Long-burning Paradis pipeline fire finally extinguished, officials say

By this evening, authorities still had not recovered the body of the man believed to have been killed in the blaze, Josh Helms, of Thibodaux.

A raging pipeline fire in Paradis that erupted Thursday evening and sent flames high into the night sky, killing one worker dead and injuring two, was finally extinguished this morning.

The fire ignited as workers were attempting to clean a section of natural gas pipeline with a device called a "pig." The accident also forced a temporary evacuation of nearby neighborhoods and temporary closure of adjacent streets and highways.

Late this afternoon, La. 631, which roughly parallels U.S. 90 and is known locally as Old Spanish Trail, was reopened. It had been closed between La. 635 and La. 306 since the incident.

By this evening, authorities still had not recovered the body of the man believed to have been killed in the blaze, Josh Helms, of Thibodaux. Helms, a veteran pipeline worker, was employed by Phillips 66, which owns the pipeline. Family members declined to speak with a reporter.

One of the injured workers remains hospitalized in Baton Rouge, though he is expected to make a full recovery. His condition was upgraded Sunday from fair to good. While officials have not identified that man, WWL-TV reported that his name is Desmond Calloway.

The fire began when six workers -- three employed by Phillips 66 and three by Blanchard Contractors -- were trying to clean out a section of pipeline, officials said.

Oil and gas companies routinely send pieces of equipment called "pigs" down the line to keep it clear. To launch a pig, crews typically burn off the fuel in the pipe, then seal off the section so it can be depressurized. Then they load the pig, seal the pipe back up and open the valve, allowing the liquefied natural gas to push the equipment through.

It's not clear what went wrong in last week's operation. The state Department of Natural Resources and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are both investigating.

The pipeline, built in 1958, runs 86.6 miles between Venice and Paradis. It caught fire several years ago when it was struck by a boat in a bayou near the border between Jefferson and Lafourche parishes.

Steven Giambrone, director of the state Department of Natural Resources' pipeline safety program, said the pipeline's operators haven't incurred any violation notices since the DNR began filing records electronically in 2008. Phillips 66 recently purchased the pipeline from Chevron.

The dousing of the fire Monday morning was expected to allow the St. Charles Parish Coroner's Office to begin its investigation into Helms' death, officials said. A message left with the Coroner's Office was not returned.

Meanwhile, environmentalists who have been lobbying against the proposed Bayou Bridge pipeline across south Louisiana held a news conference Monday morning, saying the Paradis fire demonstrated the danger of oil and gas infrastructure not just to the environment at large, but to the workers who must build and maintain it.

The event was held outside the state Department of Environmental Quality's offices in Baton Rouge.

Regulators have said there is a substantial difference between natural gas lines, such as the one in Paradis, and crude oil lines, like Bayou Bridge. Natural gas travels through pressurized pipes and is much more volatile than oil, which mostly poses the danger of possible leaks into waterways.

​Read full By Gordon Russell The Advocate (Baton Rouge)

http://www.houmatoday.com/news/20170213/long-burning-paradis-pipeline-fire-finally-extinguished-officials-say​

AASHE Award Winner Free Webinars - starting today!

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming AASHE webinars. AASHE webinars are free for everyone and video recordings and presentation materials are available for AASHE members in the webinar archive at any time.

The AASHE Award Winner webinar series of 2017 will take a deeper look into the winning submissions from the 2016 AASHE Sustainability Awards. In an effort to share best practices and nuanced strategies of what makes these institutions and individuals winners, each webinar will look more closely at the approaches used to effect institutional change, demonstrate student leadership, or advance campus sustainability research.

Developing Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Strategies Through Student Research

Feb. 15, 2017, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.aashe.org/events/webinars/2017/AASHE-2017-Award-Winner-Webinar-Series-1.

Taking Carbon Off-Setting Beyond the Campus

Feb. 22, 2017, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.aashe.org/events/webinars/2017/AASHE-2017-Award-Winner-Webinar-Series-2.

Using a Design Competition to Expand Bee Habitat On and Off-Campus

Mar. 1, 2017, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.aashe.org/events/webinars/2017/AASHE-2017-Award-Winner-Webinar-Series-3.

CHINA: Samsung’s Note 7 recycling center catches fire, company blames faulty batteries

ExtremeTech:Every now and then, the universe hands you a story on a silver platter, served with a whopping huge side of situational irony. On Wednesday, 19 fire engines and 110 firemen reported to a fire at Samsung SDI's Chinese manufacturing facility in Tianjin. The fire was put out without widespread damage to the plant, which mostly remained on a normal manufacturing schedule. 

