News

Technology for the Environment!

EPA to revisit tighter refinery emissions rules
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Oct. 21, 2009, 8:29PM

Federal environmental regulators will reopen the possibility of tighter controls for harmful emissions from refineries, tossing aside part of a last-minute decision by the Bush administration that concluded the potential health risks did not require additional rules.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's reversal comes in response to Houston Mayor Bill White, who argued that the January decision failed to fully consider the risk of cancer for those who live near a refinery emitting toxic chemicals, such as benzene and 1,3-butadiene.

In a letter and in testimony to the EPA, White asserted that the agency's risk analysis underestimates the exposure of nearby residents to cancer-causing chemicals because it relies on industry-reported emissions estimates. What's more, it fails to include the impact of flawed data, which is compounded in areas with multiple refineries, such as Greater Houston.

Full Article

EPA Administrator Announces Plan To Retool And Reinvigorate Clean Water Enforcement Program
October 16, 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced recently at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing that the agency is stepping up its efforts on Clean Water Act enforcement. The Clean Water Action Enforcement Plan is a first step in revamping the compliance and enforcement program. It seeks to improve the protection of our nation's water quality, raise the bar in federal and state performance and enhance public transparency

Full Article


 

 




Latest Updates

 10-2009 -
Info on Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule
 
 10-2009 - EPA-Issues-Greenhouse-Gas-Rule.pdf

10-2009 - News Refinery emissions.pdf


Leading Successful Projects with Proactive Safety Practices