EPA To Expand RCRA Categorical Non-Fuel Waste List

 The NHSM rule established standards and procedures for identifying whether non-hazardous secondary materials are solid wastes when used as fuels or ingredients in combustion units. In a February 7, 2013 rule, EPA listed particular non-hazardous secondary materials as “categorical non-waste fuels” provided certain conditions are met. EPA also indicated that it would consider adding additional non- hazardous secondary materials to the categorical listings. This action proposes to add three materials to the list of categorical non- waste fuels: Construction and demolition (C&D) wood processed from C&D debris according to best management practices; Paper recycling residuals, including old corrugated cardboard (OCC) rejects, generated from the recycling of recovered paper and paperboard products and burned on-site by paper recycling mills whose boilers are designed to burn solid fuel; and Creosote treated railroad ties that are processed and combusted in units designed to burn both biomass and fuel oil.

Settlements Ensure New England Painting Companies Protect Children from Lead Paint Hazards

Several recent settlements ensure that New England businesses performing painting and home renovation work are complying with requirements designed to protect children from exposure to lead-based paint during painting and other renovation activities. 

The rule requires individuals performing renovations for compensation at most pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities to be properly trained. There are certification and training requirements for individual renovators and firms performing renovations to ensure that safe work practices are followed during renovations.

“Infants’ and children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead exposure, which can include lifelong impacts such as developmental impairment, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity and behavioral problems,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “The common-sense and easy-to-follow safe work practices found in the RRP rule are designed to help ensure that people are protecting their kids from suffering serious, lifelong health impacts from lead exposure.”

EPA recently reached settlements in the following lead paint RRP cases:

East Coast Pros LLC, Norwalk, Connecticut – This company was hired in 2012 to perform renovations at the First Congregational Church on the Green in Norwalk. The church facilities were built before 1978 and included the L’il Critters Preschool facility, with approximately 80 children below the age of 6 enrolled at the time the renovation was being performed. An EPA inspection indicated that the company started renovation work and disturbed more than 20 square feet of exterior painted surfaces without using lead-safe work practices. EPA identified six RRP Rule violations, including: failing to provide the EPA information pamphlet “Renovate Right” to the owner or adult occupants of the L’il Critters Preschool facility, which is a child-occupied facility; failing to provide the EPA information pamphlet “Renovate Right” to the parents/guardians of children at the L’il Critters Preschool facility; not maintaining any records regarding Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and RRP rule compliance; failing to have RRP firm certification; failing to ensure that the company’s renovators were RRP-certified; and failing to contain renovation waste. The company has agreed to an expedited settlement of $3,577.

Bill Vizzo Contractors, LLC/Michael’s Painting, Shelton, Connecticut – This company will pay a penalty of $2,200 for failing to comply with lead-based paint renovation requirements during renovation work at a residence in Monroe, Connecticut, in violation of the TSCA, the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, and the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.

Gerard Therrien, Manchester, New Hampshire – Gerard Therrien performed painting and renovation work at a single family home in Manchester, New Hampshire. During an inspection of the work, EPA identified RRP Rule violations, including: failing to properly cover the ground at the exterior of the building with plastic sheeting or other disposable impermeable material; failing to properly cover interior surfaces with taped-down plastic sheeting or other impermeable material; failing to contain waste from renovation activities to prevent releases of dust and debris; failing to obtain initial firm certification from EPA; failing to obtain a course completion certificate (proof of certification); failing to post signs clearly defining the work area at the work site. This matter was negotiated prior to filing an administrative action and Mr. Therrien agreed to pay a $2,980 penalty under EPA’s Pilot RRP Penalty Program for Micro-Businesses.

Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts – This corporation that specializes in renovating and painting apartment buildings and residences in Massachusetts and throughout New England paid a $30,000 penalty for alleged violations of the pre-renovation education and record keeping requirements of the Renovation Repair and Painting Rule. Their violations included failing to provide EPA’s lead hazard information pamphlet to customers before undertaking renovation projects in several Massachusetts communities, and failing to comply with the record-keeping requirements in connection with seven Massachusetts renovation projects during the summer of 2010.

