The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Monday a delay in enforcement of the crystalline silica standard that applies to the construction industry to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. The Agency has determined that additional guidance is necessary because of the unique nature of the requirements in the construction standard. Originally scheduled to begin June 23, 2017, enforcement will now begin Sept. 23, 2017. – See more at: http://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) adopted amendments to Chapter 173-305 Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Hazardous Waste Fee Regulation on April 5, 2017.  To see the rulemaking documents visit Ecology’s website at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/laws_rules/HWFee/1606docs.html.  The rule includes the following changes:

• Exempts
  • Dangerous waste treated on-site by Generator
  • Non-recurrent (e.g. spill clean-up) dangerous waste
• Modifies the definition of Price Deflator which affects the maximum total fees collected. The language was updated to clarify how the fee is adjusted annually for inflation; the language is now consistent with actual practice.

The rulemaking is not expected to change fee practices but to codify current practices.  It will not require businesses to change how they report dangerous waste.  The rule is effective May 6, 2017.

On March 28, 2017 President Trump signed an executive order redirecting the nation’s policy on energy.  The executive order titled Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth, includes 8 sections defining the policy; requiring review of all agency actions that potentially burden the safe, efficient development of domestic energy resources; rescinding 4 Presidential actions, 2 Office of the President reports, and one guidance document from The Council on Environmental Quality; requiring review of EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” and related rules and agency actions; requiring review of estimates of the social cost of carbon, nitrous oxide, and methane for regulatory impact analysis; directing the Department of the Interior to withdrawing the Federal Land Coal Leasing Moratorium; and reviewing regulations related to United States oil and gas development.

The new policy is defined as:

(a)  It is in the national interest to promote clean and safe development of our Nation’s vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth, and prevent job creation.  Moreover, the prudent development of these natural resources is essential to ensuring the Nation’s geopolitical security.

(b)  It is further in the national interest to ensure that the Nation’s electricity is affordable, reliable, safe, secure, and clean, and that it can be produced from coal, natural gas, nuclear material, flowing water, and other domestic sources, including renewable sources.

(c)  Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that executive departments and agencies (agencies) immediately review existing regulations that potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources and appropriately suspend, revise, or rescind those that unduly burden the development of domestic energy resources beyond the degree necessary to protect the public interest or otherwise comply with the law.

(d)  It further is the policy of the United States that, to the extent permitted by law, all agencies should take appropriate actions to promote clean air and clean water for the American people, while also respecting the proper roles of the Congress and the States concerning these matters in our constitutional republic.

(e)  It is also the policy of the United States that necessary and appropriate environmental regulations comply with the law, are of greater benefit than cost, when permissible, achieve environmental improvements for the American people, and are developed through transparent processes that employ the best available peer-reviewed science and economics.

US EPA regulations have required that operators of construction activity that involves more than one acre must control stormwater leaving the construction site through use of a Construction General Permit (CGP) and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).  On January 11, 2017 EPA issued the new 2017 CGP regulation which still require compliance with effluent limits and other historical permit requirements, including the development and maintenance of a SWPPP, but an updated set of requirements for stormwater runoff at construction sites took effect on February 26, 2017.  Additional information is available at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities#cgp.

On Friday February 17, 2017, the Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt, an American lawyer and Republican politician from the state of Oklahoma , as the 14th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

In response to the nomination, Pruitt said, “I intend to run this agency in a way that fosters both responsible protection of the environment and freedom for American businesses.”

Most Democrats and environmental groups are fiercely opposed to Mr. Pruitt, who has often sued the EPA as Oklahoma’s attorney general to block clean air and water regulations from being enforced. They also have questioned his close ties to the fossil fuel industry, which has donated to Mr. Pruitt’s various political action committees.

Republican leaders have cheered Pruitt as someone who can strike a balance between protecting the environment and ensuring that economic growth isn’t slowed by onerous regulations.

Edward Scott Pruitt was born in Danville, KY in 1968 and grew up in Lexington. He attended Georgetown College (KY) and graduated in 1990 with bachelor’s degrees in political science and communications. Mr. Pruitt then moved to Tulsa where he attended the University of Tulsa (OK) to earn a Juris Doctor in 1993.  Mr. Pruitt entered into private practice in Tulsa where he specialized in constitutional law, contracts, insurance law, labor law, and litigation and appeals.  He entered in politics in 1998, representing Tulsa and Wagoner Counties in the Oklahoma Senate from 1998 until 2006 and serving as Attorney General of Oklahoma from 2010 to date.

