Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On March 9, 2022, the Biden administration EPA announced it is reinstating the “California Waiver,” which provides the Golden State with its regulatory authority to set more stringent fuel efficiency and vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards. This decision reverses the previous administration’s action that had removed this authority. “Today, we proudly reaffirm California’s longstanding […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has directed its area offices and state partners to ramp up COVID-19 health and safety enforcement in healthcare facilities. The agency described it as a “highly focused, short-term inspection initiative directed at hospitals and skilled nursing care facilities.” The 3-month enforcement surge in high-hazard healthcare facilities lasts from […]
Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton led a 15-state coalition in filing a petition for review of the EPA’s final rule for tougher emissions standards in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals entitled “Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards.” “At a time when American gas prices are skyrocketing at […]
After the Supreme Court’s stay of the emergency temporary standard (ETS) regarding COVID-19 in January, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is turning to the other options it has to continue regulating and enforcing COVID-related health and safety violations. In a recent webinar, Eric J. Conn and Lindsay A. DiSalvo of Conn Maciel Carey […]
On February 28, 2022, the EPA issued an internal memorandum detailing rules for an improved process to engage its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) sooner in the review of scientific and technical components of proposed EPA decisions. Timely expert advice, based on the review of scientific and technical information, from the SAB to support Agency decisions […]
On March 3, 2022, the EPA released its 2020 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis. The data revealed a 10% decline in environmental releases of TRI chemicals by facilities covered by the program between 2019 and 2020. “The 2020 TRI National Analysis summarizes TRI chemical waste management activities, including releases, that occurred during calendar year […]
Motor carriers now must obtain motor vehicle records (MVRs) annually for their drivers from Canadian and Mexican licensing authorities, as well as from State Driver’s Licensing Agencies, under a March 9 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) final rule (87 Federal Register (FR) 13192). The FMCSA is dropping the requirement for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 7 office in Kansas City, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, has launched an inspection and enforcement program for occupational noise exposures in the Midwest. The regional emphasis program (REP) applies to federal enforcement offices in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; Iowa has its own federally approved […]
Abandoning decades-long practices, on January 11, 2022, the EPA announced it is taking meaningful actions to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) before registering new active ingredients (AI) in pesticides. Moving forward, before the Agency registers any new conventional AI, it will evaluate the potential effects of the AI on federally threatened or endangered […]
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) formed an alliance with the Michigan Industrial Ventilation Conference (MIVC) to help prevent and reduce airborne contaminants through industrial ventilation. The partners will raise awareness of MIOSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives pertaining to airborne contaminants, along with bolstering education, outreach, and training to protect Michigan workers across a wide range of industries. “MIOSHA is pleased […]