Welcome to 2008 (and our
Section’s new operating year). The A&WMA Allegheny Mountain Section is a
leading, well-performing organization with efficiently functioning committees,
and a bright future. (Not a bad organization of which to be the incoming Chair;
I feel a bit like Mike Tomlin).
I’d like to publicly thank
Randy York for his leadership and dedication in steering this ship over the
past 12 months. I’d also like to acknowledge two board members whose terms expired
at the end of December: Scott Krall and Arijit Pakrasi.
Taking their places will be Dave Testa and
Dave Beachler. Also, our new Vice Chair is Liz McMeekin. To no one’s surprise
our incumbent Secretary and Treasurer, Meghan Blaney and Ed Moretti, were
reaffirmed for additional terms; thank you for your continued service. Finally,
I want to thank the returning board of directors and committee chairs for their
unwavering dedication to the organization. Whether you have been here for one
year or 25, your active support of the Section does not go unrecognized.
The 2007 Conference is now
six months behind us. Pulling it off was truly an heroic performance, and it is
my hope that all who contributed towards its success have recovered from their
burnout and are newly revived to support the Section in new (less intense)
ways.
I understand that we are all
volunteers and that income-generating activities and family time have higher
priority, but our Section has historically served a great role in supporting
the careers and professional relationships of its members. This success is
fueled by small contributions of each member’s time. I invite your continued
participation and encourage new members to become active and share your unique
ideas. Each member of our Section should be involved in at least one committee
to get the maximum benefit from the organization.
Please visit our top-notch website for more
information on our committees. I assure you from my personal experience with
the A&WMA (19 years) that your incrementally increased involvement will be
both professionally and personally rewarding.
In my February column, I hope
to discuss some of my goals for the organization and get into more strategic
details for the operating year. In the spirit of continuous improvement, I
would hope that each of us learn something new at a Section event this
year.
I’d like to see more interaction
with our two chapters (NWPA and WV) and have more involvement with the
universities in our territory. One key focus will be boosting our programs and
membership for younger professionals. In my mind the younger professionals are
the life’s blood of this organization, and they are full of creative ideas. We
want to capture them and share their spirit.
Finally, I would like to
thank the membership of this Section for the honor and opportunity to chair
this model organization in 2008. It is your organization; please let me know
what you’d like to see.
How can we bring
more value to you? What would you like to get out of you membership? Please
feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or ideas, at anytime: gollasw@westinghouse.com, or
(412)374-5279. I look forward to getting to know each of you a little better
this year.
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Meet the Neighbors:
Over 20 local environmental non-profit and professional
organizations participated in the Allegheny Mountain Section Outreach Booth at
the A&WMA Convention last June. Two of these organizations were:
Over 20 local environmental non-profit and professional
organizations participated in the Allegheny Mountain Section Outreach Booth at
the A&WMA Convention last June. Two of these organizations were:
The Environmental
& Water Resources Institute, is a civil engineering specialty institute
of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). EWRI services are designed
to complement ASCE's traditional civil engineering base and to attract new
categories of members (non-civil engineer allied professionals) who seek to
enhance their professional and technical development. Their national website is
located at: http://content.ewrinstitute.org/
The local Pittsburgh Section of ASCE's website is at:
http://www.asce-pgh.org/
Sustainable Pittsburgh, is a public-policy advocacy
group that links economic prosperity, ecological health, and social equity.
They work to affect decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate
economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental quality in bringing
sustainable solutions to communities and businesses. Their website is at:
http://www.sustainablepittsburgh.org
_________________________
Internet Site Review
Internet Sites of
Interest to Environmental Professionals
with Kim Walker
You can contact me at Kimberly.walker @ erm.com
___________________________________
EPA TechMatch
http://www.epatechmatch.com
EPA TechMatch was developed by the EPA in coordination with
the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation.
It is an internet portal designed to enhance
interactions between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
industry partners.
This website was
designed as a one stop shop for entering into innovative technology
partnerships with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This portal provides comprehensive access to
diverse information including patents, research laboratories and testing
facilities, R&D opportunities, and supplemental information geared toward
helping businesses work more effectively with the EPA.
More than 150 EPA scientific patents of technologies that
benefit the environment can now be viewed on the EPA TechMatch Web site. Under
the Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA) of 1986, government agencies may patent
and license inventions, which assist new ideas from government laboratories to
enter the marketplace. Entrepreneurs can view and license EPA technologies to
develop new products that offer both environmental protection and economic
growth.
