Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On July 20, 2022, the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report critical of EPA management practices, entitled “The EPA Needs to Improve the Transparency of Its Cancer-Assessment Process for Pesticides.” The controversy uncovered by the report centers around the use of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) pesticide. The report concludes the Trump Administration EPA did […]
Expect new limits on coal ash and ozone pollution from the EPA to continue the push toward the transition from fossil fuel-powered energy generation to clean energy. The Agency continues to explore other options for decarbonization as the Biden administration pushes to achieve the president’s stated campaign goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2035. “We […]
In Humane Society of the U.S. v. USDA, a divided D.C. Circuit Court ruled that an agency must provide notice and an opportunity for comment when withdrawing a rule that has been filed for public inspection but not yet published in the Federal Register. What is public inspection? The National Archives Office of the Federal […]
On August 2, 2022, California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta led a coalition of 17 AGs in urging the EPA to grant, in full, California’s preemption waiver applications for its heavy-duty truck standards. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), California may request a waiver of preemption that allows California to enforce different emissions standards for […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on August 1 announced $249,323 in proposed penalties for Premier South Roofing LLC, a roofing contractor based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following two inspections, including one after a worker’s fatal fall through a skylight. On February 2, 2022, an OSHA inspector, who initiated an inspection as part of […]
According to a proposed consent decree filed by the EPA in the Federal Register, the Agency plans to finalize tougher ozone pollution standards for several large metropolitan areas by September 15, 2022. These areas include Chicago-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Texas; New York-North New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey-Connecticut; and Denver-Boulder-Greeley-Ft. Collins-Loveland, Colorado. On […]
In September 2021, the EPA published advance notice of proposed rulemaking, soliciting information and requesting comments to assist in the potential development of regulations for pyrolysis and gasification units that are used to convert solid or semi-solid feedstocks to useful products such as energy, fuels, and chemical commodities. The units are currently classified as waste […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing six rule-makings considered economically significant, according to an August 8 Department of Labor (DOL) regulatory agenda notice (87 FR 48358). Two rule-makings in the “prerule” stage address process safety management (PSM) to prevent major chemical accidents and workplace violence in healthcare and social assistance. Four other […]
On August 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced $1,233,364 in new proposed penalties for Dollar Tree Inc. after citing multiple violations at 2 Family Dollar stores in Ohio. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar in 2015, according to the agency. The agency cited a Maple Heights, Ohio, store for 1 repeat violation and […]
President Joseph Biden Jr. announced a series of executive actions on July 20, 2022, to address the “clear and present” danger to the United States presented by climate change and promised additional upcoming executive actions over the next few weeks to combat “this emergency,” states a White House Fact Sheet. Biden announced the actions at […]