Tag: United States

E-Enterprise: What They’re Saying

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of trying to modernize its approach to environmental compliance and efficiency through a project called “E-Enterprise.” Yesterday we looked at the basic premises of E-Enterprise and how it will affect the regulated community. Today we will review some of the comments the EPA has received […]

News: Volkswagen admits it is guilty of cheating!

Before his resignation, Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn, publically apologized for emission defeat or cheat devices found in Volkswagen diesel passenger cars sold in the U.S. Volkswagen now faces serious and costly violations under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

E-Enterprise: Modernization or Just One More Program?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of trying to modernize its approach to environmental compliance and efficiency through a project called “E-Enterprise.” Today we will look at the basic premises of E-Enterprise and how it will affect the regulated community. Tomorrow we will review some of the comments the EPA has […]

Give Your Lithium Batteries Wings

It seems that lithium batteries are everywhere. They are common in many products we take for granted, such as cell phones, laptops, watches, cameras, and toys, to name a few. However, shipping lithium batteries can be dangerous—especially when they’re shipped by air. Today we will review the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) recent […]

Safety and the Small Business: Resources for Small Businesses

Small businesses accounted for more than 60 percent of net new jobs created between 1993 and mid-2013 in the United States. In recent years, very small firms—those in the 20- to 499-employee category—have led job creation. But they face compliance challenges. Here are some resources that can help small businesses play up. The primary challenge […]

SPCC—Lessons Learned

An oil production company operating in Big Horn County, Wyoming was recently fined for the discharge of approximately 162 barrels of oil into a tributary of a major river. The discharge came from a leak in a pipeline at its pumping facility. The facility is on an onshore oil gathering, pumping, and storage station that […]

I’ll Have a Shot of SPCC in My Latte

There is much confusion surrounding the applicability of SPCC requirements. A question that recently came across the desk of one environmental expert involved oil in flavorings. The person asked if flavorings that contain small amounts of oil (for example, almond and hazelnut oil) count towards an inventory to determine SPCC applicability if they are stored […]

Don’t Let Arc Flash Cost You

A maintenance supervisor at a Wisconsin iron foundry was severely burned by an electrical arc flash in June 2013. The supervisor was injured while servicing a 480-volt circuit breaker without proper electrical protective equipment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the employer for a willful violation of electrical standards, alleging that the employer […]

8 Issues Your City or Town May Look for in Partnering for Stormwater Control, cont.

Outreach. A CBP3 requires timely communication on progress, feedback, and forward planning. Key outreach points a municipality must consider include: Effective and well-documented transparency and participation; Opportunities for stakeholders, property owners, businesses, and institutions to become partners in planning and implementation; Access for stakeholders to all relevant documents, plans, meetings, and reports; Measurement and evaluation […]