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A Word on Water
The Latest News on Water, Wastewater
and Related Topics
with Susan Z. Forney,
szforney@ehsinfolink.com
___________________________________
For this month's Word on Water column, see the pdf version
of the Zephyr at: http://www.ams-awma.org/zephyr.pdf
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In the Air
News of Air Pollution Control
and Air Related Issues
with Nancy Hirko, Kimberly Coy, and Mark Schooley of Air/Compliance
Consultants, Inc
You can contact them at schooley @ air-comp.com
___________________________________
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead
EPA has issued an advanced notice of public rulemaking (ANPR)to invite comment from all interested parties on policy options and other issues related to the Agency's ongoing review of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead (Pb).
EPA is also soliciting comment on retaining Pb on the list of criteria pollutants and on maintaining NAAQS for Pb. As part of this review, the Agency has released several key documents that will inform the Agency's rulemaking. These documents include the Air Quality Criteria for Lead, released in 2006, which critically assesses and integrates relevant scientific information; risk assessment reports including the most recent report, Lead: Human Exposure and Health Risk Assessment for Selected Case Studies, which documents quantitative exposure analyses and risk assessments conducted for this review; and a recently released Staff Paper, Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead: Policy Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information, which presents an evaluation by staff in EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of the policy implications of the scientific information and quantitative assessments and OAQPS staff conclusions and recommendations on a range of policy options for the Agency's consideration. Under the terms of a court order, the Administrator will sign by September 1, 2008 a Notice of Final Rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register. To meet this schedule, EPA will sign a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in March 2008 for publication in the Federal Register, at which time further opportunity for public comment will be provided. Comments on the ANPR must be received by January 16, 2008.
EPA Clarifies New Source Review Program Is Applied Appropriately
EPA has issued a final rule to clarify when industrial facilities making
changes to equipment or processes may need to retain records documenting their
emissions, even if the changes do not trigger Clean Air Act New Source Review
(NSR) permitting requirements.
The rule
can be found in the Federal Register published on December 21, 2007. [72 FR
72607]
The rule clarifies that facilities must keep records and report emissions
when a "reasonable possibility" test shows that projected emissions
increases could equal or exceed 50% of the Clean Air Act's NSR significant
levels for any pollutant. This rule does not change permitting requirements.
The "reasonable possibility" test examines the difference between
a project's baseline emissions and the sum of emissions projected to result
from the project and emissions attributable to independent factors, such as
growth in market demand.
NSR significant levels are pollutant-specific emission rates (in tons per
year) that are used to determine when a project is subject to NSR permitting
requirements. This rule will help EPA and state and tribal permitting
authorities track projects, using information on emissions that could exceed
significant levels.
EPA issues rule to reduce mercury releases from steel manufacturing
facilities
EPA issued new air emissions standards that will reduce mercury releases
from steel manufacturers using electric arc furnaces. The rule requires these
steel making facilities to buy motor vehicle scrap from providers that
participate in an EPA-approved program for the removal of mercury switches.
This program, the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program, is designed
to remove mercury-containing switches from scrap vehicles before the vehicles
are flattened, shredded, and melted to make new steel. These switches were used
for lighting in hoods and trunks and in some anti-lock braking systems of many
vehicles manufactured prior to 2003.
The standards will prevent the release of about five tons of mercury in to the
air each year. In addition, the rule will reduce emissions of other toxic
metals such as lead, manganese, nickel and chromium by about 52 tons per year
and particulate emissions by about 865 tons per year.
National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/switch.htm
For more information on this action, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3/fact_sheets/eaf_fs_121707.html
EPA proposes residual risk reviews for eight new source categories
On Dec. 12, 2007, the EPA announced a proposed rule and
requested comment on the residual risk and technology reviews for eight
industrial source categories regulated by four national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). [72 FR 70543]
The eight industrial source categories and the four
national emission standards are:
- Polysulfide rubber
production
- Ethylene propylene
rubber production
- Butyl rubber production
- Neoprene production
- Epoxy resins production
- Nonnylon polyamides
production
- Acetal resins
production, and
- Hydrogen fluoride
production.
The EPA proposed that no revisions to the national emission
standards regulating the eight source categories listed above are required at
this time under Clean Air Act Sections 112(f)(2) or 112(d)(6). Comments must be
received on or before Feb. 11, 2008.
EPA Announces Regulatory Priorities
EPA released its Regulatory Plan, which describes 30 of the most significant
regulations it plans to issue by next October.
EPA also released its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, which describes over 300
actions under development or review, as well as those completed or withdrawn
since the Spring 2007 agenda was published. For the first time, the bulk of
EPA's agenda is available exclusively online rather than on paper in the
Federal Register. Moving to an online agenda saves resources and provides users
with a more useful, searchable mechanism for accessing regulatory information.
