The 2015 Environmental Trade Fair and Conference Presented by the TCEQ is Approaching!
I can’t recommend enough the annual Environmental Trade Fair and Conference (ETFC) presented by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These two days are a conference, convention, expo, network-building, customer/client interaction, relationship building, skill improving, knowledge enhancing…great time, deep in the heart of Texas!
TCEQ regulates hazardous and non-hazardous waste from both industrial and non-industrial facilities.
Though I missed the ETFC in 2014, I attended my first in 2013 and found it very helpful in improving the breadth and depth of my knowledge of the TCEQ regulations. While I’m there entirely for issues related to waste management, there are exhibits and educational seminars on a variety of environmental regulatory topics. Representatives of the TCEQ are there to answer your questions, so you know you are getting it right from the source.
With all the time spent learning from the TCEQ staff, I had to speed through the exhibit floor as fast as I could and an entire day wasn’t enough to see all the exhibitors – let alone speak with them. The exhibitors I did speak with were from throughout the environmental industry and I came away with many good contacts In several cases I was finally able to meet people face-to-face that I had done business with over the phone for years.
One more thing – If your Texas business generates a hazardous waste, universal waste, used oil, or a non-hazardous industrial solid waste, I advise you to attend my one-day (8 hour) training seminar held each year in Houston (January 2015, exact date TBD) and Dallas/Fort Worth (August 2015, exact date TBD). Find me at the 2015 ETFC and I’ll give you a promotional code you can use for one of my training seminars in 2015!
Interested in a Training Seminar that covers this topic, and more?
The Federal Register (the daily newspaper of the Federal government) is a legal newspaper published every business day by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Federal Register contains:
Federal Agency Regulations
Proposed Rules and Public Notices
Executive Orders
Proclamations
Other Presidential Documents
NARA’s Office of the Federal Register prepares the Federal Register for publication in partnership with the Government Printing Office (GPO). GPO distributes the Federal Register in paper, on microfiche, and on their website: GPO’s Federal Digital System – Federal Register.
Basically, the Federal Register is “Heads up!” shout-out from all of the Federal regulatory agencies (USEPA, USDOT/PHMSA, USDOT/FRA, USDOT/FAA, USDOT/FMCSA, and others) about what they’re planning, what rules they’ve created – or intend to create, if they are requesting feed-back from interested parties, if they’ve changed their mind, whatever. The Federal Register is a communication tool – and sometimes the only communication tool – used by the Federal government to inform those in a regulated industry of what they have in the works. As a member of a regulated community – which I assume you are since you’ve read this far – you must stay on top of the Federal Register announcements from those agencies whose regulations impact your business.
I can help you to do this.
One way that I do this is by scanning the Federal Register each month for announcement I feel my customers may be interested in. These I tabulate and include in an article format with links to the Federal Register itself. Here are few recent examples:
I don’t have the resources to review the Federal Register for every announcement from every agency, here is what I focus on:
The Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pertaining to the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. PHMSA is just one of many administrations and bureaus within the US Department of Transportation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – another administration within the USDOT – and any announcements pertaining to the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) – yet another administration within the USDOT – and any announcements pertaining to the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials.
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) – you guessed it: still another administration within the USDOT – and any announcements pertaining to the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials.
And…
Announcements from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) pertaining to the management of solid waste, hazardous waste, universal waste, or used oil.
Depending on the immediacy, importance, and relevance of a Federal Register announcement I may dig into more deeply and research it myself. Usually this research will result in a thoroughly researched article that appears on my blog. But if I don’t have the time or resources for a full blown article, I will summarize the key information in an article on my blog and then direct interested parties to the Federal Register with a hyperlink. You can see some examples of that below:
Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Proposed Exclusion
Announcements from regulatory agencies of the US Government in the Federal Register can have a profound impact on your business. Therefore it’s important for you to continuously monitor Federal Register publications for announcements applicable to your operations. I can help you to do this.
