08/28/2015
One day before EPA’s new “Waters of the US Rule” was set to take effect, a Federal judge has issued an injunction to block implementation of the new law in 13 US states...
In the Federal Register on August 28, 2015, two offices of the US Department of Transportation—the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)—called a public meeting to address the unique issues posed by lithium batteries during air transport...
08/27/2015
08/26/2015
In response to the August 12 facility explosion in Tianjin, it appears that Chinese port authorities are taking steps to limit the amount and types of hazardous materials (known internationally as dangerous goods) that enter the country...
On August 18, 2015, US EPA proposed new standards under the Clean Air Act that aim to reduce methane and VOC emissions from the oil and gas industry. The long-term goal of the proposal is to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas industry sector by 40 to 45 percent (from 2012 levels) by 2025...
08/25/2015
The intent of the US EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations is to create safe standards for US facilities to generate, manage, store, transport, treat, and dispose of hazardous wastes.
08/18/2015
While hazardous materials pose certain risks when stored and used in a warehouse or manufacturing environment, the risks are greatly amplified when hazmat is put in motion along the supply chain. Every day, hazardous materials (known internationally as dangerous goods) are transported in 18-wheelers and tanker trucks on roads and highways, aboard freight and passenger airplanes, and in shipping containers on the open seas...
08/17/2015
On August 12, 2015, in the Chinese port city of Tianjin, a warehouse owned by a logistics company suffered massive explosions and fires that killed at least one hundred people, injured hundreds more, and released toxic fumes into the air. Understandably, the explosion has raised concerns from regulators, industry, and citizens alike about chemical safety here in the United States...
Now that US DOT’s new hazmat shipping regulations for lithium batteries are in full effect, lithium battery manufacturers and shippers look toward an uncertain future. Lithium batteries pose unique hazards in transit, especially by air—if they short circuit during transportation, they can enter what’s called “thermal runaway”—when a battery short-circuits, causing rising temperatures that accelerate the cell’s chemical reaction rate. As the reaction rate increases, more heat is produced, adding to extreme temperatures and leading to fires, venting of gases, and even explosions...
08/11/2015
Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), all new and existing "pesticide products" must be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before they can be distributed in commerce in the United States. Through the registration process, EPA evaluates whether the pesticide, when used according to the manufacturer's directions, will pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment...
Click to receive the latest EH&S news updates from Lion by email.
What to do before, during, and after a RCRA hazardous waste inspection to defend your site from rising State and Federal penalties.