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Do you have hazardous chemicals in your workplace? If you think the answer is no, are you sure? Let’s start with a definition! OSHA defines a hazardous chemical as one that presents either a physical or a health hazard. Many common and readily available products such as paints, cleaners, and other materials found in the workplace meet this definition. In fact, last year OSHA issued over 6,300 violations to companies that failed to comply with this standard. Learn more about your Right-to-Know! We have some news on this year’s TSCA IUR Form U submission: this year’s Form U submission period will not be June 1 to September 30. It will most likely be pushed back to later this year. The EPA is delaying the submission period because the proposed IUR modifications rule has not yet been finalized. EPA expects to have the final version of the changes to the IUR reporting requirements in the near future. The revised 2011 submission period will be announced with the publication of the final IUR modification rule. In the August 13, 2010 TSCA Inventory Update Reporting Modifications – Proposed Rule, the EPA anticipated the promulgation of the final rule by the Spring of 2011. Spring arrived 3 weeks ago, and the final IUR Reporting Modification rule has not been published. As such, the reporting modifications and specific reporting period have not been finalized. In addition, the Agency has not released a test version of the revised Form U electronic reporting software. It is possible that the Agency will change the proposed 2011 submission period (June 1 – September 30) to another 4–month period later in 2011. It’s time for an update on the EPA’s proposed changes to the Inventory Update Reporting Rule! As of January 24, 2011, the EPA has been silent as to what changes will be included in the final rule. Paula Kaufmann makes an education guess to forecast when the final rule will be published so that anyone required to report, under TSCA rules, can collect their 2010 inventory data. Click on the title of the blog to read more. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ended 2010 with two announcements that impact Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). The first of these announcements involves polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in school environments. EPA’s second end-of-2010 announcement involves testing for radon, as January is National Radon Action Month. Two easy ways to start 2011 off on the right foot — follow the EPA’s recommendation by eliminating two significant and relatively easy IEQ concerns, PCBs and radon, from your building. New standards were announced on October 25th from the DOT and EPA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in heavy-duty trucks and buses. The standards, which are set to be phased in on new vehicles in 2014, will include requirements to improve fuel efficiency which benefits businesses, the shipping industry, and cities and towns. As a facility, are you tracking your toxic chemicals and filing the appropriate NJ PPA documentation? Facilities must account for their use of toxic chemicals and, where feasible, reduce their use. Toxic pollution that cannot be reduced should be recycled, and pollution that cannot be recycled should be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. Guest blogger, Charles Peruffo, reviews the requirements and process of filing under the New Jersey Pollution Prevention Act. Is your facility a manufacturer or importer of chemicals in amounts of 25,000 pounds or greater? If so, your company may need to participate in the next round of the EPA’s Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Inventory Update Rule (IUR) program and submit a Form U to the EPA… August 2011 Update: Information from the EPA regarding TSCA requirements and submission has changed significantly since this post was originally written in August 2010. Please also read BREAKING NEWS: New EPA TSCA Inventory Update Requirements (IUR) for 2012 and additional posts following to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information. -PKaufmann Is your facility a manufacturer or importer of chemicals in amounts of 25,000 pounds or greater? |
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