The purpose of the GHG Rule
is the accurate and timely collection of data that can be used to
guide the future development of policies and programs to reduce
GHG emissions. The rule does not require the control of
GHG emissions at this time, only the monitoring and reporting of
emissions greater than certain threshold levels.
The rule provides a mechanism for exiting the monitoring program if
a facility can demonstrate five consecutive years of emissions
below 25,000 metric tons of CO2e/year,...
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The GHG Rule requires
calculation of GHG emissions for the following:
- Carbon Dioxide
(CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFC)
- Sulfur Hexafluoride
(SF6)
- Other fluorinated gases, including
Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) and Hydrofluorinated Ethers
(HFE)
If monitoring devices such as fuel
or flow meters need to be installed at a facility to determine
source emissions, the installation must be completed by March 31,
2010. Facilities that cannot meet the March 31st...
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In order to determine the
applicability of the Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Rule to your
facility, and to comply with the regulation, you will need to
complete the following tasks:
- Conduct a comprehensive GHG emissions inventory
- Implement a GHG tracking program on or before January 1,
2010
- Submit a mandatory GHG report to the EPA on or before
march 31, 2011
Reporting is required for
facilities in several specific GHG source categories
regardless of their actual CO2e emissions, and for other
source...
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An Environmental Management System
(EMS) is a voluntary program to identify,
manage, monitor and report environmental activities
at a facility. The most well-known EMS standard
is International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
14001.
Common elements of an EMS program are:
- Written Standard Operating Procedures
- Environmental Planning
- Employee Training Programs
- Environmental Monitoring and Reporting
Benefits of an EMS program include
reduced costs, improved corporate image and improved...
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Molds are naturally-occurring,
microscopic fungi that are found almost everywhere. In nature,
molds break down organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead
trees.
But indoors, and at high concentrations, molds can affect the
health of certain individuals. Exposure to molds, and
the mycotoxins that they can produce, can lead to adverse
health effects in sensitive individuals including rash, fever,
headache, fatigue and asthma.
Molds occur in a variety of colors including white, orange,
green and...
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On November 6, 2009, Governor
Granholm signed Public Act 120 which
provides temporary funding for the state's wetlands protection
program through fiscal year 2012.
Sponsored by Senator Patty Birkholz, the spending bill will utilize
unclaimed bottle deposit monies remitted to the state
by wholesalers to provide $2 million annually for 3
years. The temporary funding replaces approximately $2.1
million of annual general fund monies and although not permanent,
is an important step for the state to...
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The EPA anticipates the Greenhouse
Gases (GHG) Rule will result in the reporting of
GHG emissions from the largest sources responsible for
approximately 85 percent of the GHG emissions in the
U.S.
It is estimated the rule will ultimately apply to approximately
10,000 facilities, but many more businesses could benefit
by evaluating their GHG emissions to document compliance with
the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA), and to identify potential,
cost-effective ways to reduce GHG emissions.
The EPA has...
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On October 30, 2009, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Final Mandatory
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Rule in the Federal
Register. The EPA has developed this rule in an effort to
collect data relative to GHG emissions. GHGs are produced by
the burning of fossil fuels and by various industrial and
biological processes.
There are 4 main types of GHGs - gases that trap heat in the
atmosphere:
- Carbon Dioxide
(CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Fluorinated Gases
These gases...
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Legionella growth can be
controlled by thermal and chemical methods.
Temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit)
instantly kill the bacteria.
Note, however, that thermal eradication, ultraviolet light
treatment, and ozonation do not disperse and destroy the biofilms
that can harbor the bacteria as do chemical treatments.
Chemical methods of treatment generally include copper-silver
ionization and hyperchlorination, but the effectiveness of such
treatment methods is inhibited...
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In the battle to solve Michigan's
structural budget deficit, funding of the Michigan
Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been a hot
topic. On October 1, 2009, it was determined that MIOSHA
would be retained in its current form and be funded as part of the
2009-10 Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth
budget.
However, Senator Mark Jansen
recently introduced Senate Bill 784 seeking to return the State's
MIOSHA program back to the federal government. Many argue the
state's...
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Legionella is a Gram-negative
bacterium with many species and serogroups identified, including
the species, L. pneumophila which is associated
with legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease. Legionella
was named after an outbreak of the then unknown disease affected
attendees of a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia in
July 1976.
Legionella is common in many environments and is acquired via
the inhalation of aerosol mist droplets containing the
bacteria. Common sources of Legionella...
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Enrolled Senate Bill No. 785,
legislation that will retain Michigan's wetlands protection program
under the control of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
instead of returning control to the federal government,
was signed by Governor Granholm on October 15, 2009.
Sponsored by State Senator Patty Birkholz, Enrolled Senate Bill No.
785 establishes that Michigan's wetlands protection program
will:
- Retain an integrated
permitting system
- Use a new funding source that does
not rely on the...
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Governor Jennifer Granholm
signed Executive Order 2009-45 on October 8, 2009 merging the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Department of
Environmental Quality into the newly formed Michigan Department of
Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) effective January 17,
2010. The Executive Order will stand unless both the House and
Senate move to disapprove the changes.
Bruce Rasher has been appointed to serve as transition manager to
implement the Executive Order. Mr. Rasher has a degree...
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While it is not certain that the
State's Wetlands Protection program will be transferred to federal
authority, the State is facing a budget shortfall of approximately
$3 billion dollars making significant structural
changes likely.
The State of Michigan has until October 1, 2009 to balance its
budget or risk government shutdown, so any changes to the State's
Wetlands Protection program will likely occur during the current
budget crisis.
If Michigan's Wetlands Protection laws are repealed by...
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Influenza (The Flu) is a viral
infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that spreads via close
person-to-person contact when an infected person coughs or sneezes,
and by touching surfaces contaminated by the flu virus and then
touching your eyes, nose, and/or mouth.
One of the best things you can do to prevent getting sick is to
wash your hands with soap and water!
Visit the CDC Web site at www.Flu.gov to learn more about the
influenza virus.
Perhaps most importantly, should
Michigan decide to repeal Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the
Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, and allow its
wetlands program to return to federal jurisdiction, is the question
of what will constitute a regulated wetland under federal
authority?
Recent Supreme Court cases shed some light on the matter. In
2005, the Court rendered a fractured decision in the combined cases
of Rapanos v United States and Carabell v United Sates (Rapanos)
over what...
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Should Michigan's legislature
adopt Governor Granholm's proposal and repeal Part 303, Wetlands
Protection, of the Natural Resources Environmental Protection
Act, the jurisdiction of Michigan's Wetlands Protection program
would revert back to the federal government to be jointly
administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit (USACE)
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, in
Chicago. (Currently, only Michigan and New Jersey have
delegated authority to manage their...
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Regulated wetlands include those
that are contiguous (including those connected by groundwater) to
inland lakes or streams, and the Great Lakes, as well as other
wetlands more than five acres in size.
Under special circumstances, the Department of Environmental
Quality may assert jurisdiction over non-contiguous wetlands less
than five acres in size. Local units of government may
similarly assert jurisdiction over wetlands less than two
acres in size, but again, only in special circumstances.
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Michigan's current wetland permit
program was originally promulgated in 1979 as Part 303, Wetlands
Protection, of the Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act
(NREPA) and later amended under Part 303 of 1994 Public Act 451, as
amended (NREPA).
Part 303 defines what wetlands are regulated and requires a permit
for the physical alteration of wetlands including placement of
fill, dredging, constructing, operating, or maintaining a use or
development in a wetland and/or draining surface water...
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