As for where the fire started and what caused it, there's some confusion in that regard. According to Samsung SDI spokesperson Shin Yong-doo, the fire began in a part of the facility used for waste and faulty batteries — and, of course, the Samsung SDI subsidiary in China was responsible for manufacturing many of the batteries in the Note 7 that failed under stress. There's no indication that it was actually Note 7 batteries, specifically, that caused the failure — but the Wuqing branch of the Tianjin fire department had a rather different explanation for what had happened. According to them (and Reuters) the "material that caught fire was lithium batteries inside the production workshops and some half-finished products." If that's true, it implies some other problem at the plant — which may be precisely why Samsung SDI put the blame on the recycling division.

Former Note 7 owners working at the factory reported that the odor was nostalgic with a hint of cancer.

A fire at a Samsung plant actively involved in recycling Note 7 batteries isn't good, but it can be spun in an encouraging way. First, it can be argued to represent objective proof that no, these batteries were dangerous and Samsung's recall was the right thing to do. Perhaps more importantly, investors don't really care if the parts of your plant involved in waste management and recycling catch fire (not unless you're a recycling plant, anyway, in which case that's bad).

Acknowledging that a fire began in the area of the plant dedicated to producing batteries for upcoming Samsung products, on the other hand… well. There's this little device you've probably heard of, called the Galaxy S8, and Samsung is hoping it'll prove very popular, washing out the melted-phone-and-charred-house odor of the Galaxy Note 7. A fire at one of its facilities dedicated to producing smartphone batteries in particular, at a subsidiary already blamed for the Note 7 recall is a bad way to accomplish that goal.

There is as yet no sign that Samsung's Note 7 fiasco has hit the company's popularity or appeal, but that's the kind of problem you don't keep provoking. Having screwed the pooch on the Note 7, Samsung will be dead-set on ensuring the same thing doesn't happen to the Galaxy S8. One bad product is a fluke. Two are typically a sign that something is badly wrong in your manufacturing division.

​​

Please see full at source:

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/244153-samsungs-note-7-recycling-center-catches-fire-company-blames-faulty-batteries

EPA: Comment Period Extended for Two Rules on TCE

EPA is extending the comment period for two proposed rules on Trichloroethylene (TCE), a toxic chemical with human health concerns identified by EPA in a 2014 risk assessment.  EPA proposed these rules in December and January to ban certain uses of the chemical in aerosol degreasing, as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities, and in commercial vapor degreasing.  

The comment period for the proposed ban on TCE as an aerosol degreaser and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities is extended to March 16.

The comment period for the proposed ban on TCE as a commercial vapor degreaser is extended to April 19.

Read more about the proposed rules: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/trichloroethylene-tce

2017 Annual Report on Risk Evaluations

EPA- The first annual report on risk evaluations as required under the amended TSCA.

• The 2017 Annual Report on Risk Evaluations (PDF)(3 pp, 81 K, February, 2017)

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Investigators Deploying to Explosion at Packaging Corporation of America plant in DeRidder, Louisiana

U.S. Chemical Safety Board – A three-person investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of an incident that killed three workers and reportedly injured seven on Wednesday, February 8 at the Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) plant in DeRidder, Louisiana.

 

According to initial reports, the explosion took place while contractors performed welding on a tank during a facility shut down. The explosion was powerful enough to cause the tank to fly and land in a different area of the plant. Welding is one of several types of "hot work" – or spark-producing operations - that can ignite fires or explosions. Most hot work incidents result in the ignition of combustible materials or the ignition of structures or debris near the hot work.

 

"The CSB has investigated many hot work accidents across the country, including a 2008 explosion that killed three workers at a different PCA plant in Tomahawk, Wisconsin." said Chairperson Vanessa Sutherland. "Hot work incidents are one of the most common causes of worker deaths we see at the CSB, but also one of the most readily preventable."

 

Following the deadly 2008 explosion at the PCA plant in Wisconsin, the CSB issued a safety bulletin on the hazards of welding and other hot work entitled "Seven Key Lessons to Prevent Worker Deaths during Hot Work In and Around Tanks." The agency also released a safety video called "Dangers of Hot Work," which presents the findings from that bulletin. 

 

Chairperson Sutherland said, "The CSB continues to be concerned about the frequency of dangerous hot work incidents and has added safe hot work practices to the agency's Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change Program, a list of key chemical safety advocacy initiatives."

 

The CSB is an independent federal agency whose mission is to drive chemical safety change through independent investigations to protect people and the environment. The agency's board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical incidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.

Source: http://www.csb.gov/csb-investigators-deploying-to-explosion-at-packaging-corporation-of-america-plant-in-deridder-louisiana/

Explosion at Flamanville nuclear power plant in France leaves several injured

​IBtimes: Authorities said there was no 'nuclear risk' following the explosion at 10am local time.

An explosion hit EDF's Flamanville nuclear power plant in Flamanville, northern France, on Thursday, leaving several people injured.

