are three ways to do it; we call it the three B’s, you burn it bury it or bug it. Typically if you want to get rid of contamination in soil, you dig it up, put it in the incinerator and burn it. That is being phased out, although it is still popular in Asia, but causes massive air pollution. The second method is to dig it up, put it in someone else’s backyard; that it what is done with landfills. In Mexico and other countries, they are realizing that hydrocarbons are all hazardous materials and you cannot put them in landfills anymore and you cannot burn them. There is only one effective method to get rid of contamination and that is called Bugging it (also called bioremediation). The process is fairly simple to understand; you put Mother Nature’s natural bacteria in a recipe on the contaminate and what they do is literally eat it up and the excrete carbon dioxide and water. Over time, the contamination will be completely gone. Mother Nature can do that in approximately 50 to 100 years, and we typically do it in a period of less than a year. That is the way Mexico has decided to do the majority of their waste treatment. The technology has to be approved by Mexico. Currently, we are the only known bio remediation company that has an approved technology down there. There will be more. People have not figured out how to get approved and do business in Mexico. We have been able to go to the highest levels and work ourselves down the chain rather than up the chain. As a result, there are classical competitors that only offer the classical solutions, which is bury and burn. We probably won’t see much competition over the next few years as we have an opportunity to be first in the market and to make sure our solution is the one of choice. Any environmental clean-up process that is approved in Mexico is usually approved throughout Central and South America. Magazines and financial reporting news agencies in South America do interviews with us to see how our technology can be used in their country.”
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“Mexico in 2004 enacted the similar environmental laws that we enacted back in the 1970’s in the U.S., and created their own Environmental Protection Agency. They now want to enforce these environmental laws according to their agreements under NAFTA and The World Trade Organization treaties. However, they do not want to repeat all of the problems that have plagued the U.S. environmental market over the last thirty years, so they have taken a fresh look and decided to implement technologies that have been approved by their EPA and BUGS is one of the first five approved clean-up technologies and the only known biotechnology solution. We have been invited down to Mexico to put together an environmental plan for the entire country. We are in the process of doing that so they can accurately assess what their problem is, determine the magnitude and figure out a solution that will solve it which is cost effective and environmentally friendly. Our technology and our engineering services interact perfectly with that concept so I think we are going to have a bright future in Mexico.” - Robert Brehm
quote:Originally posted by Peaser01: CEOCFO: Will you tell us about the magnitude of the environmental problem in Mexico? Mr. Brehm: “The magnitude of the problem is significant. PEMEX, the Mexican National Oil Company, which provides approximately 80% of the revenue for the entire country, wants to spend about $3 billion dollars over the next five years to clean up their mess. They have currently allocated about $1.1 billion to do that. Currently, there are very few vendors who tap into that funding. We have been given the opportunity, by meeting with the top officials in the PEMEX subsidiaries, to pick prime projects that are of deep concern. We expect significant project revenue over the next couple of years from both PEMEX work and State government work related to the environment. throughout Mexico. It is interesting to note that most of Mexican water is classified as contaminated in different degrees of contamination. There appears to be very few areas classified as “clean water” in the country, and that is why most of us in the U.S. that go down and drink the water, get sick. Therefore, BUGS is going to help solve that problem for the locals and for tourists.”