EPA also recently announced settlements for alleged violations of the lead RRP rule for work to convert the former Frisbee School in Kittery, Maine into a community center. The companies involved were James J. Welch & Co., Inc., of Salem, Massachusetts, hired as the primary contractor for the job, and New Hampshire Plate Glass Corp. of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which was hired as a subcontractor to install new replacement windows in the building. Under the settlements, JJ Welch will pay a penalty of $3,565, while NH Glass will pay a fine of $10,890.

EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule became effective on April 22, 2010, and allows for the assessment of penalties that may reach up to a maximum of $37,500 per violation per day.

Since 2012, EPA has pursued 14 actions in New England to enforce the RRP Rule. Continued enforcement of the lead paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule ensures both that children are being protected from avoidable exposure to lead, as well as there being a “level playing field” for contractors following the health-protective work practices in the regulation.

EPA Stops New Jersey Company from Selling Illegal Pesticides

EPA has fined Hannam Mart and NJ Hannam Chain, Inc., for selling insecticides and anti-bacterial cleaning products at the Hannam Mart retail store in Fort Lee, New Jersey, that were not registered and improperly labeled. Products used to kill pests and bacteria must be registered with the EPA to ensure they will not make people sick. They must also have labels with instructions on their proper use written in English. The companies have agreed to stop selling the products and will pay a penalty of $22,950.

“The sale of illegal pesticides puts the health and safety of our communities at risk,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Store owners have a responsibility to make sure the pesticide products they sell have the required EPA labels. I encourage all retailers to check their shelves to make sure they are not endangering their customers by selling illegal pesticides.”

Some pesticides have been linked to various forms of illnesses in people, ranging from skin and eye irritation to cancer. Some pesticides may also affect the hormone or endocrine systems. In many situations, there are non-chemical methods that will effectively control pests.

An EPA inspection of the Hannam Mart retail store in Fort Lee revealed the companies were selling pesticide products, including a mosquito killer, an antibacterial cleaner and an antibiotic product for washing clothing, that had not been registered with the EPA and had labels written in Korean.

Before a pesticide product is registered, the producer of the product must provide data from tests conducted according to EPA guidelines to ensure that the product will not be harmful to people’s health. The EPA examines the ingredients and the way in which the product will be used and assesses a wide variety of potential human health and environmental effects associated with its use. Distributors and retailers are responsible for ensuring that all pesticides distributed and sold fully comply with the law.

Court Upholds Mercury Air Toxics Rule

Recently the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the EPA’s 2012 Mercury and Air Toxics Rule (MATS). Earthjustice represented the NAACP, the Sierra Club, Clean Air Council, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in the case.

MATS will annually prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths, nearly 5,000 heart attacks and 130,000 asthma attacks, and more than 540,000 missed work days. It will also protect babies and children from exposures to mercury than can damage their ability to develop and learn. The EPA has estimated that every year, more than 300,000 newborns face elevated risk of learning disabilities due to exposure to mercury in the womb.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of toxic air pollutants, and account for almost half of the nation’s mercury emissions. In 2012 after a decade of delay, the agency finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics rule. A group of industry and corporate groups immediately filed a lawsuit challenging this rule.

MassDEP Assesses Town and Country Builders a $37,625 Penalty for Asbestos Violations

Town and Country Builders of Whitinsville and its owner, Denis Latour, were fined $37,625 by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for failing to follow safe and legal asbestos removal procedures during a project in Uxbridge.

During a December 2012 inspection, MassDEP inspectors observed that Mr. Latour had improperly removed more than 100 linear feet of asbestos-containing pipe insulation from a multi-family residential property on Bouffard Lane. Numerous pieces of dry, friable asbestos-containing insulation were discovered uncontained on the basement floor of the property and also in an unmarked tarp lying outside in the yard. Additionally, inspectors found that the asbestos insulation had not been wet, the work area had not been sealed off and air filtration units were not utilized during the removal work as required.

MassDEP had also not been notified in advance of the asbestos removal project as required by state regulations.

