News and Analysis
Available for Comment: Ohio EPA “Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings Rules”
April 22, 2022The Ohio EPA recently released draft rules related to architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings. The OMA in written comments said that the agency’s potential adoption of the 2011 Phase II version of the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) model rule would negatively impact smaller, more regional paint and coatings manufacturers.
If your paint or coatings operation is affected, please direct questions or comments to OMA’s Rachael Carl. 4/21/2022
Ohio EPA Webinar: Water and Wastewater Funding – Updates on the Federal Infrastructure Bill
April 22, 2022Ohio EPA is holding a webinar on April 27, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. to cover how the agency will be administering federal infrastructure bill funds through the existing Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and Water Supply Revolving Loan Account. Learn more and register here. 4/21/2022
Ohio Materials Marketplace Offers Recycling Opportunities to Manufacturers
April 15, 2022Due to raw material shortages, the market for certain recyclables is booming, according to reports. This higher demand has renewed manufacturers’ interest in the Ohio Materials Marketplace (OMM) — Ohio EPA’s free online platform that helps businesses find re-use and recycling solutions for waste and by-product materials.
Ohio EPA reports it will host a May 19 webinar to provide an in-depth look at the OMM and its offerings. Register here. 4/12/2022
Ohio EPA Program Recognizes Businesses for Environmental Stewardship
April 15, 2022Ohio EPA is urging manufacturers to learn more about its Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) program. Over the years, the E3 program has publicly spotlighted many OMA members for their environmental stewardship. Email the agency for more information. 4/12/2022
Analysis: SEC’s Proposed Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures
April 15, 2022Following last month’s proposal by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require public companies to report climate-related activities, OMA Connections Partner Vorys has published this analysis. The proposed rules represent the SEC’s latest effort to advance the Biden administration’s climate agenda. 4/11/2022
OMA’s Environment Roundup
April 8, 2022The following are environment-related developments the OMA is tracking:
- On April 14, Ohio EPA will host a complimentary webinar to discuss the basics of environmental clean-up regulations.
- Ohio EPA has released its latest statewide water quality report. See it here.
- Ohio EPA wants to use $45 million of the state’s federal COVID-19 relief funds to combat algal blooms in Lake Erie, Gongwer News Service reports.
- Nearly 45% of Americans worry about the environment “a great deal,” according to a new Gallup survey.
Meanwhile, new vehicles sold in the U.S. will have to travel an average of at least 40 miles per gallon of gasoline in 2026 under new rules set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This infographic illustrates how today’s best selling models would fare under the new requirement. 4/7/2022
U.S. EPA Would See $1.5B Funding Increase Under Biden Budget
April 1, 2022The White House’s proposed budget for fiscal 2023 would provide a sizeable funding increase for the U.S. EPA, according to reports. The budget proposes $11 billion for the agency, a $1.5 billion increase. The Biden budget also includes more than $18 billion for federal “climate resilience programs.” 3/30/2022
SEC’s New Proposed Environmental Disclosures
April 1, 2022The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made big news when it recently proposed a mandate that public companies report on the climate-related activities of their business operations. OMA Connections Partner Schneider Downs has published this analysis of the proposal, noting that the target date to have public companies disclosing these environmental impact factors would be 2024, at the earliest. 3/31/2022
U.S. EPA Spotlights Ohio’s Most Energy-Efficient Plants
March 25, 2022The U.S. EPA recently announced 93 manufacturing plants nationwide have earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification. Among the plants recognized were Ohio facilities owned by Bimbo (Zanesville); Honda (Anna, East Liberty, Marysville, and Russells Point); Klosterman (Cincinnati and Springboro); and Marathon Petroleum Corp. (Canton).
ENERGY STAR certified plants are among the most energy-efficient plants in their industries — and together have prevented more than 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the EPA says. 3/21/2022
OMA’s Environment Roundup
March 25, 2022The following are environment-related developments the OMA is tracking:
- OMA Connections Partner Safex has published this guidance on how to prepare for the new Ohio stormwater permit.
- On Capitol Hill, there’s growing bipartisan support for funding hydrogen projects to help lower carbon emissions, reports say.
- The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is urging prudence on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed rule to force public companies to disclose climate-related information.
- OMA Connections Partner Thompson Hine has published this summary of the SEC proposal; NAM has also published a summary.
Meanwhile, the Ohio EPA will hold an in-person and virtual public hearing at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 29 regarding the agency’s proposed wastewater general permits rules. Here’s more information. 3/23/2022