Air Pollution
- EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities
- EPA Releases Agency Plans for Adapting to a Changing Climate
- EPA Revision to Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds--Exclusion of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene
- NESHAP Residual Risk and Technology Review for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production
Hazardous Waste
- Waste Management System; Testing and Monitoring Activities; Update V of SW-846
- Seminar: Changes in How the EPA Does Business - The PCB Community
Solid Waste
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources to hold public meeting on Greene County landfills
Water Pollution
- Department of Natural Resources plans public meetings, comment period on 2014 list of impaired waters
Energy
- DOE's EnergyPlus Energy Software Has been Updated
General Environmental
- ECHO Update
- Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modifications to Renewable Fuel Standard Program
Other
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>EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities
On October 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its third year of greenhouse gas data detailing carbon pollution emissions and trends broken down by industrial sector, greenhouse gas, geographic region, and individual facility. The data, required to be collected annually by Congress, highlight a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as more utilities switch to cleaner burning natural gas.
EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program collects annual greenhouse gas information from over 8,000 facilities in the largest emitting industries, including power plants, oil and gas production and refining, iron and steel mills, and landfills. In addition, the program is receiving data on the increasing production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) predominantly used in refrigeration and air-conditioning. The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is the only program that collects facility-level greenhouse gas data from major industrial sources across the United States.
The 2012 data show that in the two years since reporting began, emissions from power plants have decreased 10 percent. This is due to a switch from coal to natural gas for electricity generation and a slight decrease in electricity production. Fossil-fuel fired power plants remain the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. With just under 1,600 facilities emitting over 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2012, these plants account for roughly 40 percent of total U.S. carbon pollution.
The data are accessible through EPA’s online data publication tool, FLIGHT, which is available for both desktop and mobile devices. This year, with three years of data for most sources, FLIGHT has been updated with new features, including the ability to view trend graphs by sector and facility, and download charts and graphs for use in presentations and reports. The data are also published through EnviroFacts, which allows the public to download data for further analyses.
Access EPA’s GHG Reporting Program Data and Data Publication Tool:
http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/
Access EnviroFacts:
http://epa.gov/enviro/
>EPA Releases Agency Plans for Adapting to a Changing Climate
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans for public review and comment.
The impacts of a changing climate – including increased extreme weather, floods, and droughts – affect EPA’s work to protect clean air and water. The draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans recognize that EPA must integrate climate adaptation planning into its programs, policies, rules, and operations to ensure that the agency’s work continues to be effective even as the climate changes.
EPA released its draft agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan on February 9, 2013 for public review and comment, and expects to issue the final version this Fall. In 2009, all federal agencies were required to develop Climate Change Adaptation Plans by the federal Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force. Under Executive Order 13514, the Task Force was charged with developing recommendations for the President on how to increase the nation’s resilience to climate change. The new Implementation Plans provide information about how EPA will meet the agency-wide priorities identified in the draft Climate Adaptation Plan released earlier this year.
The comment period on EPA’s draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans closes on January 3, 2014.
More information on EPA’s Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans: http://epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/fed-programs/EPA-impl-plans.html
More information on EPA’s draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan: http://epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/fed-programs.html
More information about EPA’s climate adaptation activities: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/adaptation.html
>EPA Revision to Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds--Exclusion of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene
The EPA is taking final action to revise the regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This final action adds 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (also known as HFO-1234yf) to the list of compounds excluded from the
regulatory definition of VOCs on the basis that this compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation. As a result, if you are subject to certain federal regulations limiting emissions of VOCs, your emissions of HFO-1234yf may not be regulated for some purposes. This action may also affect whether HFO-1234yf is considered
a VOC for state regulatory purposes, depending on whether the state relies on the EPA's regulatory definition of VOCs.
DATES: This rule is effective on November 21, 2013.
Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-22/html/2013-23783.htm
>NESHAP Residual Risk and Technology Review for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production
The EPA is proposing amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production to address the results of the residual risk and technology review. EPA is proposing amendments that would prohibit the use of hazardous air pollutant-based auxiliary blowing agents for slabstock foam production facilities. In addition, the EPA is proposing amendments to correct and clarify regulatory provisions related to emissions during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction; to add provisions for affirmative defense; to add requirements for reporting of performance testing through the Electronic Reporting Tool; to revise compliance dates for applicable proposed actions; to clarify the leak detection methods allowed for diisocyanate storage vessels at slabstock
foam production facilities; and to revise the rule to add a schedule for delay of leak repairs for valves and connectors.
