ENVIRONMENTAL
Proposed Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
January 29, 2024
EPA is proposing a new regulation to implement the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as specified in the Methane Emissions Reduction Program of the Inflation Reduction Act. This program requires the EPA to impose and collect an annual charge on methane emissions that exceed specified waste emissions thresholds from an owner or operator of an applicable facility that reports more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases emitted per year pursuant to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. The proposed rule would implement calculation procedures, flexibilities, and exemptions related to the waste emissions charge and establish confidentiality determinations for data elements included in waste emissions charge filings.
Source: EPA
Transparency Standard to Inform Global Response to Biodiversity Crisis
January 25, 2024
As nature faces unprecedented pressures, with human activity the leading cause for one million animal and plant species being pushed to the brink of extinction, GRI has today published a major update to its Biodiversity Standard.
Source: GRI
Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process
January 17, 2024
This guide is intended to reflect a reasonable baseline process for the completion of PCAs for use on a voluntary basis. No implication is intended that use of this guide be required to have conducted a PCA in a commercially prudent and reasonable manner.
Source: ASTM
EPA’s New “Public Participation” Threshold for an “Applicable Requirement” Would Create New Complexities for Clean Air Act Title V Operating Permits
January 17, 2024
On January 9, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to its Clean Air Act (CAA) Title V operating permit rules to clarify the scope of an “applicable requirement” that can be implemented through a Title V permit.1 EPA will set a date for a public hearing if one is requested prior to January 15, 2024. Public comments on the proposed rule are due on or before March 11, 2024.
Source: Beveridge & Diamond PC
TCEQ 2023 Annual Tier II Reports Due March 1st, 2024
January 4, 2024
Documents and videos to assist with the Tier II online reporting steps, including how to setup your STEERS account, add the core data and Tier II applications, get the numbers you need, and validate and submit the report.
Source: TCEQ
Need ISO Help?
SOCIAL
Using OSHA’s ITA to Submit Your Form 300A and Form 300/301 Data
January 30, 2024
OSHA is hosting a webinar on electronically submitting workplace injury and illness data using the Injury Tracking Application on February 7 from 1–2 p.m. EST. Registration is free and Spanish translation will be available.
Source: OSHA
OSHA Penalties Increase for 2024
January 19, 2024
Effective January 15, 2024, OSHA may assess larger civil penalties for violations of workplace safety regulations. OSHA “adjusts” penalties annually to keep pace with inflation, raising the maximum civil penalty amounts that the Agency can assess to employers who violate safety rules.
Penalties assessed for OSHA violations vary in dollar amount based on the severity of the violation.
The maximum civil penalty for a willful or repeat violation by an employer increased to $161,323. OSHA also boosted the minimum price tag for a willful violation by ~$400.
For other violations—those labeled serious, other-than-serious, “failure to abate,” or "failure to post," the maximum civil penalty increased to $16,131.
The inflation-adjusted penalty amounts apply to employer violations that occur after March 23, 2018 and for which OSHA assesses a penalty after January 15, 2024.
Source: OSHA
Cheat Sheet: Injury & Illness Submissions Due March 2
January 5, 2024
If you're gearing up to submit workplace injury and illness data to OSHA before the March 2, 2024 deadline, make sure you know exactly what's required before you do.
Grab this one-page "cheat sheet" for a succinct summary of revised rules for annual injury and illness submissions in 2024, including the additional details many sites must submit starting this year.
Source: Lion
GOVERNANCE
ESG Insights: 10 Things That Should Be Top of Mind in 2024
January 30, 2024
In some ways, 2023 was a challenging year for ESG. This topic can invoke strong and diverse opinions, and debates regarding what ESG should or should not cover, or indeed, whether or not “ESG” itself is consistent with long-term investor interests and the board’s fiduciary duties, proliferated. However, after cutting through these debates and focusing on the varying degrees of importance enterprises place on ESG matters, we see that in 2023, business leaders continued to focus on how certain issues impact their bottom line as well as their corporate reputation, risk exposure and management, and corporate value.
Engaged Employees are Asking Their Leaders to Take Climate Action
January 6, 2024
Employees with strong environmental awareness can play a pivotal role in accelerating corporate sustainability plans, yet Deloitte survey data shows that leaders could be doing more to engage their full workforce around the need for action.
Underrepresentation of Women CEOs
January 5, 2024
Women are underrepresented in the top management of U.S. companies. According to Catalyst’s latest report, women occupied merely 41 or 8.2% of the CEO positions at S&P 500 companies in 2023.