Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine the federal government’s new final auto emissions standards. On March 20, 2024, the EPA announced final national pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 […]
On March 11, 2024, the EPA’s final rule amending the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations was published in the Federal Register. “As major and other serious and concerning RMP accidents continue to occur, the record shows and EPA believes that this final rule will help further protect human health and the environment from chemical hazards […]
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently ruled that the EPA violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in granting the state of Florida Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permitting authority. The court’s order in the case, Center for Biological Diversity et. al., v. Michael S. Regan et al., vacates the Sunshine […]
The EPA recently announced it finalized amendments to the 2018 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Fees Rule that update how the Agency will recover authorized costs of the law’s implementation and ensure collected fees provide the Agency with 25% of authorized costs consistent with direction from Congress. The Agency expects these amendments to strengthen its […]
Staying in compliance with the complex world of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) regulations is a formidable yet crucial task for companies across various industries. Failure to adhere to standards and guidelines issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other regulatory bodies can result in substantial fines and damage […]
On January 11, 2024, the EPA announced a proposal to strengthen Clean Air Act (CAA) standards for large municipal waste combustors (LMWC) that burn municipal solid waste (MSW). LMWCs are incinerators that combust greater than 250 tons per day (tpd) of MSW. “If finalized, the updated standards would reduce emissions of nine pollutants, including smog- […]
The EPA recently announced a proposed rule to assess a charge on certain large emitters of methane waste from the oil and gas sector that exceed emissions intensity levels set by Congress. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 amended the Clean Air Act (CAA) to add Section 136: Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive […]
On January 17, 2024, the EPA issued guidance that recommends lowering the screening levels used to investigate and clean up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas where children live and play. The guidance, issued by the EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), marks the first time in 30 years the Agency has recommended lowering […]
In January 2024, chemical manufacturer Nox-Crete Inc., located in Omaha, Nebraska, agreed to pay a $37,026 EPA civil penalty and install a fire suppression system to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA); Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA); and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The facility, which […]
Reports are due by March 1, 2024, for facilities subject to Biennial Hazardous Waste and Tier II Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting regulations. Biennial Hazardous Waste Reporting Biennial hazardous waste reports are used to compile data on the generation, management, and minimization of hazardous waste. Facilities required to report: Large quantity generators (LGQ), or those that […]