It also helps meet e-Government objectives while saving taxpayers money by
significantly reducing printing costs. (E-Government is President Bush's goal
of utilizing technology to improve federal government services to citizens).
EPA recognizes that not everyone has access to the Internet, so is making
printed copies of the agenda available upon request. These hardcopies are
available by calling 1-800-490-9198 or by e-mailing: nscep@bps-lmit.com. (E-mail requests
should include the requestor's name and address and display "Regulatory
Agenda Hard Copy" in the subject line.)
EPA's
Regulatory Plan is available in the Federal Register at:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/10dec20070800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/ua071210/ua071002.txt
(EPA's section begins at page 69922)
Ohio EPA
Announces New Reporting Software Coming March 3, 2008
Ohio EPA’s eBusiness Center
is a new, secure portal for online business services. This portal is the entry
point for the regulated community and consultants to electronically complete
and file reports and permit applications and to pay fees. Authorized users will
be able to update their facility and contact information directly.
The eBusiness Center will initially offer capabilities
for wastewater discharge monitoring reports. Over the next several
months, Ohio
EPA will add services related to air pollution, drinking water and solid waste.
All services will be accessed through Ohio
EPA’s eBusiness Center at ebiz.epa.ohio.gov.
On March 3, 2008 the Ohio EPA, Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC) will
make a new service available on the Agency's eBusiness Center
called "Air Services". This Web-based software will replace the
functionality of the existing STARShip software. The new system will enable
online submittal of permit applications, annual emission reports, annual
compliance certifications, and quarterly and semiannual monitoring reports.
Due to this new system, OEPA is extending the emission reporting deadline
from April 15 to June 6. They will revert back to the 4/15 deadline in
2009. More information can be found at www.epa.state.oh.us/dapc/airservices.
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International
Focus
News of
Environmental Trends and Regulations
in Other Countries
with Kim Walker
You can contact me at Kimberly.walker @ erm.com
___________________________________
Environmental Protection in China Gets Legal Support from New
Web Site
In an effort to strengthen the legal framework for
environmental protection in China,
EPA launched the EPA - China Environmental Law Initiative Web site. The Web
site can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogc/china/initiative_home.htm.
China suffers severe environmental
problems. Therefore, strengthening environmental laws and their implementation
are seen as vital steps in improving the environment in China.
This website was announced by EPA General Counsel Roger R.
Martella in an effort to provide a forum for sharing information and fostering
an ongoing dialogue with China
on environmental law.
After meeting with
Chinese environmental officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in
September, 2007, EPA General Counsel Roger Martella decided to encourage a
continuing dialogue between the U.S.
and China
on environmental law by launching the EPA-China Environmental Law Initiative.
The goals of the initiative include:
- Sharing
EPA's legal experience and expertise to help improve China’s environmental health.
- Sharing
information useful to U.S.
entities with business or other stakes in how China addresses environmental
issues.
- Fostering
an ongoing dialogue on environmental law issues with China.
“We’ve learned in the United States you can’t have a
strong environment without strong environmental laws,” Martella said. “The
Chinese government and people have expressed a commitment to a stronger
environment, and we expect that this initiative will help China realize that goal, while helping Americans
better understand China’s
environmental laws.”
EPA is undertaking this project in web partnership with a broad range of
experts in Chinese environmental law. Collaborators in this project include the
Environmental Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai,
the Woodrow Wilson Center China Environment Forum, the University
of Maryland Environmental Law Program,
and the George Washington University
Law School.
The Web site features information on new developments in Chinese environmental
law, links to legal resources such as reports, articles, and the English text
of many Chinese environmental laws, and an e-mail update service.
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ENVIROCABULARY
Environmental Acronyms, Obscure Words
and Other Lingo
with Kim Walker
You can contact me at Kimberly.walker @ erm.com
___________________________________
Each month, the
Envirocabulary staff will scour the environmental literature for terms of
interest to our readers.
This month’s
term is…
Fen: A type of wetland that
accumulates peat deposits. Fens are less acidic than bogs, deriving most of
their water from groundwater rich in calcium and magnesium.
