Category Archives: Regulatory

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.

Greenhouse Gas and Source Registration Due Dates Approaching Reply

by • EH&S Compliance, Greenhouse Gas, MassDEP, US EPA • Tags: ,

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Source Registration reporting deadlines are fast approaching.

EPA Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting – Due April 1st

The EPA mandatory GHG reporting regulation [40 CFR 98] requires any person owning, operating, or controlling the following facilities to report their 2012 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions to the EPA:

• One of 17 identified industry categories
• One of seven identified industry categories, that emit greater than 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2e per year
• Facilities that do not meet the above, that have combustion units in aggregate equal to or greater than 30 million Btu per hour, that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2e per year from fuel combustion
• Identified suppliers, producers and importers of GHGs

All requested data must be reported using the EPA’s online Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT) by April 1, 2013.

Mass Air Source Registrations and Emissions Statements Annual Filer Reports – Due April 15

MassDEP requires submittal of Air Source Registration/Emission Statements annually for some sources and triennially (every three years) for others. The MassDEP has implemented staggered filing deadlines as follows:

• Annual filers
 Operating Permit facilities must file by April 15, 2013
 Non-Operating Permit facilities that are required to file annually must file by May 15, 2013
• Triennial filers
 Facilities required to file every three years will receive notification from the MassDEP that their filing is due on either June 3 or July 15, 2013

MassDEP expects filers to use its eDEP on-line source registration filing system. Submittal of hardcopy form is not required.

If your facility meets the criteria under 310 CMR 7.12 for filing Source Registration (SR), reports are due regardless of whether MassDEP sends you a letter. However, you should check the mailing list on the SR web page at Filing Schedules & Deadlines first to see if your facility has been deferred to a later year. If you think there is a mistake in the list, and you should (or should not) be on it (or scheduled for a different year), e-mail air.quality@state.ma.us explaining why the list is wrong.

NOTE: You may be directed by MassDEP to submit a Source Registration through communications other than the annual notice letters. For example, you may be directed to submit as part of an inspection, enforcement action, or permit. You must submit when so directed regardless of whether or not you receive one of the annual Source Registration notice letters.

Mass Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting – Due April 15

The MassDEP mandatory GHG Reporting regulation [310 CMR 7.71] requires any person owning, operating, or controlling the following facilities to report their 2012 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions to the MassDEP:

• All Operating Permit facilities with GHG emissions (310 CMR 7.00, Appendix C)
• All facilities that emit greater than 5,000 short tons of CO2e per year

All required data must be reported to the Climate Registry Information System (CRIS) by April 15, 2013.

Please note: Per an update to the General Reporting Protocol dated January 2nd, 2013, there are updated emission factors that are to be used for reporting this year. See the link below for more information:

http://www.theclimateregistry.org/downloads/2013/01/2013-Climate-Registry-Default-Emissions-Factors.pdf

Reporting facilities that have not previously been verified will also be required to verify their reporting year 2012 emissions by December 31, 2013.

For assistance with your SR or GHG reporting, please contact John Baycroft at 508.970.0033 x144 or jbaycroft@capaccio.com. We can sit alongside and assist you in the process, peer review your submittal, or complete the entire process for you.

Formaldehyde and Hexavalent Chromium Compounds Designated as Higher Hazard Substances Reply

by • EH&S Compliance, EPCRA TRI, EPCRA/TURA, US EPA • Tags: ,

As of January 1, 2012, formaldehyde and hexavalent chromium compounds have become designated as Higher Hazard Substances and are subject to Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) reporting requirements. The deadline for the first reporting period for both chemicals is July 1, 2013 for facilities that have 10 or more employees and that manufacture, process or otherwise use 1,000 pounds or more of either reportable chemical. The first TUR Plan is due July 1, 2014.

Please remember to consider formaldehyde that may be manufactured as a byproduct when processing materials such as resins. Also, it is important that you separate out trivalent chromium compounds from hexavalent chromium compounds when calculating threshold quantities.

If you would like assistance in putting together an effective methodology for threshold and emission calculations, please contact Travis Wheeler at twheeler@capaccio.com or 508.970.0033 ext. 115.

TRI-ME Web Updates

There have been a few minor changes to the Tri-ME Web reporting software. There is now a tool that assists with calculating production ratio. There have been changes to the data quality alerts. You will now receive data quality alerts when large increases or decreases in emissions are noted without an associated change in production or source reduction technique. You will be prompted by the software to fix the error. There are also some interface changes such as pull down menus which will make reporting a little easier.

TRI/TURA Workshops

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Office of Technical Assistance are partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to hold four training sessions on calendar year 2012 TURA/Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements. These workshops are designed for experienced reporters and are free, but require registration via email.

Workshop Dates and Locations

Thursday, April 25, 2013
North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
860 South Street, Fitchburg

Thursday, May 2, 2013
Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Co. Learning & Training Conference Center
350 Memorial Drive (Route 33), Chicopee

Tuesday, May 14, 2013
ATMC Conference Center
151 Martine Drive, Fall River

Tuesday, May 21, 2012
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Building
6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport

For more information or to register, please email Nicholas Leonardi of the EPA at leonardi.nicholas@epa.gov. Toxics Use Reduction Planners who attend one of these training sessions will qualify for six (6) continuing education credits.