CAPACCIO’s EH&S Regulatory and Industrial News Blog

In an effort to “help industry and the environment prosper,” CAPACCIO has developed this blog to provide the latest news on environmental, health and safety related regulatory updates, management systems and sustainability topics.

We would like to welcome those who were previous subscribers to our ems-hsms.com blog and would like to remind those subscribers that all posts will now be made to this site going forward. To become an email subscriber to this blog and receive immediate notification when a new post has been made, look to the right and enter your email address in the “Email Subscription” box.  All the latest regulatory and industrial news will now be sent directly to your inbox.

For further information on our blog posts or if you need more information about our services, please contact Lucy Servidio  at 508.970.0033 extension 114 or lservidio@capaccio.com.

Federal EPCRA 313 Form R and Massachusetts TURA Form S Reports Due July 1 Reply

by • EPCRA, EPCRA/TURA, MassDEP, TUR Planning, US EPA

It’s that time of year again when companies are calculating thresholds for chemicals used in calendar year (CY) 2012 to determine if there are any chemicals manufactured, processed or otherwise used on-site that need to be reported under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Emergency Planning and Community Right To Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA).

This is just a friendly reminder that there are a few changes for TURA reporting this year. MassDEP designated hexavalent chromium compounds and formaldehyde as Higher Hazard Substances (HHS )and lowered the threshold for reporting these chemicals to 1,000 pounds for calendar year 2012 (due July 1, 2013). It’s important that you take the time to review the guidance MassDEP developed for these chemicals. You may be surprised with some of the processes that you have to consider when determining thresholds for these new HHSs (e.g., fuel combustion, welding, formaldehyde based resins).

Also please note that zinc metal (without any fume or dust qualifiers) is back on the MassDEP TURA Chemical List. Zinc was erroneously taken off the list back in the late 1990’s. MassDEP has said they will not take enforcement against those companies who start reporting for zinc metal in this reporting year. Discussions are in progress at MassDEP as to the fate of zinc metal on the TURA Chemical List.
For more information on MassDEP guidance for hexavalent chromium compounds and formaldehyde please go to:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/toxics/laws/frmlguid.pdf

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/toxics/laws/crviguid.pdf

If you need assistance with your reports or more information, please contact Lucy Servidio at 508.970.0033 ext. 114 or lservidio@capaccio.com or Travis Wheeler at 508.970.0033 ext. 115 or twheeler@capaccio.com.

MassDEP Website to Change on May 1 1

by • EH&S Compliance, Regulatory • Tags: ,

On May 1, 2013, the MassDEP Web site will be changing, as it becomes part of the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs’ portal Web site. This change is the result of Governor Patrick’s Information Technology consolidation plan, which seeks greater operational efficiencies and cost-effectiveness by centralizing information technology systems.

Please note that, as of May 1, 2013, many of your bookmarks and links to specific pages on the current MassDEP site will not work. However, you will still find the MassDEP homepage at http://mass.gov/dep.

To learn more about the coming changes, how they will affect your use of the site and your links/bookmarks to MassDEP, and to view a short preview before the new site launches on May 1, please visit the MassDEP homepage at http://mass.gov/dep.

CAPACCIO will update the links on our website on May 1 so that you may continue to have access. If you have any questions, please contact Lucy Servidio at 508-970-0033 x114 or lservidio@capaccio.com.

Deadlines approaching for Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reports Reply

by • Carbon Disclosure Project, Sustainability • Tags:

The following deadlines are approaching for reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP):

Carbon Reports
Companies that participate in the climate change section of the CDP must submit a Carbon Report to the CDP by May 30, 2013.

Water Reports
Companies that participate in the CDP must submit a Water Report by June 27, 2013.

Supply Chain Reports
Companies that participate in the CDP must submit a Supply Chain Report by July 31, 2013.

Additional reporting information on each program, as well as past reports, are available on the CDP website: https://www.cdproject.net/.

For more information on the CDP or CAPACCIO’s sustainability services, please contact Julie Muszalski at 508-970-0033 ext. 124 or jmuszalski@capaccio.com.

Upcoming CAPACCIO webinar: SEC’s Conflict Minerals Ruling: Ensuring Compliance and Meeting Customer Demands Reply

by • EH&S Compliance, Sustainability • Tags: ,

Join CAPACCIO for a complimentary webinar on April 3

SEC’s Conflict Minerals Ruling: Ensuring Compliance and Meeting Customer Demands

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/498882871

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted a ruling mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requiring publically-traded companies to disclose their use of conflict minerals originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or an adjoining country. Conflict minerals include tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold, and are largely found in electronic components. Regardless of whether the regulation directly applies to you, thousands of companies will be affected including those that are privately owned and those that are suppliers to publically-traded companies.

Tracing the use of conflict minerals and conducting due diligence to comply with the ruling is a substantial undertaking requiring time, resources, and expertise. Having a plan and systems in place to track and report 2013 activity to the SEC on May 31, 2014 regarding the source and chain of custody of conflict minerals will be crucial.

This webinar will provide an overview of the requirements and identify systems and solutions for streamlining the reporting process. Additionally, the discussion will offer effective approaches to incorporating conflict minerals reporting into sustainability management systems to help your organization achieve a competitive advantage and improve transparency.

Title: SEC’s Conflict Minerals Ruling: Ensuring Compliance and Meeting Customer Demands
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Presented by: Julie Muszalski, Sustainability Professional, CAPACCIO
Moderated by: Dan Forsythe, Senior Associate and Practice Area Leader for the Electronics and Semiconductor Industry, CAPACCIO

For more information on conflict minerals reporting, please contact Julie Muszalski at 508-970-0033 x124 or jmuszalski@capaccio.com.