Center for Industrial Services

In this issue ...

1. 2002 Toxics Release Inventory Annual Report.
2. Trainer Course In Occupational Safety And Health Standards For General Industry.
3. Iceland – A Growing Hydrogen Society To Watch.
4. Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership Conference 2004.
5. SPCC Rule Deadline Extension Update.
6. Certified Hazardous Materials Manager Course And Exam.
7. Why Not Top Off Your Gas Tank?
8. EPA Opens Comment On The ERP Of NSR And Updates Regulations.
9. QUALITY, MANAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKSHOPS –August 2004 through November 2004.

1. 2002 TOXICS RELEASE INVENTORY ANNUAL REPORT.

EPA issued its 15th annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), the annual report on the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment by reporting facilities, for calendar year 2002.

Almost 25,000 facilities reported on nearly 650 chemicals. While the TRI Public Data Release will show that there was a 15 percent decrease in total disposal or other releases into the environment from 2001 to 2002, that decrease is largely attributable to a court decision that affected reporting by the metal mining sector. Without metal mining, there was a 5 percent increase from 2001 to 2002, primarily due to increases reported by one facility. Looking at the overall history of TRI, trends analysis shows chemical releases decreased 49 percent since the inception of TRI in 1988.

EPA provides the American public with data on chemical emissions and releases in many formats from many different databases. TRI tracks the chemicals and industrial sectors specified by the Emergency Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and its amendments. EPA's efforts to improve TRI data quality and to make data publicly available sooner have been made possible by increased electronic reporting from the TRI community. Over 23 percent of TRI reports this year were submitted electronically through EPA's Environmental Information Exchange Network, a substantial paper burden reduction for industry.

The TRI data and background information are available to the public at http://www.epa.gov/tri. Communities can identify local facilities and chemical releases by using the TRI explorer-mapping tool available at http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer.

EPA's Office of Information Analysis and Access has posted on the Internet the 2002 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Public Data Release Report (EPA260-R-04-003) and state data files. The Public Data Release Report provides an overview of national statistics of the 2002 TRI reporting year data for toxic chemical releases and waste management activities. The 2002 TRI data are available at http://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri02/index.htm.

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2. TRAINER COURSE IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS FOR GENERAL INDUSTRY.

Prerequisites, participants are required to have:

• Five years relevant experience in the general industrial safety and health field;
• Attended the OTI 511 course or equivalent course work equal to 30 hours of training taken on topics relevant to OSHA and general industry safety. This can be a week long seminar or 30 hours of topics sewn together over your years of experience.

This course is designed for private sector personnel from all types of industries to present detailed information on how the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act may be implemented in the workplace. Rights and responsibilities under the OSH Act, the appeals process, record keeping, and voluntary protection programs are covered. The course also includes an introduction to OSHA's general industry standards and an overview of the requirements of the more frequently referenced standards.

Participants who successfully complete the course and pass a an exam, will become outreach trainers, authorized to conduct both 10 and 30 hour general industry courses.

Course requires OSHA's 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Standard (1900-1910.999 and 1910.1000 to end).

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Locate OSHA safety and health standards, policies, and procedures
• Describe the use of OSHA standards and regulations to supplement an on-going safety and health program
• Identify common violations of OSHA standards such as lockout/tagout, walking and working surfaces, hazardous materials, and welding
• Describe how to conduct internal training on OSHA regulations and record keeping

For Dates, Locations and Cost, Click Here.

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3. ICELAND – A GROWING HYDROGEN SOCIETY TO WATCH.

Since August 2003, three of Reykjavik’s municipal buses have been powered by hydrogen energy. This is an important step in Iceland’s plans in becoming the world’s first “hydrogen society.” Helgi Agustsson, Iceland’s ambassador to the United States says that “the use of hydrogen energy for transportation is not a distant dream, it is a practical reality!”

Thirty years ago, a plan was hatched to heat the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, with steam-powered turbines using Iceland’s huge reservoirs of hot underground water. It worked, and today, hot water from Iceland’s many geothermal areas is piped all over the country. But it was a massive step from geothermal power to cars running on water. Now, that’s about to happen.

