Health & Safety – Business Environmental Program

US EPA Finalizes Stronger Clean Air Standards for Chemical Plants

April 11, 2024

On April 9, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final action to provide crucial health protections to communities near chemical plants. The action aims to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including chloroprene and ethylene oxide (EtO), while also decreasing pollution contributing to smog. This rule implements sections 111 and 112 of the Clean Air Act, strengthening regulations for various equipment and processes used in chemical plants, including those producing synthetic organic chemicals, polymers, and resins like …

US EPA Finalizes Rule Banning Use of Asbestos

March 27, 2024

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule on March 18, 2024, prohibiting ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form currently used in or imported to the United States. This ban is the first under the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), aiming to address health risks associated with asbestos exposure, including various cancers. The rule includes strict compliance deadlines for transitioning away from asbestos use, especially in the chlor-alkali sector. It also bans …

EPA to Host Webinar on the Five Chemicals Being Prioritized for Risk Evaluation Under TSCA – February 20, 2024 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm EST

February 1, 2024

There will be an opportunity for participants to share comments. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a webinar on February 20, 2024 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST on the five chemicals currently undergoing prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The webinar is open to all, but EPA is particularly interested in learning more about how these chemicals are used and how people could potentially be exposed at different points in a chemical’s lifecycle. EPA is …

National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives

October 31, 2023

FY 2024-2027 The EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) updates its national enforcement and compliance initiatives (NECIs) every three years to address difficult environmental and public health challenges. The EPA focuses its enforcement and compliance assurance resources on the most serious environmental violations by developing and implementing NECIs, in addition to the EPA’s core enforcement work. The six NECIs for FY 2024-2027 are: Mitigating climate change (new) Addressing exposure to PFAS (new) Protecting communities from coal ash contamination (new) Reducing …

Proposed Restricted Use of Perchloroethylene

July 31, 2023

SBA to Hold Small Business Environmental Roundtable August 2, 2023 As reported previously, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has proposed a rule to restrict the use of perchlorethylene under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) and public comments are due by August 15, 2023. On August 2, 2023, from 2:00pm – 3:00pm EST, the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy will be holding a Small Business Environmental Roundtable to present the proposed rule and provide an overview of issues particularly …

EPA’s Safer Choice Program to Expand

July 28, 2023

Do you have ideas for expanding the scope of the Safer Choice Program beyond cleaners and disinfectants? The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a 45-day public comment period on a proposed expansion of its Safer Choice to include certification of additional product categories. Safer Choice is a voluntary EPA program that helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and meet stringent EPA criteria for effects on human health and the environment. EPA will hold a listening session webinar …

Be Aware! Nevada OSHA Penalties Increase for Workplace Violations

January 31, 2023

New Nevada OSHA penalty amounts became effective January 17, 2023: For willful violations, where Nevada OSHA demonstrates that an employer knowingly failed to comply with an OSHA standard, or demonstrated a plain indifference for employee safety, the maximum penalty increases from $145,027 to $156,259 For repeated violations, maximum penalties will increase from $145,027 to $156,259 Penalties for serious violations, where workplace hazards that could cause an injury or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, the maximum penalty …