Greenhouse Gas Permitting Authority Approved For Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the State of Arkansas’ program for permitting new and modified facilities that emit significant amounts of greenhouse gas pollution (GHG) into the air. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) developed a state program to replace the existing federal program and submitted it for EPA review in November 2012.

Arkansas’ authority to issue air permits for new or modified GHG pollution sources will become effective in April 2013, four months after the EPA’s proposed approval of the program. Arkansas is the first state in its EPA Region to replace a federal implementation plan with their own State program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from two separate regulatory agencies. EPA will now rescind the federal program for GHG permitting in Arkansas.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EHS compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EHS management programs.
For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website 

RCRA Program Delegation Approved For New York State DEC

US EPA has approved the delegation for its hazardous waste programs to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC or DEC) relating to used oil management. New York had applied to EPA for final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This final authorization will become effective on May 10, 2013 unless EPA receives adverse written comment by April 10, 2013.

New York has responsibility for permitting Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) within its borders (except in Indian Country) and for carrying out the aspects of the RCRA program described in its revised program application, subject to the limitations of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA).

The effect of this decision is that a facility in New York subject to RCRA will now have to comply with the authorized State requirements instead of the equivalent Federal requirements in order to comply with RCRA. New York has enforcement responsibilities under its State hazardous waste program for violations of such program, but EPA retains its authority under RCRA. This includes the authority to:

• Do inspections, and require monitoring, tests, analyses, reports or other actions
• Enforce RCRA requirements and suspend or revoke permits
• Take enforcement actions regardless of whether the State has taken its own actions.

Caltha LLP  is an environmental consultant providing specialized expertise to clients in New York and nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EHS compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EHS management programs. For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Ortho Nitrotoluene Proposed For Be Added To List Of EPCRA TRI Chemicals

EPA is proposing to add ortho-nitrotoluene (o-nitrotoluene) to the list of chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). o-Nitrotoluene has been classified by the National Toxicology Program in their 12th Report on Carcinogens as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." EPA believes that o-nitrotoluene meets the EPCRA section 313(d)(2)(B) criteria because it can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans. Based on EPA’s review of the available production and use information, the agency believes that o-nitrotoluene is expected to be manufactured, processed, or otherwise used in quantities that would exceed the EPCRA section 313 reporting thresholds.

Comments on the proposed addition of o-Nitrotoluene to the list of TRI chemicals must be received on or before May 13, 2013.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the preparing and submitting annual toxic release inventory reports, and preparing cost-effective chemical tracking procedures.
For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

2013 Environmental, Health and Safety Overview Course - Bloomington, MN May 8-10

Course Dates: May 8 through May 10, 2013
Course Location: Bloomington, Minnesota

The North Star Chapter of the Alliance of Hazardous Material Professionals provides an annual regulatory overview course for environmental, health & safety professionals. The Regulatory / CHMM Overview Workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the major regulatory programs, topics and concerns in environmental, health & safety management. Although some participants attend the course to prepare to take the Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM) exam, many environmental professionals take the Regulatory / CHMM Overview Workshop to enhance their breadth of competence in their professions and/or to get up-to-date.

Course Content

• Federal Statutes Overview
• Liability and Compliance
• Clean Water Act
• Clean Air Act
• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
• Community Right-to-Know (SARA Title III - EPCRA)
• Chemistry of Hazardous Materials
• Toxicology
• Geology
• Radiation Principles
• Asbestos
• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
• Hazardous Materials Transportation
• OSHA
• Accident Scenario
• Environmental Management Systems
• Environmental Considerations in Real
• Estate/ Due Diligence Assessments
• Underground Storage Tanks
• Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)
• Waste Analysis
• Hazardous Waste Treatment Technologies
• Waste Reduction/Minimization and Pollution Prevention
• Compliance Audits
• Motivation of Employees with Respect to Environmental Matters
• CHMM Code of Ethics

For more information go to:
2013 Regulatory / CHMM Overview Workshop

Petition To Remove Acetonitrile From TRI Reporting Requirements Denied By EPA

EPA has announced that it is denying a petition to remove acetonitrile from the list of chemicals subject to reporting requirements under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA). EPA reviewed the available data on this chemical and determined that acetonitrile does not meet the deletion criterion of EPCRA section 313(d)(3), specifically due to its potential human health impacts.

EPCRA section 313(d) authorizes EPA to add or delete chemicals from the list and sets criteria for these actions. EPA may add a chemical to the list if any of the listing criteria in Section 313(d)(2) are met. To remove a chemical from the list, EPCRA requires that EPA demonstrate that none of the listing criteria are met. The EPCRA section 313(d)(2) criteria are:

(A) The chemical is known to cause or can reasonably be anticipated to cause significant adverse acute human health effects at concentration levels that are reasonably likely to exist beyond facility site boundaries as a result of continuous, or frequently recurring, releases.
(B) The chemical is known to cause or can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer or teratogenic effects, or other serious or irreversible chronic health effects.
(C) The chemical is known to cause or can be reasonably anticipated to cause significant adverse effect on the environment, because of its toxicity, persistence in the environment, or tendency to bioaccumulate in the environment

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the providing technical assistance in preparing Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Reports, and other environmental reporting requirements under EPCRA.
For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website