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Curbing GHGs with Cap–and–Trade —How It Works The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI or “Reggie”) was first discussed in 2003 by the governors of nine states as a possible way to lower CO2 emissions from electric power plants on a regional scale. In late 2005, seven states – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, […]
Nutrient Pollution—What It Is and What to Do About It According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the impacts of nutrient pollution are found in all types of our nation’s water bodies. In fact, “More than 100,000 miles of rivers and streams, close to 2.5 million acres of lakes, reservoirs and ponds, and more […]
EMS for Higher Ed—Common Compliance Deficiencies The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was passed in 1976 with the goal of regulating the handling and disposal of hazardous wastes. RCRA was strengthened and amended in 1984 and has become the backbone of the national strategy to safely manage hazardous and non-non-hazardous wastes, conserve resources, and […]
Sector Highlights from the 2013 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program In 2013 1,572 power plants reported, which is down from 1,589 in 2011 and 1,601 in 2012. This sector consists of facilities that produce electricity by combusting fossil fuels and/or biomass and the emissions from this sector are solely from stationary fuel combustion sources, although carbon […]
National Highlights from the 2013 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Mandatory reporting of GHGs became law in October 2009 for sources emitting 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year in the United States. Reporting began in 2010 and in 2011, the EPA published the first GHGRP report setting a benchmark for […]
Deadly Chemical Plant Releases Violate Multiple Regulations In a settlement with a multinational company that operates a chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that between 2006 and 2010, eight releases of hazardous substances occurred, one of which resulted in the death of […]
Conclusions from the TSCA Assessment of Dichloromethane According to the EPA, the use of products containing DCM for paint stripping poses some of the highest exposure risks compared to all uses of DCM. The chemical is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and is also considered to have “likely carcinogenic properties.” In 2012, 261.5 million pounds […]
Conclusions from the TSCA Trichloroethylene Assessment Each year, the United States uses 225 million pounds of TCE, a volatile organic compound (VOC) and human carcinogen. TCE is used widely, primarily in industrial and commercial processes as a solvent, degreaser, and fixative. EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (EPA/OPPT) focused the TCE assessment on characterizing […]
Consumers Energy Will Update Equipment and Fund Projects Consumers Energy, a subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation, provides electricity and natural gas to 6.5 million residents in all 68 counties of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Under EPA’s Power Plant Initiative, in 2007, the company was issued a notice of violation for opacity violations at five of its […]
The Second Integrated Urban Air Report to Congress—What’s Next? With publication of the Second Integrated Urban Air Report to Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fulfilled its three primary obligations under the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments. These are: Report twice on accomplishments realized relative to reducing harmful air toxics; Regulate 90 […]