Deleted From the Superfund NPL Is Not Clean: What Buyers and Lenders Have to Check Before Closing
NPL deletion is a rulemaking. What a buyer, lender, or developer has to verify on a delisted or partially delisted Superfund parcel before closing.
Environmental
92 articles · All articles
Before You Break Ground on a Remediation Job: The HASP, the SWPPP, and the State Filing Clock That Costs Contractors a Season
Kansas wants your stormwater NOI 60 days out. Nebraska wants 7. What a general contractor needs in hand, HASP included, before a remediation job starts.
Acetone in a Groundwater Sample: Trip Blanks, Laboratory Contamination, and the Decision Tree Nobody Publishes
Acetone in a groundwater sample is usually laboratory contamination. Get the trip blank evidence, the current 2x blank rule, and a tree that ends in an action.
Kansas Cleanup Sites Get Rechecked Every Five Years. The Only Public Input Channel Is an Interview Almost Nobody Asks For.
A five-year review rechecks whether a finished Kansas cleanup still works. There is no comment period. The one documented input channel is an interview.
A 37-Year-Old Kansas Gasoline Release Is Closing With Deed Restrictions on the Neighbors. KDHE Gives 15 Days to Comment.
KDHE opens a 15-day comment window on each draft Agency Decision Statement. That is when Kansas cleanup levels and recorded use restrictions get fixed.
The County Wants an Impact Study Before It Will Hear Your Data Center. Here Is What Is Actually In One.
County data center impact studies, the Sedgwick County pause and Kansas water rights: what the ordinances require and what a water permit actually takes.
Your Industrial Stormwater Permit Does Not Cover Your Process Water: The 11 Authorized Non-Stormwater Discharges
Your industrial stormwater permit authorizes rain, not process water. The 11 authorized non-stormwater discharges, the 4 banned at food plants, and what to do.
Air Permits in the Kansas City Metro: Three Agencies, Three Rule Sets, One Applicability Question
Three agencies issue air permits across the Kansas City metro. Which one covers your site, the thresholds that trigger a permit, and what the city charges.
NOx RACT and the St. Louis Metro: Why a New Illinois Rule Is a Missouri Story Too
EPA proposed new NOx RACT limits for Metro-East St. Louis manufacturers. The area is bi-state, and Missouri's half faces the same test on the same clock.
New York's 2026 Data Center Moratorium: What the Scope Actually Covers — and What Keeps Moving
New York's 2026 hyperscale data center moratorium pauses new state permits for facilities of 50 MW or more. Here is the actual scope, exemptions, and timeline.
The NO2 Standard Isn't Changing in 2026: What EPA's NAAQS Review Draft ISA Actually Means for Air Permitting
EPA's draft ISA opens the NO2 NAAQS review — but the standard isn't changing in 2026. What the science step means for air permitting and modeling headroom.
Data Center Generator Air Permits: The 1995 EPA Memo That Decides Whether Your Fleet Is a Major Source
Air permit rules for data center backup generator fleets: the 500-hour PTE default, the 100-hour emergency cap, PSD triggers, and the Memphis citizen suit.
Iowa Renumbered Its Air Quality Rules: The Title V Permit Citation Crosswalk to Complete Before August 17, 2026
EPA's July 16, 2026 approval moves Iowa Title V rules from IAC 567 Chapter 22 to Chapter 24, effective August 17. The permit citation crosswalk facilities need.
Hazardous Waste Determination Requirements Under RCRA: What EPA's $996,703 Denka Settlement Tells Every Generator
EPA's $996,703 Denka RCRA settlement shows how hazardous waste determination failures under 40 CFR 262.11 unfold — and what EHS managers should document now.
EPA Proposes to Drop Federal Public Notice Minimums for Minor Source Air Permits: What Actually Changes at Your Plant
EPA's July 2026 proposal would end federal public notice minimums for minor source air permits. What changes, what doesn't, and the Title V risk EPA flagged.
EPA's New ERC Guidance: NNSR Permits Can Now Issue Before Offsets Are Secured — Here's the Catch
EPA's July 1, 2026 guidance lets air agencies issue NNSR permits before emission reduction credits are secured. The two mandatory conditions — and the risks.
PFAS in Biosolids: What Facilities That Discharge to a POTW Should Audit Now
EPA walked back its 2025 biosolids risk assessment and there is still no federal PFOA/PFOS limit. Here is the real liability for facilities discharging to a POTW.