Upon discovery, MassDEP required Mr. Latour to immediately retain the services of a Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards-licensed asbestos contractor to properly handle, package, and dispose of all the asbestos waste in the yard, and to cleanup and decontaminate the basement and all affected areas of the property.

“Home improvement contractors must be fully aware of their responsibilities to ensure the proper removal, handling, packaging, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Failure to notify MassDEP of asbestos removal, and not following proper work practices potentially exposes workers, tenants, and the general public to a known carcinogen,” said Lee Dillard Adams, director of MassDEP’s Central Regional Office in Worcester. “As this case illustrates, noncompliance with the asbestos regulations will result in significant penalty exposure, as well as escalated cleanup, decontamination, disposal, and monitoring costs.”

MassDEP regulations require notification to the agency in advance of an asbestos removal project, as well as proper removal, handling, packaging, labeling, storage, and disposal of asbestos waste materials. These critical measures prevent the release of and potential exposure to asbestos fibers, and warn of the health hazards associated with that type of waste material.

For these violations, MassDEP assessed a penalty of $37,625, but agreed to suspend $7,525 of that penalty provided the company does not have repeat violations for one year.

EPA Issues Greenhouse Gas Permit in Texas

Recently, the EPA issued a final GHG Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permit to Apex Matagorda Energy Center, LLC, Matagorda, Texas. The permit allows Apex to construct a 317-megawatt electric generating plant and auxiliary equipment to store bulk energy for the electrical grid.

“We are working closely with business to protect both our environment and our economy,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “This permit demonstrates how business can save energy, reduce emissions, and take decisive steps toward a low-carbon future.”

The energy from stored compressed high pressure air will be supplemented with natural gas fired combustion turbines to produce electricity during off-peak hours. The facility also aims to enhance the performance of renewable and conventional fossil fuel generation.

In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on January 2, 2011, projects that increase GHG emissions substantially will require an air permit.

EPA believes states are best equipped to run GHG air permitting programs. Texas is working to replace a federal implementation plan with its own state program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from EPA. This action will increase efficiency and allow for industry to continue to grow in Texas.

This Earth Day, Get Outside and Take a #natureselfie

 People can also share their photos on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #natureselfie.

“You don’t have to travel great distances to connect with nature,” says EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Nature can be found in the smallest of green spaces, in the local park or in your backyard. This is a fun and easy way for people to connect with nature, and observe possible impacts of climate change. We are encouraging people of all ages to go outside, take a #natureselfie and share it online.”

“Taking a #natureselfie is a way to rediscover the magic of nature and get back outside after what has been for many a very long winter,” says Stu Gruskin, The Nature Conservancy in New York’s Chief Conservation and External Affairs Officer. 

The EPA will continue the project in future years so that participants can return to the same tree, flower or blooming plant on the same day each year and take a photo that can be compared to photos from other years. Changes in blooming patterns will be examined and may have a connection to climate change.

According to the EPA, the planet is getting warmer and we are already feeling the effects. The 12 hottest years in recorded history have all come in the last 15 years. The timing of natural events—such as the blooming of plants—is influenced by climate change. Scientists have a high degree of confidence that the earlier arrival of spring is linked to recent warming trends in global climate.

Corporate-Wide Settlement with Lowe’s Protects Public from Lead Pollution During Home Renovations

The company will also pay a $500,000 civil penalty, which is the largest ever for violations of the RRP Rule.

EPA enforces the RRP and other lead rules to protect children and others who are vulnerable to exposure to lead dust that can cause lead poisoning.

 “Lowe’s is taking responsibility for the actions of the firms it hires, and EPA expects other contractors to do the same.”

“Today’s settlement requires Lowe’s to institute a robust, nationwide program at over 1,700 of its stores to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform renovation projects, like window and door installation, are properly certified and adhere to practices that help prevent lead contamination in customers’ homes,” said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This action, the first of its kind to address lead safe work practices on a system-wide basis, will help prevent children’s exposure to lead in communities across the nation by raising home improvement contractors’ awareness of EPA’s lead safety regulations and contributing to a culture of compliance.”

