Todd Boulanger’s Post

From 1 July 2025, #Sweden will ban the discharge wash-water from open-loop exhaust gas scrubber systems within 12 nautical miles of its coast. Scrubber systems work by capturing some pollutants from exhaust gas exiting a ships' smokestack, particlarly NOx and SOx (Nitrous and Sulfur Oxides). But as West discusses, while effectively reducing air pollution, exhaust gas scrubbers have faced criticism for transferring the pollutants they remove from the air to water. This criticism has led to some countries prohibiting scrubbers and pushing shipowners to use other viable pollution control measures, such as low-sulphur fuel oil and alternative fuels. #maritime #environment #management https://lnkd.in/gQA3UxhJ

EIP IN THE NEWS: Kentucky allowed industries to dump pollution into its waters without a permit hundreds of times over the last five years, possibly enabling Clean Water Act violations across the state. From the Courier Journal article: A Kentucky Division of Water program authorizing certain discharges from pipeline tests, gas stations, power plants and other industrial sources may be enabling Clean Water Act violations across the state, according to an analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project. The state’s off-permit program, or “one-time discharge” program, has authorized releases into Kentucky waterways without a permit about 270 times since 2017, based on public records obtained by the watchdog group and provided to The Courier Journal. In that time, companies were approved to discharge millions of gallons of effluent through the program, which "likely caused significant environmental harm" to the state's waterways, EIP found. “Kentucky signed a memorandum of agreement with the EPA, where they committed to implementing the Clean Water Act,” said Meg Parish, senior water quality attorney for EIP. “Allowing hundreds of polluters to discharge into federal waters without a permit is not implementing the Clean Water Act in Kentucky.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e3SCqrCn Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Kentucky Resources Council . #environmentaljustice #environment #justice #EIP #cleanwater #kentucky #waterpollution #cleanwateract

The ultimate guide to Clean Water Act compliance in 2024 (and beyond)

Notice: The Environmental #Compensation (EC) Guidelines under the #E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 have been released. These guidelines will apply to a range of entities engaged in various activities related to e-waste and electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Entities subject to these guidelines include #producers, #manufacturers, #recyclers, #refurbishers, and #non-registered entities involved in the collection, storage, transportation, sale, processing, and recycling of E-Waste. Non-compliance with the provisions of the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and subsequent amendments will result in the imposition of Environmental Compensation. For a detailed list of the provisions and more information, refer to Table 1 in the attached notice. Official source at 1. https://cpcb.nic.in/ 2. https://lnkd.in/dWUi5H6c #EwasteManagement #EnvironmentalCompensation #Regulations #Compliance

Utah won’t have to implement federal air quality standards anytime soon. Last week, the Supreme Court barred the enforcement of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s “good neighbor” rule, also known as the ozone transport rule, across the U.S. The regulation aims to reduce the spread of ozone-forming emissions across state lines and associated health risks. The regulation isn’t dead yet, but the court’s ruling puts its implementation years behind schedule. The EPA says that reducing nitrogen oxide emissions under the good neighbor rule would prevent premature deaths, hospital visits, asthma cases and school absence days. The health and environmental benefits, the agency claims, would total nearly $10 billion — and only increase the cost of generating electricity by 1%. #airquality #federalregulations #environment #supremecourt #ozone By Anastasia Hufham

The latest in a long series of battles between SCAQMD and the U.S. EPA: The U.S. #EPA is preparing to reject #California’s plan to curb air pollution in #LosAngeles, a consequential move that could result in stiff economic sanctions and federal regulatory oversight of the nation’s smoggiest region. Despite having the strictest #airpollution rules in the nation, Southern California has never complied with federal health standards for ozone, the lung-searing gas commonly called #smog. Because of this, state and local air regulators are required to submit plans to the EPA detailing how they intend to reduce pollution and comply with federal standards.

Has your business applied for exemption on its #Pollution Control Property? The Tax Relief for Pollution Control Property Program (Prop 2) applies if a business utilizes property or equipment for air or water pollution control purposes. The multi-tiered application process requires a positive Use Determination from the TCEQ and a second exemption application to the local appraisal district. If you haven't filed or reviewed your properties in-depth for pollution control, reach out to our team at PTP-USA.com. #pollutioncontrol #pollutiontaxrelief #taxrelief #texastax #txtax #txtaxrelief #environment #environmentalquality #pollutioncontrolproperty #ptpusa

Under the rule, states will have to implement policies that improve #airquality in parts of the country that do not meet the limit for #soot #pollution set by the rule. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) #sootlimits are slated to take effect in 2032. The EPA estimates that in that year, compliance costs could be $590 million. But it estimated that #health benefits could be worth between $22,000,000,000.00 and $46,000,000,000.00 and include up to 4,500 lives saved. Exposure to soot pollution has been linked to #prematuredeath, #heartattacks and decreased #lung function. In addition to Kentucky, the EPA was sued by West Virginia, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming. https://lnkd.in/g8jht6Sq

“In February, the EPA made a crucial move to save lives and tackle air quality injustices for communities of color and low-income groups. But polluters rushed to court to block this life-saving action,” said Earthjustice Attorney Seth Johnson. “Now, diverse health, environmental, and community organizations are stepping up to defend public health and justice in court. With robust scientific backing, we’re ready to show how the Clean Air Act saves lives and protects communities.” The EPA updated the annual standard for soot from 12 micrograms per cubic metre to a more protective standard of 9 micrograms per cubic metre, with lobbying from trade associations and some states. #airquality #PM2.5 #ventilation #pollution #facilitiesmanagement #employeeengagement

🌊 Understanding the Clean Water Act: A Milestone in Environmental Protection 🌿 Did you know that before the 1970s, much of the United States' water was unsafe for drinking and incapable of supporting aquatic life? The introduction of the Clean Water Act (CWA) marked a transformative era in environmental regulation, springing from public demand for cleaner water and the establishment of the EPA. 🔍 The CWA set forth a new vision: to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of our nation's waters. From defining "navigable waters" and "waters of the United States" to establishing stringent effluent limitations, the act has played a pivotal role in shaping today’s water quality standards. 💧 At HalenHardy, we are dedicated to advancing these goals by providing our expertise in effective spill response and regulatory compliance. Our mission is to not only adhere to such landmark regulations but to lead the way in innovative environmental protection strategies. 🔗 Want to learn more? Read more about the Clean Water Act here: https://hubs.li/Q02s_wKb0 📞 Need help navigating environmental regulations? Call us at 814-822-2004 for expert guidance on how to meet your compliance needs while protecting our precious water resources. #CleanWaterAct #EnvironmentalProtection #SpillResponse #HaleYes