Ambassador Agustsson spoke at the Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit about Iceland’s vulnerability to imported oil, and outlined Iceland’s goals to become an “independent hydrogen society.” Iceland has set for itself the goal of becoming the first economy in the world to be self-sufficient in terms of sustainable energy production and consumption.

Iceland currently owns more cars per capita than almost any other nation on earth with 180,000 private cars. It is also the largest per capita producer of greenhouse gases; partly because of it’s huge fishing fleet and metal smelting industry. So, the benefits of Iceland switching to hydrogen power will be global. Not only that – Icelanders are hoping that they can serve as a laboratory for the rest of the world.

Ambassador Agustsson stated, “The utilization of renewable energy resources in Iceland is based on the island nation’s wish to be able to defend itself against the tough climate, by harnessing the same forces of nature that in a way threaten our existence.”

Iceland’s first hydrogen filling station opened April 24, 2003, in Reykjavik. It is designed to pump hydrogen fuel to vehicles. The development of filling stations and other infrastructure is critical to the project in general, because there will be no market for hydrogen powered vehicles if there is no infrastructure. The availability of hydrogen energy infrastructure is necessary before customer acceptance. Iceland, being a small island country, is a good test-base that already has experience in the use of renewable energy, and has a strong domestic consensus, both in political and business circles, that supports the hydrogen policy.

Major players in the field of hydrogen energy, such as DaimlerChrysler, Norsk Hydro and Shell, chose Iceland as a development location. Because Iceland is a small island country, it is a good test-base that already has experience in the use of renewable energy. Since the primary road circling the island is only 360 miles long, 5 to 10 hydrogen filling stations could service most of the island’s customers. Because there is an abundant renewable source for hydrogen production, Iceland’s hydrogen project can take place in a carbon dioxide neutral environment. Currently Icelandic NewEnergy, along with key partners Norsk Hydro and Shell, is evaluating future economic and social implications of a full-scale hydrogen infrastructure, comparing hydrogen stations versus gasoline stations.

Ambassador Agustsson emphasized, “Plans for the introduction of hydrogen cars in Iceland are in the making. Proposals are currently being prepared for a design of a hydrogen powered fishing vessel, which can be four days at sea. NAVIGENs (Hydrogen and fuel cell powered ship) preparation work is estimated to be a three-year project. The first draft foresees the construction of a 100-ton hydrogen vessel.”

The hydrogen-powered buses in Iceland and the opening of the world’s first hydrogen station have gained a lot of international attention recently. An agreement among fifteen nations, aiming towards the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, was signed in Washington DC in late November. The USA invited Iceland and thirteen other nations to join them in the project. Among the nations are China, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and India. Iceland is a nation accustomed to being in front – famous for its innovation, and the imagination of its people.

It seems Iceland is ahead of the rest of the world – again.

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4. TENNESSEE POLLUTION PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE 2004.

The Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) and the Tennessee pollution Prevention Roundtable are pleased to invite you to attend our second conference; Planting P2 2004. The event will be held at Montgomery Bell State Park.

Planting P2 2004 will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) Annual Environmental Awards Conference. The conferences are planned during the same week to allow maximum participation and an opportunity for those desiring to attend part or all of both events.

The dates for each conference are: Planting P2 2004 is October 25-26. TCCI Annual Environmental Awards Conference is October 26-27.

Planting P2 2004 will be a great opportunity for representatives from business, industry, education, environmental organizations, and government agencies to network. Conference attendees will learn about the benefits of state and federal environmental leadership programs, corporate success stories and techniques, advantages of pollution prevention, and methods for improving environmental performance. The conference will feature a recognition ceremony for business and industry leaders in the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3), a State of the Environment presentation by TDEC senior management, and a keynote speech by Cam Metcalf, an internationally recognized expert in pollution prevention.

TCCI is managing the registration for Planting P2 2004 and the TCCI Annual Environmental Awards Conference. You may obtain conference information and the registration from on the TCCI web site at www.tnchamber.org or the TDEC web site at www.tdec.net/dca/tp3 . Please check the fees for each conference and register for the events of your choice. The fee for each conference includes admission to all sessions, materials, refreshment breaks, hospitality, BBQ dinner, breakfast, and combined lunch. Additional registration information may be obtained from Suzie Lusk (TCCI) at 615.256.5141.

