Air Quality Insider

In this episode we provide an update on all things Environmental Justice regulatory and policy. We discuss U.S. EPA's anticipated cumulative risk rulemaking and its potential implications on permitting and capital projects. We then move to a discussion about EJ screening tools that have been released including EJScreen 2.1 and items therein to be aware of. We discuss the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council recommendations to U.S. EPA that include proposed implementation of an ambient monitoring network that would provide public access to ambient monitoring data in near real time. We also cover some local examples of Environmental Justice philosophy being applied by U.S. EPA and state agencies to specific projects. We wrap up with practical advice on what industrial facilities and companies can be doing to proactively plan for EJ policy and regulation.

In this episode we explore a variety of regulatory and policy activities that could impact your EHS budgets above and beyond the routine in 2023. We explore air topics such as the fine particulate ambient standard tightening, ozone redesignations and the proposed Good Neighbor Rule, and MACT activity. We also review the broad topic of Federal and State Environmental Justice policy and things to plan for in your EHS program. We continue the conversation with the proposed Facility Response Plan federal rule, local stormwater general permit expirations, and TRI reporting next year. Finally, we finish the conversation with a quick highlight of the SEC carbon rulemaking and digital solution considerations.

In this episode, Paul Hagerty joins us to discuss the issue of vapor intrusion. We start with what vapor intrusion is, when it occurs, and how common it has become. We discuss different vapor intrusion mitigation strategies including one of the most common approaches: vapor barriers. The criteria used to select vapor barrier designs are rooted in engineering and information from vapor barrier vendors. We discuss work that Paul has done to develop a model that evaluates the thickness of barrier that is required in a given situation. His work concludes that in many typical cases, selection of thicker and thicker barriers is not needed. We close out the conversation with some practical advice for things to consider if you are involved in vapor intrusion mitigation projects.

In this episode, we first visit the broad concept of data accuracy and propogation of error in a conversation that will be helpful for anybody working with data and presenting it to another stakeholder. We then talk about tools for measuring data, limitations of data, and data sensitivy in a given situation. We close the conversation out by going back to stack testing and providing practical advice for EHS managers that are preparing for stack testing. This includes discussing lessons learned from the field as it relatest to conducting a successful stack test.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Gene Youngerman about stack testing and data. We start with the basics of stack testing and what makes it complicated, then review the different reasons why a stack test is conducted and what types of data match up with those different stack testing drivers. This includes a conversation about operating scenarios and how they should be considered for different types of testing (compliance, engineering, risk data, etc.). We finish the conversation by talking about how long stack testing data stays representative and discussing reasons why new data may be required.

In this episode, we are joined once again by Amy Marshall to discuss current regulatory and policy events at U.S. EPA. We cover National Ambient Air Quality Standards (fine particulate, ozone, and lead) activity and implications. We also review air toxics activity with a focus on Boiler MACT and the National Air Toxics Assessment Database. We close with a discussion about New Source Review permitting and some practical advice about staying connected with U.S. EPA and regulatory activity. Tune in to this episode and future episodes to stay connected to what you need to know about U.S. EPA's activities and priorities.

In this episode, we provide an update on Environmental Justice (EJ) regulatory and policy activity. We explore some of the recent tools that have been updated and released such as the new version of EJScreen and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. We discuss possible next steps for Federal regulatory activity and the wide variety of activity occurring within individual states. We also offer practical advice about how companies can be preparing for EJ regulatory and policy activity that could occur in the future.

In the second episode of our conversation with John Slade, we continue to explore the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) designation process. We discuss situations where individual companies are brought into a designation process by agencies, nonattainment permitting requirements for large sources, and timing considerations for large project permitting when a NAAQS change is imminent. We wrap up the conversation by discussing how companies can be proactive by tracking ambient monitoring data in the midst of NAAQS changes such as the upcoming fine particulate NAAQS revision.