Sometimes an announcement in the Federal Register calls for a more thorough explanation than just what is conveyed by the headline. That is the point of this article. Here I will briefly summarize, and provide access to more information, on a specific Federal Register announcement: Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Proposed Exclusion.
What agency is making the announcement?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Comments must be received on or before September 19, 2014.
Any person may request a hearing on the proposed decision by filing a request to EPA by September 4, 2014.
What type of action is this?
Proposed rule and request for comment.
What regulations may be impacted?
40 CFR Part 261
[EPA-R07-RCRA-2014-0452; FRL-9915-45-Region 7]
How is the announcement identified?
Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Proposed Exclusion
Pages 49252 – 49260 [FR DOC # 2014-19771]
I don’t have all day. Can you sum it up for me and I’ll determine if I need to read the whole thing?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, also, “the Agency” or “we”) is proposing to grant a petition submitted by the John Deere Des Moines Works (John Deere) of Deere & Company, in Ankeny, Iowa to exclude or “delist” up to 600 tons per calendar year of F006/F019 wastewater treatment sludge filter cake generated by John Deere’s wastewater treatment system from the list of hazardous wastes. The Agency has tentatively decided to grant the petition based on an evaluation of waste-specific information provided by John Deere. This proposed decision, if finalized, would conditionally exclude the petitioned waste from the requirements of hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This exclusion would be valid only when the wastewater treatment
sludge filter cake is disposed of in a Subtitle D landfill which is permitted, licensed, or otherwise authorized by a State to manage industrial solid waste. If finalized, EPA would conclude that John Deere’s petitioned waste is nonhazardous with respect to the original listing criteria and that there are no other current factors which would cause the waste to be hazardous.
PHMSA Amends its Rules: Shippers and Carriers of HazMat may not Operate Until all Civil Penalties are Paid
Announcements from regulatory agencies of the US Government in the Federal Register can have a profound impact on your business. Therefore it’s important for you to continuously monitor Federal Register publications for announcements applicable to your operations. I can help you to do this.
Sometimes an announcement in the Federal Register calls for a more thorough explanation than just what is conveyed by the headline. That is the point of this article. Here I will briefly summarize, and provide access to more information, on a specific Federal Register announcement: Hazardous Materials: Falure to Pay Civil Penalties. (more…)
Federal Aviation Administration Announces Public Meeting Date
Announcements from regulatory agencies of the US Government in the Federal Register can have a profound impact on your business. Therefore it’s important for you to continuously monitor Federal Register publications for announcements applicable to your operations. I can help you to do this.
Sometimes an announcement in the Federal Register calls for a more thorough explanation than just what is conveyed by the headline. That is the point of this article. Here I will briefly summarize, and provide access to more information, on a specific Federal Register announcement: Public Meeting to be Held in Washingon DC on October 14, 2014.
What agency is making the announcement?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), two of many administrations within the US Department of Transportation.
I don’t have all day. Can you sum it up for me and I’ll determine if I need to read the whole thing?
In preparation for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel’s (DGP’s) meeting to be held October 20-24, 2014, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the FAA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety announce a public meeting.
Where can I look for more information?
Questions regarding the meeting can be directed to Ms. Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, ADG-2, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-7530. Email: 9-AWA-ASH-ADG-HazMat@faa.gov. Questions in advance of the meeting for PHMSA can be directed to Mr. Shane Kelley, Assistant International Standards Coordinator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, PHH-10, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 366-8553, Email: shane.kelley@dot.gov.
For the full Federal Register publication:PDF | Text | More
Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR) An Extension to the Comment Period – Announced by the PHMSA in the September 2014 Federal Register
Announcements from regulatory agencies of the US Government in the Federal Register can have a profound impact on your business. Therefore it’s important for you to continuously monitor Federal Register publications for announcements applicable to your operations. I can help you to do this.
