June 30, 2018, marks the launch of the new national electronic manifest (e-manifest) system. This article focuses on a transporter's role in this new system and provides information regarding registration, paper vs electronic manifests, and more.

In a proposal that is extraordinary even under the deregulatory agenda of President Donald Trump and Administrator Scott Pruitt, the EPA is seeking to wipe off the books all but a handful of minor provisions in the Agency’s Risk Management Program (RMP) Amendments Rule (Amendments Rule, January 13, 2017, FR).

Following a residual risk and technology review of its 2003 National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for facilities engaged in surface coating of wood building products, the EPA is proposing not to revise the existing emissions limits.

In an announcement, the EPA appears to indicate that it will finalize an Obama-era proposal that would ban methylene chloride in all consumer and most commercial paint- and coating-removal products.

If you’re an EHS professional, your organization’s safety culture must be a major focus—but a strong culture can be tricky to build. Sure, it’s easy to say that you want a safety culture built on inspiration, not fear, and that the goal is for employee engagement in safety to be positively pursued, not mandated.

The EPA only recently issued almost all the remaining area designations for the 2015 NAAQS for ozone (only eight counties in the San Antonio, Texas, area have not been designated). Now, with the ink barely dry on those designations, the Agency is facing yet another CAA deadline for reviewing the adequacy of the 2015 ozone NAAQS and revising those standards, if necessary.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is proposing to eliminate the third-year requirement of a 3-year regulation that compels owners and operators of vessels operating on voyages exclusively between ports or places within a single Captain of the Port (COTP) zone to submit an Annual Ballast Water Summary Report.

Inclusion of first-aid statements on pesticide labels is governed by regulations at 40 CFR 156.68. The fundamental requirement is that all pesticides that have “systemic effects in Category I, II, or III, or skin or eye irritation effects in Category I or II” must bear a first-aid statement.

Self-insurance as a means for mining companies to show regulators that funds will be available to remediate damage to the environment caused by industrial activities is coming under increasing scrutiny and is not holding up well under the magnifying glass. 

This EPA fact sheet describes how generators can use the e-Manifest system to create and track their manifest. It also explains how generators can contintue to use a paper manifest or, alternatively, a "hybrid" manifest (a combination of paper and electronic submissions).

This EPA fact sheet explains the scope and benefits of the e-Manifest system that launched on June 30, 2018.

This EPA fact sheet explains what steps facilities that receive hazardous waste must take to use the e-Manifest system. This would include obtaining an EPA identification number.

This EPA fact sheet explains what steps transporters of hazardous waste must take to use the e-Manifest system.

This EPA fact sheet explains what steps permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) that receive hazardous waste must take to use the e-Manifest system.

This EPA fact sheet explains how, under the e-Manifest system, brokers will have the option to prepare manifests electronically for their generator clients. To use an e-Manifest, brokers will need to obtain an EPA ID and register for e-Manifest system.

This EPA form is untilized to notify the agency of demolition or renovation activities subject to the Asbestos NESHAP under 40 CFR 61, Subpart M (40 CFR 61.145).

This EPA form is untilized to notify the agency of demolition or renovation activities subject to the Asbestos NESHAP under 40 CFR 61, Subpart M (40 CFR 61.145).

This EPA fact sheet describes how generators can use the e-Manifest system to create and track their manifest. It also explains how generators can contintue to use a paper manifest or, alternatively, a "hybrid" manifest (a combination of paper and electronic submissions).

This EPA fact sheet explains the scope and benefits of the e-Manifest system that launched on June 30, 2018.

This EPA fact sheet explains what steps facilities that receive hazardous waste must take to use the e-Manifest system. This would include obtaining an EPA identification number.

This EPA fact sheet explains what steps transporters of hazardous waste must take to use the e-Manifest system.

This EPA fact sheet explains what steps permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) that receive hazardous waste must take to use the e-Manifest system.

This EPA fact sheet explains how, under the e-Manifest system, brokers will have the option to prepare manifests electronically for their generator clients. To use an e-Manifest, brokers will need to obtain an EPA ID and register for e-Manifest system.

Although climate change remains a topic surrounded by controversy and debate that is zealously supported on both sides, actions are being taken that necessitate businesses evaluate their overall GHG management strategy. Regardless of whether you are a believer or nonbeliever in the climate change issue, regulations are being developed and implemented to monitor and control GHG emissions, and those taking note of these actions will be able to remain in compliance with any applicable requirements and avoid enforcement actions from regulatory authorities.

Agency inspections are visits to a facility or site for the purposes of gathering information to determine whether it is in compliance. During an inspection, facility and site owners and operators can expect to be interviewed, the review of reports and records, the taking of photographs, the collection of samples, and the observation of operations. Inspections are usually conducted on single-media programs such as the CWA but can be conducted for more than one media program. Inspections can also be conduced to address a specific environmental problem, a facility or industry sector, or a geographic area or ecosystem.

Liquid solutions that exhibit the hazardous characteristic of corrosivity are a common type of hazardous waste that many industries generate. These corrosive wastes could be many things, including industrial cleansers, the by-products of chemical reactions, spent catalysts, or sludges from wastewater treatment systems. Neutralization is a chemical process used on corrosive hazardous waste to reduce the level of a waste's corrosivity. The neutralization procedure involves adjusting the pH level of the corrosive waste (with no other hazardous characteristics) to a pH between 5.5 and 9.5. The purpose is to alter the corrosive characteristic of the waste so that it no longer is hazardous and can be disposed of or treated as nonhazardous.

Many federal environmental, safety, and transportation rules contain requirements to train employees to protect themselves, the public, or the environment from workplace hazards. A few requirements are very prescriptive (e.g., detailed steps to certification), but most are "performance-based" in that they set qualitative goals (e.g., effective, lead to understanding, demonstrate proficiency) that allow the employer to determine the best way to achieve the desired outcome.