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Understanding Coal Ash and the New Final Rule—Part 1

Understanding Coal Ash and the New Final Rule—Part 1   The makeup of coal ash:  Coal ash is essentially the byproduct of the combustion of coal at power plants that contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic associated with cancer and various other serious human health effects. Coal ash is disposed of in wet form […]

Managing Refrigerants—It’s a SNAP!

Many refrigerants have been determined to be ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and have been targeted for phaseout under the Montreal Protocol. Chemicals used in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning industrial sector is one group for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed and identified substitutes under the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) Significant New Alternatives Policy […]

Preventing Silica Exposure: Engineering Controls vs. PPE

As we said in yesterday’s Advisor, OSHA is proposing to change the PELs for silica. The proposal would also require primary reliance on engineering controls and work practices. OSHA says that primary reliance on engineering controls and work practices rather than PPE to prevent silica exposure is consistent with long-established good industrial hygiene practice, with […]

Time to Prepare for the Trump Wave of Change in EPA Regulations: Part 2

Regulated industry is breathing a collective sigh of relief with Donald Trump’s win of a second term as president of the United States, knowing deregulation is certainly on the way. Having already seen one Trump administration in action, it’s fairly easy to predict some expected changes in environmental policy that will result from a Trump […]

The CDR Rule and Your Obligation to Report

Written under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA’s governing regulation was issued in 1986 and was initially called the Inventory Update Rule (IUR). In a 2011 action, the Agency changed the name to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule. Under the CDR rule, between June 1, 2016, and September 30, 2016, […]

Cal/OSHA Warns Employers to Protect Workers from Heat

On May 12, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) warned the state’s employers to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. High temperatures are forecast this week for several areas across the state, including Modesto, Palm Springs, Riverside, and San Bernardino. The agency cautioned employers to closely observe employees working in hotter conditions for […]

A Closer Look at Construction Stormwater General Permits

Most contractors are familiar with pulling construction stormwater general permits (CGP) when a project will disturb more than 1 acre of land. However, it’s also important to note there are some instances when a permit is still required on projects that “disturb” less than an acre of land. Additionally, some projects also require federal and […]

National Highlights from the 2013 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

National Highlights from the 2013 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Mandatory reporting of GHGs became law in October 2009 for sources emitting 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year in the United States. Reporting began in 2010 and in 2011, the EPA published the first GHGRP report setting a benchmark for […]

Safety Tips for Shift Workers

Shift workers pose special safety hazards. Here’s a list of strategies to make their working lives as safe and normal as possible. Tonight, when it’s dark and quiet and you’re looking forward to some well-deserved rest, give a thought to those not enjoying the same moment. That’s because some 20 percent of the workers in […]