Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Do you use refrigerants in your day-to-day facility operations? If so, you may be a target of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) focus on reducing the risks associated with climate change. One initiative aims to reduce the emissions of what the Agency considers harmful refrigerants. How can you reduce your compliance exposure when it […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its strategy to “ease the burden of managing hazardous wastes in a retail setting.” But, how helpful will these actions be for retailers faced with numerous and varied hazardous wastes and the convoluted regulations surrounding the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)? Yesterday we examined EPA’s plans […]
In a case that set several precedents, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit denied an appeal from environmental groups seeking to have the court review a final decision by the EPA to grant a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit for a new biomass-burning power plant planned by Sierra […]
In anticipation of international adoption of an amendment to the Montreal Protocol and also in fulfillment of parts of President Obama’s June 2013 Climate Action Plan (CAP), the EPA has issued two final rules that will reduce releases of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) to the atmosphere.
Responding to recommendations from owners and operators (O/Os) of electric power plants subject to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), the EPA is proposing final regulations to require the submission of compliance data through a single electric reporting system rather than through two systems as established by the original MATS (February 16, 2012, FR). […]
Q. Does the requirement for additional capacity for precipitation for specific secondary containment apply for “General” Secondary Containment cases such as pipelines?
Generators of hazardous waste that meet the current Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards for being conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs) will be “rebranded” as “very small quantity generators” (VSQGs) when the proposed Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule (Rule) is finalized (most likely this month). Whether such generators are called CESQGs or VSQGs, […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its strategy to “ease the burden of managing hazardous wastes in a retail setting.” But, how helpful will these actions be for retailers faced with numerous and varied hazardous wastes and the convoluted regulations surrounding the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)? Let’s take a look and […]
You’re probably on the lookout for workers who file fraudulent workers’ compensation claims—but how carefully are you watching your insurer? There has been a great deal of emphasis on claimant fraud, healthcare provider fraud, and employer fraud in the workers’ compensation system, but insurer fraud has received relatively little attention.
In 2005, President George W. Bush signed a law creating the Renewable Fuel Standard program. The program requires fuel producers to incorporate specific target amounts of renewably-produced ethanol or biodiesel into their products. Unfortunately, the way the system was set up enabled shady biodiesel producers to sell counterfeit credits to producers who needed to make […]