Category: Compliance Related Resources

Digital Transformation: The Fourth Industrial Revolution

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution, called 4IR or Industry 4.0, is named for the rapid change in technology, data connectivity, and smart automation that is driving improvement trends throughout the industrial world. Roughly starting in the early 2000s, companies have been implementing changes to improve productivity, efficiencies, and profitability by investing in digital technologies. Machine Learning, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and decision-based software systems are becoming commonplace as costs come down and the need to stay competitive drives buying choices. Regardless of the industry type, companies are making strategic decisions on how best to apply digital technology to their day-to-day operations.

Research shows the primary focus for most digital transformation projects is on process improvements that enhance the customer experience, reduce energy usage, and minimize unplanned downtime. Beyond these main objectives, Industry 4.0 uses technology to help meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sustainability by focusing on social development and environmental stewardship. Through these initiatives, companies are addressing not only how they do business now, but the way they will do business in the future. Many ESG digital investment decisions are driven by which aspect of sustainability nets the best results the fastest. Unlike the impact of manufacturing process changes, digitalization investments in ESG are about the long game.

The rewards from these efforts may not hit the bottom line immediately but they do go a long way towards shoring up interest from investors and meeting company sustainability goals. The commitment to a digital strategy gives companies the opportunity to use data connectivity and transparency in conjunction with technology to achieve all of their transformation objectives. All efforts are focused on finding the balance between the digital world while enhancing the human experience, profitability, and ESG sustainability. The urgency to act now and the speed of technological advances opens the potential for implementation pitfalls. Clear thinking and dedication to involving all the company stakeholders are critical before expecting any digital strategy to have the desired impact.Read more »

EPA Publishes Revisions to Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule in Federal Register

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NEW UPDATE:

On July 19, 2022, EPA extended the comment period on the proposed “Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule” from August 22 until October 6, 2022.  A copy of the Federal Register notice is available here.

On June 21, 2022, EPA published the proposed “Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule” (i.e., 40 CFR Part 98) in the Federal Register. A few selected proposed amendments are discussed below.Read more »

EPA Good Neighbor Plan

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Federal Implementation Plan Addressing Regional Ozone Transport for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Published in Federal Register

UPDATE:

On May 12, 2022, EPA extended the deadline to submit public comments on the proposed “Good Neighbor Plan” from June 6 until June 21, 2022. A copy of the Federal Register notice is available here.

On April 6, 2022, EPA published the proposed “Federal Implementation Plan Addressing Regional Ozone Transport for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard” in the Federal Register. EPA is proposing this rule under the “good neighbor” or “interstate transport” provision of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). The proposed rule, referred to by EPA as the Good Neighbor Plan, includes several key components discussed below.Read more »

PADEP CSMM Revision 8 Requirements

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VIM Technologies is offering an intermediate level, fully online Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) CSMM Revision 8 Requirements training course, by instructors Bill Mitchell (Sr. Environmental Engineer) and Ashley Partington (Compliance Specialist), February 22-23rd, 2022.

This course is designed to provide a summary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) quality assurance, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The course will begin Day 1 with an introduction to PADEP Revision 8 reporting requirements, monitoring specifications, certification/recertification process, and initial/ongoing QA testing requirements. Day 2 will explore the requirements of the quarterly PADEP EDR, data elements, and will also include a discussion of hourly validation and data substitution. An overview of RACT III will also be provided.

The course would be beneficial to Environmental Managers as well as Instrument & Control Technicians with CEMS responsibilities. The training would be valuable to personnel with limited PADEP experience, or as a refresher for more seasoned environmental professionals. The course will be presented in two(2), three-hour sessions over two consecutive days for $399. 

PADEP CSMM Revision 8 Course

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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

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The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is moving forward on the Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) III rule that was proposed to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) on October 17, 2019. The purpose of this rule was to revise the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for compliance with the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. RACT applies to major sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted statewide. This revision to the rule will provide additionally reduced emissions limits for NOx and VOCs from the previous PA RACT rules. The compliance deadline for RACT III will be January 1, 2023.Read more »

Are You Ready to Comply with the New PCWP MACT Requirements?

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On June 8, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments to the 2004 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP).

The EPA then published the final residual risk and technology review (RTR) conducted for the PCWP on August 13, 2020.  The EPA determined that PCWP facility air emissions risk is acceptable and that the NESHAP standards continue to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health. However, the EPA made several revisions and clarifications to the PCWP NESHAP requirements to enhance the rule’s effectiveness by improving compliance and implementation and increasing the efficiency of data submissions.Read more »

Are You Ready for the 2021 Alberta CEMS Code Update?

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UPDATE: AEP Issues June 18, 2021 Memo
On June 18, 2021, AEP released a memorandum which states that previous authorizations to deviate from the 1998 CEMS Code apply specifically to the 1998 Code.  Affected sources should work with their approval coordinator to have any such deviation(s) authorized prior to January 1, 2022.  The installation requirements specified in the 2021 CEM Code apply to new installations, “therefore existing authorizations to deviate which are based on physical installation requirements (i.e., sampling location) may remain.”Read more »

EPA Publishes Final CSAPR Group 3 Rule In The Federal Register

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On April 30, 2021, just one day prior to the 2021 ozone season, EPA published the final 40 CFR Part 97, Subpart GGGGG, CSAPR NOx Ozone Season Group 3 Trading Program in the Federal Register. The CSAPR Group 3 rule requires additional NOx reductions from power plants located in twelve (12) states beginning with the 2021 ozone season. The twelve (12) affected States are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The new Group 3 Trading Program is in addition to the existing Groups 1 and 2 NOx Ozone Trading Programs. The rulemaking also includes minor technical/administrative changes to the other CSAPR subparts.

Subpart GGGGG defines distinct Group 3 NOx ozone season State budgets for 2021, 2022, 2023 and “2024 and Beyond.” In general, one sees a reduction in the State budgets each year until the State budgets become fixed for the 2024 and Beyond ozone seasons. For example, reference the Group 3 State Budgets for the 2021 ozone season compared to the State budgets for 2024 and Beyond, as listed in the rule [FR-Vol. 86-No. 82, pages 23123-23124].

EPA also finalized Federal Implementation Implementation Plans (FIPs) for 22 states to address interstate transport of ozone pollution under the Clean Air Act’s “good neighbor” provisions. The final rule becomes effective on June 29, 2021. A copy of the Federal Register publication is available here.

EPA Administrator Signs Final Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update

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On March 15, 2021, the EPA Administrator signed the final revisions to 40 CFR Part 97, Subpart GGGGG, CSAPR NOx Ozone Season Group 3 Trading Program. Subpart GGGGG requires additional NOx reductions from power plants located in twelve (12) states beginning with the 2021 ozone season. The twelve (12) affected States are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The new Group 3 Trading Program would be in addition to the existing Groups 1 and 2 NOx Ozone Trading Programs. The final rule does not include ozone season NOx emission limits for non-EGUs. The rule will become effective sixty (60) days after the Federal Register publication date. VIM will post a copy of the Federal Register publication when it becomes available. A copy of the prepublication version of the rule can be found here.