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After a four-year process, on December 28, 2023, the EPA signed a final rule that grants the state of Louisiana authority, known as primacy, for the permitting, compliance, and enforcement of Class VI (carbon sequestration) wells as part of the Underground Injection Control Program (UIC). The rule will likely facilitate carbon capture and storage (CCS) […]
The Biden administration is sending mixed messages to the U.S.-based semiconductor industry—providing funding to jump-start innovations in the industry while the EPA continues to create new regulations that prohibit or ban the necessary chemicals needed for chip production. In August 2022, the Biden administration signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, which provided $280 […]
In the fourth quarter (Q4), the EPA finalized 206 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a significant decrease in enforcement actions—down from 515 penalties—issued in Q3 for 2023. The actions taken resulted in $4,289,749.25 in fines. Here are some of the highlights. CAA violations yield biggest fine from […]
Wisconsin sawmill Tigerton Lumber Co. faces $283,608 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties after a follow-up inspection, the agency announced January 9. The company was added to OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program (SVEP) in 2019 after an agency investigation into how an employee suffered fatal injuries in 2018. Employers in the SVEP are subject to […]
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. Corn milling company fined $1.8 million OSHA entered into […]
The role of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) professionals is continually evolving as industries face new challenges and embrace technological advancements. In 2024, EHS professionals find themselves at the forefront of ensuring workplace safety, environmental sustainability, and the overall well-being of workers. In this article, we’ll explore the challenges that EHS professionals are likely to […]
Although molds are an important part of the environment, their growth indoors can wreak havoc and cause serious issues. And these problems happen fast. Unforeseen incidents like pipe leaks, and natural disasters like floods, can create standing water, which enables mold to grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Because of its rapid […]
Nebraska Beef Ltd. of Omaha, Nebraska, faces $274,569 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties following the agency’s investigation into an amputation injury, OSHA announced January 5. The agency cited Nebraska Beef with two willful and 11 serious safety and health violations. OSHA investigators determined that a worker’s fingertip got caught in a forklift attachment […]
The state of Ohio recently reached a settlement of $110 million with The Chemours Co., Dupont De Nemours Inc., and Corteva Inc. to resolve legal claims of chemical contamination dating back 70 years from the company’s Parkersburg, West Virginia, facility, Washington Works. “Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont, said it would be responsible for half of […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine how to prepare for winter hazards. Cold temperatures and seasonal precipitation like freezing rain, hail, or snow can pose winter workplace hazards. What can you expect to see as the new […]