Air Quality – Business Environmental Program

EPA Proposes Reforms to New Chemical Review Process Under TSCA

May 26, 2023

Public Comment Due by July 25th The EPA proposed amendments to regulations that govern the review of new chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Read the Federal Register notice and submit a public comment by July 25. These amendments would update the regulations to: Include the five statutory determinations EPA must make for each new chemical submission; Eliminate eligibility exemptions from the full safety review process for PFAS and other persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals; and Make the …

BEP Partners with Washoe County Health Department

May 26, 2023

Air Quality Assistance Now Available for Washoe County Residents The Nevada Business Environmental Program (BEP) at the University of Nevada, Reno and the Washoe County Health District, Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) are pleased to announce a new partnership to provide air quality compliance and permitting assistance for the Washoe County business community. The main benefits for businesses and residents of this partnership include: Compliance assistance with air quality regulations Air quality permitting and registrations Information on workshops & events Other air …

New Requirements for Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing Operations

May 3, 2023

The final rule for miscellaneous coating manufacturing, effective February 22, 2023, establishes emission limits and work practice requirements for new and existing operations, including process vessels, storage tanks, wastewater, transfer operations, equipment leaks, and heat exchange systems. The rule also implements section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) by requiring all major sources to meet hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emission standards reflecting application of the maximum achievable control technology (MACT). The HAPs emitted from miscellaneous coating manufacturing facilities include toluene, xylene, …

New Hazardous Air Pollutant Standards for Existing Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing Plants

May 3, 2023

This final national emission standard for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) applies to new and existing lead acid battery manufacturing plants that are area sources. The final rule adopts the numerical emissions limits for grid casting, paste mixing, three process operations, lead oxide manufacturing, lead reclamation, and other lead emitting processes in 40 CFR 60.372 of the new source performance standards (NSPS) for lead acid batteries. To learn more, download the US EPA Fact Sheet and visit the rule webpage.

NDEP Is Seeking Your Input on Revisions to Regulations

March 30, 2023

NOTE: Input Must Be Received by Friday, March 31, 2023 As required by Governor Lombardo’s Executive Order 2023-003, the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is undertaking a comprehensive review of the regulations subject to its enforcement. As required, NDEP will be providing a report to the Governor’s office by May 1, 2023 “detailing how those regulations can be streamlined, clarified, or otherwise improved to ensure they provide for the general welfare of the State without unnecessarily inhibiting economic growth.” The report will provide recommendations for …

EPA Seeks Input on Inflation Reduction Act Programs to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Construction Materials and Products

January 31, 2023

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on new programs focused on lower carbon construction materials made possible by a $350 million investment from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The Agency will hold three public webinars and will accept written feedback on establishing new grant and technical assistance programs, and a carbon labeling program for construction materials with substantially lower levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions. March 2, 2023, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. EST: Reducing Embodied Greenhouse …

New PFAS Analytical Tools Released by EPA

January 6, 2023

Pubic Webinar January 10th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new interactive application called the PFAS Analytic Tools. The PFAS Analytic Tools bring together available national datasets into a searchable, map-themed webpage that allows uses to filter, zoom in and download information related perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). EPA issued a Press Release about the application, which provides context about how this effort fits with other EPA initiatives relating to PFAS chemicals. U.S. EPA will be holding …

Draft FAQs for Change of Location Approvals (COLAS) at Temporary Construction Sites

January 6, 2023

Available for Review and Comment The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Air Pollution Control (BAPC) has created Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) for Temporary Construction Sources to provide transparency, consistency, and direction to industry on timelines, modeling, and additional options with Change of Location Approvals. The draft document addresses FAQS that the BAPC has received and answered over several years. Comments or questions should be provided to Tanya Soleta (tsoleta@ndep.nv.gov) or Ashley Taylor (ashley.taylor@ndep.nv.gov) by January 20, 2023. If you need …

NDEP Air Program Responsible Official (RO) Reminder

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022

Is Your RO Information Up-to-Date? The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s (NDEP) Air Program has clarified regulatory requirements and expectations regarding the designation of a Responsible Official (RO) and updating RO contact information. Ensuring that the RO is updated in a timely manner is essential to ensure effective communication of required information about your permit, compliance status, and reporting requirements. Lack of clear identification of an officially designated RO is often a reason for delays in many of the actions and …

Pollution Prevention Works: A Storytelling Challenge for Students

December 15, 2022

Attention High School and College Students! Tell a story about how a company that reports to TRI has taken steps to reduce pollution and win up to $5000! EPA launched a challenge promoting innovation in pollution prevention at industrial and federal facilities. The Challenge invites high school and college students and to use the TRI P2 Search Tool to identify a TRI facility that has reported implementing source reduction practices and tell a compelling story about how those practices or techniques benefit the business …