Have you heard the saying “Everything is bigger in Texas?” Apparently, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has. On September 24, 2020, TCEQ announced the Fifth Revision of the Commission’s Penalty Policy which provides an outline for how they (TCEQ) calculates fines and penalties which violate the State’s environmental and hazardous materials waste regulations.
This proposed change would create four major changes in the Penalty Policy:
IATA Significant Changes and Amendments to the 62 Edition (2021)
2020 wouldn’t be complete without yet another change before the end of the year. If you had a Sharknado, fire from the sky, or the rise of Atlantis on your 2020 bingo card you’re thankfully wrong. However, if you guessed the 62nd Edition of The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) new edition of its Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), then you can use your dabber to mark that 2020 bingo card.
You may or may not have heard from a coworker, friend, or even inspector that the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) was no longer taking enforcement actions against hazmat employers who were unable to provide recurrent training consistent with Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) training requirements due to Covid-19. While this may be true, it was only true for a certain period, more specifically 90 days from the date of issuance.
With climate control, going green, and alternative fuel sources making headlines everyday it’s a mystery as to why Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is not already being widely transported by rail. If you have asked this question before, I am sure you have heard answers like:
“Regulatory Lag is responsible,” Or “It takes 12 months + to get an accident report, let alone a final rule in place.”
It’s a new year and a new regulation addendum. Actually, it’s the first addendum to the 61st Edition IATA (International Air Transportation Association) Dangerous Goods Regulation (DRG). It’s fitting that it should take effect January 1, 2020. With everyone’s New Year’s resolutions and all. If your reading this, maybe your New Year’s resolution is like many, to read more. What better way to start the new year than educating yourself about the confusing world of hazmat shipping?
They say knowledge is power, and I guess the opposite can be true as well. Sadly, a 32-year-old manager at a local Buffalo Wild Wings in Massachusetts found this out in the saddest of ways. When an employee attempted to clean the kitchen with a chlorine and bleach based cleaner known as Super 8, he was unaware that an acid based cleaner, Scale Kleen, had been spilled earlier on the floor. This mixture created a “bubbling green concoction” triggering eye and respiratory irritation, causing the employee to flee the kitchen.
With so many regulating bodies making continuous Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and Final Rules, it’s easy to miss out on crucial lifesaving and financially beneficial information for your industry. Take for instance, did you hear about all the changes put forth in August Notice of Proposed Rule Making issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)? There was over 15 plus items put up for change!
