Compliance Topics - Environmental
2/1/2018
EPA Eliminates “Once-in-Always-In” Clean Air Act Policy
US EPA last week released guidance to reverse a long-held Clean Air Act policy that enabled the Agency to regulate sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) as “major sources” even if the facility no longer had the potential to emit pollutants above the major source threshold.
1/25/2018
Supremes Relegate WOTUS Argument to District Courts
This week, the US Supreme Court decided unanimously not to take up a challenge to EPA’s 2015 Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, Final Rule. The Court held that challenges to the Final Rule—which expanded the Agency’s authority to enforce the Clean Water Act by more broadly interpreting the term “navigable waters”—must be brought in district courts and not circuit appeals courts, where this case originated.
1/23/2018
TSCA “Reset Rule” Reports Due Feb. 7
Reminder: TSCA “reset reports” are due to EPA by February 7, 2018. Under the so-called TSCA Reset Rule, manufacturers and processors must submit a one-time retrospective notice to indicate which of the 85,000 chemicals on the Inventory they manufactured or imported in a ten-year period from June 21, 2006 to June 21, 2016.
1/23/2018
EPA Seeks Further Delay of EPCRA and CERCLA Reporting Rules for Farms
(UPDATED 02/02/18) US EPA last week filed a motion with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to delay the effective date of chemical release reporting requirements applicable to animal waste at farms under two major EPA programs, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
1/11/2018
EPA Raises Civil Penalties for RCRA Hazardous Waste Violations, More
Its that time of year again—the time when, since the passage of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, government agencies including US EPA are required to raise civil penalties annually to match the rate of inflation.
1/3/2018
EPA Final Rule: Electronic Hazardous Waste Manifest User Fees
In an important step toward establishing an electronic system of tracking hazardous waste shipments—the electronic Manifest or “e-Manifest” system—US EPA today posted a Final Rule detailing how the Agency will assess fees to users of the system.
1/2/2018
EPA Closes 2017 With Millions in Clean Air Act Penalties
A lump of coal may be the holiday gift for bad boys and girls, but EPA had a much worse “present” in store for two carbon black manufacturers in December. In the final week of 2017, EPA giftwrapped some major Clean Air Act penalties for these two companies, totaling about $2 million.
12/19/2017
DOT, EPA, and OSHA Release Latest Regulatory Plans
This week, the Federal government released the Fall 2017 “Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.” Updated twice per year, the Unified Agenda gives industry stakeholders and the public a view into rulemaking activities in progress at major Federal agencies.
12/19/2017
What to Do When Your Hazardous Waste Isn’t Hazardous Anymore
When we talk about hazardous waste, we usually talk about EPA’s “cradle-to-grave” management requirements. But what if your hazardous waste stops being hazardous waste at some point in the process? How do change the way you manage it without running afoul of the RCRA regulations?
12/18/2017
Hackers Attack Industrial Safety Systems with New Malware
Arecent attack on an industrial facility safety system could be of concern to our readers. Industrial security company FireEye reported on December 14 that an attacker had deployed malware dubbed “Triton” or “Trisis” to disrupt safety instrumented systems (SIS) at a Middle East critical infrastructure facility.
Download Our Latest Whitepaper
Ace hazmat inspections. Protect personnel. Defend against civil and criminal penalties. How? See the self-audit "best practices" for hazardous materials shippers.
By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.