LDAR Program Requirements Under NESHAP: Method 21, Leak Thresholds, and the Repair Clock Every Facility Gets Wrong
LDAR isn't one rule but four. Method 21 leak thresholds by component, the 5-day/15-day repair clock, and per-day CAA penalty exposure under NSPS, NESHAP, and HON.
You Won an EPA Brownfields Grant. Here Is How to Procure the Phase I ESA Correctly
Won an EPA Brownfields grant? Every grant-funded Phase I ESA must meet All Appropriate Inquiries under 40 CFR Part 312 and ASTM E1527-21. Here is what to require.
The Chemours $450M PFAS Settlement: Why Active Industrial Sources Need a Source Audit Now
EPA's $450M Chemours PFAS settlement draws the enforcement line at active industrial sources. What a facility source audit covers and the liability it documents.
The PFAS Drinking Water Deadline Moved. Your Industrial Liability Didn't.
EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS drinking water MCL deadline to 2031, but it's not final and CERCLA liability for manufacturers is unchanged.
RCRA on the Job Site: How Construction and Demolition Contractors Get Hazardous Waste Right
Construction and demolition contractors face RCRA hazardous waste rules the moment debris is generated — generator categories, lead-paint D008, and disposal duties.
Data Center Water Permits: There Is No Federal Permit — and That's Exactly Why Siting Teams Get Blindsided
No single federal permit governs data center water use. State laws, groundwater districts, and cooling design now decide whether your site gets water.
Reclassified to Serious Ozone Nonattainment: Which Requirements Still Apply Under EPA's June 2026 Proposal?
EPA's June 12, 2026 proposal would tie reclassified ozone nonattainment areas to current-classification requirements only. What changes — and what doesn't.
Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Excess Emissions: What EPA's Partial SIP-Call Withdrawal Changes — and What It Doesn't
EPA's June 12, 2026 partial SSM SIP-call withdrawal released six states — but your permit limits didn't change. What survives in your state, explained.
EPA Failed the San Joaquin Valley on PM2.5 and Extended Its Deadline — in the Same Federal Register
EPA's June 11, 2026 failure-to-attain finding and proposed 2030 extension reset PM2.5 compliance for San Joaquin Valley facilities. What operators must do now.
EPA Extended the GHG Reporting Program Deadline to October 30, 2026 — But Do Not Wait
EPA extended the GHGRP RY2025 deadline from March 31 to October 30, 2026, while simultaneously proposing to eliminate 46 of 47 reporting subparts. Here is what facilities subject to 40 CFR Part 98 need to understand before October arrives.
LDAR NESHAP Area Source Chemical Manufacturing 2026: What the New Leak Detection Requirements Mean for Your Facility
EPA finalized new LDAR requirements under the CMAS NESHAP (40 CFR Part 63 Subpart VVVVVV) on April 1, 2026. If your chemical manufacturing facility is an area source, you now have a from-scratch instrument monitoring obligation — and a compliance deadline already running.
PCB Annual Report Electronic Submission via RCRAInfo: What Facilities with Legacy Equipment Need to Know for the July 15, 2026 Deadline
EPA's June 2026 notice opens RCRAInfo electronic submission for PCB annual reports due July 15, 2026. Here is what the change means, who it applies to, and what facilities with legacy PCB transformers and capacitors owe right now.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment: What ASTM E1527-21 Requires and When You Need One
A Phase I environmental site assessment under ASTM E1527-21 is the required method for conducting all appropriate inquiries under CERCLA. Here is what the standard covers, what it does not cover, and when the liability stakes make it non-negotiable.
The Title V Emergency Affirmative Defense Is Back. Is Your Facility Ready to Use It?
EPA restored the Title V emergency affirmative defense effective June 1, 2026, following a federal court ruling that reversed the 2023 Biden-era removal rule. Here is what environmental managers at major stationary sources need to know—and do—before the next equipment failure.
Detroit Is Nonattainment Again — Re-Screen Every In-Flight Air Project Under Nonattainment NSR
The Sixth Circuit vacated Detroit's ozone redesignation. Starting June 29, 2026, the seven-county area runs on NNSR — 100 tpy thresholds, 1.15:1 offsets, LAER.
EPA's Coal Ash Permit Program Reopens for Comment: The Procedural Deadline Utilities Are Missing
EPA reopened the 2020 federal coal ash permit program for a 30-day comment window — June 29, 2026 deadline. The permitting rail behind the April 2026 amendments.
Ohio's Air Nuisance Rule SIP Removal: What Actually Changes Monday Morning for Industrial Operators
EPA's May 2026 proposal removes Ohio's Air Nuisance Rule from the federal SIP. Practitioner read on permits, citizen suits, state enforcement, and what does not change.
