With the onset of the hurricane season, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued an “alert” to remind facility operators to take preventive steps to minimize potential releases of hazardous substances in the event of a weather emergency. Various regulations require that operators minimize chemical releases during process shutdown operations. If releases occur, they must be reported immediately upon constructive knowledge of the discharge.
The EPA alert can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/region4/r4_hurricanereleases.html.
Please contact T. Cozzie Consulting if you desire assistance with review and updating of your spill prevention and contingency plans and procedures.
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The Environmental Protection Agency has announced its intent to hold a public hearing to discuss reconsideration of the Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule, published in October 2008 and effective December 28, 2008. The DSW rule excluded certain wastes that were recycled from the definition of solid waste, and therefore exempted them from regulation as hazardous wastes.
The hearing is planned for the end of June, with further information to follow in the federal register. Additional information on the DSW rule can be found at www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/dsw/rulemaking.htm.
EPA also has announced that it plans to withdraw the Emissions Comparable Fuels rule, which became effective January 20. This rule reclassified certain materials as non-wastes when burned in an industrial boiler, if their emissions were comparable to emissions from the burning of fuel oil. The proposal to withdraw the rule will be published later this year.
More information on the Emissions Comparable Fuels rule can be found at www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/td/combust/compfuels/exclusion.htm.
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