References:
– http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/17/scott-pruitt-epa-confirmation-vote-senate/98039318/
– http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/2016/12/07/donald-trump-scott-pruitt-environmental-protection-agency/95104512/
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pruitt

EPA has identified 30 regulations that will be “frozen” until March 21, 2017, as directed by President Trump’s executive order issued last Friday.  The notice is expected to be published in the Federal Register today.  Most of the legislation delayed are air regulations but there are a few in the waste realm.  A link to the FR notice is below

https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2017-01822.pdf

Effective Immediately: The restriction on the use of uncertified wood heating devices is now lifted, due to improved weather conditions allowing for greater dispersion of air pollutants. The ban on outdoor burning is also lifted. 

Although the burn ban has been lifted, there are program requirements that must be followed at all times:

• Wood heating requirements
• Outdoor burning program requirements

The Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule (Rule), finalized on November 28, 2016, will require hazardous waste large quantity generators (LQGs) and small quantity generators (SQGs) to make many changes as to how they manage their hazardous waste.

Pretransport Marking – The Rule requires generators to mark the applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous waste numbers (i.e., EPA hazardous waste codes) on each container before transporting them off-site.

Satellite Accumulation Area Containers Marking – A container holding hazardous waste in a satellite accumulation area must be marked with the words “Hazardous Waste,” and an indication of the hazards of the contents (e.g. DOT labels or placards, an OSHA hazard statement or pictogram, or an NFPA 704 diamond).

VSQGs – Under the new rule, industrial entities previously called conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQCs), are now termed very small quantity generators (VSQGs). This change reflects the actual regulatory language since the other two generator categories—small quantity generators (SQGs) and large quantity generators (LQGs)—are also conditionally exempt from some requirements. VSQGs are potentially affected by only two of the new provisions: (1) VSQGs may send hazardous waste to LQGs under the control of the same person; and (2) QGs may also maintain their existing regulatory status if they have an episodic event that generates additional amounts of hazardous waste that would have resulted in them moving into a higher generator category for a short period of time.

Miscellaneous Other Provisions – Other revisions and new provisions in the rule affect disposal of liquid hazardous waste in a landfill, clarify generator waste counting, clarification of what is acceptable knowledge for hazardous waste determinations, requirement that SQCs notify EPA every 4 years of generator status, and the LQCs attempt to make arrangements with the local police department, fire department, and other emergency response teams; emergency response contractors; equipment suppliers; and local hospitals.

The federal Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule becomes effective May 30, 2017.

A ban on the use of uncertified stoves, inserts and fireplaces begins at 3 p.m. today, January 11, 2017, in the Spokane County Smoke Control Zone until further notice. 

Spokane Clean Air is issuing the Stage 1 / “Yellow” burn ban because weather conditions are contributing to a build-up of wood smoke.  Under a Stage 1 “yellow” burn restriction:  

• The use of uncertified wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts and other uncertified wood-burning devices is prohibited in the Smoke Control Zone, unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.
  
• The use of EPA-certified wood stoves, pellet stoves and other certified wood-burning devices is allowed.
• All outdoor burning is banned throughout Spokane County.  

This temporary restriction is due to increasing levels of smoke and stagnant weather conditions expected over the next several days. 

*If you don’t have an adequate source of heat, contact Spokane Clean Air for an exemption.  Click here for details.

A ban on outdoor burning and the use of uncertified stoves, inserts and fireplaces begins at 3 p.m. today (December 16, 2016) in the Spokane County Smoke Control Zone until further notice.

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency is calling the Stage 1, condition “Yellow” temporary burn ban due to increasing levels of smoke and stagnant weather conditions expected over the next couple of days

Under a Stage 1 “yellow” burn restriction:

• The use of uncertified wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts and other uncertified wood-burning devices is prohibited
  unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.
• Certified wood stoves, pellet stoves and other certified wood-burning devices are allowed.
• All outdoor burning is banned in Spokane County.

If you don’t have an adequate source of heat, contact Spokane Clean Air for an exemption. Click here for details.