In this episode I am joined by Nick Evans of Precision Partners. Nick and I discuss how Precision Partners is offering environmental compliance as a service (ECAAS). We discuss broadly the concept of ECAAS and how it can be applied as a tool in the management of environmental programs and risk, specifically to air pollution control systems and outlet emissions rates. We also discuss the "as a service" model and where it has been applied to other areas within manufacturing (e.g., energy as a service). Finally, we discuss those situations where ECAAS is most appropriate and when it might not be a fit and finish up looking to the future of the service concept.

If you are involved in permitting associated with particulate matter to any extent, you won't want to miss this conversation. In this episode we discuss U.S. EPA's proposed tightened PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard. We discuss the standard, timing, monitoring data availability, upcoming state agency actions, the difference between the low and high end of the proposed range, and permitting implications and proactive steps that companies can take to plan ahead.

In this episode we provide an update on all things Environmental Justice regulatory and policy. We discuss U.S. EPA's anticipated cumulative risk rulemaking and its potential implications on permitting and capital projects. We then move to a discussion about EJ screening tools that have been released including EJScreen 2.1 and items therein to be aware of. We discuss the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council recommendations to U.S. EPA that include proposed implementation of an ambient monitoring network that would provide public access to ambient monitoring data in near real time. We also cover some local examples of Environmental Justice philosophy being applied by U.S. EPA and state agencies to specific projects. We wrap up with practical advice on what industrial facilities and companies can be doing to proactively plan for EJ policy and regulation.

In this episode we explore a variety of regulatory and policy activities that could impact your EHS budgets above and beyond the routine in 2023. We explore air topics such as the fine particulate ambient standard tightening, ozone redesignations and the proposed Good Neighbor Rule, and MACT activity. We also review the broad topic of Federal and State Environmental Justice policy and things to plan for in your EHS program. We continue the conversation with the proposed Facility Response Plan federal rule, local stormwater general permit expirations, and TRI reporting next year. Finally, we finish the conversation with a quick highlight of the SEC carbon rulemaking and digital solution considerations.

In this episode, Paul Hagerty joins us to discuss the issue of vapor intrusion. We start with what vapor intrusion is, when it occurs, and how common it has become. We discuss different vapor intrusion mitigation strategies including one of the most common approaches: vapor barriers. The criteria used to select vapor barrier designs are rooted in engineering and information from vapor barrier vendors. We discuss work that Paul has done to develop a model that evaluates the thickness of barrier that is required in a given situation. His work concludes that in many typical cases, selection of thicker and thicker barriers is not needed. We close out the conversation with some practical advice for things to consider if you are involved in vapor intrusion mitigation projects.

In this episode, we first visit the broad concept of data accuracy and propagation of error in a conversation that will be helpful for anybody working with data and presenting it to another stakeholder. We then talk about tools for measuring data, limitations of data, and data sensitivity in a given situation. We close the conversation out by going back to stack testing and providing practical advice for EHS managers that are preparing for stack testing. This includes discussing lessons learned from the field as it relates to conducting a successful stack test.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Gene Youngerman about stack testing and data. We start with the basics of stack testing and what makes it complicated, then review the different reasons why a stack test is conducted and what types of data match up with those different stack testing drivers. This includes a conversation about operating scenarios and how they should be considered for different types of testing (compliance, engineering, risk data, etc.). We finish the conversation by talking about how long stack testing data stays representative and discussing reasons why new data may be required.

In this episode, we are joined once again by Amy Marshall to discuss current regulatory and policy events at U.S. EPA. We cover National Ambient Air Quality Standards (fine particulate, ozone, and lead) activity and implications. We also review air toxics activity with a focus on Boiler MACT and the National Air Toxics Assessment Database. We close with a discussion about New Source Review permitting and some practical advice about staying connected with U.S. EPA and regulatory activity. Tune in to this episode and future episodes to stay connected to what you need to know about U.S. EPA’s activities and priorities.

In this episode, we provide an update on Environmental Justice (EJ) regulatory and policy activity. We explore some of the recent tools that have been updated and released such as the new version of EJScreen and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. We discuss possible next steps for Federal regulatory activity and the wide variety of activity occurring within individual states. We also offer practical advice about how companies can be preparing for EJ regulatory and policy activity that could occur in the future.

In the second episode of our conversation with John Slade, we continue to explore the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) designation process. We discuss situations where individual companies are brought into a designation process by agencies, nonattainment permitting requirements for large sources, and timing considerations for large project permitting when a NAAQS change is imminent. We wrap up the conversation by discussing how companies can be proactive by tracking ambient monitoring data in the midst of NAAQS changes such as the upcoming fine particulate NAAQS revision.

