National Emphasis Program: Occupational Safety and Health Administration Addresses COVID-19
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued a COVID-19 National Emphasis Program (“NEP”). See Directive No. DIR 2021-01 (CPL-03). The NEP was issued on March 12th and describes OSHA’s view of policies and procedures to ensure that employees in high-hazard industries or work…
93rd Arkansas General Assembly/Regional Solid Waste Management Districts: Proposed Transfer of Oversight Responsibilities
The 93rd Arkansas General Assembly convened for regular session on January 11th. Senate Bill 517 (“SB 517”) addresses various aspects of the oversight of Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management Districts (“RSWMDs”). SB 517 was introduced by Senator Ballinger of Ozark. Act 870 of 1989, codified at…
Major Source Determination/Clean Air Act: Federal Appellate Addresses Whether State Agency's Interpretation Entitled to Deference
Co-Author: Brian Thomas The United States Court of Appeals, Eight Circuit (“Eight Circuit”) addressed in a November 22nd Opinion whether a lignite coal mine obtained the correct Clean air Act (“CAA”) permit. See Voigt v. Coyote Creek Mining Company, LLC, 329 F.Supp.3d 735. The Opinion was authored…
Water Quality Standards Matrix/Northeastern States: NEIWPCC Report Comparing 30 Parameters
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”) announced it has updated a water quality standards matrix addressing seven northeastern states. The water quality standard matrix compares how these states regulate 30 different water quality parameters. The states include: …
Wastewater Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and City of Sparkman Enter into Consent Administrative Order
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and the City of Sparkman, Arkansas (“Sparkman”) entered into a January 11th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of a Clean Water Act National Pollution Discharge Elimination…