News and Jobs
Latest News, Featured Articles and Job Posts
PFAS Webinar Series on May 18 & 25, 2023
Join FET for a 2-part PFAS series that will focus on national issues as well as what is happening in Wisconsin.
Each session will feature a panel discussion and will look at PFAS from both a legal and technical perspective. The first day will kick off with Taryn McKnight, PFAS Practice Leader for Eurofins Environment Testing America based in Sacramento, California. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the environmental testing industry specializing in emerging contaminants and pathways of concern with a focus on PFAS and Vapor Intrusion assessments.
The second session will begin with Associate Professor Christy Remucal, who leads the Aquatic Chemistry group at UW-Madison and is the Director of the Water Science and Engineering Laboratory. She will discuss the Sources, Background, and Fate of PFAS in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes. Transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Great Lakes is of great importance as this large freshwater system provides drinking water to over 40 million people. After discussing the spatial distribution of PFAS in the five Laurentian Great Lakes, this presentation will explore the roles of tributaries and groundwater as key sources of PFAS to Lake Michigan. Measurements of PFAS in waters and sediments from tributaries of Green Bay demonstrate that PFAS concentrations range many orders of magnitude when comparing unimpacted sites and sites impacted by PFAS-containing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) use. This environmental data is also used to investigate PFAS partitioning from water into sediment, the surface microlayer, and naturally forming foams. Finally, the presentation will explore the ability to apply PFAS forensics to trace sources of contamination.
Now Available: Latest Update to the TSCA Inventory Released on February 16, 2023
The latest Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory is now available on EPA’s website: https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory/how-access-tsca-inventory . The TSCA Inventory is a list of all existing chemical substances manufactured, processed or imported in the U.S.
This update to the public TSCA Inventory is part of EPA’s biannual posting of non-confidential Inventory data. The next regular update of the TSCA Inventory is planned for summer 2023.
Additionally, several hundred substances are now listed with their specific chemical identities after having been moved from the confidential portion of the Inventory to the public portion as part of EPA’s ongoing TSCA confidential business information (CBI) review efforts https://www.epa.gov/tsca-cbi/epa-review-and-determination-cbi-claims-under-tsca.
Lastly, TSCA submitters are reminded to regularly check for any correspondence relating to their submissions in EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX). EPA sends critical and time-sensitive information regarding confidentiality claims through CDX, and failing to open this correspondence can delay the Agency’s processing of those claims.
For more information, visit www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory.
Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Allowances From New Unit Set-Asides for 2022 Control Periods
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notice of the availability of data on emission allowance allocations to certain units under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) trading programs. EPA has completed preliminary calculations for the allocations of allowances from the CSAPR new unit set-asides (NUSAs) for the 2022 control periods and has posted spreadsheets containing the calculations on EPA’s website. EPA will consider timely objections to the preliminary calculations (including objections concerning the identification of units eligible for allocations) before determining the final amounts of the allocations.
Objections to the information referenced in this notice must be received on or before March 29, 2023.
Clean Water Act Methods Update Rule for the Analysis of Effluent
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to its test procedures required to be used by industries and municipalities when analyzing the chemical, physical, and biological properties of wastewater and other samples for reporting under EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires EPA to promulgate these test procedures (analytical methods) for analysis of pollutants. EPA anticipates that these proposed changes would provide increased flexibility for the regulated community in meeting monitoring requirements while improving data quality. In addition, this proposed update to the CWA methods would incorporate technological advances in analytical technology and make a series of minor changes and corrections to existing approved methods. As such, EPA expects that there would be no negative economic impacts resulting from these proposed changes.
Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before April 24, 2023. For more information, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/21/2023-02391/clean-water-act-methods-update-rule-for-the-analysis-of-effluent
Annual OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher
What a tragic month it’s been for rail transportation between the collision in Greece and the derailment in Ohio. The Ohio event is a stark reminder of how we need knowledgeable and proficient CHMMs out there where hazardous materials like Vinyl Chloride and many other HAZMATs are handled and transported.
From the Ohio Department of Health, Vinyl Chloride (vi-null klor-ide) is a gas at room temperature that burns easily. At very cold temperatures, vinyl chloride becomes a liquid, but it evaporates (changes from a liquid to a gas) easily. Large amounts of vinyl chloride can have a mild, sweet smell. Vinyl chloride is a manmade chemical that is not found in nature. Almost all vinyl chloride is used to make a type of plastic called PVC, which is used in pipes, wire and cable coatings, car parts, housewares, and packing materials. For more information, check out the ODH fact sheet
We will be going into depth on Vinyl Chloride and the Ohio incident along with general content in our annual 8 hour HAZWOPER refresher on April 12, 2023 with the WI CHMM Chapter Annual Meeting immediately following. I hope many if you will join us.
Stay Safe Out there!
All the Best
Jim Mueller
WI CHMM Chapter President 2023-2024
Additional REsources
Featured Article
Assessing Your Organization’s Sustainability Program: Why It Matters and How to Get Started
By Christa Kananen, Program Manager, Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council
How does your organization measure up on sustainability compared to your competitors and peers? What are the environmental and social factors that have the potential to impact your supply chain, operations, and customers? In what area(s) of sustainability do your customers and stakeholders want to see you taking action or making improvements? If you are finding it difficult to answer these questions, you’re probably missing key opportunities to position your organization for long-term prosperity and may even soon find yourself blindsided by existential challenges to your business.