(Source: Environmental Protection Agency Terms of
Environment:Glossary, Abbreviations and Acronyms,
http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/fterms.html)
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P2 Forum
News on Pollution Prevention,
Recycling and Related Issues
with Michael Stepaniak
You can contact me at michaels @ ccicenter.org
___________________________________
This
Month:
Smarter Computing Catalog Now Available
EPA
Announces 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard
Climate Counts Scorecard
SMARTER COMPUTING CATALOG NOW
AVAILABLE - It seems no matter where one turns these days the focus
is on "green or sustainability" issues. Both consumers and businesses
alike are seeking out realistic measures that can lessen their environmental
impacts and reduce their energy costs. According to the EPA, generating
electricity accounts for nearly 33 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions,
while transportation - including personal vehicles, diesel trucks, heavy-duty
vehicles, and jet fuel - accounts for 26 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
On average a desktop PC wastes nearly half the power delivered to it, which
translates into dollars lost and needless environmental impact. This past
November, the Climate Savers Computing InitiativeSM launched an
online catalog that makes it quick and easy to find energy-efficient computers.
These types of systems can cut energy bills by an average of $7 to $10 per unit
per year. The initiative is a nonprofit group comprised of eco-conscious
consumers, businesses, and environmental organizations committed to improving
the power efficiency and reducing the energy consumption of computers. Their
goal is to reduce computer power consumption by 50 percent by 2010 by
encouraging the production and purchasing of power-efficient computers and
increasing the use of power management. With 300 products, the Initiative's
online catalog offers individuals and businesses a comprehensive and searchable
listing of Climate Savers Computing compliant desktop PCs, laptops, servers,
power supplies, power supply components, motherboards, and power management
software. According to a Climate Savers spokesperson, the Initiative is about
engaging the fast-moving IT sector to get better technology into the hands of
consumers and businesses quicker. The new catalog also showcases many of the
energy efficient products available today so that individuals and IT
departments can make smarter computing choices. To access the catalog, visit http://www.climatesaverscomputing.org.
EPA ANNOUNCES 2008 RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD – This past November the EPA set a new renewable
fuels standard (RFS) of 4.66 percent to meet the 2005 Energy Policy Act's
mandate that at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into
transportation gasoline in 2008. Based on the standard, each party determines
the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its motor
vehicle fuel. The standard for 2007 was 4.02 percent, equating to approximately
4.7 billion gallons. The overall volume target increases every year, reaching
7.5 billion gallons in 2012. The Energy Policy Act requires EPA to annually
determine the standard - which applies to refiners, importers and non-oxygenate
blenders of gasoline - by Nov. 30 for the following year. The RFS program,
which formally began last September, creates new markets for farm products,
increases energy security, and promotes the development of advanced
technologies that would greatly expand renewable and alternative fuels. It also
serves as one of the many pieces to help inform the greenhouse gas regulation
that EPA and federal partners are developing under an Executive Order issued by
the President in May.
CLIMATE COUNTS SCORECARD -
The nonprofit organization Climate Counts is a collaborative effort to bring
consumers and companies together in the struggle against global climate change.
It is funded by Stonyfield Farm, Inc. and was launched in collaboration with
Clean Air-Cool Planet. Individuals can use the Climate Counts Company Scorecard
to see how serious companies are about stopping climate change, as well as how
they compare to their business sector competitors. The annually updated
scorecard reflects the self-reported efforts of the companies to address
climate change, or to avoid it altogether. The tool was developed with
oversight from a panel of business and climate experts from leading non-governmental
organizations and academic institutions. Climate Counts researchers rated
companies based on a point system for climate-related actions. The higher the
score, the greater the company's commitment is to combating global warming. The
companies were scored on a scale from 1 to 100, based on 22 criteria within the
following four benchmarks: whether they measure and monitor their carbon
footprint; whether they have taken meaningful steps to reduce their own climate
impact; whether they have supported or opposed climate policy initiatives; and
how comprehensively and effectively they have reported on their climate
protection efforts to the public. Before releasing the ratings companies were
given an opportunity to confirm public data sources used by Climate Counts for
scoring. Canon, Nike, and Unilever topped the 60 companies scored on the
inaugural Climate Counts Scorecard. The bottom of the index included 17
companies with scores under 12, including Amazon.com, Apple, eBay, Limited
Brands, and Levi Strauss. To review all the company scores, visit www.ClimateCounts.org.
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Compliance Corner
What's New with Regulatory Compliance,
Environmental Management
and Related Issues
with Dan Hagerty, CHMM
You can contact me at daniel_hagerty @ hotmail.com
______________________________
What’s on OSHA’s Agenda
OSHA released its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, which describes more than
300 actions under development or review, as well as those completed or
withdrawn since the Spring 2007 agenda was published. The bulk of the agenda is
available exclusively online rather than on paper in the Federal Register.
.
Moving to an online agenda saves resources and provides users with a more
useful, searchable mechanism for accessing regulatory information. It also
helps meet e-Government objectives, while saving taxpayers money by
significantly reducing printing costs.
