Recently, the US Department of Transportation issued an Emergency Order requiring all railroads operating trains containing large amounts of Bakken crude oil to notify State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) about the operation of these trains through their states.
Additionally, DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Safety Advisory strongly urging those shipping or offering Bakken crude oil to use tank car designs with the highest level of integrity available in their fleets. In addition, PHMSA and FRA advise offerors and carriers to the extent possible to avoid the use of older legacy DOT Specification 111 or CTC 111 tank cars for the shipment of Bakken crude oil.
“The safety of our nation’s railroad system, and the people who live along rail corridors is of paramount concern,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “All options are on the table when it comes to improving the safe transportation of crude oil, and today’s actions, the latest in a series that make up an expansive strategy, will ensure that communities are more informed and that companies are using the strongest possible tank cars.”
The notification must include estimated volumes of Bakken crude oil being transported, frequencies of anticipated train traffic, and the route through which Bakken crude oil will be transported. The Emergency Order also requires the railroads provide contact information for at least one responsible party at the host railroads to the SERCs. The Emergency Order advises railroads to assist the SERCs as necessary to share the information with the appropriate emergency responders in affected communities.
The Department of Transportation continues to pursue a comprehensive, all-of-the-above approach in minimizing risk and ensuring the safe transport of crude oil. FRA and PHMSA have undertaken more than a dozen actions to enhance the safe transport of crude oil over the last ten months. This comprehensive approach includes immediate and long-term steps such as: launching “Operation Classification” in the Bakken region to verify that crude oil is being properly classified; issuing safety advisories, alerts, emergency orders, and regulatory updates; conducting special inspections; moving forward with a rulemaking to enhance tank car standards; and reaching agreement with railroad companies on a series of immediate voluntary actions they can take by reducing speeds, increasing inspections, using new brake technology, and investing in first responder training.
EPA’s New Solvent Wipe, Shop Towel Rule Demystified
- Does the rule apply to both cloth and paper wipes and rags?
- What solvents can be on the towels, and which are prohibited?
- Does the rule also apply to towels that contain characteristic hazardous waste?
- Can P or U-listed wastes be on the towels?
- How must the towels be stored on-site?
- Do they need to be tested for anything?
- How long can they be stored?
- How must the containers be marked or labeled?
- How must they be prepared for transportation?
- Where can you ship them and what are the disposal and recycling options?
- What are the documentation requirements?
- Can the rule be applied to uniforms or spill absorbents?
- How is the new rule impacted by current state regulations?
Hilton Head RCRA and DOT Training
Orlando RCRA and DOT Training
Baltimore RCRA, Transportation, and Hazard Communication Training
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, material safety data sheet (now called “safety data sheet” or SDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on SDSs.
May 13th Twitter Chat: Waters of the US Proposed Rule
Join experts from EPA for a Twitter chat on the proposed rule to clarify Clean Water Act protection for certain types of streams and wetlands. The chat will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 from 1–2 p.m.
Pre Con Inc. to Pay over $100,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations
By inspecting the storage areas weekly, and through monthly monitoring of equipment that comes in contact with volatiles, the company will prevent accidents that could release pollutants into soil, groundwater, surface water, and air.
Pre Con, Inc. has also agreed to pay a $101,375 penalty to settle the alleged violations at its Petersburg facility, which conducts research and development for the production of synthetic fabrics.
RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
The alleged violations included failure to mark, inspect and monitor equipment in contact with hazardous waste solvent, failure to prepare an adequate contingency plan, and improper recordkeeping.
The settlement penalty reflects the company's compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in resolving this matter. As part of the settlement, the company has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.
EPA Releases EnviroAtlas Ecosystem Mapping Tool
EnviroAtlas is designed for people from all levels of government, professionals, researchers, educators, non-governmental organizations, and anyone interested in considering the benefits or impacts of a decision, such as siting a new road or city park.
“Our health and well-being, our economy and our security depend upon healthy ecosystems,” says Bob Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator of EPA, “By providing EnviroAtlas, which contains a wealth of information for the United States, EPA is helping to ensure that anyone making decisions that may impact ecosystems will have the best available knowledge to build prosperous communities while conserving our natural resources.”
EnviroAtlas can help people learn about ecosystems, and how they provide us with benefits such as clean air and water; opportunities for recreation; and protection from severe weather, such as hurricanes and floods. EnviroAtlas also highlights how ecosystems provide habitats for plants, fish, and wildlife as well as the materials people need to produce food, clothing, shelter, and pharmaceuticals, and provides maps on all of these topics.
EnviroAtlas integrates geospatial data from a variety of sources to allow users to visualize and analyze how decisions impact ecosystems and their ability to provide goods and services. Communities are often faced with difficult decisions, such as trade-offs between transportation, residential, or commercial development and maintaining local wetlands, urban greenspaces, or urban forests. EnviroAtlas helps communities better understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of their decisions by providing data, maps, information and tools to analyze relationships between nature, health and well-being, and the economy.