Businesses face increasing pressure – from employees, consumers, investors, and regulatory agencies – to act on sustainability and verify the sustainability of their products and practices. A landmark 2016 employee engagement study found that 51% of all workers will not work for a company that doesn’t have strong environmental or social commitments, and the percentage of Millennial workers who share that perspective is even higher, at 64%1. Recent research by IBM found that 3 out of 4 customers want to make more sustainable choices at home2, and a 2021 study revealed that 50% of consumers worldwide consider sustainability an important factor when making a purchase3. Not only are these market realities increasingly impacting business performance, but sustainability has also been shown to dramatically impact an organization’s bottom line, with improvements in operating efficiencies reducing costs by up to 60%4. Though the stakes are high, meeting these demands and seizing the opportunities can be a complex endeavor, especially for organizations with limited resources.
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) Manufacturing Solutions, part of the MEP National Network™, has developed an assessment to help you answer the question, “How do we stack up in the world of sustainability compared to our competitors, peers, and best-in-class?”. The WMEP sustainability assessment helps you identify the sustainability topics that matter most to your organization and stakeholders, allowing you to focus your time and resources where they will have the most impact. The assessment is especially valuable if you need to act on issues related to sustainability but don’t know where to start, if you would benefit from a more strategic approach to sustainability, or if you are facing sustainability requirements from regulators or customers and don’t currently have the resources to navigate and manage those requirements on your own.
WMEP has worked with hundreds of manufacturers to incorporate sustainable practices into their existing business structures and offers an array of services to assist your organization in developing and implementing a credible and effective sustainability program. Our affiliate organization, Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (WSBC), provides members with education and resources, networking opportunities, recognition, and access to the Green Masters Program. The Green Masters Program is a sustainability management tool and recognition program purposely built for organizations looking to measure and improve performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts.
Don’t miss this pivotal moment to address sustainability in your organization and capitalize on the enormous market potential. Take action now to measure and improve your environmental and social impacts, meet the demands of customers and stakeholders, and position yourself for long-term success. Contact WMEP Manufacturing Solutions to schedule a sustainability assessment and learn about other resources we offer to help you develop and implement a credible and effective sustainability program. Together, we can help you create a more sustainable future for your business and our state.
Footnotes
1 Cone Communications, “Millennial Employee Engagement Study,” 2016
2 IBM, “Balancing sustainability and profitability,”2022
3 Simon-Kucher & Partners, “Global Sustainability Study,”2021
4 McKinsey & Company, “How the E in ESG creates business value,” 2020
Job Postings
environmental lab pack chemist specialist
Enviro-Safe Resource Recovery (Enviro-Safe) is a fully licensed hazardous waste treatment, storage, and recycling/disposal facility (TSDF). As leaders in environmental sustainability programs and waste management solutions, we are currently seeking an individual with prior lab packing experience, that’s looking for a change and wants to be part of a fast-growing company with several opportunities for advancement. The right individual would possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, good chemistry knowledge and be a team player that is self-motivated with good organizational skills and the ability to adapt to new challenges. As a growing family-owned business, this entry / mid-level position offers multiple job responsibilities to become a well-rounded and cross-trained employee whose skill set can lead to either technical service, including profiling and approvals, operational management positions or sales for the top candidate.
Essential Qualifications / Requirements:
- 1 to 2 years’ prior lab packing experience
- Past work experiences with TSD facilities preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science or equivalent required
- Knowledge of applicable Federal, State and Local laws (WDNR, EPA, DOT & OSHA) regulations preferred
- Class B CDL with Hazmat endorsement
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong communication, problem solving, and relationship building skills
- Ability to work as a member of a team as well as an individual
- Completion of 40 Hour OSHA Hazwoper
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
- Assist in technical services pertaining to waste stream profiling and approvals, contacting of TSDFs, consolidation, packaging, and shipping of hazardous and non-hazardous waste
- Assist as needed with sampling of waste streams, fuel blending/bulking of various organic waste streams and consolidation of compatible liquids and solids
- Assist in lab pack/de-pack operations
- Assist in laboratory finger print analysis
- Potential on-site management lab pack services pertaining to sampling, profiling, consolidation, packaging, and shipping of hazardous and non-hazardous waste for clients per RCRA and DOT regulations
- Possible training potential to clients on proper chemical safety and hazardous waste management regulations
- Develop an understanding of OSHA regulations as well as Enviro-Safe’s Health and Safety Practices
COMPANY OVERVIEW:
- Enviro-Safe is a dynamic and fast growing environmental, safety and resource recovery firm. Enviro-Safe currently opened a new state-of-art recycling facility in Germantown, Wisconsin and recently added a 30,000 sq. ft. addition. The facility is designed to offer companies in Wisconsin and the Midwest various recycling options for industrial waste and byproducts. We are a leading provider of diverse sustainability programs. Enviro-Safe has been recognized and selected nationally 11 out of 19 years, as an “Inc. 5000 Company” and has received various other growth awards, representing one of the fastest growing companies in the country. We offer competitive salaries and a progressive benefit package which includes: Medical / Dental / Vision / Life / Disability / 401(K) plan with guaranteed company match, paid vacation and holidays, training, great advancement opportunities and more.
To join our exciting team and apply for this position, please forward your resume to Enviro-Safe Resource Recovery., W130 N10500 Washington Drive, Germantown, WI 53022 or email your resume to: resume@enviro-safe.com.
For further information on Enviro-Safe, a women owned family business, please check our website at www.enviro-safe.com.
Enviro-Safe is a Military & Veteran friendly company.
Jobs Available ads are placed in the FET monthly newsletter EnviroNotes, and online for two consecutive months at a cost of $400 per ad ($300 for FET patron member companies).
Jobs Desired ads are free of charge for anyone who is searching for a position in the environmental field.
Additional questions can be directed to FET at juliejansett@fetinc.org
Copy submitted for the ads are subject to editing in accordance with technical and policy guidelines and space requirements.