The EnviroBlog

  Credit: Simon Davis/DFID 14 states have instituted COVID-19 safety standards for the work place so far. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in the US, the concern for worker safety and health has all but subsided and the need to institute COVID-19 safety standards has become very apparent. In the absence of federal leadership in establishing these standards, some governors and state health departments have stepped up to expand worker protections. Virginia was the first state to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic along with Oregon and Michigan shortly following. Other states have issued guidelines, some of which are tied to enforcement efforts. Additional some cites also have issued ordinances geared toward protecting their local workers. Below is partial list of states along the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions that have adopted COVID-19 safety standards (with links to more information) Massachusetts - Safety standards f

 There are different approaches to treating waste, but the following points are common principles followed by many inside and outside the US. Which of the following categories does your organization fall in? Prevent waste The best thing to do is to not generate waste. If that is not possible, try to substitute non-hazardous or less hazardous chemicals into your processes. Think about only ordering chemicals that you need to use now vs. buying bulk chemicals/larger quantity to receive a discount in cost. In the end, this costs you more because you have to dispose of the excess that you do not end up using. In addition, this is not a sustainable practice. Instead of sending something to the waste pile, find out if others in the organization are able to use it, this prevents waste and cuts disposal costs. Prepare to re-use You may ask yourself, how am I going to reuse this? Electronic waste can be reused, instead of disposing of the escrap as hazardous waste, it can be taken apart and ind

 The US EPA has increased its maximum civil penalties with publishing the Final Rule on December 23, 2020. Below is a table showing the increases (Note: Penalties are assessed on a per day, per infraction basis). Program Previous Current Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( RCRA ) $75,867 $76,764 Clean Air Act ( CAA ) $101,439 $102,638 Clean Water Act ( CWA ) $55,800 $56,460 Comprehensive Env. Response... Act ( CERCLA ) $58,328 $59,017 Emergency Planning/ Right-to-Know Act ( EPCRA ) $58,328 $59,017 Fed Insecticide, Fungicide/Rodenticide Act ( FIFRA ) $20,288 $20,528 Safe Drinking Water Act ( SDWA ) $58,328 $59,017 Toxic Substances Control Act ( TSCA ) $40,576 $41,056 The above table does