Air Pollution
- Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule Step 3
- Proposed Amendments for the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry
- EPA to Reconsider Mercury Standards for New Power Plants
- GHG Webinar
- NESHAP From Coal and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (40 CFR part 63 subpart UUUUU): Notice of Partial Stay
- NSPS Review for Nitric Acid Plants
Hazardous Waste
Solid Waste
Water Pollution
- EPA Delays Final Cooling Water Rule by Nearly a Year
- NPDES Permit Regulation for CAFO:
Removal of Vacated Elements in Response to 2011 Court Decision
- Virtual Academy Webinar: Water Quality Standards 101
Energy
- American Rivers Releases Green Roof Tool
- EPA Combined Heat and Power: Streamlining Project Development web page
General Environmental
- EPA Identifies Substitutes for Toxic Flame Retardant Chemical
Other
Publications Update
Rules Update
Commissions and Committees
Air Pollution
> Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule Step 3
The EPA is implementing the third step (Step 3) of their phase-in approach to permitting sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This new rule completes Step 3 by determining not to lower the current Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) and title V applicability thresholds for GHG-emitting sources established in the Tailoring Rule for Steps 1 and 2.
EPA is also revising regulations for better implementation of the federal program for establishing plantwide applicability
limitations (PALs) for GHG emissions, which will improve the administration of the GHG PSD permitting programs.
> Proposed Amendments for the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry
The EPA is proposing to amend the existing and new source standards for particulate matter (PM). The EPA is also proposing amendments with respect to issues on which it granted reconsideration on May 17, 2011. These proposed amendments would promote flexibility, reduce costs, and ease compliance burdens. Finally, the EPA is proposing to extend the date for compliance with the existing source national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants to September 9, 2015.
> EPA to Reconsider Mercury Standards for New Power Plants
On July 20, the Environmental Protection Agency agreed to reconsider the mercury and air toxics standards it set for new power plants. The Institute of Clean Air Companies, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and others have asked EPA to reconsider the mercury limits for new sources because current technology cannot continuously monitor mercury concentrations so low, which they said could prevent new coal-fired plants from being built. The mercury emissions limits for new sources are more stringent than for existing sources. EPA does not intend to reconsider aspects of the rule as it relates to existing power plants.
>GHG Webinar
The webinar that shows how to use the EPA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Excel tool has been posted on the internet.
>NESHAP From Coal and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (40 CFR part 63 subpart UUUUU): Notice of Partial Stay
This action stays the effectiveness of 40 CFR 63 Subpart UUUUU, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 2012 (77 FR 9304). It is stayed until November 2, 2012.
> NSPS Review for Nitric Acid Plants
The EPA is finalizing the new source performance standards (NSPS) for nitric acid plants. Nitric acid plants include one or more nitric acid production units (NAPUs). These revisions include a change to the nitrogen oxides (NOX) emission limit, which applies to each NAPU commencing construction, modification, or reconstruction after October 14, 2011. These revisions also include additional testing and monitoring requirements. This final rule is effective on August 14, 2012. An example of regulated facilities are: NAICS 325311 - Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing.
Hazardous Waste
None
Solid Waste
None
Water Pollution
> EPA Delays Final Cooling Water Rule by Nearly a Year
The EPA will delay finalizing standards for cooling water intake structures at industrial facilities, giving power plants and factories almost a full additional year before they have to comply with a rule staunchly opposed by utilities.
The rule, under section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, requires the location, design, construction and capacity of cooling water intake structures to reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact. The regulations would require permits for facilities that use large volumes of cooling water from lakes, rivers, estuaries or oceans to cool their plants, including steam electric power plants, pulp and paper mills, chemical facilities and petroleum refineries.
Originally, the rules were supposed to go into effect by this Friday. The EPA now says it is looking to finalize the standards by June 27, 2013.
