Compliance Alert

For more information on these topics, contact Ken Webb, Blackshare Environmental's Client Services Manager via email: kwebb@blackshare-env.com or (918) 388-0970.

June 16, 2011 -- TXR050000 TPDES General Permit (Multi Sector) Expires August 14, 2011
New NOI’s (notice of intent) will need to be sent to the state, amendments to the existing SWPPP will be required to reflect changes in permit

TXG110000 TPDES General Permit (Ready-Mixed concrete plants and associated facilities) Expires November 7, 2011 new NOI’s (notice of intent) will need to be sent to the state, amendments to the existing SWPPP will be required to reflect changes in permit

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June 8, 2011 -- ASTM approves new standard designed to determine chemical permeation in PPE

Chemical protective clothing has been widely used to protect skin from health hazards that can be found in the workplace or during a terrorist attack. A new ASTM International standard provides directions in using a computer program called a permeation calculator, to analyze data following a permeation test in order to determine when chemicals have gotten inside the clothing.

The new standard, ASTM F2815, Practice for Chemical Permeation Through Protective Clothing Materials: Testing Data Analysis by Use of a Computer Program, was developed by an ASTM International Subcommittee on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment.

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May 24, 2011 -- AHMP 2011 National Conference is being held at the Hilton in Austin, Texas. Dates of the event are August 28-31, 2011. Some of the conference workshops offered are:

* 2011 DOT/IATA Highway and Air Refresher
* Medical Mass Casualty Incident Management Train-the-Trainer Workshop (2 day)
* 8-Hr Hazwoper Refresher
* 8-Hour Hazwoper Supervisor's Course
* Hot Topics in Safety and Industrial Hygiene
* Toxic Gas Hazards—Ammonia Risk Management Practices Across Industry Sectors
* Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Examination Preparation Workshop (3 day)
* Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management Course (3 day)

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May 5, 2011 -- EPA has released its final policy on consultation and coordination with Indian tribes. The agency says it is among the first of the federal agencies to finalize its consultation policy in response to President Obama’s first tribal leaders summit in November 2009 and executive order 13175 to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of federal policies.

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April 12, 2011 --The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced they are putting $26.6 million toward funding for research and development projects to advance hydropower technology — including pumped storage hydropower. The funding is directed toward projects using innovative technologies that can produce power more efficiently, reduce costs, and increase sustainable hydropower generation at sites not previously considered practical.

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March 23, 2011 - - Official greenhouse gas reporting deadlines announced; facilities have until the end of September

EPA has issued a final rule extending the deadline for reporting 2010 data under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program to September 30, 2011. The original reporting deadline was March 31, 2011. EPA had previously announced its intent to extend the deadline on March 1, 2011.

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September 27, 2010 - - It's a good idea to review your spill, stormwater, hazardous waste response and other emergency response plans for your facility. For example, SPCC problems that can prompt enforcement actions, are
oil sheen on stormwater runoff
deteriorating equipment and/or structures
oil stains on ground or pavement
missing records of inspections and/or repairs
improperly sized secondary containment
oil storage without secondary containment

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August 23, 2010 - - The EPA is proposing to extend the deadline to comply with the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule for some facilities. Currently, companies must write and submit facility response plans for oil spills by November 10, 2010.

Under a newly proposed amendment, some facilites can apply for one-year extensions.
Facilities eligible for extension: Oil production, fams, elecric utility plants, petroleum refining, food and chemical manufacturing, accommodation and food services, and more.

Facilities NOT eligible for extension: Offshore and onshore drilling, production or work-over facilities.

EPA is seeking comments on the proposed amendment.

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February 5, 2010 - - EPA's top priorites: Where to focus your compliance efforts:
~ Meet new source review and prevention of significant deterioration permit requirements
~ Comply with hundreds of hazardous waste regulations
~ Control air toxic emissions
~ Control and manage stormwater runoff
~ Obtain insurance to pary for cleanups of hazardous waste sites
~ Protect from exposure to hazardous chemical releases
~ Control discharges from surface impoundments
~ Protect wetlands by obtaining and meeting dredge-and-fill permit requirements

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January 4, 2010 - - Three new greenhouse gas (GHG) rules are coming from EPA that will transform how companies do business in a carbon-regulated world. EPA is regulating GHG emissions, starting with the largest facilities, those emitting more than 25,000 metric tons (mt) of GHGs. GHG regulations requires annual reporting of emissions released by: fossil fuel suppliers; industrial gas suppliers; direct ghg emitters, and manufacturers of vehicles and medium- & heavy-duty engines.

If these facilities release more than 25,000 mt threshold, they have to track actual GHG emissions in 2010 and report total releases in 2011. To do this, they need to track how much energy from fossil fuels they're consuming or producing, whether it's natural gas, coal or oil. EPA's GHG rules are based on actual emissions, not the usual potential-to-emit calculation.

The final EPA GHG report rule in the December 29th Federal Register exempts: electronics manufacturers, ethanol refiners, fluorinated GHG producers, food processors, industrial landfills, and magnesium producers.