EPA discovered the violations through a review of records from projects performed by renovators working under contract for the following Lowe’s stores: Alton, Illinois; Kent and Trotwood, Ohio; Bedford, New Hampshire; Southington, Connecticut; South Burlington, Vermont; Rochester, New York; Savannah and Lebanon, Tennessee; Boise, Idaho Falls, and Nampa, Idaho; and Muldoon, Alaska.

The government complaint alleged that Lowe’s failed to provide documentation showing that specific contractors had been certified by EPA, had been properly trained, had used lead-safe work practices, or had correctly used EPA-approved lead test kits at renovation sites. Additionally, EPA’s investigation found that Lowe’s had also failed to ensure that work areas had been properly contained and cleaned during renovations at three homes. EPA’s investigation was prompted by tips and complaints submitted by the public.

In addition to the civil penalty, Lowe’s must implement a comprehensive compliance program to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work for its customers comply with the RRP Rule during renovations of any child-occupied facilities, such as day-care centers and pre-schools, and any housing that was built before 1978. For these projects, Lowe’s must contract with only EPA or state-certified renovators, ensure they maintain certification, and ensure they use lead safe work practices checklists during renovations. In addition, Lowe’s must suspend anyone that is not operating in compliance with the rule, investigate all reports of potential noncompliance, and ensure that any violations are corrected.

The RRP Rule, which implements the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, is intended to ensure that owners and occupants of housing built before 1978, as well as any child-occupied facilities, receive information on lead-based paint hazards before renovations begin, that individuals performing such renovations are properly trained and certified by EPA, and follow specific work practices to reduce the potential for lead-based paint exposure. Home improvement companies such as Lowe’s that contract with renovators to perform renovation work for their customers must ensure that those contractors comply with all of the requirements of the RRP Rule.

Lead-based paint was banned in 1978 but still remains in many homes and apartments across the country. Lead dust hazards can occur when lead paint deteriorates or is disrupted during home renovation and remodeling activities. Lead exposure can cause a range of health problems, from behavioral disorders and learning disabilities to seizures and death, putting young children at the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing.

In February 2014, EPA announced enforcement actions that require 35 renovation firms and training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the RRP Rule. Those settlements generated a total of $274,000 in civil penalties.

Renovators that are certified under EPA’s RRP Rule are encouraged to display EPA’s “Lead-Safe” logo on worker’s uniforms, signs, websites, and other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by looking for the logo before hiring a home renovator.

Lowe’s operates over 1,700 stores throughout the US, with over 120 additional stores located in Canada and Mexico. Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, formerly known as Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc., and Lowe’s HIW, Inc., is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina.

. Notice of the lodging of the consent decree will appear in the Federal Register allowing for a 30-day public comment period before the consent decree can be entered by the court as final judgment.

Ethanol Plant at Buffalo Lake Cited for Wastewater Violations

The ethanol plant in Buffalo Lake formerly owned by Minnesota Energy is in the process of correcting water and air quality permit violations, and must pay a $10,000 civil penalty, according to an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

In October 2012, Renville County officials reported a “white discoloration” in a section of Judicial Ditch 15 downstream from the plant. The inspection also noted that the plant had failed to meet permit requirements for observing discharge limits, monitoring, and reporting.

Minnesota Energy is a cooperative previously permitted to produce up to 23.5 million gallons of ethanol per year. In June 2012 it licensed operation of the plant to Purified Renewable Energy, and transferred ownership in November 2012. Purified Renewable Energy has since filed for bankruptcy. The plant is now owned by Buffalo Lake Advanced Biofuels, LLC, which is now responsible for the remaining corrective actions.

The penalty and cleanup are part of a stipulation agreement between Minnesota Energy and the MPCA. This type of agreement is one of the tools the agency uses to achieve compliance with environmental laws. When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it was a first-time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. The agency also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.

Skunk Creek, Lake Superior Tainted Twice by Two Harbors Wastewater

Nearly 150,000 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into Skunk Creek and Lake Superior within a six-month period due to inadequate emergency notification equipment and procedures at the Two Harbors main lift station, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced recently.

