Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's logo

New Resources and Regulatory Updates

This page provides a listing of recent regulatory changes, by date, that may affect your businesses, and resources to help you comply with these changes. Visit the Business and Industry Sector page for resources and regulatory information organized by Business/Industry Sector.

 

 

 

EPA Area Source Standards

EPA is developing standards to control toxic air pollutants from area sources.  "Area" sources are those sources that emit less than 10 tons annually of a single hazardous air pollutant or less than 25 tons or more annually of a combination of hazardous air pollutants.  For more information, visit EPA's Area Source Standards page.  For a list of business sectors for which EPA is developing Area Source Standards, visit EPA's Area Source Standards Development page. 


All of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant (NESHAP) rules are listed in one table.  In this table, you will find in alphabetical order, the links to the final rules, latest fact sheets, and other pertinent information on each category, including both area sources and major sources.  Visit www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mactfnlalph.html, to review the table that provides NESHAP (MACT) Standards, listed alphabetically by source categories (business sector) affected.

 

 

Parts Washer Rebate Program Offered to Auto Body/Collision Repair Shops

February 18, 2008

Dear Auto Repair Shop Owner:

Looking for a way to reduce your operating costs, protect your employees, and do something good for the environment?  Then consider switching to a water-based (aqueous) or microbial parts washer! 

Clean Air Partners is pleased to announce an innovative new pilot program designed to improve air quality in our region, while saving your vehicle maintenance and repair shop money.  For a limited time, Clean Air Partners will offer rebates of up to $1,000 towards the purchase of a new aqueous or microbial parts washer to replace a solvent based washer. 

Many cleaning solvents are flammable, produce costly hazardous waste and can be harmful to the health of workers and the environment.  Water-based and microbial systems clean effectively, are better for your worker’s health, can save the cost of hazardous waste disposal and monthly maintenance costs.  Some can also save time, resulting in greater worker productivity. 

The enclosed materials (backgrounder, program requirements, application, and vendor list) provide more information on water-based parts washers in general, and specifics about the rebate program. 

ACT TODAY!  Funding is limited and rebates will be made available to facilities in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the Baltimore region.  Applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.  Do your share for cleaner air by switching to a water-based or microbial parts washer.  

If you have any questions or work like additional information, please contact me at 703/431-8463 or harrietwest@verizon.net.

Sincerely,
Harriet West
Managing Director

 

 

Final Air Toxics Standards for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities
Finalized and Published in the Federal Register on Dec. 20, 2007

National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Category: Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

The rule covers all bulk distribution facilities.  For requirements, see the rule.

This rule covers all gasoline dispensing facilities, such as service stations, convenience stores, and rental and fleet service centers.  This rule only requires control of the loading of storage tanks.

The final rules require the following for gasoline dispensing facilities nationwide:

  • At all facilities, checking for leaks and using good housekeeping procedures to prevent evaporation of gasoline, and
  • At facilities with monthly gasoline throughputs of 10,000 gallons or more, submerged fill pipes when loading storage tanks, and
  • At facilities with monthly gasoline throughputs of 10,000 gallons or more, vapor balancing between the storage tank and the tank truck.

The primary requirements of the additional rules are the use of submerged fill pipes when loading storage tanks, recordkeeping, and notifications.

EPA Fact Sheet Final Air Toxics Standards for Gasoline Distribution Facilities, 12/20/2007

Rule and Implementation Information for Gasoline Distribution MACT and the proposed GACT

News for Release: Tuesday, May 15, 2007

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA Encourages New Owners of Companies to Disclose Violations

Contact: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. – May 15, 2007) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comments on how a policy that offers reduced penalties to companies for self-disclosing environmental violations should apply to the new owners of recently acquired facilities. The audit policy offers reduced penalties to companies that self-police their programs, promptly disclose and correct any violations discovered, and take steps to prevent future violations.

“Our top priority is to protect the environment and public health. We have a variety of tools and options to do that,” said Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “New owners of recently acquired facilities that come forward to make a ‘clean start’ can address their environmental issues and make changes to ensure they stay in compliance and reduce pollutants going forward.”

Companies with newly acquired facilities can use the audit policy to examine their performance and work with EPA to come into compliance with environmental laws. Since 1995, more than 3,000 companies have disclosed and resolved violations at over 9,000 facilities under this policy.

EPA is seeking input from the public on how best to encourage new owners to use the audit policy. EPA will accept written comments until July 13, 2007, and also invites the public to offer comment at two public meetings to be held on June 12 in Washington, D.C. and June 20 in San Francisco, Calif.

In addition to encouraging new owners to participate, EPA is also considering ways to make it easier for companies to disclose violations. In the near future, the EPA will be developing a system that would allow companies to disclose certain violations through an EPA Web site.

Information on EPA’s Audit Policy: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/auditpolicy.html

Information on new owner disclosure incentives: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/newowners-incentives.html

 

Virginia Biodiesel Environmental Compliance Primer, January 2008

The biofuels industry, which includes production and distribution of biodiesel, is growing nationwide and in Virginia.  Within this primer, the DEQ aims to acquaint the reader with the environmental regulatory obligations concerning biodiesel fuel production.  Biodiesel fuel production, like other industrial processes, is subject to laws and regulations for protecting air, water, and land resources, assuring safe handling of hazardous materials, and proper disposal of wastes.  Some of these requirements apply to small scale producers as well as to large commercial operations.

Virginia Biodiesel Environmental Compliance Primer, Jan. 2008

EPA Amends Toxic Rule for Halogenated Solvent Cleaners (April 16, 2007)

EPA issued an amendment to the Maximum Achievable Control Technology standard for Halogenated Solvent Cleaners (degreasers) that addresses the Residual Risk and eight-year technology review requirements of Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. The sources most affected will be those that are high emitters.

EPA Fact Sheet: Amendments to the Air Toxics Standards for the Halogenated Solvent Cleaning Industry


EPA Final Rule: National Air Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Halogenated Solvent Cleaning; Final Rule

End and start dates for the Cap and Trade programs regulated under Chapter 140 (Emissions Trading):

Part I - NOx Budget Trading Program
State rule to implement the federal NOX SIP Call Program
Effective: July 17, 2002; amended March 24, 2004
End date: December 31, 2008

Part II - NOx Annual Trading Program
State rule to implement the federal CAIR/§ 10.1-1328 A and B of the Code of Virginia
Effective: April 18, 2007
Start date: January 1, 2009

Part III - NOx Ozone Season Trading Program
State rule to implement the federal CAIR/§ 10.1-1328 A of the Code of Virginia
Effective: April 18, 2007
Start date: January 1, 2009

Part IV - SO2 Annual Trading Program
State rule to implement the federal CAIR/§ 10.1-1328 A of the Code of Virginia
Effective: April 18, 2007
Start date: January 1, 2010

Part VI - Hg Budget Trading Program for Coal Fired Electric Steam Generating Units
Hg state model rule to implement the federal CAMR/§ 10.1-1328 C of the Code of Virginia
Effective: April 4, 2007
Start date: January 1, 2010

TRI Facilities: Facilities subject to Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting must use North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes to identify their principal business activities when submitting their 2006 reports due on July 1, 2007. See details on EPA TRI Site.

Dry Cleaners: On July 27, 2006, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published new regulations for perc drycleaners. The regulations revise the 1993 rules affecting this small business group. Resources: EPA fact sheet, 2008 DEQ compliance calendar, and environmental compliance refresher presentations.

Templ:PROD-DEQTemplate_one | Editable:false | StartFldr:/osba/ | CurrentFilename:new.html;