Authorities said that five people had been treated for smoke inhalation, but there was no risk of nuclear contamination. "It is a significant technical event but it is not a nuclear accident," senior local official Olivier Marmion told AFP.

Firefighters were alerted to a fire and an explosion in the engine room around 10am local time and emergency services were sent to the location, according to Ouest France newspaper, citing local police.

Marmion, director of the local prefect's office, told the newspaper that the explosion occured outside the plant's "nuclear zone", and a special evacuation plan for the region in the event of a nuclear incident had not been activated.

EDF said that fire crews had brought the blaze under control by 11am local time.

France's flagship nuclear power plant is located in the Cotentin Peninsula, near the English Channel and houses two pressurised water reactors that produce 4% of France's electricity. One reactor was shut down after the explosion and remains off line.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown, but authorities have ruled out sabotage.

A third reactor at the facility scheduled to be completed in 2018 will be the world's largest.

Work on the third reactor began in 2007, but has yet to be completed with the project reportedly running three times over budget and France's nuclear safety authority recently finding weaknesses in the reactor's steel.

Read full By Tom Porter at:

​http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/explosion-flamanville-nuclear-power-plant-france-leaves-several-injured-1605636​

S. 134, Spoofing Prevention Act of 2017

Under current law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the authority to levy penalties and criminal fines against individuals who use fake information about a caller's identification to defraud or harm another. S. 134 would expand that authority to include the use of text messages and would apply the authority to violators outside of the United States if the recipient is within the United States. The bill also would direct the FCC to develop consumer education materials that provide information for consumers on identifying fraudulent caller activities. Finally, S. 134 would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on actions taken by the FCC to combat the provision of inaccurate caller information and to identify additional steps that could be taken by the agency.

Read full at: https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/costestimate/s134.pdf

S. 102, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017

S. 102 would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study ways to enhance access to telecommunications services during emergencies when mobile service is unavailable. The bill also would redefine the term "essential service provider" to explicitly include certain telecommunication mediums, such as Internet and cable services, in a list of entities that provide essential services. (Providers of essential services are generally provided access to disaster sites in order to restore and repair services during emergency situations.) Finally, S. 102 would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study ways the federal government could increase the resiliency of essential communication services during emergencies.

See full:

https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/costestimate/s102.pdf

The Possible Impact of Regulatory Reductions on Workplace Safety Enforcement via @safetec

safetec - On January 30, President Trump signed an executive order entitled "Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs," which targets the reduction of the number of regulations issued by the federal government.  The order requires federal agencies to eliminate two regulations for each new one introduced.

Trump has been quoted in saying, "There will be regulation, there will be control, but it will be a normalized control where you can open your business and expand your business very easily."  The executive order specifies that new regulations issued by the federal government in 2017 "…shall be no greater than zero."

For many of us Health and Safety professionals who rely on OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) for guidance in creating mandated written hazard communication programs, employee training and understanding, we are scratching our heads and asking, "What does this reduction in regulations mean for our industry?"

Labor-law experts predict that OSHA will move away from an enforcement-based strategy and toward compliance assistance and cooperative programs for employers.  It will be interesting to see what strategy OSHA takes to accomplish this.  OSHA was established to standardize safety for all workers, and, in 1983, introduced HazCom.  In addition to issuing updates to the HazCom standard, OSHA implemented enforcement activities to support employee safety.  In January, OSHA updated its civil penalties for noncompliance, and, more recently, published its annual report of the top 10 citations for 2016 where HazCom violations came in second; unchanged from the 2015 report.

There are questions around how this change will affect OSHA's funding.  A decrease may require OSHA to review how its funds are spent.  Will that limit its enforcement activities or staffing?  While fines generated through enforcement are substantial, one could still assume there might be a reduction in this area, especially targeting small businesses. Regardless, we should not allow any reduction of enforcement to diminish our obligation to ensure chemical safety in the workplace.

Companies should continue to develop and implement a written Hazard Communication program.  They should continue to train their employees about workplace hazards and how to prevent them.  Employees should be made aware of how to obtain a safety data sheet (SDS) and understand the label information on products.  OSHA's guidance has not changed.

Please read full by Peter Collier on:

http://www.safetec.net/possible-impact-regulatory-reductions-workplace-safety-enforcement

EPA Approves Wisconsin Multi-Discharger Variance for Total Phosphorous via @michaelbestlaw

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP: On February 6, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Wisconsin's Multi-Discharger Variance (MDV) for Total Phosphorous. The MDV establishes an additional and less-costly compliance option for eligible point sources seeking relief from burdensome phosphorous discharge limitations. The EPA's approval of the MDV will last for a period of 10 years, but may be extended if the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) requests and receives an extension. In a draft version of its MDV Justification submission for the EPA, WDNR indicated that an extension will likely be necessary.

