The Emission Collection and Monitoring Plan System (ECMPS) 2.0 web-based reporting platform is scheduled for mandatory reporting by Acid Rain Program, Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CASPR), and Mercury Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule (Subpart UUUUU, 40 CFR Part 63) affected sources in 2024. More specifically, the Q1 2024 emissions and quality assurance (QA) files must be submitted via ECMPS 2.0 in JSON format by April 30, 2024, reporting deadline.Read more »
VIM Technologies, Inc. (VIM) has successfully completed another Introduction to Part 75 virtual training course led by Senior Air Compliance Specialist Dru Sanders, with assistance from VIM’s COMPAS Division.
Introduction to Part 75 is an intermediate course recommended for environmental staff responsible for complying with 40 CFR Part 75 regulations. We typically offer this course twice during each calendar year.Read more »
VIM Technologies’ (VIM) Senior Air Compliance Specialists, Eric Wiley, and Dru Sanders, co-presented the Part 60 CEMS and COMS Requirements online training course with high praise from those who attended.
This comprehensive course covered the required material in 2-hour sessions across 3 consecutive days. Attendees were thrilled with the virtual schedule that allowed flexible access to the training and eliminated the need for travel. The detailed course manual and the ability to download various supporting regulatory documents were a significant benefit to all participants
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 »
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 »
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 »
On April 26, 2022, EPA published the proposed Testing Provisions for Air Emission Sources in the Federal Register. The proposed regulation includes corrections to inaccurate testing provisions, revisions to outdated test procedures as well as approved Read more »
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.
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 »
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 »
