Updates
USEPA’s SepticSmart Initiative
EPA’s SepticSmart initiative is a nation-wide public education effort that aims to inform homeowners living on properties serviced by septic systems on the importance of properly maintaining their septic system and provide valuable resources to help homeowners make important decisions regarding their wastewater management needs. Information, resources, and tools are available on the SepticSmart page.
Older updates
(Thank you to the Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance Program for the following updates)
New Regulations for Boilers and Process Heaters
USEPA finalized National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for major sources {emit over 10 tons/year of a single Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) or over 25 tons/year of a combination of HAPs} and for area sources (not a major source for HAPs) for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. These regulations were published in the Federal Register on March 21, 2011. The major sourcce category (40 CFR 63 Subpart DDDDD) includes emission limits, work practice standards and testing requirements. New units built or reconstructed after June 4, 2010, must be in compliance by May 20, 2011; existing units built or reconstructed before June 4, 2010, must be in compliance with these regulations by March 21, 2014. A list of exempted units can be found at 40 CFR 63.7491. The area source category (40 CFR 63 Subpart JJJJJJ) includes emissions limits, work practice standards and energy assessments for those units that burn coal, biomass or fuel oil (natural gas units have been exempted). New units built or reconstructed after June 4, 2010 must be in compliance with the regulations by May 20, 2011. Existing units built or reconstructed before June 4, 2010 and subject to the work practice standards must be in compliance with those standards by March 21, 2012. Existing units built or reconstructed before June 4, 2010, and subject to the energy assessment or the emission limits must be in compliance by March 21, 2014. A list of exempted units can be found at 40 CFR 63.11195. More information on these regulations can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/boiler/boilerpg.html for major sources and area sources.
New Regulations for Sewage Sludge Incinerators
USEPA also published regulations concerning sewage sludge incinerators in the Federal Register on March 21, 2011. The New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for sewage sludge incinerators, 40 CFR 60 Subpart LLLL, will impact any sewage sludge incinerator that commenced construction after October 14, 2010 or commenced modifications to existing units after September 21, 2011. This standard includes preconstruction siting analysis requirements, as well as, emission limits, control requirements, and testing requirements. USEPA also published emission guidelines for existing sewage sludge incinerators. More information on these regulations can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/129/ssi/ssipg.html
New Regulations for Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials that are Solid Waste
USEPA also published under 40 CFR Part 241 Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials that are Solid Waste in the Federal Register on March 21, 2011. These regulations were revised to identify and clarify wastes that are used as fuels in combustion units. More information on this regulation can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/define/index.htm
USEPA Seeks Comments on Draft Environmental Justice Implementation Plans
Plan EJ 2014 is a roadmap that will help EPA integrate environmental justice into the Agency’s programs, policies, and activities. Plan EJ 2014 highlights Cross-Agency Focus Areas, Tools Development, and Program Initiatives as three essential elements which will advance environmental justice across the EPA and the federal government. To accomplish the goals outlined in Plan EJ 2014, the EPA developed nine Draft Implementation Plans which will guide agency actions in rulemaking, permitting, compliance and enforcement, community-based action, Administration wide action, science, law, information, and resources. The Draft Implementation Plans outline EPA goals, strategies, activities, deliverables, and milestones for each of the nine areas. For each of the Draft Implementation Plans, USEPA is asking for feedback from the public on how to continue to address the issues that are most important to ensuring the protection of the air, water and land that support all of our nation’s communities and will result in environmental and economic health benefits. The Draft Plan EJ 2014 Implementation Plans outline the actions EPA will take to advance environmental justice in each area of focus. For more information visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/index.html.
You can comment on the draft plans through April 29, 2011 on Regulations.gov.