Montgomery Bell State Park Inn has a limited number of rooms reserved until September 4, 2004 for conference participants under Group # 2457 at $70.00 per night. All conference participants are responsible for their room reservations. Room reservations can be made online at www.tennesseeanytime.org/parks/ , or by calling Montgomery Bell’s toll-free number at 1.800.250.8613.

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5. SPCC RULE DEADLINE EXTENSION UPDATE.

On July 17th, 2002, EPA issued a final rule amending the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation promulgated under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( Clean Water Act). This rule addresses requirements for Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and some provisions may also affect Facility Response Plans (FRPs). EPA proposed revisions to the SPCC rule on three occasions, in 1991, 1993, and 1997. The revised SPCC rule addresses these revisions and became effective August 16, 2002. The SPCC rule can be found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 112 (Oil Pollution Prevention). Follow this link (http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/spccrule.htm ) for more information about the revised rule.

EPA is now proposing to extend, by 12 months, certain upcoming compliance dates for the July 2002 SPCC amendments. This extension follows a previous 18-month extension announced on April 17, 2003(PDF, 96K, 5 pages). In light of a recent partial settlement of litigation involving the July 2002 amendments, EPA is proposing the extension to, among other reasons, provide sufficient time for the regulated community to undertake the actions necessary to prepare and update their plans. The proposed extension is also intended to alleviate the need for individual extension requests. The new proposed compliance dates are August 17, 2005, to amend an existing SPCC Plan, and February 18, 2006, to implement the Plan. Affected facilities that start operations between August 16, 2002 and February 18, 2006, must prepare and implement an SPCC Plan by February 18, 2006. Affected facilities that become operational after February 18, 2006 must prepare and implement an SPCC Plan before starting operations. Follow this link for a notice in the June 17, 2004 Federal Register regarding the proposed rule to extend SPCC compliance dates(PDF, 115K, 5 pages).

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6. CERTIFIED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGER COURSE AND EXAM.

In partnership with the East Tennessee and Nashville Chapters of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers

CERTIFIED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGER (CHMM) 2004 COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION OVERVIEW COURSE AND CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

The Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (CHMM) overview course will improve your understanding of hazardous materials management and prepare you for the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management CHMM certification exam (optional). A thorough overview of major topics and concerns in hazardous materials management are covered.

The CHMM credential has become one of the most widely recognized and specified credentials in federal agency request for proposal procurement documents. Many private organizations have implemented corporate policies that require or foster staff engaged in environmental management activities to have or acquire the CHMM credential. The course provides 24 hours of quality training that may be applied toward re-certification for current certified CHMM’s. Your registration fee for the overview course includes a course notebook and in-class instruction. Meals and lodging are not provided.

2004 CHMM Overview Courses and Certification Exam Dates

For more information go to:

http://www.cis.utk.edu/training/chmm.shtml or Click Here to register on-line.

NOTE: Registration and fees for the CHMM exam are SEPARATE from the Overview course.

CHMM EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

You must obtain an application and register separately with the Institute of Hazardous Materials Managers prior to taking the exam. For information, a fee schedule and procedures for the CHMM examination please contact:

The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management
11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 450
Rockville, MD 20852
301.984.8969
www.ihmm.org

To be eligible to take the exam, your application must be received six weeks before the exam date.

The REGISTRATION DEADLINE for the October 8 exam is August 30

The REGISTRATION DEADLINE for the November 5 exam is September 27

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7. WHY NOT TOP OFF YOUR GAS TANK?

Do you top off your gas tank and overfill it? When the gas pump nozzle clicks off automatically, do you add a little more gas to round off your dollar sale? Topping off your gas tank is bad for the environment and your wallet. Here's why:

Topping off the gas tank can result in your paying for gasoline that is fed back into the station's tanks because your gas tank is full. The gas nozzle automatically clicks off when your gas tank is full. In areas of ozone non-attainment, gas station pumps are equipped with vapor recovery systems that feed back gas vapors into their tanks to prevent vapors from escaping into the air and contributing to air pollution. Any additional gas you try to pump into your tank may be drawn into the vapor line and fed back into the station’s storage tanks.