CEOCFO: Is there any direct competition? Mr. Brehm: “When you clean up contamination, there are three ways to do it; we call it the three B’s, you burn it bury it or bug it. Typically if you want to get rid of contamination in soil, you dig it up, put it in the incinerator and burn it. That is being phased out, although it is still popular in Asia, but causes massive air pollution. The second method is to dig it up, put it in someone else’s backyard; that it what is done with landfills. In Mexico and other countries, they are realizing that hydrocarbons are all hazardous materials and you cannot put them in landfills anymore and you cannot burn them. There is only one effective method to get rid of contamination and that is called Bugging it (also called bioremediation). The process is fairly simple to understand; you put Mother Nature’s natural bacteria in a recipe on the contaminate and what they do is literally eat it up and the excrete carbon dioxide and water. Over time, the contamination will be completely gone. Mother Nature can do that in approximately 50 to 100 years, and we typically do it in a period of less than a year. That is the way Mexico has decided to do the majority of their waste treatment. The technology has to be approved by Mexico. Currently, we are the only known bio remediation company that has an approved technology down there. There will be more. People have not figured out how to get approved and do business in Mexico. We have been able to go to the highest levels and work ourselves down the chain rather than up the chain. As a result, there are classical competitors that only offer the classical solutions, which is bury and burn. We probably won’t see much competition over the next few years as we have an opportunity to be first in the market and to make sure our solution is the one of choice. Any environmental clean-up process that is approved in Mexico is usually approved throughout Central and South America. Magazines and financial reporting news agencies in South America do interviews with us to see how our technology can be used in their country.”
posted
By BusinessWire Last Update: 9/21/2005 9:45:01 AM Data provided by
CARLSBAD, Calif., Sep 21, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- U.S. Microbics, Inc. (BUGS) said today that it is discussing the possibility of reactivating its interest in the GaeaCare technology it helped pioneer in 2002 with Sub-Surface Waste Management, Inc. (SSWM), a ten percent shareholder of GaeaCare, and other technology partners for on-site facility vigilance and response for sudden and catastrophic toxic and hazardous material releases to both air and water resources. The company has been dormant for several years, but with the recent purchase by Winsted Holdings, Inc. there may be another opportunity to bring this vital technology to market for natural disasters such as the current wave of hurricanes slamming the U.S. borderline.
GaeaCare was originally planning to commence operations as a worldwide provider of 24/7 on-site facility vigilance and response for sudden and catastrophic toxic and hazardous material releases to both air and water resources. The protected facilities would be able to immediately alert emergency agencies to sudden airborne and/or surface toxic chemical releases and simultaneously begin to reduce potentially deadly effects of any gaseous cloud using naturally occurring microbial blends sprayed with water and fire retardants to precipitate toxics from the air and/or water using an enhanced proprietary formulation of nature's biological process to covert toxic materials into harmless CO2 and water. For more information on GaeaCare visit www.ags-gaeacare.com.
"Cutting edge environmental engineering applications with biotechnology solutions are the hallmark of the GaeaCare systems which can be applicable to petroleum & petrochemical refiners, bulk storage tank and pipeline operators, mining, manufacturing, power & munitions plants, government environmental agencies, military installations and Homeland Defense Security Agencies," said Bruce S. Beattie, President of SSWM. "SSWM can provide both the environmental engineering and biotechnology product solutions to enable GaeaCare to capture emissions either airborne or surface released and immediately apply proprietary, all natural, non-genetically engineered microbial blends that accelerate the process of turning harmful toxics into simple CO2 and water. SSWM environmental biotechnology solutions are directly applicable and eagerly being sought by the international market where cost-effective and reasonably rapid treatment solutions are in great demand in response to both World Trade Organization and ISO conventions for strict environmental compliance as a requirement for access to consumer markets."
Robert Brehm, BUGS CEO commented, "We welcome the new owners and their renewed interest in GaeaCare and fully support their efforts to bring this valuable disaster response technology to market with our technical support."
For further information about U.S. Microbics and its technology companies, contact Robert Brehm at 760-918-1860 x102 or email at bob@bugsatwork.com or visit the website at http://bugsatwork.com.
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CEOCFO: Are you working with partnerships in other countries as well? Mr. Brehm: “Yes, we have announced a partnership in Germany and they are currently looking to get bids on particular projects. We have also announced a partnership with C-TRADE USA, with a joint venture company called Worldwide Water Systems and that is to put pure water machines in various countries around the world. That project is moving along too, so the partnership concept has worked well for us because it gives the people in the country the ability to control their own destiny with superior U.S. technology and project management techniques, which most countries do not have. It is very exciting, both emotionally as we help others and financially as we see the company grow and prosper for our shareholders. It has taken us a long time to find which market our technology is readily accepted. It turns out it is our neighbor to the south.”