The Significant New Use Notice Trap: Why Procurement, Not Compliance, Files Most SNUNs Late
EPA requires a Significant New Use Notice 90 days before a SNUR-listed chemical hits a new application. Three SNUR batches take effect July 2026, and the penalty for a missed filing is $49,772 per day. Most filings are late because the trigger lives in procurement, not annual compliance review.
The Phase I Came Back Fine. The Lender Wants Three More Things.
Office-to-residential conversion Phase I ESA: receptor change, vapor screening, pre-renovation asbestos and lead, and what Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD MAP actually require.
Asbestos Abatement in Kansas City: The KS/MO State-Line Trap That Costs Building Owners More Than the Work Itself
Asbestos abatement Kansas City projects fail on paperwork, not technique. KCMO files with the Health Department, MDNR covers the rest of Missouri, KDHE covers Wyandotte. Most contractors don't know.
The 32-Day Window on EPA's Steam Electric CRL Rollback: What Utility EHS Leads Must Decide Before the Comment Period Closes
EPA's May 2026 proposal rescinds the 2024 unmanaged combustion residual leachate limits. Utility EHS leads have a 30-day comment window to make seven specific decisions.
The Multi-State Inspection Matrix Dealerships Now Have to Run: EPA's Tier 4 Phase-In Delay and the Federal-State Divergence
EPA's May 14, 2026 Tier 4 phase-in delay pushes federal vehicle standards to MY 2029 but leaves California and 17 adopting states on the original schedule, splitting dealer compliance.
Cleveland Attains Ozone — and Four Source-Side Obligations Didn't Change
EPA's May 14, 2026 Clean Data Determination for Cleveland's 2015 ozone NAAQS suspends Ohio EPA planning SIPs — but RACT, NNSR, conformity, and anti-backsliding stay in force.
EPA's Proposed Rewrite of 'Begin Actual Construction' — How Manufacturers Can Compress Major-Project Timelines Without Tripping the State SIP
EPA's May 13, 2026 proposed rule narrows 'begin actual construction' under NSR/PSD — letting facilities build shells and non-emitting structures in parallel with permit review. Here is the capex schedule it unlocks and the state SIP trap that still controls.
The 60-Day Clock That Tells North Carolina Dealerships When Emissions Inspections Actually End
EPA proposed removing North Carolina's vehicle I/M program from the SIP in 18 of 19 counties. What dealerships should reassess before the trigger fires.
EPA Withdraws RCRA Corrective Action Expansion — What Didn't Change for Your Permitted Facilities
On May 8, 2026, EPA withdrew a proposed rule that would have expanded RCRA corrective action obligations. Here's what changed, what didn't, and what manufacturers need to do now.
Seven Critical Failure Modes in TCE Granular Activated Carbon Systems — Why 99.9% Effectiveness Becomes Permit Violations
GAC systems fail operationally, not technologically. Learn the seven failure modes that turn high-removal carbon filtration into discharge permit non-compliance — and how to prevent them.
TSCA's Next Chapter: EPA Finalizes 1,2-Dichloroethane Risk Evaluation — What Chemical Manufacturers Must Do Now
EPA's May 5, 2026 final risk evaluation for 1,2-dichloroethane triggers TSCA Section 6(a) rulemaking. Here's what manufacturers need to know about worker exposure limits, compliance timelines, and the preparation window before the proposed rule.
TCE Postponement: Your Exemption Doesn't Mean No Action
EPA extended TCE Section 6(g) exemption conditions to May 2026. Why vapor degreaser operators must baseline exposure now — not wait.
Virginia Coal Ash CCR Permit Program: What Generators Need to Know Before July 6, 2026
EPA proposes Virginia's partial CCR permit program. Utilities have 62 days to comment. Here's what approval means for compliance, enforcement, and closure planning.
EPA's EtO NESHAP Reconsideration: What Commercial Sterilizer Operators Need to Know Before the May 15 Deadline
EPA's ethylene oxide sterilizer emissions rule reconsideration closes May 15, 2026. What operators must do to protect compliance—regardless of outcome.
EPA's Forward Signal: How to Read the FY2027 Evidence Plan
EPA published its draft FY2027 Evidence Plan. Here's what it signals about compliance priorities 18 months out — and why manufacturers should read it.
