Partisan divides in Washington are preventing legislative action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and climate change, but President Obama recently announced administrative initiatives to advance these efforts even without Congressional action. His new Climate Action Plan reaffirms domestic initiatives led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and international GHG emission reduction and climate change efforts. The Plan has the following three main “pillars”:
Tags: Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, climate change
Recent court decisions rescind portions of EPA Clean Air Act rules governing Prevention of Serious Deterioration (PSD) and renewable fuels. For example, in October 2010, EPA adopted rules allowing for significant impact levels (SILs) and significant monitoring concentrations (SMCs) for sources of PM-2.5. However, in January of this year the D.C. Circuit upheld most elements of the 2012 standards, but vacated and remanded provisions establishing and applying projections of cellulosic biofuel use. American Petroleum Institute v. EPA, ___ F.3d ___ (D.C. Cir. 2013).
Tags: Health & Safety, OSHA, Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, ghg
Are you an employer concerned with California Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) compliance? Some recent developments at the state level may affect your operations. To learn whether you need to take action, read on!
Tags: Health & Safety, OSHA, California Legislation, Greenhouse Gas, ghg
Various changes were made to environmental legislation during 2012, both in the US and internationally. Here follows a summary of some of the headlines.
Tags: International, California Legislation, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, Stormwater
As 2013 progresses, governments throughout North America are considering whether and how to expand regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to reduce climate change. For example, I recently wrote about California’s first sale of GHG emission allowance as part of its “AB 32” cap-and-trade program.
Tags: Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, climate change
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to expand and refine environmental compliance requirements, including those related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In particular, facilities and organizations subject to EPA's mandatory GHG emission reporting rules should be preparing to submit reports covering calendar year 2012. Even an entity that reported 2010 or 2011 emissions will still have to adjust its data collection and information reporting efforts. Although reports typically are due March 31, that’s a Sunday this year so April 1 is the date.
Tags: Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, ghg, fracking, climate change
2012 has been a relatively quiet one for environmental health and safety (EH&S) compliance personnel. Fewer new laws are enacted in election years, because some or all of the lawmakers are busy running for election or re-election.
Tags: Health & Safety, OSHA, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, Hazcom
While we watch negotiators in Doha, Qatar continue to struggle to find international agreement on effective climate change minimization measures, it's useful to look at one part of the planet where aggressive actions are underway. No, not the U.S. federal government, which took time out of preparations for “fiscal cliff” negotiations to pass a law on November 27 empowering the Department of Transportation to prohibit U.S. airlines from participation in the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (Public Law No. 112-200). This month's prime example of action is California, which just held its first auction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances to inaugurate a statewide cap-and-trade program.
Tags: California Legislation, Environmental risks, Environmental, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, climate change