WIsconsin Runoff Performance Standards - Proposed NR 151

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is currently in the process of making revisions to Wisconsin Rule NR 151. NR 151establishes runoff pollution performance standards for non−agricultural facilities and transportation facilities and performance standards and prohibitions for agricultural facilities and practices designed to achieve water quality standards.

[Read on proposed changes to WDNR amendments to stormwater runoff rules]

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
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Minnesota Water Quality Rules - Amendments To 7050 and 7052

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is requesting comments on its planned amendments to rules governing state water quality standards found in Minnesota Rules Chapters. 7050 and 7052.

Chapter 7050 includes provisions to protect Minnesota’s waters from pollution – including classification system for both surface and ground waters, listing of specifically classified water bodies, water quality standards, nondegradation (antidegradation) provisions, and methods for the determination of site-specific criteria.

Chapter 7052 provides standards specific to surface waters of the state in the Lake Superior Basin - establishes aquatic life, human health, and wildlife water quality standards and criteria for Great Lakes Initiative pollutants, nondegradation standards, and implementation procedures for deriving effluent limitations from these standards and criteria.


The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires States to review their water quality standards every three years (“Triennial Review”) and to amend and update them if necessary. The MPCA initiated this triennial review by seeking comments in a Request for Comments published in the July 28, 2008, State Register.

[Read more about proposed MPCA amendments to Water Quality Standards in Minnesota]

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CHMM Overview Course - Environmental Health and Safety Overview - Minneapolis, MN

CHMM Overview Course for the Institute of Hazardous Material Managers (IHMM) Examination
April 22 – April 24, 2009
Bloomington, Minnesota

The North Star Chapter of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers presents this CHMM Overview Workshop. The Regulatory / CHMM Overview Workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the major environmental, health & safety topics. The course is intended to prepare students to take the IHMM Exam, although it also provides a valuable overview of EHS topics for individuals who do not intend to become Certified Hazardous Material Managers (CHMM).

Course topics include:

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

The full brochure for this workshop is available in .pdf format. Registration is also available online at the ACHMM-NSC web site: http://www.achmm-nsc.org/course.htm


Caltha LLP is pleased to support the North Star Chapter in presenting this valuable training course by providing volunteer instructors.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
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IDNR Antidegradation Rules - Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Revision

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has extended the public comment period on the proposed antidegradation rules to March 4. The antidegradation policy, required by Iowa law, would set minimum requirements for the conservation, maintenance and protection of water quality and existing uses of surface waters.

Antidegradation policy is one of the three components of water quality standards - 1) designated uses, 2) water quality criteria to protect those uses, and 3) antidegradation policy). The DNR is proposing a four-tiered approach, including creating a guidance document that establishes procedures for implementing the antidegradation policy.

The changes being proposed include the following:

1. Incorporate by reference the document entitled “Iowa Antidegradation Implementation Procedure,” which proposes an approach to be followed in assessing and minimizing degradation of Iowa’s surface waters


2. Update antidegradation policy language with four tier approach, and


3. Remove High Quality (Class HQ) and High Quality Resource (Class HQR) designated uses and add several waters to the newly proposed Outstanding Iowa Water (OIW) category.
   
   

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation and use of ambient water quality criteria, site-specific water quality standards, and permit limits. Caltha staff have prepared national Ambient Water Quality Criteria for US EPA and provide expert resources for permittees and/or their technical consultants as they address State and Federal water quality standards.

[Click here to request further information on water quality standards technical support.]

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

Regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard - LCFS Initiative For 11 States

Eleven Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States have committed to developing a regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels for vehicles and other uses. These States will work together to create a common fuel standard that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a technology-neutral basis.

The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), as defined in the Letter of Intent for the initiative, is a market-based, technologically neutral policy to address the carbon content of fuels by requiring reductions in the average lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions per unit of useful energy. A LCFS could apply to transportation fuels, and also to fuels used for heating buildings, for industrial processes, and for electricity generation.

The participating States commit to an effort to analyze low carbon fuel supply options and develop a framework for a regional LCFS in the Northeast-Mid-Atlantic region. These States also agree to draft a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the development of a regional low carbon fuel standard program, to be forwarded for consideration by the governors of the States by December 31, 2009, or as soon thereafter as possible.


For further information contact Caltha LLP at
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Maximum Residue Levels MRL for Pesticides - New EU Rules

Recently, new European Union (EU) rules setting enforceable Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides came into force (Regulation No 396 / 2005). Rules set Maximum Residue Concentrations (MRL) for a wide range of pesticide in a variety of agricultural products. The MRLs are listed in a publicly available database. A European Commission database is now available to search for the MRL applicable to each crop and pesticide.

Caltha LLP assists companies in meeting various product stewardship requirements and meeting regulatory standards. Caltha staff provide specialized expertise in the assessment of chemicals, including agrichemicals, in the environment.

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

Water Quality Standards - Effluent Limits vs Permit Limits

The “standards” that can be applied to wastewater discharges, or any discharge regulated under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in a number of different ways, and can be applied differently to different types of discharges. Three types of standards which are often confusing to permittees are 1) water quality standards, 2) effluent limits, and 3) permit limits. Here we provide a brief description to highlight some of the differences between these three types of standards and how they might interact.

Water Quality Standards
Water quality standards (also known as ambient water quality criteria) are specific standards set by States and apply to the quality of surface waters – lakes, rivers, streams, etc. Ideally, these standards reflect the highest concentration of a chemical that can be present in a given water body that will still allow it to meet its designated uses.

Effluent Limits
Effluent limits (sometimes called categorical standards, or categorical effluent limits) are standards that apply to the quality of wastewater discharges from a specific “category” of industry-type. These limits apply to all dischargers within that category, no matter where they discharge to.

Permit Limits
Permit limits are specific standards that apply to a given permittee and show up in their NPDES permit. They can reflect Effluent Limits that might apply to that permittee, if they are a categorical discharger. The permit limits will also reflect limits on specific chemicals that are needed to meet the water quality standards associated with the receiving water(sometimes refered to as "water quality-based effluent limits" or WQBEL). This does not mean that the discharger will be allowed a discharge that will begin the receiving water up to its Water Quality Standard. State Antidegradation Policies may require limits on specific chemicals that are well below their Water Quality Standards in the receiving water.

[Read more about Antidegradation Policies]


Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation and use of ambient water quality criteria, site-specific water quality standards, and permit limits. Caltha staff have prepared national Ambient Water Quality Criteria for US EPA and provide expert resources for permittees and/or their technical consultants as they address State and Federal water quality standards.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology - Water Quality Standards Webpage


[Click here to request further information on water quality standards technical support.]


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