Items listed, but not limited too, include:
Prerule Stage:
Occupational Exposure
to Crystalline Silica and Beryllium, Emergency Response and Preparedness,
and
Methylene Chloride
Proposed Rule Stage, Confined Spaces in Construction (Part 1926): Preventing
Suffocation/Explosions in Confined Spaces,
Proposed Rule Stage, General Working Conditions for Shipyard Employment,
Proposed Rule Stage, Walking Working Surfaces and Personal Fall Protection
Systems (1910) (Slips, Trips, and Fall Prevention),
Proposed Rule Stage, Hazard Communication,
Proposed Rule Stage, Revision and Update of Standards for Power Presses,
Proposed Rule Stage, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories Fee
Schedule—Revised Approach,
Proposed Rule Stage, Abbreviated Bitrix Qualitative Fit-Testing Protocol,
Proposed Rule Stage, Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Food Flavorings
Containing Diacetyl,
Final Rule Stage, Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment,
Final Rule Stage, Updating OSHA Standards Based on National Consensus
Standards,
Final Rule Stage, Explosives,
Long-Term Actions, Hearing Conservation Program for Construction Workers,
and
Ionizing Radiation,
Topics included on OSHA’s April 2007 agenda that no longer appear on OSHA’s
current agenda include:
- Hearing conservation for
construction workers
- Emergency response and
preparedness
- Ionizing radiation
- Power presses
- Working conditions in
shipyards
- Hazard communication and
global harmonization
- Vertical tandem lifts used in
longshoring
Collaboration Will Further Speed EPA Program’s Efforts to Prioritize
Chemicals
The EPA’s National
Center for Computational
Toxicology (NCCT)) announced its first partnership under the ToxCast™ Program
with the Research Triangle Park-based, The Hamner Institutes for Health
Sciences. Using approaches first developed in the pharmaceutical industry, the
three-phased ToxCast™ Program will quickly and cost-effectively provide
information on the potential impact of chemicals on the body’s systems such as
the heart, lungs, brain, or reproductive organs. The science-based information
will enable EPA to prioritize chemicals for more detailed and expensive
toxicological evaluations and make the use of animals in testing more efficient
and effective.
Guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations,
The Hamner Institute will be looking at a subset of the initial 320 chemicals
being examined in ToxCast™ using a complementary system of in-vitro assays. The
Hamner Institute will be sharing expertise with EPA to help build a better
understanding of the relevance of the in-vitro results by using mathematical
models to predict the exposures that would result in similar effects in whole
animals.
ToxCast™ is a key prototype for the future of environmental health
protection as envisioned in the recent report of the National Academy of
Sciences entitled "Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century". In the two
years since the ToxCast™ Program’s inception, an Interagency Agreement has been
established with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chemical Genomics
Center (NCGC), nine contracts have been awarded to companies to provide
chemical management and various high throughput-screening assays, and in August
2007 the list of chemicals (mainly pesticides and other select chemicals) to be
tested under phase one’s proof-of-concept stage was announced. NCCT is
currently profiling the preliminary responses of those chemicals. The
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has supported a
project proposal developed jointly by the NCCT and EPA’s Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) to promote international cooperation
and research on the application of new molecular-based approaches for the
prioritization and screening of environmental chemicals for potential toxicity.
These international research partnerships will be built under OECD’s Molecular
Screening Initiative.
OSHA Announces Employer-Paid Personal Protective Equipment Final Rule
OSHA has announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective
equipment (PPE). Under the rule, all PPE, with a few exceptions, must be
provided at no cost to the employee. OSHA anticipates that this rule will have
substantial safety benefits that will result in more than 21,000 fewer
occupational injuries per year. The rule was published in the Federal Register
on November 15.
"Employees exposed to safety and health hazards may need to wear personal
protective equipment to be protected from injury, illness, and death caused by
exposure to those hazards," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA
Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "This final rule will clarify who is responsible for
paying for PPE, which OSHA anticipates will lead to greater compliance and
potential avoidance of thousands of workplace injuries each year."
The final rule contains a few exceptions for ordinary safety-toed footwear,
ordinary prescription safety eyewear, logging boots, and ordinary clothing and
weather-related gear. The final rule also clarifies OSHA's requirements
regarding payment for employee-owned PPE and replacement PPE. While these
clarifications have added several paragraphs to the regulatory text, the final
rule provides employees no less protection than they would have received under
the 1999 proposed standard.
The rule also provides an enforcement deadline of six months from the date
of publication to allow employers time to change their existing PPE payment
policies to accommodate the final rule.
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