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.
Archive for the ‘Policy Issues’ Category
January
January
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.
January
The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) has filed comments with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding possible new rules addressing “combustible dust,” which likely will be proposed later this year. NSWMA’s comments expressed a concern that OSHA has included the solid waste industry as a target for regulation even though in September 2008, OSHA issued an advisory stating there was no history of combustible dust events at transfer stations, materials recovery facilities (MRFs) or landfills. Read more.
September
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.
May
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.
April
NSWMA’s Bruce Parker was interviewed by Zach Shtogren Big Think’s senior editor. It is an interesting exchange about environmental issues related to the solid waste industry.
December
The NSWMA just issued the following in a release:
“Like most of Mr. Obama’s other nominees, the people chosen to head these important agencies have extensive knowledge and experience of the challenges this country faces, and we look forward to working closely with them,” said Bruce Parker, president and chief executive of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA).
“The solid waste management industry deals every day with the most practical aspects of solving this country’s environmental and energy issues, and we are delighted with the President-elect’s emphasis on pragmatic solutions,” he said.
“We especially look forward to working with the new team on achieving the huge potential benefits from increased recycling and greatly expanding the development of clean, renewable energy from landfill gas,” said Parker.
Read full release here.