EPA's 2026 PFAS Disposal Interim Guidance: Three Endorsed Methods and the Gaps
Facility operators handling PFAS waste need to understand EPA's three endorsed destruction/disposal methods, the new CERCLA reportable quantity, and state-specific restrictions that diverge from federal baseline.
Anhydrous Ammonia & RMP Compliance: What Missouri Ag Retailers Need to Know in 2026
New EPA rules lowered anhydrous ammonia storage thresholds from 15,000 lb to 10,000 lb. If your ag retail operation stores this much, RMP compliance is now mandatory—here's what applies to you.
TSCA SNUR 26-2: The 90-Day Compliance Clock for Chemical Manufacturers
Federal Register batch 26-2 expands TSCA Significant New Use Rules. Chemical manufacturers and importers must file SNUNs 90 days before designated new uses. Penalties up to $50,120/day.
Six Air-Rule Signals in Ten Weeks: What EPA's Q2 2026 Deregulatory Cycle Means for Manufacturing Compliance
EPA moved on six distinct air-rule fronts between February and April 2026 — MATS repeal, GHG rescission, EtO reconsideration, Oil & Gas technical amendments, and two Missouri SIP actions. Here's the EHS leader's digest.
Kentucky's MSW Landfill State Plan Takes Over from the Federal Plan: What Operators Need to Know Before May 26, 2026
EPA has proposed to approve Kentucky's Section 111(d) State Plan for existing municipal solid waste landfills. Here's what KY landfill operators need to confirm before the comment period closes.
Missouri's 2026 Air Construction Permit Fees: What Manufacturers Need to Budget Before Their Next Project
Missouri's new construction permit fee schedule took effect January 1, 2026. Major NSR, PSD, and HAP permits now carry a $6,000 filing fee plus $100-per-hour processing. Here is how to budget.
St. Louis Petroleum Vapor Recovery Aligns with Kansas City: What EPA's April 23, 2026 Proposed SIP Approval Changes
EPA has proposed to approve Missouri's revisions to 10 CSR 10-5.220, aligning St. Louis petroleum vapor recovery with the Kansas City rule. Here's what fuel operators need to know before the May 26 comment deadline.
The End of the Affirmative Defense: Why the October 2024 EPA NESHAP Amendment Changes Your Oil & Gas Compliance Strategy
EPA removed affirmative defense provisions for oil and gas air toxics violations, shifting enforcement to strict liability. Learn what changed, what it costs, and how to prevent penalties before January 2027.
How Manufacturers Are Using AI for Environmental Reporting and EPA Submissions
AI accelerates data capture, consolidation, and quality checks in mandatory EPA reporting—but responsible officials retain legal accountability for accuracy and sign-off.
EPA MATS NESHAP Repeal 2026: What Really Changes for Coal and Oil-Fired Power Plants
The EPA's April 27, 2026 MATS repeal rolls back 2024 tightening for coal and oil-fired utilities. The 2012 standards remain. Here's what changes, what doesn't, and what you need to do.
EPA's GHG Rescission: What Fleet Operators Still Need to Comply With
EPA rescinded federal GHG standards April 20, 2026 — but state rules, Title II standards, and fuel economy mandates remain. Here's what your fleet must still comply with.
TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule: Who's Still Covered and Who Gets Relief Under the Proposed Exemptions
EPA's November 2025 proposed amendments would narrow PFAS reporting obligations for article importers, trace amounts, and R&D. Here's what's proposed and what you need to do right now.
EPA Budget Cuts and Manufacturing Compliance in 2027: What the 52% Reduction Means for Your Facility
The EPA FY2027 budget proposal cuts agency funding by 52%. Here is what manufacturing facilities need to know about enforcement, state-level shifts, and compliance preparation.
EPA Proposes Major Coal Ash Rule Changes in 2026: What Actually Moves and What Stays
EPA proposed sweeping CCR rule amendments on April 9, 2026. Here's what utilities actually need to do—and what remains mandatory through 2031.
EPA's Compliance First Policy: What Manufacturing Facilities Actually Need to Know
EPA's December 2025 Compliance First memo shifts enforcement strategy but doesn't eliminate penalties. Here's what manufacturers need to do now to protect themselves.
EPA PFAS TRI Reporting 2026: 206 Chemicals, No Shortcuts, July 1, 2027 Deadline
206 PFAS chemicals now on EPA's TRI list with a July 1, 2027 deadline. Learn what changed, which industries are affected, and why conventional reporting doesn't apply.
Regulatory Whiplash 2026: Federal Rollbacks Colliding With State Environmental Tightening
Federal environmental deregulation in 2026 is running headfirst into aggressive state regulations. Multi-state manufacturers now face two competing compliance systems. Here's what's actionable before July 1.