In this episode, we discuss the process that state agencies follow when evaluating a new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). We discuss the steps in the NAAQS designation process that state agencies take and the aspects of the process the facilities should be attentive to. We address the ambient data that state agencies utilize for designations, the concept of exceptional events, the state agency personnel that are typically involved in the process, the begin to cover the levers that state agencies can pull to bring an area for nonattainment to attainment. The NAAQS designation process is something that all stakeholders in the process should understand due to its importance in influencing permitting requirements in a given geographic area.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Aditya Shivkumar around data science. We explore several data projects that utilize continuous emissions monitoring data to extract useful information about emissions limits, equipment reliability, and predictive alarms around operations. We then discuss how data science will enter new areas of environmental, health, safety, and sustainability programs and how new technologies related to artificial intelligence are helping to shape that evolution. We finish up by discussing some general advice around the utility and caveats related to the use of data.

In this episode we discuss the broad field of Data Science. We explore the history of Data Science and discuss how it can be used within EHS and sustainability programs. We cover the broad incentives such as regulation, policy changes, and ESG evolution that companies are encountering to further incorporate data into their decision making. We further drill down into the process of using data to gain insights that help to drive compliance, efficiency, and sound decision making. We also begin to explore a continuous monitoring system (CMS) program as an example of an area where the use of data can improve EHS programs.

In this episode, Kayla Turney joins us to provide an update on emerging contaminants with a focus on PFAS, among others. We talk about Federal PFAS regulatory and policy activity and explore additional compounds for listeners to keep an eye on in the future. We also discuss upcoming reporting and provide practical advice on best practices for Tier II reporting and changes to be aware of and prepare for relative to TRI reporting.

In this episode, we are joined by ehsAI CEO Margery Moore. Margery discusses ehsAI's artificial intelligence (AI) platform that is used to automate the process of reading environmental permits, regulations, and other similar documents and summarizing the requirements contained therein. We talk about the background of AI and its use in other industries and how ehsAI has brought AI into the EHS arena. We discuss the long standing and time-consuming task of processing lengthy permits and regulations that EHS personnel have dealt with in the past and how AI can streamline that process and make it more accurate. Finally, we explore the role that AI could have in EHS programs in the future. This topic fits with one of the themes of our podcast: practical advice on forward looking solutions and strategies that can make EHS programs more efficient and more accurate.

In this episode Amy Marshall joins us once again to provide an end of 2021 air quality regulatory update. It has been 14 months since we first launched our new podcast format with a lookahead to a potential Biden administration. Now we are just under a year into the administration and explore the latest policy, regulatory, and legal activity. Topics covered include New Source Review, ambient standards, air toxics, and environmental justice among others. As always, we discuss some practical advice on how this activity will translate into permitting and environmental compliance programs.

In this episode, we explore the growing activity related to digital solutions for EHS programs. We discuss how digital solutions can be used to assist in automating, tracking, benchmarking, and establishing ongoing improvement approaches when it comes to EHS and sustainability programs. Stephanie Taylor shares some of the basics and lessons learned form her experience in assisting with the implementation of new digital platforms as they have evolved over the years. This episode will be valuable for any EHS professionals that use digital platforms as part of their EHS programs.

In this episode, we continue the conversation related to fine particulate (PM2.5) current events and strategies to plan ahead for important permitting projects. We address how ambient monitoring for PM2.5 could fit into the planning process for upcoming projects. We also cover the possibility of innovative permitting approaches such as plantwide applicability limit (PAL) permits and the role that they could plan in the planning process. We close the conversation by addressing U.S. EPA's draft guidance on precursor pollutant modeling for PSD permitting requirements and the implications of the guidance moving forward.

In this episode, we discuss U.S. EPA's recent release of a supplement to the 2019 Fine Particulate (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Integrated Science Assessment (ISA). The supplement document is a continuation of U.S. EPA's re-evaluation of the PM2.5 NAAQS that is anticipated to be further tightened next year. We discuss where U.S. EPA stands in the NAAQS revision process. We also explore the implications of a tightened NAAQS on air permitting projects, discuss the conservative layers associated with the air quality modeling tools that are available, and consider proactive steps that can be taken to prepare for a NAAQS revision.

In this episode, we continue our Environmental Justice policy conversation with Dan Dix by exploring cumulative risk assessments. We discuss what cumulative risk assessments are, what they address, the tools available to conduct them, and what they are attempting to ultimately measure. We round out the conversation by discussing how the cumulative risk assessment process could fit into Environmental Justice policy moving forward and how facilities can prepare.

