News

WASHINGTON (February 26, 2019) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing its final decision to retain without changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). This decision comes after carefully reviewing the most recent available scientific evidence and risk and exposure information and consulting with the agency’s independent science advisors. “The United States has made great strides in reducing SO2 concentrations,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum. “Based on review …

Read MoreEPA Retains National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide

As part of this week’s funding opportunity (FOA) announcement  from the Energy Department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Office for approximately  $37 million, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) expects to fund more than 100 new projects, totaling approximately $20 million. Nine EERE technology offices will fund and manage proposals under these topics—one for each technology office (Advanced Manufacturing, Bioenergy, Buildings, Fuel Cells, Geothermal, Solar, Vehicles, Water, and Wind), with three joint office …

Read MoreOffice of Energy Efficiency Small Business Funding

Leaders from nearly every country attended the World Health Organization’s (WHO) inaugural Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva, along with academics and nongovernmental organizations, but there were no corporate leaders in attendance. The absence of companies suggests that air pollution isn’t front and center on business leaders’ radars. Here are three reasons why it should be. 1. Air pollution is bad for business. The WHO director general went as far as to suggest that air pollution is “the new tobacco.” …

Read MoreAir pollution bad for business

Per the generator improvements rule (GIR), container management standards for generators are now located in §262.15 for satellite accumulation areas, §262.16 for small quantity generators (SQGs), and §262.17 for large quantity generators (LQGs). One significant GIR issue is more-stringent regulations regarding container labeling. This includes new pretransportation provisions in §262.32. Because these more-stringent labeling requirements must be adopted by RCRA-authorized states, we recommend beginning compliance now so your team is already in compliance when your state adopts them, if it hasn’t already. Satellite Accumulation Containers The labeling …

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Rule Summary Former EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, signed the e-Manifest User Fee Final Rule on December 20, 2017 and it was published in the Federal Register (FR) on January 3, 2018. The final rule establishes the methodology that EPA will use in setting and revising user fees in order to recover the full costs of the electronic manifest system. This includes costs incurred in developing, operating, maintaining, and upgrading a national e-Manifest system, as well as any costs incurred in collecting and processing …

Read MoreE-Waste Manifest System Amendments

UNR Business Environmental Program head: ‘Green’ can be profitable CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Northern Nevada Development Authority was told Oct. 24 being “green” doesn’t have to cost businesses on their bottom line. Chris Lynch, head of the UNR Business Environmental Program, told an audience of about 40 he was told by one businessman “environmental is nice, but I don’t have time for it.” “First, when it’s the environment, you don’t have a choice,” he said. “You have to comply.” The …

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Rule Summary EPA is issuing, with good cause, this interim final rule in response to the urgent public health issue posed by recalled Takata airbag inflators still installed in vehicles. With this rule, EPA is facilitating a more expedited removal of defective Takata airbag inflators from vehicles by dealerships, salvage yards and other locations for safe and environmentally sound disposal by exempting the collection of airbag waste from hazardous waste requirements as long as certain conditions are met. What does the …

Read MoreInterim Final Rule: Safe Management of Recalled Airbags

December 7, 2016 WASHINGTON–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to ban certain uses of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) due to health risks when used as a degreaser and a spot removal agent in dry cleaning. “For the first time in a generation, we are able to restrict chemicals already in commerce that pose risks to public health and the environment,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Once finalized, today’s …

Read MoreEPA Moves to Ban Certain Aerosol Degreasers and Dry Cleaning Spot Removers as the First Major Regulatory Action Under Chemical Reform Law