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 standar...

Dear Valued Customer: The spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has all of our attention. Environmental Management Services, Inc. (EMSI) has been monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 and wanted to let you know that we are doing everything possible to keep you and our employees safe. This is our number one priority. During this time, we are making sure that our employees are using every precaution in maintaining healthy habits; including the use of personal protection equipment (PPE), hand sanitizers between each service and a clean/sanitized vehicle. In addition to these safe practices we have included special handling procedures to ensure the safety of our customers, employees, and the public. As of now, the waste generated from treating a patient with Coronavirus does not require any regulatory special handling. Only as a precaution, we ask that you follow the below procedures when handling the waste generated from the treatment of these patients. Any deviations from this process c...

The Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements (HWGI) rule is currently adapted in 23 states in addition to the territories and tribes who automatically implement Federal RCRA regulations.  Other states that have yet to adapt the rule are still in discussions.  Below are updates from the mid-atlantic area: Maryland is in the final stages of drafting its proposal to integrate the major changes made by HWGI into COMAR 26.13.03 by January 2020.  The MDE is currently developing 14 regulatory changes affected by HWGI listed below: Program Regulation Title Purpose Oil Control Program UST Regulations Chapters revised to comply with current federal UST regulations, to remove obsolete language, and update current practices. Solid Waste Program Solid Waste Management A review of the regulations pursuant to State Government Article, §§10-130-10-139 revealed the need to update these regulations due ...

While the EPA normally prohibits hazardous waste treatment without a permit, in Maryland one rare exception can be found.   Using an ENU under certain conditions and meeting certain requirements in Maryland help some generators of hazardous waste lower disposal cost and sometimes even generator status designation. An Elementary neutralization unit is defined as a device which is used for neutralizing wastes which are hazardous only because they exhibit the corrosivity characteristic and is a tank, tank system, container, transport vehicle, or vessel.   In order to reap the extended benefits of using this equipment you must meet the following requirements: 1.        The waste must only be corrosive characteristic (D002).   If the waste is hazardous for any other reason (ie. Toxic in addition to corrosive), the benefits cannot be applied. 2.        The waste must be treated in an ENU immediately upon gene...

One notable change triggered by the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvement rule is the marking and label requirements on hazardous waste accumulation containers while in satellite waste accumulation and in central waste storage.   Previous RCRA labeling regulations did not require generators to identify and indicate the specific hazards of the hazardous waste accumulated in containers, tanks, drip pads and containment buildings.   This resulted in a failure to communicate risks associated with wastes being accumulated or stored in different locations. Another risk associated with marking and labels was the Treatment Storage Disposal Facility (TSDF) not knowing how to treat the waste to meet land disposal restriction requirements because generators did not always identify the specific RCRA waste codes associated with the waste. To avoid these risks the following changes to hazardous waste management regulations have been applied: 1.        S...