LGEAN - Compliance & Enforcement

Compliance & Enforcement

Latest News and Updates

EPA Revises Emergency Planning and Extremely Hazardous Substance Rules
This revision allows facilities subject to the Emergency Planning requirements that have a non-reactive solid EHS in solution, to first multiply the amount of the solid chemical in solution on-site by 0.2 before determining if this quantity equals or exceeds the lower published TPQ. This rule is effective 23 April 2012.

Rules Proposed to Limit New Uses of Potentially Harmful Chemicals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed that companies be required to report to EPA all new uses, including in domestic or imported products, of five groups of potentially harmful chemicals.

Improving Regulations Through Periodic Retrospective Reviews
All federal agencies are required to develop plans for periodically reviewing existing regulations to determine whether any should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed.

EPA Releases New Edition of Liability-Focused Handbook for Local Governments
"Revitalizing Contaminated Sites: Addressing Liability Concerns (The Revitalization Handbook)"(2011 Edition) summarizes the federal statutory provisions and EPA policy and guidance documents that address the potential liability concerns of parties involved in the cleanup and revitalization of contaminated sites.

EPA Construction General Permit
Stormwater discharges from construction activities (such as clearing, grading, excavating, and stockpiling) that disturb one or more acres, or smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale, are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater program.

EPA to Open Public Comment on Proposed Standards to Protect Aquatic Ecosystems
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing for public comment standards to protect billions of fish and other aquatic organisms drawn each year into cooling water systems at large power plants and factories.

New Guidelines for Energy Star Homes
Effective January, 2011, new, more rigorous guidelines are in place for new homes that earn the Energy Star label.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs--Improved Cleanup Guidance
EPA has updated its guidance on how to properly clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and also developed a new consumer brochure with CFL recycling and cleanup tips.

EPA Issues Extension to Greenhouse Gas Reporting Deadline
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that extends the deadline for reporting 2010 data under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program to September 30, 2011.

Clean Water Act Permit Requirement for Pesticide Discharges
EPA requested an extension on Clean Water Act Permit requirement for Pesticide Discharges on March 3, 2011, to allow more time for pesticide operators to obtain permits for pesticide discharges into U.S. waters.

Retrospective Review Plan and Significant Regulations for Review
President Obama recently issued Executive Order 13563, requiring each agency to develop a plan to periodically conduct a retrospective review of its regulations, and determine if they are ineffective, insufficient, or overly burdensome, and then revise or repeal as warranted. In response, EPA is developing a review plan and a list of candidate regulations for potential review, and we would like to solicit your feedback on both.

EPA To Develop Regulation for Perchlorate and Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water
EPA is moving forward with the development of a regulation for perchlorate to protect Americans from any potential health impacts, while also continuing to take steps to ensure the quality of the water they drink.

Proposed Transport Rule
The EPA proposed a rule that would protect the health of millions of Americans by helping states reduce air pollution and attain clean air standards. This rule, known as the Transport Rule would require 31 states and the District of Columbia to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute to ozone and fine particle pollution in other states.

EPA Announces Next Steps on Emissions Standards for Boilers, Certain Incinerators
The standards will be significantly different than what EPA proposed in April 2010. The agency believes these changes still deserve further public review and comment and expects to solicit further comment through a reconsideration of the rules.

Issue Summary

Environmental compliance ensures that local governments can protect and improve the health safety and welfare of their communities. The resources below provide information on programs, publications, and organizations that can assist local governments' compliance efforts.

Resources

U.S. EPA

The Sector Notebook series is a unique set of profiles containing information for specific government operations. Unlike other resource materials, which are organized by air, water and land pollutants, the Notebooks provide a holistic approach by integrating processes, applicable regulations and other relevant environment information.

Training for federal, state and tribal environmental enforcement agencies:
This training is offered through the National Enforcement Training Institute via NETI Online. It is open only to regulatory or law enforcement professionals of Federal, state, local or tribal governments. Examples include government investigators, inspectors, attorneys, case developers and technical staff.

Environmental Finance Center Network
The EFCs provide state and local officials and small businesses with advisory services; education, publications, and training; technical assistance; and analyses on financing alternatives.

Compliance Assistance Centers
Compliance Assistance Centers help businesses, local governments, and federal facilities understand and comply with federal environmental requirements and save money through pollution prevention techniques. The Centers offer easy access to plain-language materials and other resources on environmental compliance.