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BUGS and Winsted to Collaborate on GaeaCare Future; Companies Join Efforts to Bring Proactive Environmental Protection Technology to Nation Now
September 22, 2005 09:45:01 (ET)
CARLSBAD, Calif., Sep 22, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Robert Brehm, CEO of U.S. Microbics, Inc. (BUGS, Trade), said today that he is discussing key strategic business strategy with Mark Ellis, CEO of Winsted Holdings, Inc. (WHLI, Trade), a Business Development Company (BDC), which recently announced the purchase of 90% of GaeaCare Syndicate Partners, Inc. BUGS subsidiary, Sub-Surface Waste Management (SSWM, Trade) is a 10% shareholder of GaeaCare and a contributing technical syndicate partner.
Brehm commented on his discussion with Ellis, "We both believe there could be a significant business opportunity for GaeaCare as a proactive environmental products and services corporation that intends to become a leading environmental cleanup, emergency response and environmental remediation company by the use of new computer systems technology, sensor technology, communications technology, systems concepts and microbial environmental cleanup treatment to serve the Homeland Security and environmental industries. The SSWM engineering and project management expertise coupled with the management resources and governmental agency contacts of WHLI could enable GaeaCare to obtain grants or emergency funding to help mitigate some of the consequences of natural disasters like the hurricanes currently pounding the U.S. coast."
Brehm continued, "I will continue my dialogue with Mark Ellis to determine what course of action would be appropriate for GaeaCare given our common resources, government contacts and strategic abilities. We have spent a lot of time and money in the past creating the business plan and developing strategic partners, and I feel we have both a moral obligation, as environmental stewards, as well as a financial incentive to bring this proactive environmental solution to the nation now rather than later." For more information on GaeaCare, visit www.ags-gaeacare.com.
For further information about U.S. Microbics and its technology companies, contact Robert Brehm at 760-918-1860 x102 or email at bob@bugsatwork.com or visit the website at http://bugsatwork.com. For further information about Winsted Holdings call Investor Relations at 949-476-3711 or visit the company website at http://www.winstedholdings.com.
The information contained in this press release includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements usually contain the words "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "expect" or similar expressions that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the U.S. Microbics' status as a startup company with uncertain profitability, need for significant capital, uncertainty concerning market acceptance of its products, competition, limited service and manufacturing facilities, dependence on technological developments and protection of its intellectual property. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are discussed more fully in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation" and other sections of the Company's Form 10-KSB and other publicly available information regarding the Company on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company will provide you with copies of this information upon request.
SOURCE: U.S. Microbics, Inc.
U.S. Microbics, Inc. Robert Brehm, 760-918-1860, ext. 102 bob@bugsatwork.com http://bugsatwork.com Copyright Business Wire 2005
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U.S. Microbics, Inc. (BUGS) traded as much as 12.5% over open on Thursday.
U.S. Microbics, Inc. operates as a business development and holding company that facilitates and develops the deployment of environmental technologies. The company, through its subsidiaries, engages in two divisions, USM Solutions and USM Capital. USM Solutions division manufactures, develops, and markets proprietary microbial technologies that provide natural solutions to various environmental problems. The company's microbes or bugs can be used to break down various hydrocarbon substances, including oil, diesel fuel, methyl tertiary butyl ether, Tetrachloroethene, certain toxic waste, and certain water and soil contamination. USM Capital division (UC) provides various services, including management consulting services, administrative services, and investor relations services. UC also facilitates the exchange of technologies and customers with the subsidiaries and their client companies.
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Huge oil and chemical slicks all over Southern Louisiana caused by Hurricane Rita..
Their will be powerful political forces at work to clean this area up..People take they're farm land very seriously and you can bet they will clean it up..
Good agricultural land is at a premium and is a politically hot issue..
This is a made for order situation for BUGS....
The people in power are already speaking of a 30 year plan for clean up and restoration..
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