06/29/2015

SCOTUS Rules Against EPA Clean Air Act Rules for Power Plants

The United States Supreme Court decided today that US EPA unreasonable interpreted Federal law by failing to consider costs to industry in its decision to expand regulation of emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act. A 2012 EPA Final Rule sought to regulate emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants by power plants...

06/29/2015

US EPA Finalizes New “Waters of the US” Rule

In today’s Federal Register, US EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers published a Final Rule, making the new definition of “Waters of the United States” official.  In short, the new rule is designed to help industry professionals and EHS managers more accurately predict which bodies of water are covered under Clean Water Act programs as “waters of the US.” For full coverage of what’s new in the EPA water rule, read more here: EPA Redefines “Waters of the United States.

06/25/2015

EPA to Launch New Self-Audit Web Tool for Fall 2015

US EPA is planning a fall 2015 launch for its new “eDisclosure” web portal that will allow businesses to self-report violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and other environmental regulations... 

06/24/2015

Basic Description vs. Shipping Description—What’s the Difference?

In a recent request for interpretation submitted to the US DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a hazmat industry group asked the DOT to clarify its use of two specific terms in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR)...

06/23/2015

RCRA Contingency Planning Requirements

This month, Lion News has focused on planning for emergencies and the rules for managing risk, both under OSHA's Process Safety Management rules and the US EPA's Risk Management Plan requirements. To further this discussion, today we take a look at the specific contingency planning requirements for hazardous waste generators under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)...

06/18/2015

DOT, EPA, and OSHA Post Spring Regulatory Agendas in Today’s Federal Register

Today’s Federal Register includes Semiannual Regulatory Agendas from the US Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, and other major regulatory agencies.  Required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, these Agendas list new and upcoming rulemaking activity that will affect hazmat shippers, hazardous waste generators, manufacturers, and industry employers...

06/17/2015

FMCSA Shuts Down Hazmat Fireworks Co. for HMR Violations

06/16/2015

US DOT's Security Planning Requirements

06/11/2015

OSHA Memos Clarify PSM Enforcement Policies

On June 8, 2015, OSHA issued two memos for regional administrators and State plan designees that address enforcement of the Process Safety Management standards. (Read more about what’s required under OSHA’s PSM rules  here)...

06/09/2015

EPA Risk Management Plan Rules

In 1990, the Clean Air Act was amended to mandate that the US EPA and OSHA develop regulations and guidance for chemical accident prevention. In response, OSHA created its Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements and EPA created regulations requiring companies that use certain regulated chemicals to develop a Risk Management Plan (RMP)...