Sometimes an announcement in the Federal Register calls for a more thorough explanation than just what is conveyed by the headline. That is the point of this article. Here I will briefly summarize, and provide access to more information, on a specific Federal Register announcement: Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR). (more…)
Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR) – An Announcement from the PHMSA in the August 2014 Federal Register
Announcements from regulatory agencies of the US Government in the Federal Register can have a profound impact on your business. Therefore it’s important for you to continuously monitor Federal Register publications for announcements applicable to your operations. I can help you to do this.
Sometimes an announcement in the Federal Register calls for a more thorough explanation than just what is conveyed by the headline. That is the point of this article. Here I will briefly summarize, and provide access to more information, on a specific Federal Register announcement: Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR). (more…)
What’s Wrong With This Picture? HazMat Release at South Bend, IN Lowe’s
This is how the release was reported on the WSBT website:
A leak of some sodium hydroxide. Seems pretty simple, right? But a close look at the picture and text of the article gives me pause. I believe there is the potential for a violation of the Hazardous Material Regulations of the PHMSA/USDOT, and it’s not the leak. Read the original article closely then see what I can discern from it. After you’ve read my article tell me if you think I got it right or not. What I intend to do here is compare the available information to the applicable regulations (the HMR) and then provide my conclusion. (more…)
September 2014 – Rules & Regulations, Proposed Rules, and Notices Regarding the Management of Hazardous Waste and the Transportation of Hazardous Materials
On its website the US Government Printing Office makes a wealth of Federal publications available for review and download; one of these is the Federal Register.
Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the source of US Federal Regulations
See below for a brief summary of announcements in the Federal Register by the US EPA on the subject of Hazardous Waste and the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US DOT on the subject of Transportation of Hazardous Materials.
The Federal Register is a great way to look down the road and see potential changes to the regulations long before they are put into effect (sometimes The Rulemaking Process takes years before a final rule is issued, if ever). Knowledge of these potential changes provides you with several advantages:
Additional time to modify your business operations to comply.
Awareness of on what topics the regulatory agencies intend to focus their efforts.
The ability to register your concerns, complaints, suggestions, etc. in order to modify the proposed rule before a final rule is issued. It can be done, really!
Make changes to your training program to account for changes that become effective before the next training cycle.
Alert you to the need to re-train your employees prior to their next scheduled training cycle, if necessary.
Keep you abreast of changes to the regulations that affect your business and/or your industry group.
Please note that this is my best effort to identify the relevant announcements in the Federal Register that may be of interest to generators of hazardous waste and shippers of hazardous materials. I encourage you to review the list of Federal Register publications yourself to ensure regulatory compliance.
September 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014
Be sure to manage hazardous waste according to State and Federal Regulations
USEPA – US Environmental Protection Agency:
Publications not related to the management of hazardous waste, solid waste, universal waste, or used oil are not included here.
Rules and Regulations:
Texas: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision Pages 52220 – 52224 [FR DOC # 2014-20789] PDF | Text | More
Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants: New Hampshire; Revised State Plan for Large and Small Municipal Waste Combustors Pages 52201 – 52205 [FR DOC # 2014-20803] PDF | Text | More
Contact me with any questions you may have about the management of hazardous waste
Texas: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions Pages 52275 – 52276 [FR DOC # 2014-20788] PDF | Text | More
Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants: New Hampshire; Revised State Plan for Large and Small Municipal Waste Combustors Pages 52275 – 52275 [FR DOC # 2014-20800] PDF | Text | More
Notices:
None
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration:
Publications not related to the transportation of hazardous materials are not included here.
Rules and Regulations:
Special Conditions: Boeing, Model 767-200/-300 Series Airplane, as Modified by Avionics Support Group; Installed Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery Systems Pages 58243 – 58245 [FR DOC # 2014-23042] PDF | Text | More
Proposed Rules:
None
Notices:
Hazardous Materials Safety Program Pages 56847 – 56847 [FR DOC # 2014-22603] PDF | Text | More
FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
Publications not related to the transportation of hazardous materials are not included here.
Rules and Regulations:
None
Proposed Rules:
None
Notices:
None
FRA – Federal Railroad Administration:
Large volumes of hazardous materials are transported by rail.
