Category: EHS Administration

OSHA Extends Comment Period for Walkaround Proposal

On October 16, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) extended the public comment period for the agency’s proposed rule change regarding worker representatives during inspection walkarounds (88 Fed. Reg. 71329). Comments on the August 30 proposal, titled Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process (88 Fed. Reg. 59825), were due October 30, but they’re now due […]

EPA Approves Ohio Plan to Reduce Western Lake Erie Algae Blooms

On September 28, 2023, the EPA approved Ohio’s plan to reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing from the Maumee River into Lake Erie’s western basin. The plan establishes a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for phosphorus for the Maumee River Watershed. “The TMDL is a ‘pollution diet’ dictating the maximum amount of pollution the water […]

Idaho Property Owner Fined $88,000 for Asbestos Violations

The EPA announced that Jens Schkade of Grand View, Idaho, has agreed to pay an $88,749 penalty over violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) related to the safe handling and disposal of asbestos. According to the consent decree, on October 5, 2021, Schkade wrecked a commercial building called the Square Deal Store, located at […]

FMCSA Limits Emergency Exemptions

A new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule issued October 13 limits exemptions from safety regulations during emergency declarations (88 Fed. Reg. 70897). Under the revised regulations, a presidential emergency declaration will continue to trigger a 30-day exemption from FMCSA safety regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 390 through 399), including hours-of-service […]

Safety Council Releases New Ergonomics Research

According to research findings from the National Safety Council (NSC), investments in technology to reduce workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can improve both worker well-being and an organization’s bottom line, the NSC announced October 4. However, employers may not have the access and knowledge they need to effectively assess and implement risk-reducing technologies, according to the […]

Chevron Defense Battle Lines Drawn in Upcoming SCOTUS Case

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, an upcoming case that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) this fall, is being closely watched because its decision is expected to determine whether the Chevron defense will reach its 40th birthday in 2024 or whether the precedent will fade away. The Chevron defense sets a legal […]

More Stringent Limits on Major NESHAP Sources Reclassifying to Area Sources

On September 22, 2023, the EPA proposed to strengthen a 2020 Clean Air Act (CAA) rule by ensuring industrial facilities that emit large amounts of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) can’t increase emissions when reclassifying from a “major source” of emissions to an “area source.” The proposed amendments to the “Reclassification of Major Sources as Area […]

Groups Sue EPA Over CAFO Regulations

Several environmental and citizen watch groups have filed suit against the EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to force the Agency to strengthen regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to provide better water quality protection. The lawsuit was filed after the EPA denied a 2017 petition that requested a […]

OSHA Enforcement Roundup: Spotlight on Recent Cases

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continues to carry out inspections and issue citations to employers that expose workers to hazardous conditions. We’ve summarized some of the key enforcement cases from the past few months for a look at where OSHA is focusing its efforts. National discount retailer fined $1.35 million OSHA entered a […]

EPA Enforcement Roundup

In the third quarter (Q3), the EPA finalized 515 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a significant increase in enforcement actions—up from 260 penalties—issued in Q2 for 2023. The actions taken resulted in $14,629,489 in fines. Here are some of the highlights. RCRA violations yield biggest fine from […]