In this episode, we dig further into potential Environmental Justice (EJ) policy implications and explore the connections to ambient air quality monitoring. We discuss how ambient monitoring has evolved over time to the small sensors that are widely available to the general public today. We explore the advantages (and limitations) of the currently available small sensor technology. Finally, we review how small sensor technology could fit into the stakeholder involvement process for operating permit renewals and construction permit applications.

In this episode, Amy Marshall and Rich Hamel discuss the latest activity around the Federal administration's two biggest priorities: Climate and Environmental Justice. The climate discussion focuses on Federal climate issues being addressed in the infrastructure bill, status of climate goals, state-level regulatory activity, and a few actions that are occurring internationally. The Environmental Justice discussion focuses on recent activity related to U.S. EPA blocking the issuance of permits for environmental justice concerns and the future implications of those actions on holistic level.

In this episode the conversation with Amy Marshall about Federal administration activity continues. We continue to explore the possible implications around the removal of the previous administration's guidance rulemaking. We discuss ongoing litigation around ambient standards, New Source Review (NSR), and One in Always In policy among others. We also explore new proposed rulemaking from the administration that bear watching in the future, including a sneak preview of climate and environmental justice policies as they continue to emerge.

In this episode we are joined by Amy Marshall to revisit the air quality regulatory, policy, and ongoing litigation activities in play five months into the new U.S. EPA administration. We discuss actions that are being reconsidered and actions that have been vacated by the new administration. Among these topics is a discussion about the PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard reconsideration that could have far reaching impacts on future environmental permitting and modeling for capital projects.

In this episode we discuss connecting with CMS staff at regulatory agencies. We discuss what we should expect to see from the new Federal administration moving forward. From there we cover the technologies that we could see come to fruition in the coming years related to CMS and CMS data so that you can consider how those technologies and reporting obligations might impact your CMS programs. The continued advancement of electronic reporting and ramp up of CMS requirements will keep CMS at the forefront of EHS compliance programs moving forward.

In this episode we discuss the foundations of a continuous monitoring sytem (CMS) program including good versus bad data, data validation considerations, and the importance of documentation. The institutional knowledge around a CMS program is critical and is something that is being lost at many facilities and state regulatory agencies over time. We address the philosophies to consider to retain and document the most important institutional knowldege around this important compliance aspect of an EHS program.

In this episode we explore the ongoing Federal push for emissions inventory standardization. We specifically discuss practical experiences with the Common Air Emissions Reporting (CAER) system being rolled out by U.S. EPA . We also highlight the possible expansion into the CAER system by different state agencies. The CAER system is an indicator of the ongoing trend towards greater electronic reporting and standardization. Finally, we discuss general advice on preparing for future emissions reporting cycles.

In this episode we discuss the various reporting layers that facilities encounter when preparing air emissions information for reporting. We also generally visit the growing importance of consistency across emissions reports. Common areas of possible inconsistency are discussed as is the role of state regulatory agencies in preparing emissions information on behalf of facilities (the NEI process). We also begin to discuss how electronic reporting systems within various states are evolving. Part 2 will continue the discussion and will wrap up with practical advice around addressing consistency in reporting.

In this episode we take a practical look at National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit renewal applications. What is thw goal of a permit renewal process? What are some key areas to consider streamlining? We also look at upcoming PFAS considerations around NPDES permits

In this episode we take a practical look at Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements. Topics discussed include SPCC plan layouts, applicability requirements, and a quick look at some current legal activity around SPCC.

In this episode we look at the first several weeks of the new U.S. EPA administration. Part 2 of 2 turns toward more "day to day" permitting items. We explore some recent activity related to New Source Review reform and speculate on activity related to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Both items are important for future capital project planning. We also discuss potential PFAS regulation and upcoming TRI reporting. What is the latest and what is coming up next?

In this episoide we look at the first several weeks of the new U.S. EPA administration. Part 1 of 2 exames where two key priorities stand so far for two key priorities: Environmental Justice and Climate regulatory and policy. What's the latest and what is coming up next?