Phosphorous Standard

In 2010, the WDNR promulgated rules creating a phosphorous standard intended to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering the state's watersheds. Following approval by the EPA, those rules became the federally enforceable water quality standard upon which discharge limits for point sources are calculated. Complying with the new discharge standards proved to be an exceedingly difficult challenge, and many facilities sought approval for individual variances. As the number of facilities seeking variances increased, the state sought to streamline the process, which resulted in the development and passage of 2013 Wis Act 378. 

Act 378, which became effective in 2014, directed the WDNR and the Wisconsin Department of Administration to investigate the costs associated with attaining the water quality standard for phosphorous and its impact on the state's economy. That study revealed that compliance with the phosphorous standard would result in "substantial and widespread adverse social and economic impacts to the state," prompting WDNR to request EPA approval for this MDV.

Compliance Options

The MDV extends the timeline under which point sources must comply with phosphorous limits, including those based on a federally approved total maximum daily load (TMDL). To be eligible to apply for an MDV, a point source must be an existing facility that would require a major facility upgrade to comply with its phosphorous water quality-based effluent limitations (WQBEL). If a facility meets the eligibility criteria and requests an MDV, the facility's Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit will, upon approval, be modified or reissued with two important conditions. First, each point source must reduce its phosphorous load each five-year permit term. The final MDV approved by the EPA includes the following default limitations for each permit period:

• Permit term 1: 0.8 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
• Permit term 2: 0.6 mg/L
• Permit term 3: 0.5 mg/L
• Permit term 4: Phosphorus WQBEL

These default limitations may be adjusted if attainment is not feasible. Moreover, every five years the WDNR will review these interim phosphorous limitations to determine whether they are consistent with the highest attainable condition for the point sources and categories of point sources that are eligible for the variance.

A point source receiving an MDV must also implement a watershed improvement project to help reduce nonpoint source phosphorous pollution. These projects must include a binding, written agreement with either WDNR or other third parties to offset the amount of phosphorous by which the point source's discharge exceeds the target value. If a point source is located in a watershed for which a TMDL has been approved, its target value is the phosphorous discharge limitation included in its WPDES permit pursuant to the TMDL. If the point source is located in a watershed not subject to a TMDL, the target value is .02 mg/L. Alternatively, a point source may elect to pay its county Land Conservation Department $50 per pound of phosphorous discharged in excess of the target value. The per pound payment will be adjusted annually in proportion to any changes in the U.S. consumer price index for urban consumers. However, the per pound payment in effect when the permit is issued will apply for the full permit term.

Further information will be provided at a webinar hosted by the DNR, scheduled for 11 a.m. CDT on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Source: www.michaelbest.com/Newsroom/127108/EPA-Approves-Wisconsin-Multi-Discharger-Variance-for-Total-Phosphorous

NOT for all the tea in China...heavy metals from drinking tea from China from

​Question: How significant are the risks to drinking tea from China from heavy metals?

Answer:

​ ​

ConsumerLab's and other research groups have found significant amounts of lead contaminating some teas from China. Contamination is most common in tea made from older leaves, as in black tea and Oolong tea, than from younger leaves used to make green tea. However, there are ways to reduce the health risks posed by contaminated products, as discussed in the "Lead" section

The @Brownfields2017 Call for Ideas Is Open! Please submit your session ideas

Help design a fantastic conference agenda by submitting your educational programming proposals for the 2017 National Brownfields Training Conference. Submit an abstract for a Brownfields 2017 session or presentation using our online submission form at www.brownfields2017.org. Please submit your session ideas on-line before March 17, 2017.

We invite you to submit your ideas for dynamic educational sessions that encourage conversation and participation from your fellow attendees. A great Brownfields 2017 educational program will motivate brownfields stakeholders to engage, learn, and share their experiences and knowledge of community revitalization challenges and solutions.

The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 5 -7, 2017.  In addition to our regular conference programming, we will hold pre-conference workshops on December 4.

TOXMAP now includes TRI 2015 data

TOXMAP beta now includes the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2015 National Analysis data. 

TOXMAP maps the TRI chemicals reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). 

A complete list of TRI chemicals required to be reported to the EPA can be found on their website.

Source: US National Library of Medicine

https://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/news/2017/02/toxmap-now-includes-tri-2015-data.html

Supporting Training for Emergency Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Incidents

​​

REPORT

from US Department of State

Published on 07 Feb 2017 —View Original

By Kenneth Deal

In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami brought unimaginable destruction to Japan. These natural disasters were made more catastrophic by their impact on nuclear reactors at Fukushima. Though almost six years have passed, the life-threatening and massively destructive effects of this disaster remain a vivid reminder of the critical importance of national preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents.