Publications not related to the transportation of hazardous materials are not included here.
Rules and Regulations:
None
Proposed Rules:
Securement of Unattended Equipment Pages 53356 – 53383 [FR DOC # 2014-21253] PDF | Text | More
Notice of Petition for Approval of a Railroad Safety Program Plan Pages 58029 – 58029 [FR DOC # 2014-22876] PDF | Text | More
Notices:
None
PHMSA – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:
Publications not related to the transportation of hazardous materials are not included here.
Rules and Regulations:
Hazardous Materials: Emergency Restriction/Prohibition Order Pages 55403 – 55406 [FR DOC # 2014-21968] PDF | Text | More
Clarification on Fireworks Policy Regarding Display Aerial Shells With Attachments Pages 56988 – 56989 [FR DOC # 2014-22706] PDF | Text | More
Clarification on Fireworks Policy Regarding Display Mines Pages 56989 – 56990 [FR DOC # 2014-22705] PDF | Text | More
Proposed Rules:
Hazardous Materials: Special Permit and Approvals Standard Operating Procedures and Evaluation Process Pages 54676 – 54676 [FR DOC # 2014-21776] PDF | Text | More
Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR) Pages 57494 – 57495 [FR DOC # 2014-22759] PDF | Text | More
Notices:
Hazardous Materials: Revisions of the Emergency Response Guidebook Pages 52106 – 52107 [FR DOC # 2014-20683] PDF | Text | More
Information Collection Activities Pages 58031 – 58041 [FR DOC # 2014-22903] PDF | Text | More
Special Permit Applications Pages 58864 – 58865 [FR DOC # 2014-23071] PDF | Text | More
Notice of Applications for Modification of Special PermitPages 58865 – 58866 [FR DOC # 2014-23069] PDF | Text | More
Information can be helpful but it’s useless if you are not able to make sense of it. You must be able to determine how any changes to the rules and regulations (final or proposed) will affect your operations, and communicate the necessary information to your personnel. I can help you to do that.
Contact me with any questions you may have about the transportation of hazardous materials by air, highway, vessel, or rail
Please contact for a free training consultation to determine your regulatory requirements and how training can help you to attain and maintain compliance with the regulations of the US Environmental Protection Agency (and your state) and the PHMSA, FAA, FRA, & FMCSA of the US Department Of Transportation.
Metal Finisher in Seattle pays $24,000 to Settle Hazardous Waste Violations After Corrections are Made
The Bullet:
A firm that applies rust-resistant coating to iron and steel has corrected past environmental violations, but will pay a $24,000 fine for having allowed the non-compliance to occur. More…
Who:
Washington State Department of Ecology
Larry Altose, communications, 425-649-7009, @ecySeattle
Daylin Davidson, regional hazardous waste compliance unit leader, 426-649-7090
Ace Galvanizing Inc.
What:
Repeated violations included:
Not properly labeling dangerous waste containers.
Not keeping the containers closed.
Not dating containers to ensure disposal within a required 90-day limit for a Large Quantity Generator of dangerous waste.
Not sure of your hazardous waste generator status?
Ace Galvanizing has since cooperated with Ecology and come into compliance with the regulations.
Where:
Facility is located at: 429 South 96th St. Seattle, WA 98108
When:
Violations were found by Department of Ecology inspectors during four site visits in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
News Release – September 30, 2014
Why:
“Improper handling of dangerous wastes can expose workers, the public and the environment to safety and health hazards.”
How:
It appears that State of Washington Department of Ecology inspectors were patient with this facility and its past ownership. But it finally determined that the threat to human health and the environment was not going to be addressed without a formal enforcement action.
Good training can prevent fines and ensure compliance with all Federal and State regulations.
My RCRA training does more than just meet the regulatory requirements at 40 CFR 265.16. It will also answer your questions and shed a lot of light on the hazardous waste regulations of your state. At the conclusion of my Onsite Training, all of your facility personnel will know what compliance means and will have the tools to obtain and maintain it. Contact me for a free training consultation.
