On May 16, 2008, the U.S. EPA issued final New Source Review (NSR) implementation rules for particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). The rules cover requirements for major new sources of PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors and major modifications that are subject to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) rules and well as nonattainment area (NA) requirements. PM2.5 precursors are regulated as follows: SO2 – regulated in all areas; NOx – regulated unless a State demonstrates that NOx is not a significant precursor; VOC and ammonia – not regulated unless a State demonstrates they are a significant precursor. The rules establish significant emission increase levels for direct PM2.5 and each precursor that triggers PSD or NA requirements for modified major sources. In PM2.5 nonattainment areas, the NA requirements (e.g., emission offsets for PM2.5 and SO2) become effective on July 15, 2008. In attainment areas where states have adopted their own PSD rules (most of the country), the new requirements will not be effective until the States revise their PSD rules (required by May 16, 2010). The U.S. EPA did not adopt its earlier proposal that the following be immediately effective in PSD areas: 1) include condensables in major source determinations and 2) demonstrate compliance with the PM2.5 NAAQS.
For further information, see the Federal Register notice or contact EQ’s Kent Berry at (800) 229-5299.
On April 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration jointly proposed a rule that would improve the crashworthiness protection of railroad tank cars hauling highly toxic chemicals.
The rule would require a performance standard that tank cars be constructed to resist puncture at speeds of 30 miles per hour. It would also require a 50 mph speed limit for tank cars transporting toxic-by-inhalation materials, dropping to 30 mph in nonsignaled areas. Once the rule is finalized, shippers will have eight years to replace their tank cars with compliant ones. The comment period on the proposed rule is open until June 2.
For more information, see the Federal Register notice.
On May 27, 2008, two months after the U.S. EPA published its newly revised national ozone standards, five environmental and health-related organizations filed a lawsuit challenging them in the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia circuit.
The American Lung Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Appalachian Mountain Club take issue with the fact that U.S. EPA did not adopt the more stringent ground-level ozone standards proposed by its own scientists.
The new primary and secondary 8-hour ozone standards are now 0.075 parts per million (ppm), which replaces the existing standard of 0.08 ppm set in 1997. These new standards are not as stringent as recommended by U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, which had unanimously recommended a standard of between 0.060 and 0.070 ppm in 2007.
On May 2, 2008, the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR), an arm of the Department of Health and Human Services, published notice of the availability of a draft report on chemical releases from areas of concern into the Great Lakes. The report was requested by the International Joint Commission, which is the binational organization that works to implement the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada.
This report summarizes previously published public health assessments and chemical release data for 26 “areas of concern” along Great Lake stream, rivers, and lakes located in or across 54 counties. The report does not make associations between health outcomes and chemical exposures. The compilation of environmental data, gathered by ATSDR and the U.S. EPA, is intended to help decision-makers set future priorities. Comments must be received by June 30, 2008.
For more information, see the Federal Register notice.
The U.S. EPA is amending the F019 hazardous waste listing to facilitate the use of aluminum in automobiles, light trucks and utility vehicles. This action will encourage motor vehicle manufacturers to use more aluminum parts, producing vehicles that are lighter. Lighter vehicles are capable of increased gas mileage and decreased exhaust air emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions.
F019 is one of the U.S. EPA's F-code RCRA hazardous waste listings, which include waste that is generated from common industrial and manufacturing processes. The amendment excludes F019 waste generated in the auto manufacturing industry from hazardous waste regulation, provided the waste is not placed outside on the land prior to shipment to a landfill for disposal and is disposed of at an appropriately lined landfill. U.S. EPA has determined that these changes to the F019 listing are protective of human health and the environment. The final rule should be published in the Federal Register in about two weeks.
On May 20, 2008, the U.S. EPA issued the 2008 EPA Report on the Environment, a document that provides trends on air, land, water, ecological, and human health conditions in the United States. The report, which updates a draft report issued in 2003, uses scientifically sound and quantifiable indicators to measure and report on overall progress toward protecting the environment and human health. In addition to national scale indicators, the report also provides data broken out by U.S. EPA Regions.
For more information, view the report.
On May 20, 2008, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia circuit denied requests by the U.S. EPA and an industry trade group to reconsider a decision that vacated the U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), a cap and trade system for mercury emissions issued in 2005.
The new ruling, made on February 8, mandates U.S. EPA to issue mercury emissions standards that apply uniformly to all coal-fired power plants. It also requires state air regulators to begin immediately regulating mercury from power plants on a case-by-case basis.
The mercury limits would be based on maximum achievable control technology (MACT). According to the plaintiffs in the February 8 ruling, this could result in a 90 percent reduction of emissions within three years of the issuance of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). CAMR was expected to reduce mercury emissions by about 70 percent over the next 20 years.
For more information, see the decision or contact EQ’s Sheri Bussard at (800) 229-7495.
Indiana businesses, schools or municipalities can apply for a Pollution Prevention (P2) grant through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) through August 29, 2008.
P2 grants are intended to help organizations develop and implement pollution prevention activities and processes. Some past recipients have begun using water-based paint instead of more toxic paint, and installed machines to reduce the amount of waste produced during a process.
Matching grant funds of up to $250,000 are available. Grants require a 50 percent match but there are exceptions; women and minority business enterprises, small businesses, Indiana Environmental Stewardship Program members and Indiana CLEAN Community Challenge participants may qualify for reduced matching funds.
Applications and additional information is available by visiting the website or calling (800) 988-7901.
In May 2008, EQ and its joint venture partner, Quaternary Resource Investigations, LLC (QRI), won a $5 million contract with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for environmental and consulting services. EQ has a mentor/protégée relationship with QRI under the U.S. Small Business Administration. QRI is a woman-owned, 8(a), small disadvantaged business (SDB). Additionally, EQ and QRI have four environmental cleanup contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worth more than $200 million. For more information, contact EQ’s Kevin Fox at (800) 229-7495.
EQ's CEO and President Jack Greber was featured in the May 2008 issue of Smart Business magazine. The article focuses on how EQ has managed its growth. Click here to read the article.
For your engineering needs, please contact EQ Engineers at 219-844-3500, their website or email Ron Hawks
For international engineering services, contact EQ Engineers Slovakia via their website or email Bob McCullough
For questions about EQ's capabilities, please contact
Bob McCullough or Laurie Buckman, or call (800) 229-7495.
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