Given the far-reaching effects and potential destruction of a natural or man-made chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incident, preparedness at national levels is an international concern. If an incident of this nature were to occur, a country's response within the first 24 to 48 hours is the most likely window to contain the danger and save lives. The complexity, uncertainty, and unexpectedness of these incidents make advance coordination crucial.

The U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism coordinates the United States government's efforts to help partner nations around the globe confront challenges like these efficiently and effectively. Working with the Department of Defense's Defense Threat Reduction Agency and other U.S. federal agencies, we facilitate the delivery of a range of training programs and exercises designed to strengthen response authorities, plans, and procedures. On average, we support 10 to 12 events per year. These initiatives improve our response capabilities as well as the capabilitiesof our partner countries, advancing international security.

Kenya is one such partner. Last month, experts from the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Kenya's National Guard State Partner – conducted Exercise "Nairobi Treasure" with key Kenyan ministries. This tabletop exercise builds on a long history of cooperation between the United States and military and civilian chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear first responders in Kenya. The exercise offered a hypothetical incident to Kenyan ministries and agencies, giving them the opportunity to hone their roles and responsibilities. Designed to stimulate discussion, the exercise required participants to examine and resolve problems based on existing response plans, then to identify areas in which those plans needed to be refined.

Kenyan participants included officials from several ministries, military units and civilian national response organizations. Broad participation in this exercise demonstrates Kenya's firm commitment to developing civilian and military first response capabilities, furthering the country's role as a regional leader in this field. "Nairobi Treasure" enabled the Government of Kenya to exercise and strengthen the tools it has in place to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incidents.

The Fukushima nuclear accident was devastating for many reasons: it was unanticipated; it had a complex array of destructive immediate and long-term effects; and it called on Japanese agencies and officials to respond and recover at a time of national devastation. Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incidents require comprehensive national preparedness. In the face of these potential threats, exercises like "Nairobi Treasure" are some of the best tools the United States offers internatio

​​

nal partners to help ensure the safety and security of their citizens.

​Read full 

​

By Kenneth Deal on February 7, 2017

http://reliefweb.int/report/world/supporting-training-emergency-response-chemical-biological-radiological-and-nuclear​

Final Rule for Control of Communicable Diseases Uses International Quarantine Powers To Stop Outbreaks

CDC - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the final rule for the Control of Communicable Diseases on January 19th, 2017 which includes amendments to the current domestic (interstate) and foreign quarantine regulations for the control of communicable diseases. These amendments have been made in response to public comments received regarding the notice of proposed rulemaking published on August 15, 2016. This final rule improves CDC's ability to protect against the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases while ensuring due process. This rule will become effective on February 21st, 2017. The final rule is published on the Office of the Federal Register's website.

Response to public comments

HHS/CDC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on August 15, 2016, and received 15,800 public comments from individuals, stakeholders, and other interested parties during the 60-day comment period.

These comments covered a range of topics, including concerns regarding:

• agreements between the CDC and persons subject to federal public health orders,
• forced vaccination or medical treatment,
• CDC's constitutional and statutory authority for carrying out quarantine and isolation,
• data collection from aircraft and vessel operators,
• people being quarantined for non-quarantinable illnesses,
• due process,
• electronic monitoring and surveillance of persons subject to federal public health orders,
• the proposed definition and requirement for airline and vessel operators to report an "ill person,"
• public health risk assessments being made by non-medically trained personnel,
• payment for hospital and other expenses for persons subject to federal public health orders, and 
• the proposed definition of "indigent."

The Final Rule:

• Outlines the provisions to reflect input received from individuals, industry, state and federal partners, public health authorities, and other interested parties.
• Does not authorize compulsory medical testing, vaccination, or medical treatment without prior informed consent.
• Requires CDC to advise individuals subject to medical examinations that such examinations will be conducted by an authorized health worker and with prior informed consent.
• Includes strong due process protections for individuals subject to public health orders, including a right to counsel for indigent individuals.
• Does not expand CDC's authority beyond what is granted by Congress, nor does it alter the list of diseases subject to federal isolation or quarantine, which is established by an Executive Order of the President.
• Limits to 72 hours the amount of time that an individual may be apprehended pending the issuance of a federal order for isolation, quarantine, or conditional release.
• Provides the public with explicit information about how and where the CDC conducts public health risk assessments and manages travelers at US ports of entry.

For more information about the Final Rule, please visit the Office of the Federal Register's website.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/final-rule-communicable-diseases.html

Looking for data on safety hazards in a specific industry from other health or labor departments

NIOSH - Clearinghouse Showcases States' Health & Safety Publications

• Ever wonder which states track work-related heat illness or address it in different industries?
• Want to search OHB's 800 publications by keyword or browse them by language, industry, or health condition?
• Looking for data on safety hazards in a specific industry from other health or labor departments?