The city of Two Harbors owns and operates the lift station and holds a state permit to discharge treated wastewater from the city’s wastewater treatment facility to Lake Superior.

The discharges occurred in August 2013 and January 2014. The earlier release occurred due to a lift station power outage that sent approximately 35,000 gallons of untreated wastewater through an open valve in the lift station to Skunk Creek, which drains to Lake Superior. The lift station’s alarm system sounded at a location not staffed during the spill.

Another lift station power outage last January allowed approximately 114,000 gallons of untreated wastewater to back up into an adjacent manhole containing an overflow pipe that again sent sewage into Skunk Creek. The power outage alarm system was not activated during this 23-hour release period.

Due to the facility’s failure to maintain adequate operational and alarm systems and controls that could prevent bypasses, and, in an unrelated violation, failure of the wastewater treatment facility to meet mercury effluent limits, the MPCA penalized the city of Two Harbors $19,000.

Additional enforcement requirements include taking immediate steps to prevent future spills, notifying the state Duty Officer immediately once one occurs, identifying and closing any other sewage bypass locations in the city’s collection system, assessing all lift stations to ensure proper emergency condition notification equipment and procedures are in place, and installing mercury-removal technology at the wastewater treatment plant to meet mercury effluent limits.

Most requirements have already been met; others have deadlines between July 2014 and January 2016 that require MPCA approval.

LaRoche’s Inc. to Fix Sewage Violations

LaRoche’s, Inc., a septic system maintenance business in rural Faribault, has agreed to comply with state rules designed to protect public health and the environment from untreated sewage after a state inspection found several violations.

From 2008-2012, the business over-applied sewage to two hay fields in Rice County by 311,631 gallons, according to a records review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). State rules permit the application of sewage pumped from septic tanks to cropland under certain conditions and procedures. LaRoche’s failed to comply with these rules. State rules require treatment of sewage or incorporation into the ground to minimize pathogenic contamination. The rules require certain application rates to minimize nitrate infiltration to lakes, streams, and groundwater.

The business also failed to register a tank used for storing several thousand gallons of sewage. State rules require tank registration with the local county or state to ensure proper tank design, installation, and maintenance. These rules are designed to prevent releases of untreated sewage into the environment.

In addition to taking steps to comply with these rules, LaRoche’s must pay a $14,000 penalty to the agency and submit an article on tank permitting to an industry newsletter called “Dirt Digger.”

The penalty and conditions are part of stipulation agreement between LaRoche’s and the MPCA. This type of agreement is one of the tools the agency uses to achieve compliance with environmental laws.

EPA Announces Winner of Annual Energy Star National Building Competition

Teams from more than 3,000 buildings across the country spent the past year competing to obtain the greatest reduction in energy use. Claiborne Elementary School won by cutting its energy use nearly in half.

“When we save money on energy costs and increase energy efficiency, we all win,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “I congratulate the competitors and finalists for their dedication to reducing emissions and carbon pollution, and for their leadership in increasing energy efficiency to combat the impacts of our changing climate.”

In support of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for buildings to cut waste and become at least 20% more energy efficient by 2020, the competition targeted wasted energy in buildings and motivated building owners and occupants to improve energy efficiency, reduce harmful carbon pollution, and save money. Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20% of total US GHG emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year.

Together, competitors in this year’s National Building Competition saved more than $20 million and reduced GHG emissions by more than 130,000 metric tons—equal to the annual electricity use of nearly 18,000 homes. Many organizations used the competition to involve people—such as staff and students—who might not ordinarily be engaged in such efforts.

Teams from more than 25 different types of commercial buildings faced off in this year’s Energy Star National Building Competition, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Nearly 50 buildings demonstrated energy use reductions of 20% or greater in a single year.

