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EPA unleashes its cops

EPA unleashes its cops to target these 10 trouble spots

 

Recent enforcement reveals latest priorities

After tracking EPA in the first part of 2009, we’re getting the picture of which facilities will be among the 22,000 slated for inspections this year.
EPA’s going after large and small companies and targeting a mix of permit violations, from stormwater and emission exceedances to toxic release reporting problems.
There’s never been any doubt that Team Obama would beef up environmental enforcement.
That was clear when the President’s first budget gave EPA a $10.5 billion checkbook – a 34% increase. This includes hiring 30 more criminal investigators who will seek jail time for managers who knowingly skimp on compliance investments.
And agency officials weren’t shy about warning business, industry and municipalities that EPA would ramp up enforcement pressure even during a recession (see ECA 3/23/09, p. 1).
The question: “Where would this increased enforcement take place?”

What triggers 22,000 inspections

It’s now clear that under new chief Lisa Jackson, three new priorities have jumped to the top of EPA’s hit list:
    • wastewater discharge violations from a wide variety of facilities, because an EPA review found widespread water quality problems caused by Clean Water Act permit violations around the country
    • air toxic emissions, especially from facilities operating near schools in urban areas. EPA has so far found air toxic emissions near virtually every school it has checked, and
    • releases of hazardous substances from facilities managing or disposing of hazardous wastes near poor or minority neighborhoods.

These new priorities are in addition to other enforcement areas that remain tops on EPA’s hit list, including:
    • stormwater permitting at construction and industrial sites
    • pollution control installations when companies expand, repair or modify operations
    • spill control plans
    • Toxic Release Inventory reporting
    • emergency preparedness
    • hazardous chemical storage, and
    • routine hazardous waste management and storage.


Reprinted with permission from
Environmental Compliance Alert
800-220-5000

 

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Air Permit   Air Permit Tracking   Stormwater    TRI



Posted on Tue, October 27, 2009 by Clint Spencer

9 comments (Add your own)

1. Mark wrote:
Looks like this administration is going after the large toxic emitters in poor neighborhoods and the exceedences from municipal wastewater treatment plants if I read the information correctly. This is pretty much a continuation of the most recent activities that EPA has been concentrating on. I see no info presented that would indicate any stepped-up interest in small business owners. In fact EPA tends to be much more lenient to smaller facilities

Tue, October 27, 2009 @ 12:34 PM

2. Employee wrote:
Your two years too late.

Tue, October 27, 2009 @ 2:35 PM

3. Josh wrote:
I would hope that they would be more lenient to small business. Seems like the EPA tries to target the people who are doing what they are suppose to. Filling out their forms and paperwork. At least that has been my experience.

Tue, October 27, 2009 @ 3:08 PM

4. Herbert wrote:
I've seen a ramp up of enforcment under the TRI and Risk Management Programs (RMP. When submitting the arduous TRI report with supporting calculations and documentation, if you miss any question that relates to futher regulation of other programs within the EPA, the agency submits an automatic large fine. There are no questions, notices, or even allegations associated with the process. It's automatic without a phone call or kiss.
They send these out to a large number of facilities hoping to subsidize their TRI program. Luckily we clicked the wrong button and was not subject to the Risk Management Program. The question on the report we missed was complex and required a great deal of legal knowledge. Our organization spent well over $10K in legal fees and labor costs to respond to the alleged violation.
It is a rediculous and under-handed method for EPA to generate revenues. Especially in a economic recession. Any unsuspecting company will have to pay large fines for rediculous obscure reporting programs that provide no real benefit to the public, other than raising costs of doing business.

Tue, October 27, 2009 @ 3:08 PM

5. Sam wrote:
Thank goodness for increased EPA funding and enforcement. After eight years of "voluntary" industry "compliance," there are a lot of messes to clean up.

Tue, October 27, 2009 @ 3:58 PM

6. Butch wrote:
I dont mind doing my job to help keep the air good for the future generations but as a small business owner there are soooooo many reports I have to do and the restrictions many that it makes it hard to keep the doors open without raising prices all the time. You are not able to compete with CHINA as they can do it cheaper and their costs for doing business are a lot cheaper. I dont agree with what they are doing but we need to WAKE UP and work together here in the US beofre it is too late! My business has been destryed because of me not being able to compete. It is OUR people putting the restrictions on US while the rest of the world takes our business. Look at everything you purchase and you will see MADE IN CHINA. When you can purchase a item CHEAPER then you can purchase the material to make the product there is something wrong. Time for change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tue, October 27, 2009 @ 6:51 PM

7. Stephen Moore wrote:
Looks like ESSG is trying to "scare" up some business

Wed, October 28, 2009 @ 5:10 PM

8. E&SSG Management wrote:
Stephen, we appreciate what you are trying to say. We are not trying to “scare”, just inform. We feel that if we can inform business owners and those that are charged with the task of environmental and safety of the current developments and the movement of this new administration then they can make the best decision for their company. Sure, if someone out there is looking for help and we provide that service we’d love the opportunity to help them. However, no matter if a company decides to; 1) Do it themselves, 2) have another company help them, 3) have E&SSG help them, or 4) do nothing at all… that is their decision and at least they can make an educated decision.

If anyone has any suggestions on how we can inform without scaring or make any of our Compliance Alerts, Regulatory Reminders or Blogs better… please let us know by posting it or contacting us at info@essg.com.

Wed, October 28, 2009 @ 6:24 PM

9. TeresaE wrote:
Job justification should be its own billable hour in the government.

Our company got hit by an EPA inspector last year.

They made us put new filter things on our bathroom faucets (even though we are 100% connected to a municipal water system).

Wake up people, this is nothing more than the overt destruction of our economy (and country).

The government decided back under Clinton that the middle class didn't need anymore jobs - unless those jobs are the educated liberal type that produce NOTHING and contribute even less.

We are sitting on our hands watching the destruction of the promises our founding fathers made to us (and died for).

All in the name of "safety" and "security." All great despots in history, and Washington - either party - qualifies, profess to have safe & secure societies where rules are just made for the "common good."

Sad days are here, this is yet one more of them.

Thu, December 10, 2009 @ 1:57 PM

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