Category: Regulatory Developments

OSHA Launches Pilot Program for Whistleblower Severe Violators

Recently, OSHA announced that it is launching a pilot program aimed at employers who “continually and willfully” disregard the right of whistleblowers. Called the Whistleblower Severe Violator Enforcement Program or W-SVEP, the program will be similar to the existing Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which includes employers that routinely ignore safety and health regulations. The pilot […]

Proposal Updates NPDES Provisions

The EPA has issued a proposal to update provisions under 15 headings in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The proposal results in part from an ongoing directive from the White House instructing federal agencies to conduct periodic reviews of regulations to eliminate outdated requirements and reduce the compliance burden on the regulated […]

TSCA Reform Bill Heads to the White House

The Senate voted to pass a bill to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Bill. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature in order to become law. It’s the first time the Act has been amended in 40 years.

EPA Streamlines CWA Applications Process for Tribes

In a final interpretative rule, the EPA has streamlined the process whereby federally recognized tribes with reservations apply to the Agency to be treated in a manner similar to states (TAS) for the purposes of administering Clean Water Act (CWA) regulatory programs. The primary change under the interpretative rule is that tribes will no longer […]

Methane Rules Cover New, Reconstructed, and Modified O&G Sources

With is promulgation of standards to control emissions of methane from new, reconstructed, and modified sources in the oil and gas (O&G) sector, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a significant step toward meeting President Obama’s goal of cutting methane released by the entire sector by 40 to 45 percent by 2025.

OSHA Finalizes Electronic Recordkeeping Rule

A final rule announced May 11 will require that thousands of establishments forward to OSHA information from injury and illness logs that they are already required to keep. Learn more about the requirements and find out how your workplace may be affected.

TSCA Compromise Bill Released

The House and Senate released a single bill to reform the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act was posted on the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW).

Proposal Would Ease SIP Conflicts

With a new proposal, the EPA is seeking to introduce regulatory reforms intended to smooth over conflicts that have developed in the Agency’s relationship with states submitting state implementation plans (SIPs) to improve visibility in federal Class I areas as specified by Section 169A of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Most of the conflicts between […]

FIP Issued for Existing Sludge Incinerators

The EPA has promulgated a federal implementation plan (FIP) to control emissions of nine pollutants from existing sewage sludge incinerators (SSIs), that is, those for which construction began on or before October 14, 2010. The intent of the FIP is to implement EPA’s March 21, 2011, emissions guidelines (EGs) for the existing SSIs. According to […]

Regs for AST Owners on the Horizon

The National Institute for Storage Tank Management (NISTM) recently held the 18th International Aboveground Storage Tank Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, Florida. The 4-day conference provides the regulated community forecasted energy outlooks and a variety of advanced technological solutions and products. Each year the conference attracts tank owners and operators with an EPA-hosted practical […]