TSCA PFAS Reporting Deadline Delayed to January 2027: What Changed and What Didn't
The EPA delayed TSCA Section 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting again. Here's what the January 2027 deadline actually means, what manufacturers need to do now, and how proposed exemptions could affect your compliance obligation.
What Your Environmental Consultant Should Have Caught
Phase I near-miss focus. Expired assessments, missed vapor intrusion pathways, cookie-cutter portfolio due diligence.
2026 EPA and OSHA Compliance Deadlines
It's a new reporting year and time to plan for reporting and compliance deadlines from 2025's activities and for the new year.
What Is an SPCC Plan and Why Does Your Facility Need One?
An SPCC Plan is an EPA-required document for facilities that store oil products.
What Is a Toxic Release Inventory (TRI, SARA 313, Form R)?
TRI reporting explained: who must file, reporting criteria, Form R vs Form A, PFAS updates, and how to submit through EPA's TRI-MEweb system.
Which Environmental Regulations Apply to Emergency Generators?
Emergency generators trigger air permits, SPCC plans, EPCRA reporting, tank regulations, and more. Here's what facility managers need to know.
Hazardous Waste Biennial Reports Due March 1
Every even-numbered year, large quantity hazardous waste generators must submit their Biennial Hazardous Waste Reports by March 1.
Environmental Remediation Services: Site Cleanup, Decommissioning, and Construction
What environmental remediation actually covers — site cleanup, industrial decommissioning, groundwater treatment, and pre-sale due diligence — and how the methods differ.
EPA Watches TV Too – EPA Fines Renovation and Reality Shows
As an EHS professional, have you ever found it hard to turn off the part of your brain that sees potential violations when you're out and about, living ...
Paint Booth Cleaning: It's the Law, but Can Save You Money
In this week's blog, we'll explore the case for paint booth cleaning. Not only is it the law, but it can save your company a lot of money.
EPA Adds 1-BP to Clean Air Act Hazardous Air Pollutants List
EPA has added 1-bromopropane (1-BP), aka n-propyl bromide, to its list of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
EPA Finalizes Aerosol Can Universal Waste Regulation
EPA's universal waste rule lets facilities manage aerosol cans without full hazardous waste handling. Who qualifies, what changed, how to comply.
New Clean Air Act Interpretation May Affect Facility Air Permitting
Facilities required to have an EPA Title V air permit, New Source Review (NSR) air permit, or a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) air permit...
What is EPA's Affordable Clean Energy ACE Rule?
EPA has proposed a new rule for greenhouse gas emissions at power plants called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule (ACE) Rule.
EPA Superfund Task Force Sees Successes
In a previous blog we discussed the plans EPA had for expediting the cleanups of Superfund sites in hopes of reducing costs, reducing delays caused by l...
Hazardous Waste e-Manifest System Coming in June
EPA is establishing a nationwide electronic hazardous waste tracking system, and it hopes to have it up and running by June.
EPA to Change the Way It Handles Lawsuits
EPA will no longer be participating in the practice of sue and settle, that is, settling lawsuits with consent agreements which make changes to regulati...
EPA to Propose Repeal of Clean Power Plan
A number of news agencies have obtained a document outlining EPAs plans to propose a repeal of the Clean Power Plan.
Chemical Manufacturers & Importers: Ensure You're on EPA's Active Chemical List
In compliance with updates to the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), EPA is updating its inventory of the chemicals manufactured or imported in the U.S.
Oklahoma Stormwater in Construction Regs Updated
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) updated its Multi-Sector General Stormwater Permit for industrial activities last month, and now...
New Oklahoma Stormwater Regs Require NOI and SWP3 Updates
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has replaced its Multi-Sector General Stormwater Permit with a new version which is effective Ju...
EPA Proposes Roll Back of Waters of the U.S. Definition
The EPA, along with the Army and the Army Corps of Engineers, announced its intent to make changes to the Clean Water Rule and return the definition of ...
EPA Delays Air Regulations
EPA has announced postponements of air emissions regulations due to go into effect this summer.
The New Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule
With Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule, EPA has made changes to RCRA hazardous waste regulations. Learn what's different and when to comply.
Georgia NPDES Permittees Required to File Electronically Through NetDMR
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has been moving towards electronic filing of various reports and permits.
Hazardous Waste Manifest Signers Need DOT Training
Did you know anyone who signs a haz waste manifest on behalf of your company is required to have DOT training?