The top overall finishers and their percentage-based reductions in energy use include:

• Claiborne Elementary School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 45.9%
• Hillside Center II, Columbia, Maryland 37.1%
• Lake Local – Lake High School/Wellness Center, Uniontown, Ohio 36.2%
• UNC-Chapel Hill Bioinformatics Building, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 35.8%
• High Construction Company Building 105, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 35.3%
• JCPenney, Shawnee, Oklahoma 33.9%
• Studebaker Elementary School, Des Moines, Iowa 31.9%
• McCombs Middle School, Des Moines, Iowa 29.7%
• Eastman Chemical Company Building B-470, Kingsport, Tennessee 29.6%
• Eastman Chemical Company Building B-469, Kingsport, Tennessee 29.6%
• South Greene High School, Greeneville, Tennessee 29.2%
• Fourth Walnut Centre, Cincinnati, Ohio 29.2%
• DeBusk Elementary School, Greeneville, Tennessee 29.1%
• University of Florida’s Physical Plant Division Central Stores, Gainesville, Florida 29.0%
• West Middle School, Shelbyville, Kentucky 28.9%

The winner, Claiborne Elementary School, taught students and teachers what actions they could take every day to save energy. Suggestions included adjusting thermostats, keeping doors and windows closed when the heat or A/C is on, turning off lights when they are last to leave a room, and making sure all electronic devices are shut off at the end of each day. The school also fine-tuned automated controls of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and lighting systems, making sure that lights were turned off in unoccupied areas and that the heating and cooling systems were optimized to run only when necessary.

The fourth annual Energy Star National Building Competition measured energy performance for the entire 2013 calendar year. Competitors tracked their buildings’ monthly energy consumption using EPA’s online energy tracking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The energy use reductions for each top finisher were verified by an independently licensed professional engineer or registered architect at the end of the competition.

Thousands of businesses and organizations work with EPA’s Energy Star program and are saving billions of dollars, preventing millions of tons of GHG emissions from entering the atmosphere each year.

In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved an estimated $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented GHG emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 38 million homes. From the first Energy Star qualified computer in 1992, the Energy Star label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.5 billion sold. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 office buildings, schools, and hospitals have earned the Energy Star label.

EPA Issues Greenhouse Gas Permit to Houston-Area Facility

EPA has issued a final GHG Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permit for the Lone Star NGL facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, just west of Houston. The permit allows the company to build a natural gas processing plant.

“Natural gas is important to meeting our climate goals and energy future,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “EPA is working with Texas businesses to take advantage of growth opportunities while building greener facilities.”

The facility will separate natural gas liquids (NGL) into different gas products, including ethane, propane, butanes, and natural gasoline. The plant will process about 100,000 barrels of NGL per day.

In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on January 2, 2011, projects that increase GHG emissions substantially will require an air permit.

EPA believes states are best equipped to run GHG air permitting programs. Texas is working to replace a federal implementation plan with its own state program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from EPA. This action will increase efficiency and allow for industry to continue to grow in Texas.

EPA has finalized over 34 GHG permits in Texas, proposed an additional 9 permits, and currently has over 30 additional GHG permit applications under development in Texas.

Free Webcast on Water Quality Mobile Website: How’s My Waterway?

EPA will be hosting a free webcast on April 23 from 1:00pm–2:00pm Eastern Time to detail the new enhancements to How’s My Waterway, a mobile friendly website that enables users to easily access water quality information for their local lakes, rivers, and streams. The mobile friendly website has proven popular with the general public and more technical users alike because of its plain-English approach, map and list formats, simple design, and rapid retrieval of local-scale information. The enhanced version includes, among other things, drinking water source protection areas, watershed information, information on local permits that limit pollutant discharges, and National fish habitat partnerships to restore waterways to protect and improve fish habitats. EPA water scientist Doug Norton, who developed How’s My Waterway, will discuss the new enhancements and provide practical examples of how the tool can be used by various audiences. 

Environmental News Links

24-Hour HAZWOPER Training in the Raleigh, NC, Area

St. Louis RCRA and DOT Training

Charlotte RCRA, DOT, and SARA 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.

Trivia Question of the Week

With the help of Energy Star, the release of how many metric tons of greenhouse gases have been prevented over the past two decades?

a. 1,900

b. 190,000

c. 1.9 million

d. 1.9 billion