Check out the State-based Occupational Health Surveillance Clearinghouse!

CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH supports California and other state health departments and universities to track and study work-related injuries and illnesses. NIOSH set up the Clearinghouse to promote public access to publications from over 25 states, including thousands of educational materials, data and case reports, studies, investigations, articles, and more.

You'll find publications on traumatic injury, musculoskeletal disorders, toxic exposures, health disparities, and other cross-cutting health and safety issues. 

Source from CDPH - Occupational Health Branch

Toxic Paint Removers: Safer Alternatives through Green Chemistry

Our Green Chemistry at ESS, has ​replacing paint strippers and hazardous cleaners for over 20 year and this Article by CDPH - Occupational Health Branch discusses Safer Alternatives like ours for replacing Toxic Paint Removers.

A new digital story (video) produced by the California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program explains Jason's tragic incident, the hazards of using methylene chloride-containing paint strippers, and the safer alternatives that are available. Watch the video

Resources:

Methylene Chloride – OHB web page

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/ohb/Pages/methylenechloride.aspx

Worried about Flint? California workers still exposed to lead at harmful levels

​

A new report from the Occupational Health Branch presents data on adults with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs)—now defined by health agencies as 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter (µg/dL) and higher. Between 2012 and 2014:

• More than 6,000 workers were identified with an elevated blood lead level.
• The majority were male, aged 20–59, and had a Hispanic surname.
• 60% of workers with BLLs ≥10 µg/dL worked in the manufacturing sector, followed by 14% in construction.

Long-term lead exposure at levels above 5–10 µg/dL increases the risk for health effects such as hypertension, kidney disease, cognitive dysfunction, and adverse reproductive outcomes.

Even higher blood lead levels continue to be a problem among California workers. Blood lead levels of 40 µg/dL and above were reported among workers in industries that handle lead-containing bullets and firearms, and metal-related and construction industries.

For more information, see the full report: Blood Lead Levels in California Workers, 2012–2014.

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Evaluating Risk of Existing Chemicals under TSCA

Abstract: Under TSCA EPA is now required to evaluate existing chemicals to determine whether they "present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment." Under the conditions of use for each chemical, EPA will assess the hazard(s), exposure(s), and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations(s) the Agency plans to consider. This information will be used to make a final determination as to whether the chemical presents an unreasonable risk.

This page links to the risk evaluation process and docket numbers for each chemical currently under evaluation.

URL:
https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/evaluating-risk-existing-chemicals-under-tsca

Source:
U.S. EPA

First study to look at occupational exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) among manufacturing workers in the United States.

By Robin Mackar - NIH: A new study, supported by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), is the first to look at occupational exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) among manufacturing workers in the United States.

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) led the study, which appeared Jan. 1 in the journal Annals of Work Exposures and Health. NIOSH is one of the member agencies of NTP, and the study was conducted as part of an ongoing collaboration between the two agencies.

Manufacturing workers face higher BPA exposure

The researchers found that manufacturing workers exposed to BPA had levels of the chemical in their urine that were on average about 70 times higher than most adults in the U.S. population. Certain job categories were associated with average levels more than 300 times that of the general population.

The study did not evaluate the health of the workers involved. "Researchers studying health outcomes need exposure data, and published data on occupational exposures in the U.S. was very limited," said the paper's lead author Cynthia Hines, a senior research industrial hygienist with NIOSH. "Manufacturing workers may face the highest exposure levels of any worker group, so we concentrated on them, as an important first step."

Widespread exposure in general population

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found BPA in the urine of nearly all people tested, indicating widespread exposure in the U.S. population. "Diet is thought to be the main nonoccupational source of BPA exposure," the authors wrote. However, according to CDC, finding a measurable amount of BPA in a person's urine does not necessarily mean it will result in a health effect.

Workers who participated in the new study handled raw BPA, often in large quantities. Unlike the general population, workers in the NIOSH study were exposed to BPA mainly by inhalation and absorption through the skin.

Learning more about occupational exposure

BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastics and some epoxy resins that are used to protectively line some food cans. In the past, BPA was used as a developer on thermal paper. BPA may also be added to certain specialty waxes that are used to make wax patterns for casting metal parts in manufacturing plants.

"We wanted to work with NIOSH to design a study that would allow a comparison with a similar study done in China," said John Bucher, Ph.D., NTP associate director. The new study found levels comparable to those reported in Chinese workers. Researchers in China linked exposures to effects on the male reproductive system (see citations below).

