Compliance Archives - December 2015
12/16/2015
EPA Hazardous Waste Office Changes Name
The US EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) has a new name. The office—which is responsible for implementing a number of EPA’s environmental programs—will from here on out be known as the Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM). Among the responsibilities of this office is the development of hazardous waste standards and regulations.
12/15/2015
IMDG Code: What You Need to Know
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, or IMDG Code, is the international standard for packing and shipping hazardous materials by vessel. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) creates and maintains the IMDG Code requirements. The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Hazmat vessel shippers in the US should be aware that these vessel shipping rules include unique requirements not found in the US DOT's 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations...
12/9/2015
EPA Launches eDisclosure Portal to Help Facilities Self-Report Environmental Violations
US EPA today announced the launch of its eDisclosure Portal to help regulated businesses self-report violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and other environmental regulations. Self-reporting violations of the US EPA’s environmental regulations can benefit businesses in a number of ways—including possible reduction in the civil penalty amount the facility must pay.
12/8/2015
TSCA Form U Reporting in 2016. What's New?
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency requires manufacturers to comply with the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule at 40 CFR 711. The TSCA definition of "manufacture" includes the act of importing a chemical into the United States. The reporting requirements under the CDR have changed slightly since the last reporting year...
12/4/2015
Holiday "Hoverboard" Craze Underscores Risks of Lithium Batteries
Consumers who want to take their new balance gliders, or “hoverboards,” aboard an aircraft are experiencing issues flying this holiday season. Hoverboards are scooters that can be operated hands-free, and they are one of many consumer products powered by lithium batteries.
12/4/2015
Hazmat Items in the 5-year, $305B FAST Act Transportation Bill
HR-22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act—the five-year, $305 billion transportation bill announced by US Congress earlier this week—includes a number of items of interest to hazmat shippers, carriers, rail operators, manufacturers, oil and gas professionals, and others.Below is a review of the hazmat items found in Title VII of the FAST Act. The full text of the Act is available online.
12/2/2015
New Development in EPA’s Clean Air Act Rules for Power Plants
In June of this year, the US Supreme Court ruled against US EPA’s new Clean Air Act rules for power plants, citing EPA’s failure to consider costs to industry as part of the rulemaking process when it set new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) in a 2012 Final Rule. Not considering costs to industry, the Supreme Court said in Michigan vs. EPA, was “beyond the bounds of reasonable interpretation” of existing Clean Air Act rules...
12/1/2015
OSHA Answers Form 300 Questions
Retail isn't the only business that's overwhelmed with work around the holidays. As customers flock to retail stores for holiday shopping sprees, industry facilities in agriculture, mining, construction, heavy manufacturing, transportation, utilities, and more are busy completing their end-of-year paperwork. Among the end-of-year administrative requirements for many businesses is the OSHA 300 Log...Find a Post
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