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Oct 31, 2011

EPA Will Treat Biomass as Fuel Rather Than Waste

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson recently wrote in a letter to Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) that EPA will promulgate a rule revision that will define biomass as a fuel subject to its boiler maximum achievable control technology (MACT) rule, rather than a nonhazardous waste subject to its rule for commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators (CISWI).  The letter was sent in response to the Senate’s consideration of S. 1392, which would treat “all forms of biomass” as fuel, including resinated wood and treated wood. S. 1392 has the backing of 35 Senators, including 11 Democrats. The House version of the legislation… Read more


Aug 15, 2011

Regulatory Changes May Impact Remediation Activities

Two recent regulatory developments related to asbestos and lead paint remediation signal a change in federal regulation and enforcement, which may significantly impact businesses that operate in those spheres. First, following a tip-off from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued more than $1.2 million in penalties to AMD Industries Inc. in Cicero, Ill. for 19 alleged willful and eight serious violations resulting from removal of asbestos insulating materials from its boilers, heating units and connected piping. OSHA alleges that the company required five workers to remove asbestos containing materials without… Read more