SERC-TERC Update: December 2023
Mention of non-EPA documents, presentations, training opportunities and conferences does not constitute an U.S. EPA endorsement of their contents, only an acknowledgment that they exist and may be relevant to the SERC-TERC audience.
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Regulatory and Policy Information Related to Chemical Safety & Security
EPA Issues Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for Reporting Animal Waste Air Emissions at Farms under the EPCRA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting information pertaining to and is requesting comments to assist in the potential development of regulations to reinstate the reporting of animal waste air emissions at farms under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The Agency is soliciting comments under five general categories: health impacts; implementation challenges; costs and benefits; small farm definition and potential reporting exemption; and national report on animal waste air emissions. Requiring reporting of animal waste air emissions may advance the community right-to-know aspect of EPCRA by providing the public with information that may impact their health and the environment. This information may advance EPA's environmental justice goals of increasing the awareness of the potential impact these emissions have on communities with environmental justice concerns.
Of particular interest to this group may be IV.B.7. EPCRA National Database, where EPA solicits comment on such a centralized database hosted and managed by EPA, whereby EPA could collect EPCRA reports and make those reports immediately available to state, tribal, and local agencies, thus improving the efficiency, efficacy, and transparency of EPCRA reporting compliance and removing the burden to state, tribal, and local agencies receiving and managing the submittals. The database can also reduce the burden on these implementing agencies by providing a public right-to-know information center. The clearinghouse would be a “one-stop shop” for industry, the EPCRA implementing agencies, and the public. A national database would provide industry the opportunity to report to multiple states and local entities in one platform. The implementing agencies would have access to all of the submitted information for their covered area, reducing their administrative burden and allowing them to focus on implementation, community safety, and compliance. The database would handle all reporting requirements, as well as requests from the public for information, allowing entities to use their limited resources to improve compliance efficacy.
You can review the full ANPRM and submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OLEM–2023–0142, at https://www.regulations.gov. Comments must be received on or before February 15, 2024.
FEMA Releases Planning Considerations for Cyber Incidents: Guidance for Emergency Managers
FEMA is releasing “Planning Considerations for Cyber Incidents: Guidance for Emergency Managers.” Developed in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), this document provides state, local, tribal and territorial emergency managers with foundational knowledge of cyber incidents to increase cyber preparedness efforts in their jurisdictions.
Key aspects of cyber incident preparedness included in the document are:
- Understanding the types of cyber incidents likely to occur;
- Engaging service owners and operators;
- Identifying cyber dependent critical services and related dependencies;
- Prioritizing and planning for service and system disruptions;
- Identifying roles and responsibilities;
- Providing integrated communication and public messaging; and
- Developing a cyber incident response plan.
FEMA, in cooperation with CISA, will host several 60-minute webinars to provide an overview of the guide and supporting materials.
To download guide and supporting materials, and learn more about the webinar sessions, please visit the FEMA website.
Hot Topics
CSB Releases Final Report into 2021 Fatal Vapor Explosion and Fire at Yenkin-Majestic Facility in Columbus, OH
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on a flammable vapor explosion and fire at the Yenkin-Majestic facility in Columbus, OH, on April 8, 2021. One employee died during the incident, and eight other workers were injured. The CSB’s final report makes several important safety recommendations to Yenkin-Majestics, as well as to professional and trade associations.
Small Communities – Big Challenges Competition
EPA and partners have launched the Small Communities – Big Challenges (SCBC) Competition for local governments in the United States to demonstrate innovative and inclusive strategies for engaging with rural communities to understand these communities’ environmental public health issues of concern. The SCBC Competition promotes engagement strategies that support the attainment of environmental justice, particularly in giving rural communities equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment. Applications are due by January 31, 2023.
The Small Communities, Big Challenges Competition encourages local governments to demonstrate their innovative strategies, from new or previous work, for engaging rural communities. It also encourages collaboration to understand issues that could benefit from future scientific research. If you have questions about the Small Communities, Big Challenges Competition, please email SCBCCompetition@epa.gov.
ChemLock 2nd Anniversary
The ChemLock program celebrated its 2nd Anniversary on November 18, 2023. As stated by Acting ChemLock Program Manager Bryan McDonald, “The ChemLock team, led by Kimberly Heyne, has been instrumental in aligning, advocating, and promoting the ChemLock program with contributions ranging from technological expertise to strategic implementation.” Please join us in congratulating the team on the tremendous strides they have taken over the past two years.
More Information
Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Homeland Security & US Coast Guard
Department of Labor & Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Department of Transportation / Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives/ Department of Agriculture