Environment Management

Ohio EPA Announces Final Rule for Hazardous Waste Wipes and Apparel Exclusion

Earlier this week, Ohio EPA announced via public notice a final rule for hazardous waste wipes and apparel exclusions. The final rule concerns an Ohio-specific rule to conditionally exclude contaminated wipes and apparel (that are not currently excluded under the solvent wipe rule) from regulation under the hazardous waste regulations when certain conditions are met.

The apparel would include, but not be limited to, gloves, uniforms, smocks, and coveralls that are laundered and intended for reuse.

OMA sent in several sets of comments during the rulemaking process including this final set of comments submitted in July. The EPA improved the rule from its initial draft, but the rule is still more complicated than it need be.10/29/2018

Environmental Improvement? Apply here!

The Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Achievement Award recognizes organizations for their environmentally beneficial activities.

The Achievement Award is open to any Ohio business or organization, and awards are given at silver, gold and platinum levels.

Applications for 2019 awards are due by December 14.

Bet you have something to submit! More here. 10/17/2018

OMA Sustainability Peer Network Headed to Whirlpool Corp. in Findlay

To help OMA members network, learn and share about sustainability goals, practices and projects, the OMA created the Sustainability Peer Network.

The next event, co-hosted by the Whirlpool Corporation and One Energy in Findlay, is Friday, October 26.

Whirlpool’s energy, water, waste and other sustainability initiatives will be showcased.

There will be a tour of the North Findlay Wind Campus, which jointly serves Whirlpool Corp. and Ball Corp. manufacturing facilities.

There is no cost, but you must register. There is a limit of 30 participants and only manufacturers may register. Details here. 10/3/2018

Consider Solvent Reuse Programs

This post from OMA Connections Partner Resource One reminds manufacturers to take advantage of solvent reuse programs.

Solvent reuse treats materials as a by-product rather than waste. For example, solvents used to clean materials or equipment within your facility are collected after use then labeled and managed as a product. The non-hazardous product can then be used as-is in the cleaning of rail cars and the like. The spent material from this cleaning process can be collected and used as fuel in cement kilns.

Solvent reuse programs can extend the life of materials, reduce hazardous waste, and may be ISO 14001 approved. These programs can reduce manufacturers’ risk and liability and lower EPA generator status. 10/4/2018

Ohio EPA Extends Water Nutrient Comment Deadline

This week Ohio EPA announced that the comment period for the Early Stakeholder Outreach of the new Water Quality Standards Program Large River Nutrient rule has been extended by 30 days. Comments are now due by 5:00 p.m. on October 26, 2018.

The OMA is actively involved in Ohio regulations regarding nutrients in the state’s bodies of water. If you are interested in participating in the OMA’s nutrient work group, or have questions or comments, please contact Rob Brundrett. You can email comments directly to Ohio EPA here. 9/20/2018

Jones Day Analysis: Trump EPA’s ACE Rule vs. Obama’s Clean Power Plan

Outlined in an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal published on August 31, 2018, the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule would replace the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP).

A 60-day public comment period on the proposal ends on October 30.

This white paper from OMA Connections Partner Jones Day examines the differences between the two rules and concludes with an analysis of the costs and benefits of CPP vs. ACE. 9/14/2018

Ohio By-Product Synergy Network to Meet

The Ohio By-Product Synergy (PBS) Network’s Year 9 Kickoff will be on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. The Ohio By-Product Synergy Network is a program focused on developing material synergies between companies, so that one company’s waste or by-product material can become another company’s raw material input.

The keynote presenter is Craig Butler, Director, Ohio EPA, speaking on his vision for the circular economy.

The meeting will be at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2045 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio 43229.

Register here. Address any questions to Megan Moses, Ohio BPS Network, (614) 668-1926. 9/13/2018

Organic Materials You May Not Think to Compost

OMA Connections Partner Resource-One wrote a short post reminding manufacturers that there are all sorts of materials that can be composted instead of discarded as waste.

While many companies immediately think of food scraps for composting a whole litany of other organic materials can likewise be composted including paper products and many types of rags and wipes. 9/12/2018

Ohio EPA Addressing River Nutrient Standards

Ohio EPA has issued Early Stakeholder Outreach regarding a new water quality standards rule that would address large river nutrients. You can read the related documents on the EPA’s website.

This rule is designed to cover Ohio’s standards for eutrophication endpoints in Ohio’s Large River Assessment Units. In addition, a target phosphorus concentration is being considered for river segments that are over-enriched as demonstrated by the standard. This would be an entirely new rule.

Ohio EPA defends the proposed rule stating that eutrophication of a water body is the result of releasing excess amounts of nutrients. If left unchecked, eutrophication can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs), the depletion of oxygen, and fish kills. Eutrophication is one of the leading causes of impairment of aquatic life in Ohio’s lakes, streams, and rivers.

Since 2002, Ohio has been working to establish empirically-based targets that link excessive amounts of nutrients to water quality problems that excessive nutrients create. This rule will establish indicators for nutrient enrichment in Ohio’s large rivers.

The OMA is actively involved in Ohio regulations regarding nutrients in the state’s bodies of water. If you are interested in participating in the OMA’s nutrient work group, or have questions or comments, please contact Rob Brundrett.

Ohio EPA will be accepting comments on this Early Stakeholder Outreach until September 26, 2018. Email your comments to Ohio EPA here. 9/6/2018

U.S. EPA Launches the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest (e-Manifest) System

From Ohio EPA: “U.S. EPA has established a national system for tracking hazardous waste shipments electronically. This system, known as e-Manifest, modernizes the nation’s cradle-to-grave hazardous waste tracking process while saving valuable time, resources and money for industry and states. Generators, transporters and receiving facilities have the option of using electronic manifests. Receiving facilities must submit manifests to U.S. EPA and pay a user fee for each manifest submitted. The final user fees for the e-Manifest system are effective from June 30, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2019. Generators and transporters are not required to use e-Manifest but are strongly encouraged to work with their receiving facilities to see how they will be impacted by the new system.

“Visit Ohio EPA’s YouTube Channel to view a video recording about the e-Manifest system. This presentation covers an introduction of e-Manifest including a demonstration of system registration.”

Read more from Ohio EPA here. 9/5/2018