Comments must be received on or before December 4, 2013.
If anyone contacts the EPA requesting a public hearing by November 14, 2013, the public hearing will be held on November 20, 2013,from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the EPA campus at 109 T.W. Alexander Drive in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-11-04/pdf/2013-24276.pdf
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>Waste Management System; Testing and Monitoring Activities; Update V of SW-846
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is issuing "Update V" to the Third Edition of EPA publication SW-846, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods." Update V contains 23 new and
revised analytical methods that the Agency has evaluated, and determined to be appropriate and which may be used for monitoring or complying with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous and non-hazardous waste regulations. Because the analytical methods contained in Update V are not required by the RCRA hazardous waste regulations, EPA is issuing this update as guidance. In addition, the Agency is also taking comment on revisions to Chapters One through Five of EPA publication SW-846, an ORCR Policy Statement, and other guidance. The Agency is seeking public comment on Update V, and after consideration of the public comments, will place these new and revised
methods, guidance, and chapters in the SW-846 methods compendium.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 21, 2014.
Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-23/html/2013-24852.htm
>Seminar: Changes in How the EPA Does Business - The PCB Community
Missouri Waste Control Coalition (MWCC) in Cooperation with US EPA Region 7 present:
"Changes in How the EPA Does Business - The PCB Community"
Due to the recent shut-down in Washington, DC, this seminar was postponed. It has now been rescheduled for December 5th in St. Louis. Space remains, so register now!
This seminar will provide the latest changes in how the EPA does business with respect to PCBs. Some of the topics that will be discussed are:
• PCB Background Information
• Regulatory Updates
• PCBs in Buildings
• PCB Enforcement and Inspections
• PCB Spill Cleanup Policy
• Test and Treatment
Presentations will be made by US EPA Region 7 staff along with Mark Pennell who is a PCB management consultant with Regulatory Compliance Services in Springfield, Missouri.
Where & When
St. Louis County Department of Health Facility
Community Room, 6121 N. Hanley Road
Berkeley, MO 63134
December 5, 2013
8:30AM-4:30PM
Registration is limited to the first 60 people. Registration fee is $59. Your registration fee includes lunch and handouts. Parking is free.
Online registration: http://www.mowastecoalition.org/Events
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>Missouri Department of Natural Resources to hold public meeting on Greene County landfills
For more information: 573-751-1010 or email gena.terlizzi@dnr.mo.gov
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will hold an informational meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7, on proposed coal ash landfills in Greene County. The meeting will cover the permitting process for landfills and focus specifically on the coal ash utility landfills proposed by City Utilities of Springfield. The proposed landfills would be located near the John Twitty Energy Center, 5100 W. Farm Road 164. The site is approximately one mile west of the junction of U.S. Highway 60 and U.S. Highway 160.
The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Room of the Kenneth Meyer Alumni Center, 300 S. Jefferson St., Springfield. Staff from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and representatives of City Utilities will be available to answer questions and take comments from the public.
The department reviews all solid waste landfill construction applications to ensure the facilities are properly designed and constructed to be protective of human health and the environment, in accordance with Missouri laws and regulations. This public awareness session will explain the application review process and the approximate timeline for ruling on the permit application.
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>Department of Natural Resources plans public meetings, comment period on 2014 list of impaired waters
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking the public’s input on the biennial draft list of impaired waters and the methods used to develop future lists.
Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act requires each state to identify waters that do not meet water quality standards and do not have requirements in place to restore water quality. The draft list includes 387 listings on 227 separate waters and includes 56 new listings. Some waters are listed multiple times due to variations in individual sections of the water bodies. The public may view copies of the proposed 2014 303(d) List and the 2016 Listing Methodology document at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/waterquality/303d.htm.
The department will hold public availability sessions on this topic on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 Riverside Drive, in Jefferson City. Representatives of the department will be available at these sessions to answer questions.
The public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2014 at 9 a.m. at the same location. The public is encouraged to participate if they have concerns or would like to provide comments.
The department will accept written comments through Jan. 31, 2014. Comments should be sent to the Department of Natural Resources, Water Protection Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176. Email comments may be sent to trish.rielly@dnr.mo.gov. Emails should include the contact information of the sender, including name, mailing address and phone number.
For more information, visit the department’s Water Protection Program online at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp.