Study participants

The NIOSH study included six U.S. companies that made BPA, made resins with BPA, made wax with BPA, or used wax made with BPA. A total of 78 workers participated in the study, mostly white males. Over two days, participants provided seven urine samples. The participants also answered questions about food and beverage products they consumed in the past 24 hours.

NIOSH researchers found increased urinary BPA levels in workers who performed tasks such as handling sacks of BPA and taking process or bulk samples containing BPA for quality control testing. Among the highest exposed workers were those who worked with molten casting wax that contained BPA. The lowest urinary BPA levels were found in workers who handled a resin product with only trace levels of BPA.

Minimizing BPA exposure

Hines noted that although Europe places some limits on BPA levels in air, there are no occupational exposure limits for BPA in the U.S. Until research sheds more light on the potential for health effects among workers, Hines suggested that companies could take steps to minimize exposures. Such steps include trying to contain BPA dust and vapor emissions with local exhaust ventilation; cleaning surfaces in production areas, offices, and lunch rooms to remove BPA residues; and using appropriate personal protective equipment, such as respirators and gloves.

Companies and workers should also take steps to prevent exposures of family members to BPA residues on work apparel or other items workers may bring home. The NIOSH Science Blog provides more information about this study and ways to reduce exposure.

See full By Robin Mackar - NIH

White House Orders “Regulatory Freeze”

(PAINT.ORG) Last week, President Trump, through the White House Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, issued a memorandum implementing a freeze on federal regulations pending further Administration review. The memorandum directs federal agency/department heads to withhold sending any regulations to the Federal Register for publication until a current administration agency/department head reviews them.

Specifically, regulations sent to the Federal Register but not yet published are to be immediately withdrawn; regulations already published in the Federal Register and which have not taken effect are to be postponed for 60 days (from January 20); and, where the effective date has been delayed to review questions of fact, law, or policy, the agency/department should consider proposing further notice-and-comment rulemaking.

Excluded from the memorandum are regulations subject to statutory or judicial deadline and regulations addressing emergency situations or other urgent circumstances relating to health, safety, financial or national security matters.

The presidential directive indicates that "regulation" means regulatory action and includes any "guidance document" or any other substantive action by an agency including "notices of inquiry, advance notices of proposed rulemaking and notices of proposed rulemaking."  In addition, it includes any agency statement that set forth policy on statutory, regulatory, or technical issues or interpretations of statutes or regulations.

As such, the memorandum applies to final and proposed regulations, guidance, or interpretations of statute or regulations issued by federal agencies.  Already, several agencies have withdrawn final rules that meet the criteria above or extended the effective date.  These include the following:

• U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Final Rule HM-215N on International Harmonization
  • Withdrawn
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Final Rule Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products (EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0461)
  • Effective date extended until March 21, 2017
• U.S. EPA Final Rule for Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs under the Clean Air Act
  • Effective Date extended until March 21, 2017

EPA has published a list of 30 regulations that are subject to the "Regulatory Freeze." Notably absent are rulemakings to implement the newly revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); EPA is moving forward with rule development on these issues.

Please note: this memorandum does not impact or change any obligations to comply with existing regulations nor does it apply to any state regulations.

Source: http://www.paint.org/regulatory-freeze/

Coalition Letter Urges Congressional Action on EPA’s Risk Management Program Final Rule

(PAINT.ORG) Last month, ACA signed onto a coalition letter to Congressional leaders expressing major concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule for Risk Management Programs (RMP). ACA and 20 other trade associations maintain that the final RMP rule not only imposes significant new costs without identifying or quantifying the safety benefits that will be achieved through these new requirements; but that it may actually compromise the security of facilities, emergency responders, and communities. As such, the trade associations urged Congress to disapprove the final RMP rule under the Congressional Review Act.

In the letter, ACA and the other trade associations underscored that the current RMP regulations include requirements that have produced and will continue to drive continuous safety improvements, provide robust protection for our employees and the public, and are not in need of revision.

EPA issued the final RMP rule in mid-January, stating that the amendments made to the final rule were aimed at modernizing RMP by (1) making changes to the accident prevention program requirements, (2) enhancing the emergency response and preparedness requirements, and (3) modifying the information availability requirements.

A memorandum signed by President Trump last week put a "regulatory freeze" on certain regulations, including RMP.  As a result, the rule's new effective date is March 21, 2017.

"Unfortunately, EPA's final RMP rule fails to identify any meaningful safety benefit and may actually increase security risks given the rule's expanded public information disclosure requirements. It is not just industry that has this concern. White House Office of Management and Budget records show that during interagency review the Department of Homeland Security officials, and others, repeatedly raised security concerns with the RMP rule. In fact, one official stated that '[h]aving facilities share this information would be precedent setting — currently the [Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFATS)], [Process Safety Management (PSM)], and [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)] (licensee/permittee) programs do not share this level of detail with the public due to security concerns'…Federal regulations should not make it easier for sensitive information to wind up in the hands of criminals and terrorists."

