Category: Environmental Permitting

Emergency Generators—Should You Buy, Rent, Share, or Borrow?

It’s a decision you have to make based on the needs at your facility. Do you want the headache of maintaining an on-site emergency generator or the headache of scrounging around for one should the need arise? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has offered some tips for water/wastewater systems on just this subject that […]

O&M and Safety Tips for Emergency Generators

Have you ever lost power and needed an emergency or backup generator to continue operations? Do you have an emergency generator onsite or do you have a plan to find one when a situation arises? Today we will discuss some operation and maintenance (O&M) tips for on-site emergency generators and some safety tips for portable […]

Can Suppliers Help Your GHG Emission Reduction Efforts?

Suppliers, if you’re breathing a sigh of relief because so far the EPA has not targeted you to reduce your GHG emissions, don’t settle back just yet. Walmart, et al. may be doing the Agency’s job for it. Recap: Scope 3 emissions include indirect GHG emissions from sources not owned or directly controlled by the company […]

Not Just the Big Guys—Where Do GHG Emissions Come From?

Today we will discuss how the EPA categorizes GHG emissions and why its approach doesn’t affect just large sources. Tomorrow we will look at how large companies are doing EPA’s job and finding some success in reducing overall GHG emissions by leaning on smaller companies such as their vendors. ‘Scope’ It Out! The GHG emissions […]

Refrigerants—Cold Lessons Learned

A refrigerant formulator was recently fined $300,000 by the EPA and the Department of Justice for violations of SNAP regulations. First, let’s look at what the pertinent regulations say, then at what the company allegedly did, and finally what the fix will be. Note: Under SNAP, a “producer” is any person who manufactures, formulates, or […]

Managing Refrigerants—It’s a SNAP!

Many refrigerants have been determined to be ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and have been targeted for phaseout under the Montreal Protocol. Chemicals used in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning industrial sector is one group for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed and identified substitutes under the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) Significant New Alternatives Policy […]

How Employers Can Promote Alternative Commuting Options

As an employer, you can promote shared transportation among your employees in several ways. Employer-sponsored vanpools. The employer buys or leases vans, but employee/drivers may be responsible for planning routes, recordkeeping, collecting fares, and maintaining the van. Drivers are often allowed to use the vans during nonworking hours. Vanpools/Buspools. Third-party firms operate vanpool fleets and […]

What If Your State ‘Just Says No’ to the Clean Power Rule?

The Senate Majority Leader is itching to pass legislation that allows your state to opt out of the Obama administration’s CPP rule. Some states are trying to pass laws so that their legislatures will be able to veto the rule, and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin recently issued an Executive Order prohibiting the state’s Department of […]

TRI Reporting Tips

BLR Legal Editor Tim Fagan offers tips on the process for submitting your Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reports this year.

How Does Nonattainment Affect Your Facility?

The Clean Air Act required the EPA to develop NAAQS for six pollutants commonly found throughout the United States.  These pollutants, referred to as “criteria pollutants,” are: Sulfur dioxide; Particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5); Carbon monoxide; Ozone; Nitrogen dioxide; and Lead. The EPA established a primary and a secondary NAAQS for each criteria pollutant. The […]