EnviroAtlas combines hundreds of data layers developed through collaboration between EPA; US Geological Survey; US Forest Service; other federal, state, and non-profit organizations; and several universities. Using powerful web application tools, it lets users generate customized maps and images that show the condition of their local community’s air, water, and landscape; as well as population density and other demographic data. Users can investigate land cover patterns, see how ecosystem services reduce pollution, and view closer to true scale data to compare them across selected communities.
EnviroAtlas is available to anybody with access to a computer and an internet connection. No special software is needed. It is currently not optimized for smartphone or tablet use, but a mobile-friendly version is planned for the future.
Using tools like EnviroAtlas to make informed decisions will help ensure that people can continue to enjoy economic, social, and environmental benefits of ecosystems now and in the future.
Ryder Truck Rental Settles Underground Storage Tank Violations
EPA cited the company for not complying with safeguards designed to prevent, detect, and control leaks of petroleum and other hazardous substances from USTs. The alleged violations involved two diesel fuel USTs, each with a 12,000 gallon capacity.
According to EPA, the company failed to conduct required leak detection measures for various periods totaling more than six months, and failed to respond in a timely manner to a suspected fuel leak in 2009. These alleged violations were documented in an EPA inspection in April 2012 as well as subsequent document requests.
As part of the settlement, the company did not admit liability for the alleged violations. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s cooperation with EPA in correcting the alleged non-compliance and resolving this matter.
With millions of gallons of petroleum products and hazardous substances stored in USTs throughout the US, leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state UST regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups.
Recent EPA Region 10 Environmental Violations
EPA Region 10 completed nearly 100 environmental compliance and enforcement actions in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington from July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
According to the Agency, violations of environmental laws can put public health and the environment at risk. EPA enforces federal environmental laws to protect communities and to keep our region’s air, land, and water clean and healthy. These compliance and enforcement efforts also level the playing field by deterring violators who might otherwise have an unfair business advantage over environmentally compliant facilities and businesses. From July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, EPA Region 10 completed the following environmental enforcement actions:
State
City
Name
Violation
Penalty
Date
AK
Anchorage
Violated air permits for Arctic oil, gas exploration and drilling (CAA)
$1.1 million
Sept. 2013
AK
Wrangell
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$45,500
Dec. 2013
AK
N/A
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$44,473
Dec. 2013
AK
N/A
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$136,072
Sept. 2013
AK
N/A
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$94,500
Sept. 2013
AK
Big Lake
Burkeshore Marina
Violated spill prevention and control rules (CWA)
$2,100
July 2013
AK
Elmendorf AFB
Violated hazardous waste management rules (RCRA)
$21,245
Sept. 2013
AK
Cantwell
Tsesyu Services
Violated underground storage tank rules (RCRA)
$840
Nov. 2013
AK
Delta Junction
Buffalo Service Center
Violated underground storage tank rules (RCRA)
$210
Oct. 2013
AK
Fairbanks
Tesoro #111
Violated underground storage tank rules (RCRA)
$210
July 2013
AK
Glennallen
Glennallen Fuel
Violated underground storage tank rules (RCRA)
$1,050
Aug. 2013
AK
Healy
McKinley RV Miners Market
Violated underground storage tank rules (RCRA)
$210
Sept. 2013
AK
Palmer
The Green Store
Violated underground storage tank rules (RCRA)
$410
Sept. 2013
AK
Sites across Alaska
Violated safe drinking water rules (SDWA)
$332,000
Sept. 2013
AK
Juneau
Alaska Commercial Contractors
Failed to disclose lead-based paint hazards (TSCA)
$32,130
Sept. 2013
AK
Juneau
Van Pool Painting
Failed to disclose lead-based paint hazards (TSCA)
$10,000
Sept. 2013
ID
Nampa
Violated hazardous chemical risk management rules (CAA)
$91,352
July 2013
ID
Winchester
Violated asbestos rules (CAA)
$21,000
Sept. 2013
ID
Jerome
Davisco Foods International, Jerome Cheese
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$304,000
July 2013
ID
Twin Falls
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$25,000
Nov. 2013
ID
Genesee
City of Genesee
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$17,700
Dec. 2013
ID
Rockland
City of Rockland
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
Comp-liance Order by Consent
July 2013
ID
Rockland
City of Rockland
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$9,100
Sept. 2013
ID
Paul
Unauthorized discharge (CWA)
$7,500
July 2013
ID
Paul
Amalgamated Sugar company
Unauthorized discharge (CWA)
Comp-liance Order by Consent
July 2013
ID
Caldwell
JR Simplot Company
Unauthorized discharge (CWA)
Comp-liance Order by Consent
Aug. 2013
ID
St Maries
City of St Maries
Violated wastewater permit (CWA)
$8,100
Sept. 2013
ID
Caldwell
JR Simplot Company
Unauthorized discharge (CWA)
$10,000
Sept. 2013
ID
Marsing
Amvac Chemical Corporation
Sold mislabeled pesticides (FIFRA)