Environment Management

OMA to Host Environment Committee on April 24

On Wed. Apr. 24, the OMA will hold its first scheduled Environment Committee meeting of the year at Bricker Graydon LLP. Parking can be found at 116 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Discussion highlights include:

• Presentation from ODNR Director, Mary Mertz
• US EPA’s regulatory rules
• SEC Climate Disclosure
• State air emissions rules and NOx non-attainment for Northeast Ohio
• State Implementation of US EPA’s Nuisance Rule

Please join us in person to enjoy a networking lunch provided by OMA. 4/15/2024

U.S., Ohio EPA to Host Webinar Series on Ohio’s Battery Industry

On Apr. 23rd and 24th, Ohio EPA’s Division of Materials and Waste Management and the U.S. EPA will be holding a two-day webinar series to learn about Ohio’s battery industry, from research and development to recycling.

To register for Day 1 and Day 2, click the respective links. 4/17/2024

OMA to Host Environment Committee on April 24

On Wed. Apr. 24, the OMA will hold its first scheduled Environment Committee meeting of the year.

Discussion highlights include:

• US EPA’s continued onslaught of new regulatory rules, including PM 2.5
• SEC Climate Disclosure
• State air emissions rules and NOx non-attainment for Northeast Ohio
• State Implementation of US EPA’s Nuisance Rule threatening manufacturers with frivolous lawsuits
• Bond Issue supporting long-term H2Ohio funding

Please join us in-person to enjoy a networking lunch provided by OMA. 4/10/2024

Biden Administration Rolls Out First-Ever Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water

The Biden administration this week finalized the first-ever national restrictions on “forever chemicals” also known as PFAS, in drinking water.

Water providers will now be required to test and remove PFAS produced by other industries. Providers will generally have three years to do testing. If those tests exceed the limits, they’ll have two more years to install treatment systems, according to EPA officials. 4/10/2024

U.S. EPA Rules Over 200 Chemical Plants Must Reduce Toxic Emissions

The U.S. EPA announced Tuesday that more than 200 chemical plants must begin reducing toxic emissions that have been linked to cancer.

According to EPA assessments, about 104,000 people in the United States live within about 6 miles of facilities that make synthetic organic chemicals and various polymers and resins, including neoprene. 4/08/2024

Ohio Senate Holds First Hearing on Bill to Regulate Carbon Capture

This week, the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee held its first hearing on Senate Bill 200, which declares the General Assembly’s intent to regulate carbon capture and storage technologies and the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide for long-term storage.

Sponsored by State Senators Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) and Al Landis (R-Dover), the bill signals that regulation of carbon capture technology is currently being drafted. The OMA will track the bill and provide detailed analysis when more information is available. 4/09/2024

Mandatory Climate Reporting: Everything You Need to Know

OMA Connections Partner RSM will host a webinar on May 1 covering how regulatory shifts, including the SEC’s climate-related disclosure mandate and global legislative actions, are reshaping mandatory corporate climate reporting, presenting significant implications for manufacturers.

Click here to register. 4/08/2024

OMA to Host First Environment Committee of 2024

On Wed. Apr. 24, the OMA will hold its first scheduled Environment Committee meeting of the year.

Highlights include discussions on:

• US EPA’s continued onslaught of new regulatory rules, including PM 2.5
• SEC Climate Disclosure
• State air emissions rules and NOx non-attainment for Northeast Ohio
• State Implementation of US EPA’s Nuisance Rule threatening manufacturers with frivolous lawsuits
• Bond Issue supporting long-term H2Ohio funding

Please join us via Zoom or in-person to enjoy a networking lunch from noon – 1 p.m. provided by OMA. 4/02/2024

Department of Energy Announces Investment in Decarbonizing Technology

The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $6 billion for 33 projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries and reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

Recipients include Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation, America’s largest flat-rolled steel producer. The Middletown, OH Cleveland Cliffs project will receive up to $500 million in funding to retire a blast furnace and install two electric furnaces which will reduce emissions at the facility by one million tons of greenhouse gases per year.

I-O Glass Inc. also ranks among the recipients who will see decarbonizing projects launch in their Ohio, California, and Virginia plants.

The OMA will cover these grants at the upcoming Environment and Energy committee meetings in April and May respectively. 3/26/2024

US EPA Finalizes Steel Mill Air Pollution Rules

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) finalized its rule to limit previously unregulated emissions from steel mills. This includes hydrochloric acid, mercury, and dioxins/furans, as well as requiring facilities to monitor chromium.

The rule was praised as a compromise by many, as it walked back many of the initial regulations that drew ire from industry leaders and a bipartisan coalition of officials, including U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. 3/26/2024