In general, EPA's RMP program applies to all stationary sources with processes that contain more than a threshold of a regulated substance. The program's elements are intended to prevent accidental releases and reduce the severity of releases that occur. All sources must prepare and submit an RMP to EPA at least every five years. In addition, RMP Program 3 facilities involve processes subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Process Safety Management (PSM) program Standard or are in one of the specified NAICS codes, such as chemical manufacturing. Together, PSM and RMP form the regulatory framework for prevention of catastrophic chemical accidents at fixed facilities.

ACA and its fellow signatories noted that beyond security concerns, it is unclear what, if any, safety benefits the final RMP will provide. "The lack of identifiable and quantifiable benefits stands in stark contrast to the clear costs associated with this rule. Whether it be the requirement of third-party auditor participation that will reduce the pool of qualified auditors, changing well-established audit procedures already designed to maximize safety effectiveness, or imposing ineffective requirements to consider 'inherently safer technology/design,' the final rule includes a litany of costly changes that have not been shown to increase safety."

The associations urged Congressional disapproval in order to protect national security and allow EPA to reconsider what, if any, revisions to the RMP regulations are needed to reduce the risk of an accidental release.

Source: http://www.paint.org/rmp-letter/

Employers are reminded to post injury and illness summaries now through April

OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of OSHA's Form 300A, which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during 2016. The summary must be displayed in a common area where notices to employees are usually posted each year between Feb. 1 and April 30. Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and those in certain low-hazard industries are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping and posting requirements. Visit OSHA's Recordkeeping Rule webpage for more information on recordkeeping requirements

OSHA's free On-site Consultation Program helped more than 27,000 employers create safer workplaces in 2016

Last year, 27,385 small and mid-sized U.S. businesses took advantage of OSHA's free and confidential On-site Consultation Program to remove workplace hazards and better protect their workers. The program primarily benefits small and mid-sized businesses – 57% of those helped last year had fewer than 26 employees. Priority is given to high-hazard industries, with more than half of all visits going to construction or manufacturing sites. In 2016, consultants identified and helped employers eliminate more than 140,000 total hazards, protecting an estimated 3.3 million workers from possible injury, illness or death.

Sadly, Richard Raymond “grandfather of in-situ bioremediation” has passed away

He is acknowledged by the US EPA as the "grandfather of in-situ bioremediation" in the United States. During the early 1970's, while employed by the Sun Oil Company, he developed the microbial and field techniques that are now universally known as the "Raymond Process" for the cleanup of groundwater contaminated with petroleum and petroleum products, a great alternative to the endless and extensive process of "pump and treat." His 1974 patent for "Reclamation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater" provided the basis for the development of the groundwater bioremediation industry that is now a worldwide business. His 1984 patent, "Stimulation of Biooxidation Processes in Subterranean Formations," developed the use of hydrogen peroxide to overcome limitations in the existing methods for mass transfer of oxygen to groundwater.

Countless books and research articles acknowledge Raymond's seminal contributions as the inventor of process technology for the in-situ bioremediation of contaminated groundwater. While at Sun Oil Co., Mr. Raymond directed a group of microbiology specialists, and early research activities greatly expanded the scope of biological hydrocarbon oxidations. 

Mr. Raymond has received numerous awards for his research over the years including the Society of Industrial Microbiologists Charles Porter Award. He also served on numerous committees including the API Groundwater Task Force, peer review panel of the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, and the USEPA Valdez Oil Spill Panel. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Microbiology from the University of Illinois-Champaign in 1947 and 1951, respectively. His college studies were interrupted by World War II, when he served as a B-17 navigator in the European theater. After graduation, he worked for Socony Mobil Oil Co. and Sun Oil Co. as a Research Microbiologist. After retiring from Sun Oil Co. in 1982, he founded the first in-situ bioremediation company (Biosystems, Inc.) in the US. The company was later purchased by the DuPont Company and became DuPont Environmental Remediation Services (DERS). 

May this legend in our bioremediation industry, "Rest In Peace". Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his family

Richard Cartwright PE, CHMM (IHMM Fellow)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcartwright

NIOSH Free Sound Level Meter (SLM) app

CDC - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is pleased to announce the availability of a new mobile application (app) for iOS devices that can measure sound levels in the workplace. The app called the NIOSH Sound Level Meter (SLM) app can help promote better hearing health and prevention efforts at construction worksites by acquiring and displaying real-time noise exposure data when occupational safety and health professionals are not readily available. The NIOSH SLM app is free, easy to use, and can give any user immediate feedback about sound levels and noise exposure. 

Available for iOS Devices only.

Search the App Store: NIOSH SLM 

For more information:

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/app.html