1. Environmental Regulations

2. Learning Objectives TLW understand the history of environmental regulations TLW be able to describe key content of environmental regulations TLW be able to identify the agencies that have jurisdiction

3. EPA’s purpose Protect American from risks to their health and the environment in which they live, learn and work Reduce environmental risks based on best available information Enforce environmental laws fairly and effectively Incorporate environmental protection into all aspect of U.S policies

4. EPA’s purpose (cont.) Ensure all Americans have access to accurate information so they can effectively manage health and environmental risks Environmental protection helps to insure the our ecosystems remain diverse, sustainable and economically productive U.S is an environmental leader in the global community

5. Clean Water Act - 1972 Applies to: process waste water Rain water Cooling tower or boiler blow-down CWA to maintain National Water Quality Standards –All US water shall be fishable and swimable –No discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic quantities allowed –Development of technology to eliminate pollutant discharge Requires a facility to have a water permit that states limits of discharge –NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System –TPDES – Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

6. Safe Drinking Water Act - 1974 Protects drinking water supplies from contamination Sets maximum contaminant levels for harmful pollutants in water

7. Clean Air Act – 1955 Latest reauthorization - 1990 Permits must be obtained for any facility that may produce air pollutants In Texas, permits obtained through TCEQ Plants must report to TCEQ –any releases that exceed their permit –Or releases of non-permitted substances

8. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Goal is to reduce waste and ensure hazardous waste is properly disposed of. A “cradle to grave” law Defines: –Hazardous waste, –Haz. waste storage facilities, –Approved methods of haz. Waste disposal TSD - need to be permitted for any of these –Transporter –Storage facility – can store waste up to 90 days w/o permit –Disposal facility – landfilling very restricted

9. CERCLA - 1980 Addresses 3 areas: –Oil spills –Spills of hazardous substances –Cleanup of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites Money to clean up sites comes from a tax on petrochemical industry – called Superfund Established “Reportable Quantities” (RQ)for spills of hazardous materials (reported in pounds and quantity is specific for each chemical) –Spills at or greater than the RQ must be reported w/in 24 hours to the EPA or in Texas to the TCEQ

10. SARA - 1986 Reauthorized CERCLA Added “Community Right to Know” portion (called SARA Title III)

11. Toxic Substances Control Act Regulates the manufacturing of chemicals to properly identify risks to public health or environment All chemicals must be listed on TSCA Inventory prior to manufacturer New chemicals must be reviewed by the EPA –Manufacturer must supply EPA w/ all R&D information –Even a minor change in a manufacturing process may trigger a new review of the chemical EPA can regulate the manufacture, use, distribution and disposal of chemicals considered to be a high risk to public health or environment –Asbestos and PCB’s

12. Underground Storage Tanks HSWA – Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA Established: –Construction standards for new UST’s –Leak detection –Release reporting –UST closure –Financial responsibility