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From 2011 to 2015, California experienced its worst drought on record, with a parching combination of high temperatures and low precipitation. Drought conditions can have complicated effects on ozone air quality, so to better understand the process, researchers have analyzed data from two ozone-polluted cities before, during and after the California drought. They report their results in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology. Although ozone in the stratosphere protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation, at ground level the molecule is a …

Read MoreHow Severe Drought Influences Ozone Levels

WASHINGTON (April 12, 2019) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule to better support Agency data collection efforts, align reporting with the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act by requiring that confidentiality claims be substantiated, and make chemical reporting easier by streamlining complex submissions. “CDR not only supports the Agency’s TSCA activities, but can be a helpful tool for states, tribes, industry, nongovernmental organizations and all stakeholders,” …

Read MoreEPA Proposes to Reduce TSCA Reporting Burden

Rule Expected to Save Up to $15 million Annually WASHINGTON  — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a final rule streamlining standards for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals in the healthcare sector. The final rule is expected to result in up to $15 million in costs savings annually. “These common-sense updates will help the healthcare sector safely manage hazardous waste pharmaceuticals and will reduce the amount of pharmaceutical waste entering our waterways by roughly 2,000 tons,” said EPA Acting Administrator …

Read MorePharmaceutical Regulation for Healthcare Sector

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 …

Read MoreGIR container labeling