Tag: EPA

SO2 NAAQS: What’s Next?

By Timothy P. Fagan, BLR Air Expert tfagan@blr.com How were nonattainment designations determined? Once the NAAQS was set in 2010, EPA and state agencies worked together using monitoring data to determine what areas should be designated nonattainment and establish the area’s boundaries.  The newly designated nonattainment areas were designated as such because each had air […]

E-Learning Makes Training Easy

In some cases, EPA specifies general types of training (e.g., classroom or hands-on) and time frames for refresher training but leaves the duration of training and choice of training materials up to facility managers. For example, EPA requires hazardous waste large quantity generators and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities to provide classroom instruction or on-the-job […]

EPA/Corps’ U.S. Waters Guidance Still on Hold

As used in rulemaking, the phrase “waters of the United States” most often refers to waters subject to CWA Section 404 dredge and fill permitting as implemented by the Corps and subject to EPA approval.  But in the draft guidance, the agencies make it clear that the phrase extends to other major programs administered under […]

EPA and SPCC Plan Amendments

Discharges and Releases EPA may require the facility to amend its SPCC plan to adequately prevent and contain future oil discharges and releases. A regulated facility must notify the EPA regional administrator within 60 days if it has: Discharged more than 1,000 gallons (gal) of oil in a single event; or Experienced two spills of […]

Listed Waste FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about EPA’s listed hazardous wastes. Acute Hazardous Wastes Q. What RCRA hazardous wastes are classified as "acute" hazardous wastes? A. Hazardous wastes listed in accordance with the criteria in 40 CFR 261.11(a)(2) are designated as "acute" hazardous wastes. Acute hazardous wastes are assigned the hazard code (H) (40 CFR […]

Lists of Hazardous Wastes You Should Know

1. Ignitability, 2. Corrosivity, 3. Reactivity, or 4. Toxicity The second way to tell if a waste is hazardous is if it is included on a specific list of wastes EPA has determined are hazardous. These “listed wastes” are placed on a list because EPA finds them to pose substantial present or potential hazards to […]

Private Drinking Water Wells

Contaminants Groundwater that supplies wells can contain naturally occurring minerals (e.g., arsenic, boron, selenium, or radon).  Also, almost all private wells are in rural areas where agriculture occurs.  A wide variety of farming activities can affect groundwater that supplies wells.  These include the use of pesticides, overuse of fertilizers and animal manure, and discharges from […]

Equipment Leak Violations Inspectors are Looking For

Equipment Tagging is required for regulated equipment to distinguish it from non-regulated equipment. The Appendix sets the following penalties for failure to tag: $250 per valve, flange, connector, open-ended valve or line, sampling connection system, or instrumentation system; $1,000 per pump or agitator; and $5,000 per compressor, pressure relief device, surge control vessel, or bottoms […]