On December 2, 2005, U.S. EPA released a guidance document entitled “SPCC Guidance for Regional Inspectors”. The guidance document can be obtained through U.S. EPA’s website (www.epa.gov/oilspill). It is intended to assist regional inspectors in reviewing a facility’s Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan, evaluating a facility’s implementation of the plan, understanding the SPCC rule’s applicability, and helping to clarify the role of the inspector in the review and evaluation of the performance-based SPCC requirements. The document addresses applicability of the SPCC rule, environmental equivalence, secondary containment and impracticability determinations, oil/water separators, facility diagrams, and inspection, evaluation, and testing. The guidance document also contains example SPCC Plans, a sample contingency plan, inspection checklists, and other helpful information. Regulated facilities will benefit from reviewing this document to gain a better understanding of how inspectors will conduct SPCC inspections, and what aspects of the rule will be a focus of their attention. By understanding what the inspector will be looking for, facilities can be better prepared to not only address regulatory requirements in the plan but also make improvements to facilities and operations to ensure compliance. For more information, contact Mike Arozarena at 800-229-7495.
On December 20, 2005, seven Northeastern states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont) signed an agreement to establish binding emission caps for carbon dioxide emissions from electric utilities by January 1, 2009. Each state will issue allowances for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted. Utilities may buy or sell allowances, similar to the existing acid rain cap-and-trade program. Each state would retain 25 percent of its allowances to sell to utilities, and the proceeds would be dedicated to programs that promote energy efficiency and conservation, or to provide utility bill rebates to consumers. The agreement includes a 2.5 percent overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2015, and a 10 percent reduction by 2019.
SARA Title III annual hazardous chemical inventory forms for 2005 are due March 1, 2006. A facility is required to submit this report if:
Reports are submitted to the state and local emergency response commissions, and to the local fire department. For more information, contact Sheri Bussard at (800) 229-7495.
U.S. EPA recently released a summary of national accomplishments of the Superfund Program for fiscal year 2005. As of November 22, 2005, U.S. EPA’s Superfund Program had allocated $524 million to perform construction and post-construction activities, and to conduct and oversee emergency response actions. U.S. EPA funded numerous construction projects, including 665 ongoing projects at 422 different sites, and completed the construction stage of cleanup at 40 sites. The Superfund program prepared for future cleanup efforts, adding 18 new sites to the National Priority List, and proposing to add 12 others. A total of $218 million was allocated for site assessments, investigations, and preparation of cleanup plans for these sites. After construction is completed, Superfund helps to protect human health and the environment by conducting reviews to ensure that protective measures enacted at the site are intact.
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