EPA News & Updates

Agency:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Topic: National Enforcement Initiatives (NEI) for FY2017-2019

Date Posted:  09/15/2015 (FR#:  2015-23056)

Action:  Solicitation for Public Comment – ended 10/14/2015

EPA requested public comments regarding which of the FY14-16 initiatives should be extended, refined, or concluded.  The current initiatives include:

• air pollution reduction from the largest sources
• cutting toxic air pollution (HAPs)
• assuring energy extraction & production comply with environmental laws
• reducing pollution from mineral processing operations (mining)
• keeping raw sewage & contaminated stormwater out of waterways
• preventing animal waste contamination of surface & ground water

NEI’s under consideration by EPA for FY17-19 include:

• protecting communities from exposure to toxic air emissions
• keeping industrial pollutants out of waterways
• reducing the risks & impacts of industrial accidents & releases

Importance to YOUR Business:

EPA will focus their federal resources on these environmental problems where noncompliance is significant and where federal enforcement attention can make a difference.  These initiatives will be pushed down from EPA to the FDEP who is delegated authority for air permitting and industrial wastewater permitting.  If your facility has an air permit with HAP emissions or an industrial NPDES permit, expect to see an increase in compliance oversight from FDEP.

For more information, goto:  www.regulations.gov & search by the FR #.

OSHA News & Updates

Agency:  Occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)

Topic:  National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Aputations

Effective Date:  08/13/2015 (3-yr directive)

Action:  OSHA directive targeting specific industry sectors where machine and equipment hazards are likely causing amputations (Directive #:  CPL 03-00-019)

OSHA is implementing an NEP to identify and reduce workplace machine and equipment hazards which are causing or likely to cause amputations.  OSHA defines amputation as a traumatic loss of limb or other external body part, either complete or partially severed, including fingertips (with or without bone loss), medical amputations, or amputations that have since been reattached.  It does not include avulsions, enucleations, deglovings, scalping, severed ears, or broken/chipped teeth.

This directive is focused on the NAICS Sector 31-33, Manufacturing and five OSHA standards that are generally recognized as being related to amputation hazards (29 CFR 1910.147, .212, .213, .217, and .219).  Each regional or area office will implement an outreach program, select businesses to target, conduct scheduled inspections, and coordinate with the national OSHA office.

Importance To YOUR Business:

If at your facility you have equipment that has the potential to cause an amputation (e.g. conveyors, grinders, mixers, blenders, presses, etc), a review of this machinery is recommended.  Review your procedure for the machinery during normal operations, start-up/shutdown, malfunctions, operational adjustments, scheduled and unscheduled repairs, and cleaning.  Check your machinery LOTO procedure; ensure employees are trained and the training is being followed.

For more information, goto:  www.osha.gov & search by the Directive #.