Gasoline vapors are harmful to breathe. Gasoline vapors contribute to bad ozone days and are a source of toxic air pollutants such as benzene. Evaporation from the spillage of gas from overfilling can occur, contributing to the air pollution problem. Remember you pay for the gas that evaporates or is spilled on the ground.

You need extra room in your gas tank to allow the gasoline to expand. If you top off your tank, the extra gas may evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. That system may become fouled and will not work properly causing your vehicle to run poorly and have high gas emissions.

Topping off your gas tank may foul the station's vapor recovery system. Adding more gas after the nozzle has automatically shut off can cause the station's vapor recovery system to operate improperly. This contributes to the air pollution problem and may cause the gas pump to fail to work for the next person.

Hot and hazy weather in the summer increases the possibility of ground level ozone pollution. Overfilling contributes to this problem. If you're an offender, make the effort now to break this habit.

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8. EPA OPENS COMMENT ON THE ERP OF NSR AND UPDATES REGULATIONS.

EPA has granted a request to reconsider several aspects of the equipment replacement provision (ERP), which were adopted as part of regulatory changes to the New Source Review (NSR) Clean Air Act permitting program.

In response to petitions to reconsider portions of the ERP, EPA is soliciting additional public comment on the following three issues:

1. the basis for determining that the ERP was allowable under the Clean Air Act; the basis for selecting the cost threshold (20 percent of the replacement cost of the process unit) that was used in the final rule to determine if a replacement was routine; and
2. a simplified procedure for incorporating a Federal Implementation Plan into state plans to accommodate changes to the NSR rules.

In a separate action, EPA is updating the Code of Federal Regulations and restoring the Routine Maintenance Repair and Replacement (RMRR) exclusion that was in effect prior to the adoption of ERP in order to reflect an appeals court stay of the final ERP rule. On December 24, 2003, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit stayed implementation of the ERP based upon a challenge by environmental groups, public interest groups and several states. The stay was granted until the rule could be thoroughly reviewed by the court. The regulatory update is administrative in nature and will require no change in implementation of the RMRR, which is currently in effect.

EPA sought extensive public input throughout the NSR reform process. The reconsideration and stay present an opportunity to continue to work with stakeholders on the rule. Granting reconsideration opens a 60-day public comment period and will provide another opportunity for the public to participate in this effort.

The text of the actions announced and fact sheets summarizing them are available at http://www.epa.gov/nsr/actions.html.

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9. QUALITY, MANAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKSHOPS – August 2004 through November 2004

For more information about the courses listed below, please visit our Web site. Or, call us: 615.532.8657 or toll-free at 888.763.7439. To register for any of these courses, please use this registration form.

Certain courses are underwritten by TDEC Division of Community Assistance funding under the Waste Reduction Assistance Program contract. Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) Partners and Performer-level members receive a discount on registration fees for these open-enrollment courses. To learn more about TP3, please call George Smelcer at 615.532.4912, gsmelcer@tennessee.edu; Harding Aslinger at 423.425.2364, haslinge@tennessee.edu or contact Don Stone at 615.532.4924, dstone1@tennessee.edu. Or, you may visit the TDEC Web site at www.state.tn.us/environment/dca/tp3.htm.

** TP3 discount applies to Partner and Performer Level Members
† Government Employee Discount Available

In-plant courses on topics such as Lean Manufacturing, Quality Management, Human Performance Technology, Manufacturing Management and Operations, and Environment, Health and Safety also are available on your schedule. Please visit our Web site for course information, or call us at (615)532-8657 or (888)763-7439 to request a catalog.

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SUBSCRIBE FREE: http://www.tmep.utk.edu/

Feedback by e-mail: Harding.Aslinger@tennessee.edu
Feedback by phone: 423.425.2364
WRAP Sheet archive: http://www.tmep.utk.edu/
WRAP Sheet is published by the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Program: http://www.tmep.utk.edu

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services
Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Program
193 Polk Avenue, Suite C
Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: (615) 532-8657
Fax: (615) 532-4937

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