In this episode, we discuss the process that state agencies follow when evaluating a new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). We discuss the steps in the NAAQS designation process that state agencies take and the aspects of the process the facilities should be attentive to. We address the ambient data that state agencies utilize for designations, the concept of exceptional events, the state agency personnel that are typically involved in the process, the begin to cover the levers that state agencies can pull to bring an area for nonattainment to attainment. The NAAQS designation process is something that all stakeholders in the process should understand due to its importance in influencing permitting requirements in a given geographic area.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Aditya Shivkumar around data science. We explore several data projects that utilize continuous emissions monitoring data to extract useful information about emissions limits, equipment reliability, and predictive alarms around operations. We then discuss how data science will enter new areas of environmental, health, safety, and sustainability programs and how new technologies related to artificial intelligence are helping to shape that evolution. We finish up by discussing some general advice around the utility and caveats related to the use of data.

In this episode we discuss the broad field of Data Science. We explore the history of Data Science and discuss how it can be used within EHS and sustainability programs. We cover the broad incentives such as regulation, policy changes, and ESG evolution that companies are encountering to further incorporate data into their decision making. We further drill down into the process of using data to gain insights that help to drive compliance, efficiency, and sound decision making. We also begin to explore a continuous monitoring system (CMS) program as an example of an area where the use of data can improve EHS programs.

In this episode, Kayla Turney joins us to provide an update on emerging contaminants with a focus on PFAS, among others. We talk about Federal PFAS regulatory and policy activity and explore additional compounds for listeners to keep an eye on in the future. We also discuss upcoming reporting and provide practical advice on best practices for Tier II reporting and changes to be aware of and prepare for relative to TRI reporting.

In this episode, we are joined by ehsAI CEO Margery Moore. Margery discusses ehsAI’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform that is used to automate the process of reading environmental permits, regulations, and other similar documents and summarizing the requirements contained therein. We talk about the background of AI and its use in other industries and how ehsAI has brought AI into the EHS arena. We discuss the long standing and time-consuming task of processing lengthy permits and regulations that EHS personnel have dealt with in the past and how AI can streamline that process and make it more accurate. Finally, we explore the role that AI could have in EHS programs in the future. This topic fits with one of the themes of our podcast: practical advice on forward looking solutions and strategies that can make EHS programs more efficient and more accurate.

In this episode Amy Marshall joins us once again to provide an end of 2021 air quality regulatory update. It has been 14 months since we first launched our new podcast format with a lookahead to a potential Biden administration. Now we are just under a year into the administration and explore the latest policy, regulatory, and legal activity. Topics covered include New Source Review, ambient standards, air toxics, and environmental justice among others. As always, we discuss some practical advice on how this activity will translate into permitting and environmental compliance programs.

In this episode, we explore the growing activity related to digital solutions for EHS programs. We discuss how digital solutions can be used to assist in automating, tracking, benchmarking, and establishing ongoing improvement approaches when it comes to EHS and sustainability programs. Stephanie Taylor shares some of the basics and lessons learned form her experience in assisting with the implementation of new digital platforms as they have evolved over the years. This episode will be valuable for any EHS professionals that use digital platforms as part of their EHS programs.

In this episode, we continue the conversation related to fine particulate (PM2.5) current events and strategies to plan ahead for important permitting projects. We address how ambient monitoring for PM2.5 could fit into the planning process for upcoming projects. We also cover the possibility of innovative permitting approaches such as plantwide applicability limit (PAL) permits and the role that they could plan in the planning process. We close the conversation by addressing U.S. EPA’s draft guidance on precursor pollutant modeling for PSD permitting requirements and the implications of the guidance moving forward.

In this episode, we discuss U.S. EPA’s recent release of a supplement to the 2019 Fine Particulate (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Integrated Science Assessment (ISA). The supplement document is a continuation of U.S. EPA’s re-evaluation of the PM2.5 NAAQS that is anticipated to be further tightened next year. We discuss where U.S. EPA stands in the NAAQS revision process. We also explore the implications of a tightened NAAQS on air permitting projects, discuss the conservative layers associated with the air quality modeling tools that are available, and consider proactive steps that can be taken to prepare for a NAAQS revision.

In this episode, we continue our Environmental Justice policy conversation with Dan Dix by exploring cumulative risk assessments. We discuss what cumulative risk assessments are, what they address, the tools available to conduct them, and what they are attempting to ultimately measure. We round out the conversation by discussing how the cumulative risk assessment process could fit into Environmental Justice policy moving forward and how facilities can prepare.