Category: EHS Administration

EPA Addresses Issues Associated with Additions to HAP List

On September 13, 2023, the EPA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the General Provisions for National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to address applicability and compliance issues resulting from the addition of a compound to the list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). […]

Feds Struggle to Find Takers for Funding to Find and Replace Lead Pipes

The EPA estimates approximately 9.2 million lead pipe lines are used to carry drinking water to homes across the United States. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made $15 billion available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to provide loans in support of lead pipe replacement projects in cities across the nation. “Washington, Oregon, Maine […]

Secretary Su Joins ASSP to Unveil Triangle Shirtwaist Memorial

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su will join American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) President Jim Thornton and New York Governor Kathy Hochul on October 11 to dedicate a memorial in New York City to the 146 garment workers killed in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the ASSP announced September 27. The ASSP was […]

D.C. Circuit Rejects Attempt to Block Good Neighbor Plan

On September 25, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied a motion in Utah v. EPA to stay the EPA Good Neighbor Plan, which regulates air pollution crossing state lines. The single-page ruling states the motion was denied because the plaintiffs “have not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay […]

Final Asbestos Rule Requires Reporting on All Types of Asbestos

The new final rule requiring reporting on all six fiber types of asbestos went into effect August 24, 2023. Issued under Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the rule requires asbestos manufacturers (including importers) and processors to report certain use and exposure information from the past four years, including information on asbestos-containing […]

VIDA Regulations to Be Finalized to Protect WOTUS From Vessel Discharges

On September 8, 2023, the EPA published a proposed consent decree to finalize nationwide standards that will protect U.S. waterways from harmful vessel discharges. Under the agreement, the agency must release final regulations on ballast water discharges by September 24, 2024. The proposed consent decree is to settle Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. […]

Battery Manufacturer Cited for Lead Violations

An Augusta, Georgia, battery manufacturer faces $160,727 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for exposing employees to unsafe levels of lead, the agency announced September 27. OSHA made its determination based on personal air monitoring of workers and lead accumulation on respirators and counters in areas where workers took their lunch breaks. The […]

Ergonomics: Controlling the Costs of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Do you have effective ergonomics interventions in place at your facilities or worksites? How much are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) costing you? Ergonomic hazards are among the costliest workplace hazards, according to Liberty Mutual’s latest Workplace Safety Index (WSI). “Overexertion involving outside sources” (lifting heavy loads) tops the insurer’s WSI­. Overexertion injuries collectively cost employers $12.84 […]

OSHA Launches Enforcement Initiative for Engineered Stone

On September 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an enforcement and compliance assistance initiative aimed at silica exposures in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries. OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have identified silica dust exposure as a health hazard for workers in manufacturing, finishing, and […]

401 Certification Revisions and New WOTUS Definition Implications

On September 14, 2023, the EPA announced a final rule to restore the fundamental authority granted by Congress under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to states, territories, and tribes to protect water resources. “The Agency’s final Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule (Section 401) will support clear, efficient, and focused water […]