EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian signed an agreement that formalizes the partnership between the United States and China on environmental protection.
Cal/OSHA's nationally recognized Process Safety Management (PSM) Unit has completed investigations at all of California's refineries in the aftermath of the deadly explosion in April at the Tesoro Refinery in Washington State. This measure was taken to ensure safeguards are in place to prevent California from experiencing a similar disaster. Cal/OSHA's PSM Unit released its inspection findings on October 11 and concluded that the hydrogen corrosion that led to the Tesoro accident was due to circumstances that do not exist in this state.
EPA and the U.S. Justice Department announced yesterday that a federal jury in Utica, New York has found Certified Environmental Services, Inc. (CES), two of its managers, Nicole Copeland and Elisa Dunn and one of its employees, Sandy Allen, guilty of conspiring to aid and abet Clean Air Act violations, commit mail fraud, and defraud the United States. The defendants were also convicted of substantive Clean Air Act violations and mail fraud counts. Defendants CES and Elisa Dunn were convicted of making false statements to federal law enforcement.
OSHA has cited Barringer Brothers Roofing Inc., a residential roofing contractor in Belleville, for violations in connection with fall hazards. Proposed penalties total $106,400.
EPA yesterday waived a limitation on selling fuel that is more than 10 percent ethanol for model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. The waiver applies to fuel that contains up to 15 percent ethanol – known as E15 – and only to model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. This represents the first of a number of actions that are needed from federal, state and industry towards commercialization of E15 gasoline blends. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson made the decision after a review of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) extensive testing and other available data on E15’s impact on engine durability and emissions.
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson visited the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai yesterday to observe the success of AirNow International. AirNow International launched in May by EPA and the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB), gives real-time air quality information to Shanghai citizens through the Internet.
OSHA has cited Swain Construction in Omaha with one alleged willful and 14 alleged serious violations for failing to train workers on heavy equipment and other hazards. Proposed penalties total $118,350.
OSHA has issued citations to Simsmetal East LLC, doing business as Sims Metal Management, for exposing workers to lead hazards at its Claremont Terminal site in Jersey City. Proposed penalties total $188,500.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced that the number of serious runway incursions at the nation’s airports dropped 50 percent from 2009, the second consecutive year that the number of serious incursions was cut in half, according to the Department of Transportation.
Excess noise exposure in the workplace is an important occupational health issue, according to research published by the University of British Columbia.