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>DOE's EnergyPlus Energy Software Has been Updated
EnergyPlus is an energy analysis and thermal load simulation program. Based on a user's description of a building from the perspective of the building's physical make-up and associated mechanical and other systems, EnergyPlus calculates heating and cooling loads necessary to maintain thermal control setpoints, conditions throughout a secondary HVAC system and coil loads, and the energy consumption of primary plant equipment. Simultaneous integration of these—and many other—details verify that the EnergyPlus simulation performs as would the real building.
For more Information: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/energyplus_about.cfm
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>ECHO Update
EPA is updating the Enforcement and Compliance History Online website to be more efficient and easier to use. You can give the "beta" version a try and tell us what you think.
http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2013/10/epas-enforcement-database-gets-a-facelift
>Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modifications to Renewable Fuel Standard Program
In this final rule EPA is amending the definition of ``heating oil'' in the regulations for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act. This amendment expands the scope of renewable fuels that can be used to show compliance with the RFS renewable fuel volume obligations by adding an additional category of compliant renewable fuel referred to as ``fuel oils,'' produced from qualifying renewable biomass and used to generate heat to warm buildings or other facilities where people live, work, recreate, or conduct other activities. Producers or importers of fuel oil that meets the amended definition of heating oil will be allowed to generate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), provided that the fuel oil meets all other requirements specified in the RFS regulations. Fuel oils used to generate process heat, power, or other functions are not included in this additional category of heating oil. All fuels previously included in the definition of heating oil continue to be included as heating oil for purposes of the RFS program.
The final rule is being adopted with only minor changes from the rule proposed on October 9, 2012. Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-22/html/2013-24280.htm
DATES: This rule is effective on December 23, 2013.
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None
Publications
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New
Environmental Services and Water Pollution
Water Quality Monitoring Bioassessment Reports
Waste Water
Pub2484, Blending at Wastewater Treatment Plants: Iowa League of Cities vs. EPA Decision
PUB2485, Small Community Engineering Assistance Program
Revised
Waste Water
PUB2090, What are TMDL's?
Obsolete
--------------------------------------------
Forms
New
Drinking Water
MO 780-2216, Phase II Grant Program Plans and Specifications Grant Application and Instructions
Revised
Financial Assistance and Public Drinking Water
MO 780-1845, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Application
Land Reclamation
MO 780-1327, Mine Plan
Water Pollution
MO 780-1517, Application for Transfer of Operating Permit
Obsolete
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http://dnr.mo.gov/asp/regs/list.asp?program=All
Water Pollution Control Branch
10 CSR 20-6.011 Fees
Section 644.057, RSMo., passed as part of House Bill 28 earlier this year and signed by the governor on July 12, allows the Missouri Clean Water Commission to promulgate a clean water fee structure by rule. The present fee structure was established by statute in 2000. The Department of Natural Resources and stakeholders have reviewed the complete range of clean water activities conducted by the department and funding sources that support these efforts. The commission has proposed the clean water fees structure in this rulemaking together with other changes to the rule. The proposed Fees Rulemaking Amendment documents have been filed:
Proposed Fees Amendment, 10 CSR 20-6.011 Expected to be published Oct. 1 in the Missouri Register.
http://dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/rules/6011-proposed-amendment-072613.pdf
http://dnr.mo.gov/asp/regs/detail.asp?fldKey_RID=3895
Air Pollution Public Notices
http://dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/public-notices.htm
Air Pollution Control Program
10 CSR 10-6.200 Hospital, Medical, Infectious Waste Incinerators
This proposed amendment will remove language from the compliance and performance testing provisions that provide an exemption to the emission limits for hospital, medical and infectious waste incinerators (HMIWI) during start-up, shutdown or malfunction conditions. In addition, the hierarchy of definitions will clearly state that the applicable definitions in the Code of Federal Regulations take precedence over those in 10 CSR 10-6.020 Definitions and Common Reference Tables. At the same time, EPA test method references in the state rule will be revised to match how these methods are referred to in the federal HMIWI regulations.
Proposed Rulemaking– Published in Sept. 3, 2013 Missouri Register. Since there was a lack of a quorum for the Oct. 31, 2013, public hearing, this rulemaking must be refiled and re-noticed in a future Missouri Register publication.
Close of comments will be rescheduled to a later date.
For more information http://dnr.mo.gov/asp/regs/detail.asp?fldKey_RID=3881
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