Environment Management

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

Ohio EPA to Host Webinar on New Template for SWP3 Construction

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) will host a webinar on April 11, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. covering their new template for developing a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWP3).

This webinar will introduce the template and present tips for creating an effective and compliant SWP3. 3/26/2024

Ohio EPA Utilizes Battelle’s PFAS Annihilator

Governor DeWine and the Ohio EPA celebrated the launch of a new takeback program for municipal fire departments aimed at destroying toxic PFAS compounds found in firefighting foam known as Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF). This initiative utilizes Battelle’s newly developed PFAS Annihilator to safely dispose of the foam, which is no longer in use at Ohio’s fire departments. The innovative technology not only eradicates the contaminants but does so without generating harmful PFAS byproducts or transferring the PFAS elsewhere in the process.

Governor DeWine commended this technological advancement as a testament to Ohio’s ongoing commitment to pioneering solutions in addressing environmental challenges, stating, “Through this new program, we’re destroying PFAS, which was once believed to be indestructible, to protect our first responders and safeguard the environment.” 3/20/2024

McColley, Reineke Introduce Resolution Urging US EPA to Withdraw Proposed Greenhouse Gas Regulations

This week, State Senators Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) and Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) introduced a resolution urging the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw the proposed rule that would set new carbon dioxide limits for fossil fuel-fired power plants.

The proposed rule would set limits for newer gas-fired combustion turbines as well as existing coal, oil and gas-fired steam generating units. 3/20/2024

EPA Softens Final Auto Greenhouse Gas Rule After Automaker Pushback

The U.S. EPA has softened its final multi-pollutant rule for passenger vehicle after significant pushback from auto-makers.

The agency’s March 20 final rule includes new analysis highlighting automakers’ ability to comply with the new requirements in an attempt to stifle legal and political attacks that the regulation is a de facto electric vehicle mandate. 3/20/2024