Environment Management

OMA to Tour CNG Fueling and Electric Bus Facility

The OMA’s Sustainability Peer Network will conduct a Sept. 12 tour of the Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus. COTA is working toward its goal to be diesel-free by 2025 with net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This event will offer a first-hand look at COTA’s compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling and electric bus charging operations.

Get more details and register. Manufacturers only, please. 8/17/2023

Summary: Changes to Federal Enforcement Policies

OMA Connections Partner Roetzel has published this summary of recent changes to federal enforcement guidance and policy, including the administration’s efforts to bolster so-called “environmental justice” priorities. Among the changes are the U.S. EPA’s policy shift altering how it interacts with state regulators. 8/14/2023

Cleveland-Cliffs Aims to Decarbonize Steel Production

OMA member Cleveland-Cliffs has captured the media spotlight for its use of hydrogen to decarbonize steel production. Cleveland-Cliffs President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves says the company’s use of hydrogen will be a “true game changer.” Read the story by Cleveland Business Journal.

Lourenco will be a keynote speaker at the OMA’s Ohio Manufacturers’ Energy Conference, set for Sept. 13 in the Columbus metro area. See the agenda, then register here. 8/10/2023

OMA Criticizes U.S. EPA’s Plastics Plan

Industry leaders, including the OMA, are telling the U.S. EPA that its proposed strategy to reduce post-consumer materials in waterways and oceans focuses too heavily on plastics.

In a July 28 letter, the OMA pointed out the duplicative nature of the EPA’s strategy and encouraged the agency to consider an “all-the-above” approach to managing pre- or post-consumer plastics, including re-use, mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling. Read the OMA letter and this news article. 8/7/2023

Webinar on Demand: Key Environmental Regulations

In our August safety webinar, Kim Shapiro from OMA Connections Partner Safex provided a high-level review of the most common environmental regulations that frequently apply to manufacturing facilities. For OMA members who missed this event or those who want to watch it again, here’s the recorded webinar and the webinar handouts. 8/8/2023

Register for Ohio EPA’s Sustainability Conference

Registration is open for the Ohio EPA Sustainability Conference, set for Sept. 19-21. This no-cost virtual conference will showcase sustainability efforts and perspectives appropriate for all businesses. See the agenda and register. 8/8/2023

Stormwater Permit for Oil, Gas Pipelines Discontinued

Ohio EPA won’t be renewing the stormwater discharge general permit for oil and gas pipelines (OHCG00001). Set to expire Sept. 16, the permit requires sediment/erosion controls and horizontal directional drilling plan requirements for construction activities related to the installation of oil and gas transmission and gathering pipelines.

After Sept. 16, no new projects will need to obtain coverage under the general permit. However, projects with existing permit coverage under will still need to adhere to the permit until the project is eligible for termination, even after Sept. 16. Learn more. 8/10/2023

Study: Ohio’s Rivers Rebound

Ohio EPA this week unveiled the results of its first-ever comprehensive study of Ohio’s largest rivers. The results show tremendous improvements in water quality since the 1980s. See the study results.

The study found 86% of the state’s large rivers are in good to excellent condition, compared to just 18% four decades ago. Soil conservation, wastewater infrastructure, and wastewater treatment are credited as the primary reasons for the improvements. The Mohican River was the only river to show significant decline in water quality due to phosphorus and nutrients from agricultural runoff. 8/2/2023

Manufacturers Push Back on Fuel Economy Standards

The National Association of Manufacturers says the Biden administration’s plan to revise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks — to a fleet average of 58 miles per gallon by 2032 — is too aggressive and would add conflicting mandates to existing rules. Congressional Republicans are preparing to fight the proposed standards, according to reports.

NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons says auto manufacturers have been making historic investments in electric vehicles, but the government “should not dictate the vehicle choices offered to consumers.” 8/1/2023

U.S. EPA Announces Potential Reporting Requirements for Hazardous Air Pollutant, PFAS Emissions

On July 25, the U.S. EPA announced proposed revisions to its Air Emissions Reporting Requirements. The revisions would add annual Hazardous Air Pollutant emissions reporting requirements that would impact more than 100,000 facilities beginning in 2027. The agency is also considering new PFAS emissions reporting requirements through the proposed revisions. Learn more via this summary from Vorys, an OMA Connections Partner. 7/27/2023