In its annual report released on January 21, the EPA has found that, through its Climate Protection Partners Program, emissions of more than 365 million metric tons were prevented in the U.S. in 2012. According to the report, the reductions have provided about $13 billion in benefits to society by preventing damage from climate change. Organizations partnering with the EPA have invested an approximate $125 billion in energy efficiency technologies and practices. The EPA has partnered with more than 21,000 organizations through the climate protection partnership program, including the natural gas STAR program for promoting methane emissions reductions among oil… Read more
Tag: soday
California Safer Consumer Products Regulation Anticipated As Early as July 2013
Earlier this year, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released its revised proposed Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulations, and a public comment period has expired as of February 2013. The law, anticipated to become effective as early as July 2013, is intended for regulators to identify consumer products for sale or distribution in California containing hazardous chemicals and to prompt producers to consider safer alternatives to those chemicals. When effective, the SCP regulations will implement laws passed in 2008 known as the “California Green Chemistry Initiatives”, establishing an expansive, complex and potentially costly new regulatory regime conceivably applicable… Read more
Points Of Confusion On Small-Scale Solar Development
February 19, 2013 Frank Andorka : Robert Sternthal is president of Reznick Capital Markets Securities and has extensive experience in financing renewable energy transactions, whether they are in the wind, solar or biomass sectors. Working alongside CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Think Energy, Reznick Capital Markets Securities offers one of the most comprehensive financial advisory platforms in the industry. Every month, there are numerous solar conferences and seminars in the United States. At each of these events nearly every solar developer or potential investor complains about the lack of good U.S solar projects, which I find odd. After all, we are barraged on a daily… Read more
New EPA Rules in the Coming Months
With the elections now over, the EPA is expected to release a host of new rules governing air emissions and storm water runoff. The EPA is expected to begin the release of pending air regulations in the coming weeks and months which will finalize particulate matter standards and air toxics standards for cement kilns. These new regulations are expected by mid-December. The EPA is also on track to propose rules for storm water runoff for concentrated animal feeding operations. It is also expected that the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers will finalize guidance clarifying federal jurisdiction over the nation’s waters… Read more
Key Part of EPA Aggregation Test for Oil and Gas Drilling Operations Reversed
On August 7, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected EPA’s definition of “adjacency” used to determine when to aggregate emissions from oil and gas drilling operations for major source permitting purposes under the Clean Air Act. In a 2-1 ruling in the case of Summit Petroleum Corporation v. EPA, the Sixth Circuit held that the word “adjacent” has a plain and unambiguous meaning, and EPA’s effort to stretch the meaning to include dispersed emission sources based on functional interrelatedness was unreasonable and unlawful. For more information on the aggregation issue or the Sixth Circuit ruling,… Read more
Smart Water Grid Offers Communities Cost-Effective Water Supply Options
Providing and managing an adequate supply of water continues to be one of the most challenging governmental functions in today’s world. With a heavy impact on the economy and quality of life made worse by drought and a growing population, effective water management needs to be certain, efficient, and cost-effective for local communities to develop and prosper. “Quality of life for a community both now and in the future is our goal,” said Stephen E. O’Day, partner and head of the sustainability practice at Smith, Gambrell & Russell. “We have a tremendous opportunity to help communities thrive and control the cost of… Read more
Georgia Environmental Protection Division Proposes Amendments To Increase Regulation of Inert Waste Landfills
The Georgia EPD recently proposed amendments to the state’s solid waste management regulations governing permits for inert waste landfills. The proposed amendments will now require new inert waste landfills to obtain a comprehensive solid waste handling permit to operate. The amendments also set forth design and operational standards which must be met before an inert waste landfill is approved and a permit issued for construction and operation. Inert waste is classified as soil, concrete, cured asphalt, rock, bricks, yard trimmings and debris from land clearing operations. Under the current Georgia Solid Waste Management Rules, inert waste landfills enjoyed permit-by-rule status,… Read more
EPA: No Major Shift in Orders Issued Under Clean Water Act
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in March of this year, holding that compliance orders can be challenged in court, the EPA sees no major shift in its policy of issuing the orders under the Clean Water Act. In a seminar sponsored by the American Bar Association – American Law Institute, Mark Pollins, Director of EPA’s Water Enforcement Division, stated that the agency had no intention of stopping its use of the orders, and that he didn’t see a dramatic shift in how administration enforcement authority is used. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, however, Pollins said it… Read more