US EPA’s Fall 2008 Regulatory Agenda
On November 24, 2008, the Federal Register published supplementary information regarding the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) semiannual regulatory agenda. The preamble to the U.S. EPA’s semiannual regulatory agenda, which is published online at www.reginfo.gov, provides a statement of priorities and highlights of U.S. EPA’s regulatory plan. These priorities and highlights include initial steps by the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) to address the interconnected issues of climate change, energy efficiency, and energy security; steps by the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to promote stewardship and resource conservation and focus on risk reduction and statutory compliance; advanced notice of proposed rulemaking by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) to determine if formaldehyde emissions from certain composite wood products should be regulated; and proposed rulemaking by the Office of Water to address erosion and sediment discharges associated with construction and development activities. READ MORE
How can we help your company evaluate how proposed and newly promulgated rules may affect you? Contact Jessica Tierney at 412-779-1094 or jessica.tierney@ehs-support.com.
The US EPA and The New Administration—Aligned on Climate Change?
In the first of a series of articles on the Obama Administration’s environmental plan, EHS Support examines the Administration’s top environmental priority – Climate Change; and if the initial steps proposed by the U.S. EPA in the Fall 2008 Semi-Annual Regulatory Plan are aligned with the Administration’s top priority.
President Obama indicated that climate change will be a top priority of his Administration, and his actions prior to taking office and during the first weeks of his presidency appear to underscore his commitment to this priority. As her first act in office, the new Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Lisa P. Jackson, sent a memorandum to all U.S. EPA employees identifying “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions” as the first of five top priorities that will receive her personal attention. [1] The former Bush Administration and the U.S. EPA have been criticized for doing too little to address climate change. However, under the Bush Administration, the U.S. EPA took some initial steps to address climate change. These steps are presented in the Fall 2008 Regulatory Agenda, and some of these steps appear to be in line with the new Administration’s goals. READ MORE
How can we help your company learn more about the Obama Administration’s focus on climate change and how it may affect you? Contact Jessica Tierney at 412-779-1094 or jessica.tierney@ehs-support.com.
SPCC Updates—Redefining Navigable Waters
In the December 2008 Federal Register, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) proposed amendments and finalized regulations affecting the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. The SPCC rule was amended to provide increased clarity, to tailor requirements to particular industry sectors, and to streamline certain requirements for those facility owners or operators subject to the rule. Additionally, the U.S. EPA proposed to amend the dates by which facilities must prepare or amend their SPCC plans and implement those plans, but later withdrew the compliance dates in accordance with a White House memorandum entitled “Regulatory Review.” Finally, the U.S. EPA revised the definition of “navigable waters” in the SPCC rule to comply with a court decision. The changes have the potential to impact the applicability of the rule at some facilities. READ MORE
EHS Support can help you determine how these rule changes impact your operations and confirm SPCC applicability at your facilities. Contact Amy Bauer at 251.533.6949 or amy.bauer@ehs-support.com.
