EPA Given 90 Days to Update Lead Paint Rules

A federal court ordered EPA to propose a new rule on hazardous lead levels in paint and household dust within the next 90 days -- not the six years proposed by the Trump administration.

While lead paint was banned in the United States 40 years ago, older coatings remain on the walls and ceilings of many of the nation's homes, where it can be breathed in and endanger children's development.

The new expedited order "is going to protect the brains of thousands of children across the country," Eve Gartner, a staff attorney for Earthjustice, told The New York Times. Earthjustice helped argue the case for organizations that support tougher standards.

"It's going to mean that children that otherwise would have developed very elevated blood lead levels will be protected from the damage associated with that, assuming EPA follows the court order," she said.

The new 2-to-1 decision came from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco. Earlier, the Obama administration had proposed a six-year delay on revisions to lead paint rules, a move the court had called unreasonable.

"Indeed EPA itself has acknowledged that 'lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat in the U.S. for children ages 6 and younger,' and that the current standards are insufficient," the ruling said, adding, "The children exposed to lead poisoning due to the failure of EPA to act are severely prejudiced by EPA's delay."

An agency spokesman said the EPA is reviewing the court's decision, and would not say if the agency planned to appeal or seek review with the Supreme Court.

Anaheim Hazardous Waste and DOT Training

Register for California Hazardous Waste Management and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Anaheim, CA, on January 9-11 and save $100. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.

Atlanta Hazardous Waste and DOT Training

Register for Hazardous Waste Management: The Complete Course and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Atlanta, GA, on January 23-25 and save $100. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.

Indianapolis Hazardous Waste and DOT Training

Register for Hazardous Waste Management: The Complete Course and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Indianapolis, IN on January 30 – February 1 and save $100. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.

EPA to Publish State Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Electric Utility Generating Units

In light of the EPA’s proposed repeal of the Agency's Clean Power Plan (82 FR 48035, October 16, 2017, EPA has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes on a potential new rule establishing emission guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions from existing electrical generating units. In the ANPR, the Agency requested comment on the roles, responsibilities, and limitations of the federal government, state governments, and regulated entities in developing and implementing such a rule, and asked for information regarding the appropriate scope of such a rule and associated technologies and approaches.

According to the ANPR, EPA will propose publication of guideline documents for use by the States, with that guideline document containing, among other things, an  emission guideline that reflects the Best System of Emission Reduction (BSER), as determined by the Agency, for the category of existing sources being regulated. The guideline documents will provide information for the development of State plans, such as, an emission guideline that reflects the application of the BSER (considering the cost of such reduction) that has been adequately demonstrated.

Guidelines for Shipping Lithium Batteries

In their continuing effort to improve safety, the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the U.S. Postal Service  recently collaborated and rolled out a set of safety guidelines for mailing lithium batteries. Everyone that ships lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries must be aware that certain requirements must be met to ensure safety. Both agencies are responsible for enforcing the safety standards regarding the appropriate labeling and shipment of hazardous materials under PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Regulations for the safe transportation of lithium batteries in commerce. Go here for a copy of the safety guidelines.

New Cautions Against Refilling DOT 39 Cylinders

With safety as its primary mission, PHMSA produced and launched a YouTube video and poster that cautions you to never refill DOT 39 cylinders, such as the 1 lb. cylinders used for camping. While many types of propane cylinders are designed to be refilled, a DOT 39 cylinder of any size is strictly non-refillable. Hazardous materials incidents involving refilled DOT 39 cylinders, have been reported and include one fatality. If you have any questions about refilling any cylinder, please contact a qualified refiller, or PHMSA’s HAZMAT Info Center at 1-800-467-4922, https://www.phmsa.dot.gov, or e-mail: infocntr@dot.gov

Revised Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing NESHAP

EPA has completed its final residual risk and technology reviews for the Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing source category regulated under the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). As a result of the review, the Agency has readopted the existing emission limits for formaldehyde, established new emission limits for methanol, and a work practice standard for phenol emissions from bonded rotary spin  lines at wool fiberglass manufacturing facilities. In addition, the EPA revised the emission standards promulgated on July 29, 2015, for flame attenuation (FA) lines at wool fiberglass manufacturing facilities by creating three subcategories of FA lines and established emission limits for formaldehyde and methanol emissions, and either emission limits or work practice standards for phenol emissions for each subcategory of FA lines.  The revised NESHAP became effective on the date of December 26, 2017, the date it was published in the Federal Register.

Environmental Impact of Severe Winter Weather

What you do during severe winter conditions and cold can create certain environmental problems, indoors or out.

What homeowners can do - gasoline-powered generators provide emergency electricity, but generators also release deadly carbon monoxide (CO).

What companies, municipalities and airports can do - deicing chemicals improve safe transportation on roads or airplanes, but misused chemicals can also contaminate waterways or drinking water sources.

Around your home:

People get sick or die each year from carbon monoxide or "CO" poisoning due to unsafe use of generators.

• Generator exhaust is toxic. Always put generators outside well away from doors, windows, and vents. Never use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas. Carbon monoxide (CO) is deadly, can build up quickly, and linger for hours.
• Never try to heat your home using a combustion appliance such as a gas stove, oven, barbeque grill, or dryer. Never operate any gas-burning heater or other appliance in a poorly vented or closed room, or where you are sleeping.

Highways and Walkways

• Use de-icers that are safer for the environment.
• Road Salt Application and Storage: Application and storage of deicing materials, most commonly salts such as sodium chloride, can lead to water quality problems for surrounding areas. Municipalities in areas with snowfall that requires deicing must ensure proper storage for materials such as road salts.
• Application Practices – See the results of this study about minimizing the loss to the environment of chemicals used in controlling snow and ice on highways.

Airports

• Airport deicing effluent guidelines - Airports are required to obtain stormwater discharge permits and ensure that wastewater associated with the deicing of airfield pavement at commercial airports from deicing operations is properly managed.
• Storm Water Technology Fact Sheet: Airplane Deicing Fluid Recovery Systems (PDF) - This describes the recovery of spent ethylene glycol or propylene glycol through a three-stage process typically consisting of filtration, contaminant removal, and distillation.

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