State Environmental Compliance Resources

Caltha maintains a number of blog resources dedicated to State regulatory programs, including:

Wisconsin Environmental Consultant
Iowa Environmental Consultant
North Dakota Environmental Consultant
Minnesota Environmental Consultant
Texas Stormwater Consultant
Nebraska Stormwater Consultant
California Stormwater Consultant
Illinois Stormwater Consultant
Ohio Stormwater Consultant
Michigan Stormwater Consultant
South Dakota Environmental Consultant

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

This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://environmentalregulatory.calthacompany.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://environmentalregulatory.calthacompany.com/feeds/posts/default.

New Chemicals Proposed for Toxic Release Inventory - TRI

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add 16 chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals. TRI is a publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and waste management activities reported annually by certain industries as well as federal facilities.

Four of the chemicals are being proposed for addition to TRI under the polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) category. The PACs category includes chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic (PBT) and are likely to remain in the environment for a very long time. These chemicals are not readily destroyed and may build up or accumulate in body tissue.

The chemicals proposed for addition are:

• 1-Amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone
• 2,2-bis(Bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol
• Furan
• Glycidol
• Isoprene
• Methyleugenol
• o-Nitroanisole
• Nitromethane
• Phenolphthalein
• Tetrafluoroethylene
• Tetranitromethane
• Vinyl Fluoride
• 1,6-Dinitropyrene
• 1,8-Dinitropyrene
• 6-Nitrochrysene
• 4-Nitropyrene
  

EPA is accepting public comments on the proposal for 60 days after it appears 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

Effective Date For GHG Controls

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided that no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011.

EPA’s action determines that Clean Air Act construction and operating permit requirements for the largest emitting facilities will begin when the first national rule controlling GHGs takes effect. If finalized as proposed, the rule limiting GHG emissions for cars and light trucks would trigger these requirements in January 2011. The agency expects to issue final vehicle GHG standards shortly.

This action is the final step in EPA’s reconsideration of the December 18, 2008 memorandum entitled “EPA’s Interpretation of Regulations that Determine Pollutants Covered by Federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit Program.” The final action clarifies when GHGs and other pollutants are covered under Clean Air Act permitting programs.

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

Revised Hazardous Materials Security Plan Requirements

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) revised 49 CFR Part 172 to modify certain aspects of the requirements for hazardous materials security plans. In consultation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), PHMSA modified security plan requirements applicable to the commercial transportation of hazardous materials by air, rail, vessel, and highway. The final rule narrows the list of materials subject to security plan requirements and clarifies certain requirements related to security planning, training, and documentation.

This final rule is effective October 1, 2010. It has a voluntary compliance date of April 8, 2010.

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

EPA Case-by-Case MACT Rule - MACT Hammer

The US EPA plans to propose a new regulatory backstop requiring States to issue case-by-case maximum achievable control technology (MACT) limits at facilities should a federal court vacate an EPA sector-based MACT, which could strengthen the EPA's position on when the so-called MACT "hammer" applies. The pending rule, which received White House Office of Management and Budget approval without change, is intended to prevent confusion on when the MACT hammer applies following a legal loss for EPA on an air toxics rule. The MACT hammer requires states to establish individual toxic limits at facilities in the absence of a federal standard.

EPA believes that the rule is necessary because the MACT hammer process is poorly understood by States, which have largely been slow to implement it after courts vacate EPA MACTs. Historically, courts have held a strict interpretation of the Clean Air Act section 112, which states that MACT rules must impose technology-based requirements for each sector representing the average of the best 12 percent of sources.

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

Proposed TSCA Significant New Use Rules SNUR

EPA has announced Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 15 chemical substances, which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). Three of these chemical substances are subject to TSCA section 5(e) consent orders issued by EPA. The effective date of this rule is April 2, 2010, unless EPA receives written adverse or critical comments, or notice of intent to submit adverse or critical comments before March 3, 2010.

This action requires persons who intend to manufacture, import, or process any of these 15 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by the rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The notification will provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit that activity before it occurs.

If EPA receives written adverse or critical comments, or notice of intent to submit adverse or critical comments, on one or more of these SNURs before March 3, 2010, EPA will withdraw the relevant sections of the final rule before its effective date. EPA will then issue a proposed SNUR for the chemical substance(s) on which adverse or critical comments were received, providing a 30–day period for public comment.

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