NJDEP Petition To Require Emission Limit On Pennsylvania Power Plant

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to grant a petition submitted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to limit sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from a Pennsylvania power plant that are adversely impacting air quality in four New Jersey counties. The proposed rule, when final, would require the Portland Generating Station in Northampton County, PA to reduce its SO2 emissions by 81 % over a 3-year period.

Under the Clean Air Act, when a facility impacts air quality in another state, the affected state can petition EPA and request that the facility be required to reduce its impact. In a September 2010 petition, New Jersey asked EPA to find that the Portland power plant is impacting the state’s air quality and to require the facility to reduce its SO2 emissions. Both agencies believe these emission reductions can be achieved using proven and widely available pollution control methods.

NJDEP conducted several air quality modeling analyses to evaluate SO2 levels in the state. According to NJDEP, these analyses showed that the level of SO2 in the air is exceeding the agency’s 1-hour national air quality standard and that the Portland Generating Station is the main source of emissions. EPA also conducted its own modeling analyses and found the same results. EPA is accepting comments on the proposal until May 27, 2011.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com

or

Caltha LLP Website

2010 TSCA Inventory Update Rule Reports Due Starting June 1, 2011

[Note: Read update on revised IUR Rule]

Calendar year 2010 is a reporting year for the TSCA Inventory Update Rule (IUR). The IUR is one of the most widely applicable requirements under TSCA; reporting is required for both manufacturers and importers of TSCA regulated chemicals (even if imported for your own use).

EPA is still finalizing the requirements for this reporting period, consequently, the 2010 reports cannot be submitted at the present time. EPA is expecting to publish the final guidance documents in May 2011, with the proposed reporting period beginning a month later (June 1, 2011) and continuing until the end of September. The submission will be web-based, using the EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) site.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide providing TSCA and EPCRA reporting technical support, TSCA IUR reporting, and preparing cost-effective chemical tracking & management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Extension of Greenhouse Gas GHG Reporting Program Deadline

EPA has issued a final rule that extends the deadline for reporting 2010 data under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program to September 30, 2011. The original deadline was March 31, 2011. Under the GHG Reporting Program entities required to submit data must register with the electronic GHG reporting tool (e-GGRT) no later than 60 days before the reporting deadline. The new deadline for registering with e-GGRT is August 1, 2011.

EPA’s GHG Reporting Program requires the reporting of GHG data from large emission sources across a range of industry sectors, as well as suppliers of products that would emit GHGs if released or combusted.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com

or

Caltha LLP Website

New Power Plant Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

In response to a court deadline, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed national standards for mercury, arsenic and other air toxics from power plants. The new Power Plant Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will require many power plants to install widely available, proven pollution control technologies to cut emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases.

Power plants are the largest remaining source of several toxic air pollutants and are responsible for half of mercury and over half of acid gas emissions in the US. Within the power sector, coal-fired power plants are responsible for 99 % of mercury emissions. According to EPA, currently more than half of all coal-fired power plants already use control technologies that allow them to meet these important standards.

The public comment period will extend 60 days from posting to the Federal Register. EPA also expects to hold public hearings on this proposed rule.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com

or

Caltha LLP Website

GHG Permitting Requirements For Bioenergy and Biomass Fueled Sources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to defer, for three years, Clean Air Act permitting requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic sources. This additional time will allow the agency to conduct a detailed review on this issue. Sources covered by this proposal would include facilities that emit CO2 from burning forest or agricultural products for energy, wastewater treatment, waste management (landfills), and fermentation processes for ethanol production. Facilities meeting the requirements under the agency’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting program will still need to report their CO2 emissions.

New EPA guidance is also being released to assist permitting authorities to determine if using biomass as a fuel can be considered the best available control technology (BACT) for CO2 emissions from the large sources needing permits. According to EPA, the guidance can be used until EPA takes final action on the deferral.

EPA will accept comments on the proposed deferral for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com

or

Caltha LLP Website

New Energy Star Standards For Televisions and Cable - Satellite Boxes

EPA has updated the Energy Star requirements for televisions and cable and satellite boxes. Effective in September 2011, these products must be 40 % more efficient than conventional models in order to qualify for the Energy Star label. The updates for televisions and cable and satellite boxes are the first of more than 20 revisions to product requirements the Energy Star program is expected to complete in 2011.

Under the new requirements, a 60 inch television must use less than 108 watts, compared to the average 282 watts used by a standard model that size. The new Energy Star requirements for cable and satellite boxes specify that they enter a deep sleep mode while not in use, dropping their energy consumption from about 16 watts to 2 watts or less. The new requirements also encourage the deployment of multi-room “thin client” devices to transmit programming from one central DVR to other televisions in the home.

In order to earn the Energy Star label, product performance must be certified by an EPA-recognized third-party based on testing in an EPA-recognized lab. In addition, manufacturers of the products must participate in verification testing programs run by recognized certification bodies.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com

or

Caltha LLP Website

MACT Review For Mineral Wool and Wool Fiberglass Production

US EPA has entered into the pre-proposal phase in its technology review and residual risk review for the Mineral Wool and Wool Fiberglass Production air emission requirements. The MACT standard for Mineral Wool Production was promulgated on June 1, 1999, and the MACT for Wool Fiberglass Production was promulgated on June 14, 1999. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to evaluate the risk remaining to human health within 8 years of promulgation of each MACT standard; for these regulations that date expired in June 2007.

Along with risk, the EPA is also required to review new technology in the industry that can reduce hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from regulated sources, and may consider costs under this technology review. EPA is addressing both Clean Air Act requirements under a combined risk and technology review (RTR). EPA was petitioned to review the risk for these source categories, and also to determine MACT floors for pollutants and processes that were not regulated by the MACT standards. The anticipated publication dates for proposal and promulgation of these RTRs are October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2012, respectively.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EH&S compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com

or

Caltha LLP Website