The upcoming Biden Administration of U.S. EPA will have among its list of priorties steps to address climate policy and regulation. This episode explories some of the policy and regulatory action that we might expect to see under the new administration. We also explore how some of these upcoming priorities might fit into climate planning that companies are already undertaking and how these connections can fit into a holistic approach for company planning.

In this episode we look ahead to the future of available air quality models. From there, we cover proactive steps that facilities can take to prepare for possible modeling obligations in advance of important capital projects. The importance of potential meteorological monitoring and ambient pollutant background monitoring are also covered in the context of upcoming projects.

In this episode we discuss the increasing strategic importance of air quality modeling in capital planning. We cover how modeling has evolved over time, review current events related to National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and talk about how air toxics programs are changing and how an increasing emphasis on environmental justice policy could influence modeling requirements in the future

In this episode we continue our dive into Environmental Justice Policy. The Environmental Justice process requires taking technical environmental information and communicating it in a different way than we might be accustomed from our past experiences. With that in mind, this episode focuses on the stakeholders involved in the Environmental Justice public meeting process and discusses the skillsets that are needed from both the regulatory agencies and facility environmental teams to make the process as efficient and effective as possible.

In this episode we explore the concept of Environmental Justice policy as it relates to environmental permitting.  We discuss how companies can plan ahead for situations where Environmental Justice policy could impact the timing of an important capital project and how to minimize those delays.

Perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of compounds utilized in the production of a variety of common materials that are gaining increasing regulatory attention due to their potential health effects. We provide an update on PFAS regulatory, policy, and legal activity. Beyond the updates we turn our attention to how facilities can plan ahead for upcoming PFAS reporting requirements.

We continue our evaluation of regulations and policies that may be affected by the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election. In this episode, we explore how Federal air quality regulatory and policy priorities will look different under an administration led by Democratic candidate Joe Biden. What can your environmental team be doing and learning to proactively plan ahead?

The U.S. Presidential Election is upon us. We explore the air quality regulatory and policy activity of the current U.S. EPA administration under Republican President Donald Trump, and look ahead to what to expect in terms of priorities if the administration continues (and what those priorities mean for your environmental team).

Welcome to 4 The Record: Behind the Scenes! Meet the podcast host and get a quick introduction into what to expect.

This episode features a segment of an article titled "2020 Look Ahead: Thinking Ahead in an Election Year" by Kayla Turney. https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/2020-look-ahead-thinking-ahead-in-an-election-year/

This episode features an article titled "New Source Review: Proposed Project Emissions Accounting Rule" by Michael McHale https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/new-source-review-proposed-project-emissions-accounting-rule/

This Episode features an article titled, "Strategically Navigating Air Permitting Challenges in the Biomass Industry" by Chuck Doyno https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/strategically-navigating-air-permitting-challenges-in-the-biomass-industry/

This Episode features an article titled, "CMS Daily Calibration Tolerances: Could You Be Operating to Double the Allowable Standard?" by Joel Millard and Matt Carideo https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/cms-daily-calibration-tolerances-could-you-be-operating-to-double-the-allowable-standard/

This episode features an article titled "Is Your Facility in Compliance with the Updated Refrigerant Rules?" by Ashley Howard https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/is-your-facility-in-compliance-with-the-updated-refrigerant-rules/

This episode features an article titled, "Proposed Rulemaking To Address Reclassification Of Major Sources As Area Sources" by Amy Marshall https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/proposed-rulemaking-to-address-reclassification-of-major-sources-as-area-sources/

This episode Features an article titled, "ePermitting coming to South Carolina" by Francesca Metcalf https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/epermitting-coming-to-south-carolina/

This Episode features an article titled "What is the U.S. EPA Air Office Working on These Days?" by Amy Marshall

The episode features an article titled "The Ever-Evolving Science of Air Quality Modeling" by Dan Dix https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/the-ever-evolving-science-of-air-quality-modeling/

This episode features an article titled "So, You Thought You Were Through with RACT 2- Think Again" by Roy Rakiewicz https://www.all4inc.com/4-the-record-articles/so-you-thought-you-were-through-with-ract-2-think-again/

This episode features an article titled "The Green New Deal, What is it, Really?" by Kayla Turney.

This episode features an article titled "A Year in Review – New Source Review (NSR) Edition" by Kayla Turney.