The Container Is Empty, but Is It RCRA Empty?
Although it sounds like a trick question, it’s not. A container that seems empty of all its hazardous waste contents may not be empty enough to avoid being managed as a hazardous waste.
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Keystone XL Approval Vacated by U.S. Judge
TransCanada’s plans to construct the Keystone XL Pipeline and the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) approval of those plans ran into another wall when a U.S. District Court judge in Montana found that the DOS had not met its statutory requirements in analyzing the effects of the project on climate change and on species protected […]
Wildfires in the West Fueled by Land Use Policy
As the Carr Fire raged across Northern California this summer, firefighter James Bevins spent 2 weeks providing rescue support for helicopters dispatched to dump water and fire-retardant chemicals on the 230,000-acre blaze.
‘Blue Roof’ Recommendations from OSHA
The recent hurricane season has apparently prompted OSHA to issue a fact sheet on safely installing plastic tarps on damaged roofs. Reinforced plastic tarps, commonly called blue roofs, provide temporary protection for buildings following severe weather.
Industrial Stormwater: Don’t Overlook Employee Training!
With all of the high-tech and innovative stormwater control gadgets on the market these days, facilities often overlook one of the most fundamental and affordable best management practices (BMPs): employee training. Most industrial stormwater permits require at least annual employee training, and it has become one of the most common and costly permit violations. In […]
New House of Representatives, New Chair of the Energy Committee
With the midterm elections switching control of the House to the Democrats, there will also be changes in the leadership of House committees in January 2019. The Committee on Energy and Commerce typically takes the lead on environmental issues in the House, and it is expected that the committee’s current Ranking Member, Democrat Frank Pallone […]
Could Your Construction Machinery Be Open to Hacking?
The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown exponentially over the past few years, and that growth is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. This is especially true for the Operational Technology (OT) networks, where more and more technologies are being incorporated into industrial control systems (ICS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. […]
Site-Specific Targeting: OSHA Guidelines for Inspections
On October 16, 2018, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and its State Plan partners began implementing OSHA’s national Site-Specific Targeting Inspection Plan (SST Plan) for general industry (nonconstruction) workplaces that have 20 or more employees.
More Preparedness Tips for Environmental or Natural Disasters
Following up on a post from yesterday’s EHS Daily Advisor, here are a few more steps you can take to ensure your employees are properly prepared for emergencies and disasters.
Workers Urged to Report Safety Issues in the Underground Economy
In addition to government, which is defrauded of tax revenue, workers are often a casualty of the underground economy. Underground businesses are not likely to expend effort to protect workers from occupational hazards, much less comply with federal and state workplace safety rules. And given that a great deal of underground employment involves physically taxing […]