Environmental Compliance
A Year-End Review of EPA’s Recent Air Permitting Guidance Changes
As we enter into 2019, it is important to reflect on the air permitting guidance changes we have seen in what has been a very active year in EPA air permitting guidance. These guidance changes, especially those under the complex … Continue reading
Deregulation Trends in the Wake of “In-One-Two-Out” Policy
On January 30, 2017, the day President Donald Trump took office, one of his first measures was to sign in Executive Order 13771.1 This executive order became known as the “In-One-Two-Out” policy whereby for every new regulation adopted, two regulations … Continue reading
Upcoming Compliance Dates for Refinery Sector Rule 40 CFR 63 CC
Compliance Date and Summary of Requirements January 30, 2019, is rapidly approaching, and for those facilities with flares subject to the requirements in Subpart CC, that’s your compliance deadline for completing a Flare Management Plan (FMP). Flares that are subject … Continue reading
2015 UST Rules to Begin Full Implementation
The 2015 Revised Underground Storage Tank (UST) Regulations will begin full implementation in some states and 16 non-program approved states on October 13, 2018. The revisions strengthen the 1988 federal UST regulations by increasing emphasis on properly operating and maintaining … Continue reading
RECENT STUDIES FIND DECLINES IN CONTAMINANTS FROM MANUFACTURING EMISSIONS
A recent study from two University of California Berkeley economists, Joseph Shapiro and Reed Walker, has found that pollution emissions from U.S. manufacturing fell by 60 percent between 1990 and 2008. While during the same period, manufacturing grew by 30%. … Continue reading
EPA: Landfill Emissions
The OIG plans to begin preliminary research to determine whether active municipal solid waste landfills are operating under the appropriate air-quality permit. Click here
EPA Proposes Changes to Storage Tank Emission Calculation Guidance
On July 25, 2018, EPA proposed revisions to AP-42 Section 7.1 – Organic Liquid Storage Tanks. This section, lasted updated in November 2006, provides guidance for calculating air emissions from fixed and floating-roof storage tanks. Along with EPA’s TANK 4.09d … Continue reading
DC Circuit Court Vacates Risk Management Program (RMP) Delay Rule
More than five years after President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13650, sending us down this winding road, on August 17, 2018, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the RMP Delay Rule. The Court of Appeals stated, “Because EPA … Continue reading
Thinking About Tomorrow Today
Charles Ray presented on the topic: “Lake Okeechobee and Environmental Justice”, at the Florida Brownfields Association Environmental Justice and Social Equity Symposium. The focus of the presentation is to bring attention to: (1) negative environmental conditions impacting their community health, … Continue reading
Environmental Audits Don’t Have to be Scary Business
PPM Consultants routinely receives calls from small to medium size industries inquiring the need for an environmental compliance audit. Environmental audits can come in many shapes and forms but the topic of discussion here is an industrial facility with internal … Continue reading