Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
What are the regulations for taping/protecting the ends of batteries when preparing them for shipment/disposal? There are no requirements under EPA‘s Universal Waste regulations for taping/protecting the ends of batteries when preparing them to be sent offsite as universal waste. However, a handler of universal wastes (which includes the generator) may manage broken or damaged […]
Service stations must: Comply with EPA’s used oil management standards, Not mix used oil with any hazardous substance, and Accept used oil from Do-it-yourselfers (DIYs) and send it for recycling. Call the RCRA Hotline for complete details regarding this liability exemption. Some Help with Cleanup EPA recommends used oil handlers follow these cleanup practices: Maximize […]
All Facilities Applicants for a permit to operate a hazardous waste facility must include in the permit application a written outline of both the introductory and continuing training programs by owners or operators to prepare persons to operate or maintain the facility safely. Large Quantity Generators (LQGs) LQGs that accumulate hazardous waste on-site for 90 […]
My facility is required to have a SPCC plan. I am a P.E. and was wondering if I can write and certify my plan. If you are licensed as a professional engineer, you may write and certify your facility’s SPCC plan. You do not need to be certified in the state in which the facility […]
Equipment that met EPA’s definition of a mobile refueler were exempted from the sized-secondary containment requirements applicable to other types of oil-bearing equipment such as bulk storage containers or tank batteries. However, if you are a qualifying mobile refueler, you are still required to meet general secondary containment requirements. A few definitions you should know: […]
Here are several points you should think about to determine if your facility is subject to the SPCC program: First, the program applies to capacity, not the actual amount oil stored. Second, in calculating capacity, count only containers with storage capacity equal to or greater than 55 U.S. gallons. Third, oil-filled equipment also counts in […]
EPA compromised by splitting the responsibilities. Here’s what they did: Self certification is allowed if the facility has a total aboveground oil storage capacity of 10,000 U.S. gallons or less; and in the 3 years before the date the SPCC Plan is certified, the facility has had no single discharge of oil to navigable waters […]
While there are no federal limits on formaldehyde in clothing, a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) may cause Congress and advocacy groups to put pressure on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to revisit the feasibility of imposing such limits. Formaldehyde is a heavily regulated substance and one of a handful of […]
How can I calculate emissions based on an inventory of stationary fuel burning equipment on my campus? Using emissions data provided by the equipment manufacturer or a stack test is the most accurate way to quantify emissions, other than direct measurement. However, in most cases, this information is not available or does not exist. In […]
However, he explains that energy efficiency is not the only reason. “Roughly a third of all energy use is associated with buildings, so you’ve seen green become associated with energy efficiency,” he explains. “But for a large employer, the largest expense is personnel.” As a result, IAQ and occupant health and safety issues have “ratcheted […]