> NPDES Permit Regulation for CAFO:
Removal of Vacated Elements in Response to 2011 Court Decision
(Please note: unsure of affect at state level)
The EPA is amending its regulations to eliminate the requirement that an owner or operator of a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) that ‘‘proposes to discharge’’ must apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. This rulemaking also removes the voluntary certification option for unpermitted CAFOs because removal of the ‘‘propose to discharge’’ requirement renders the certification option unnecessary. Its purpose had been to allow CAFO owners and operators to certify that they were not violating the requirement that owners or operators of CAFOs that propose to discharge must
seek permit coverage. Both of these provisions were included in the EPA’s rulemaking entitled ‘‘Revised National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation and Effluent Limitations Guidelines for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Response to the Waterkeeper Decision,’’ (the 2008 CAFO Rule).
>Virtual Academy Webinar: Water Quality Standards 101
Please join EPA for the first Water Quality Standards Virtual Academy webinar: "Water Quality Standards 101" Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-based pollution control program mandated by the Clean Water Act. Water quality standards define the goals for a waterbody by designating its uses, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions such as antidegradation policies to protect water bodies from pollutants. Learn how you can use water quality standards to protect water resources. This webinar is aimed at states, territories, tribes, environmental groups, industrial groups, municipalities, the academic community, federal agencies, watershed groups and any other interested parties.
The webinar will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET (noon to 2 pm Central Time).
Energy
>American Rivers Releases Green Roof Tool
American Rivers released a tool to help explain the importance of green roofs. The new tool allows users to simulate a green roof on nearly any building in Google Maps to determine potential energy and water savings. The American Rivers website provides reductions in heating/cooling costs and water consumption for interesting examples including the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Grand Central Station in New York City, and the Pentagon in Arlington.
> EPA Combined Heat and Power: Streamlining Project Development web page
The mission of the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership is to increase the use of cost-effective, environmentally beneficial CHP projects nationwide. To accomplish this mission, the Partnership has developed resources to assist energy users to design, install, and operate CHP systems at their facilities.
The website will provide information, tools, and hints on project development, CHP technologies, and the resources of the CHP Partnership. Resources are available throughout the process and are divided into five stages: 1) Qualification; 2) Level 1 Feasibility Analysis; 3) Level 2 Feasibility Analysis; 4) Procurement; and 5) Operation & Maintenance.
General Environmental
> EPA Identifies Substitutes for Toxic Flame Retardant Chemical
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft report on alternatives for a toxic flame retardant chemical known as decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE). This comprehensive assessment, developed with public participation under EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program, profiles the environmental and human health hazards on 30 alternatives to decaBDE, which will be phased out of production by December 2013.
Other
None
Publications and Forms
Publications
New
Revised
Obsolete
None
Forms
New
Revised
Obsolete
MO 780-1974, Underground Storage Tank (UST) Temporary Closure Checklist
Rules Update
Air Pollution Control Program
Commissions and Committees
NEXT Meeting: September ???, 2012 - ???
Please check before planning to attend this meeting.
For additional information contact Lucy Thompson at (573) 526-2414
NEXT Meeting: Aug 30, 2012 - Jefferson City
Sept 27, 2012 - Kansas City
For additional information contact the commission secretary at (573) 751-4817.
NEXT Meeting: Aug 16, 2012 - Jefferson City
Oct 18, 2012 - Jefferson City
For additional information contact the Commission Secretary at (573) 751-2747.
Please verify date and location before planning to attend.
NEXT Meeting: Oct 3, 2012 – Jefferson City
Nov 7, 2012 - Jefferson City
For additional information contact the Solid Waste Management Program at (573) 751-5401.
NEXT Meeting: Sept 5, 2012 - Jefferson City
For additional information call 573-751-6721
NEXT Meeting: Sept 27, 2012 - Jefferson City
Nov 15, 2012 - Jefferson City
For additional information please call 573-751-4041.
NEXT Meeting: September ???, 2012
For additional information call (573) 751-5331.
NEXT Meeting: Aug 21, 2012 - Conference call
Sep 19, 2012 - Jefferson City
A calendar of events can be found at:
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