Environmentalists Everyday » Legal Issues

NSWMA Comments on Proposed EPA Rules

Thom Metzger — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:17:09 +0000

NSWMA has filed comments regarding proposed rules by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) on the Identification of Additional Classes of Facilities for Development of Financial Responsibility Requirements Under CERCLA Section 108(b) (75 FR 816). NSWMA’s comments argue that currently operated hazardous waste and municipal solid waste facilities should not be required to obtain financial responsibility under CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act), because they do not share anything in common with past practices and are already covered by financial assurance program that are working under RCRA (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act).

Get the full news release here.

U.S. DOT publishes anti-texting ban in Federal Register

Thom Metzger — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:07:09 +0000

Effective January 27, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented a texting ban for drivers of commercial motor vehicles subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. NSWMA expressed support for the DOT announcement prohibiting texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is the latest in a series of actions taken by DOT to address distracted driving since it convened a national summit on the issue last year. NSWMA was one of the first associations to advocate for a national ban on texting while driving. NSWMA has publicly supported legislation introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to ban texting while driving. NSWMA participated in the DOT’s September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit. Many NSWMA members already prohibit texting or cell phone use while driving company vehicles.

NSWMA Comments on Potential Waste Truck Hours of Service Rules

Thom Metzger — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:35:56 +0000

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) has filed comments with the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding possible changes in hours of service rules. In its comments, NSWMA strongly urged FMCSA to keep the “100-air mile” reporting exception and the 34-hour reset provision that are a part of current federal hours of service regulations. Learn more here.

NSWMA mentioned by Senator Schumer at Summit

Thom Metzger — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:13:25 +0000

As Senator Charles Schumer (New York) addressed the participants of the U.S. DOT Distracted Driving Summit in D.C. earlier today, he mentioned NSWMA as one of the business groups that has endorsed his “Alert Drivers Act.” This bill would require states to bar the sending of text or email messages while driving a car or truck, or risk losing federal highway funds.

This summit is an important meeting from which legislation may result, among other safety initiatives. NSWMA and an industry representative were invited to participate in the event.

Learn more about this bill and NSWMA’s support.

Solid waste industry to participate in Distracted Driving Summit

Bruce Parker — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:50:59 +0000

The U.S. DOT is convening a Distracted Driving Summit in D.C. on Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, 2009. This is an important meeting from which legislation may result, among other safety initiatives. An industry representative has been invited to participate on the panel for the event.

In a related matter, Senator Schumer introduced a bill in July that would require states to bar the sending of text or email messages while driving a car or truck, or risk losing federal highway funds. NSWMA has announced its support for that legislation.

Concern over Proposed EPA Updates to Landfill Emission Factors

Thom Metzger — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:53:52 +0000

On May 5, NSWMA joined the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) in submitting comments on the EPA’s proposed revisions to AP-42, Fifth Edition, Volume I, Chapter 2.4 Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and the Background Information Document for Updating AP-42 Section 2.4 for Estimating Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. These emission standards are very important to the landfill industry because they affect federal, state and local air quality permits. NSWMA and SWANA expressed concern on the following issues:

- The rejection of non-methane organic compounds concentration data from NSPS/EG Tier 2 studies using the geoprobe method; and
- The rejection of data submitted in 2000 and 2001 and the failure of EPA to advise of the rejection until 2009.

The two associations hope that through the further review of new data submitted by their members and a thorough review of current published technical literature, EPA can revise the draft AP-42 and background information document accordingly.