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  • State Implementation Plans Part 2
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    State Implementation Plans: SIP Execution and Enforcement (Part 2)

State Implementation Plans: SIP Execution and Enforcement (Part 2)

Following the announcement in the Federal Register that certain areas are no longer in Moderate nonattainment and will soon be moved to Severe nonattainment specifically for Ozone, many manufacturers in this area may face new expectations, regulations, and standards in the coming year regarding their emissions. In the coming months, states in charge of these areas will submit new State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for reducing ground-level Ozone to comply with 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

While this may only pertain to certain areas, the 2015 standards are rapidly approaching their enforcement dates, lowering the levels of permissible 8-hour […]

  • Labeled Ozone Areas
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    NAAQS Update: Seven Areas At Risk to Be Labeled Serious Ozone Areas

NAAQS Update: Seven Areas At Risk to Be Labeled Serious Ozone Areas

Are you a manufacturer or other producer in or around Chicago, Dallas, Houston, San Diego Nevada County (CA), New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut? You may face new requirements in the coming years pertaining to your emissions levels.

Following a November announcement by the EPA, these areas have failed to attain the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards by the required date for “Moderate” nonattainment status. What does this mean and how could it affect your business? We explore this in detail below.
Background: National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency […]

  • State Implementation Plans Part 1
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    State Implementation Plans: How Plans are Developed and Enforced Part 1

State Implementation Plans: How Plans are Developed and Enforced Part 1

The Clean Air Act is a complicated set of rules and regulations that affect the way that we commute, produce, and operate businesses across the United States. With so many moving parts and enforcement activities, the process for remaining compliant with location-based NAAQS is challenging for many areas, and it’s on the states to develop plans and initiatives to improve air quality.

As we discussed in our last blog, there are currently seven areas that failed to maintain their classification as “moderate” nonattainment areas for Ozone, as dictated by the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). With 2015 […]

  • Reducing Operating Costs
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    How to Select the Right VOC Abatement Equipment To Reduce Operating Cost

How to Select the Right VOC Abatement Equipment To Reduce Operating Cost

For many manufacturing plants, adhering to strict environmental regulations means having to allocate a large portion of the operating expenses on VOC abatement technologies.

Therefore, choosing the right equipment to optimize efficiency is the key to reducing operating cost and improving your bottom line.
Key Considerations When Selecting Your VOC Abatement Equipment
You can improve operational efficiency and reduce cost by choosing the appropriate VOC abatement system. Here are some key considerations:

List out the types and extent of the air pollutants your plant emits to help determine the most effective abatement equipment for the purpose. You should ensure that the system […]

The Importance of Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance

Unexpected equipment failure in a manufacturing plant can interrupt the production schedule and lead to costly downtime that can impact your bottom line significantly.

Regular equipment maintenance is the key to preventing catastrophic equipment failure. It can pay off in the long run in the form of increased operational efficiency and reduce cost:
The Importance Of Proper Manufacturing Equipment Service
Proper manufacturing equipment service is well worth the investment. Here are some of the long-term benefits of preventive equipment maintenance:

Extend equipment lifespan and reduce the need for having to purchase new equipment.
Prevent unplanned downtime which can be costly and interrupt […]

  • Fuel Costs Air Pollution
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    Fuel Costs in Air Pollution Control: Challenges and Opportunities

Fuel Costs in Air Pollution Control: Challenges and Opportunities

When you choose (or are required) to upgrade or update your air pollution control system, you are opting to make a major investment in the ongoing compliance, productivity, and environmental initiatives at your company. Knowing this, air pollution control systems are by no means “cheap” in terms of initial capital costs—few pieces of equipment engineered with a decades-long operational life are.

While capital costs may be high, operating costs don’t have to be. Following our recent articles on reducing the costs of pollution control and the resources available from federal and state entities that could save you money or provide […]

Regional Resources: Pollution Control Grant Opportunities

The right pollution control equipment can help you operate more efficiently, remain in compliance with federal and state regulations, and avoid downtime; it can even help you recapture operating costs when paired with energy recovery systems used to provide heat to other applications.
Overcoming Cost Challenges in Pollution Control
While many manufacturers see long term benefits from the move to update their air pollution control equipment, the capital equipment costs are often prohibitive. As we discussed in our last blog, US manufacturers spend over $24 billion per year in pollution abatement and continue to bear a significant burden in environmental regulatory […]

  • Equipment Maintenance
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    Staying EPA Compliant With Proper Abatement Equipment Maintenance

Staying EPA Compliant With Proper Abatement Equipment Maintenance

For many manufacturing plants, following EPA’s requirements on pollution control and staying within the demands of EPA’s operating permits can be both costly and challenging.

Plant managers not only have to ensure compliance but also tackle various human errors and material limitations regarding the operation of the abatement equipment and volatile organic compound (VOC) control systems, such as:

Unintentional adjustment of the equipment that causes sub-optimal functioning.
Lack of knowledge in the pollution control procedure that leads to the shutting down of a production process.
Equipment fatigue and failure that causes a device to shut down or operate under unsafe […]

  • Cost of Pollution
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    How To Reduce the Cost Of Pollution Abatement In Manufacturing

How To Reduce the Cost Of Pollution Abatement In Manufacturing

US manufacturers spend over $24 billion per year in pollution abatement and continue to bear a significant burden in environmental regulatory costs for waste disposal, wastewater treatment, and air pollution abatement.

In order to reduce cost and stay competitive, manufacturers need to reduce the cost of controlling pollution so they can become more profitable. Here are a few key areas to focus on:
Lowering Cost Of Waste Disposal
One of the most effective ways to lower the cost of waste disposal is to reduce the production and volume of manufacturing wastes and the resources required to process them:

Increase the efficiency of […]

  • State Pollution Control
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    How to Learn More about Your State’s Pollution Control Requirements

How to Learn More about Your State’s Pollution Control Requirements

The United States is built on the idea that different states have different needs, and one-size-fits-all regulations are rarely the best option. With 3.5 million square miles of landmass, varying altitudes, and a wide range of population densities and industries, implementing any massive regulatory change pertaining to air pollution would be implausible and ineffective.

Simply put, applying the same standard to a manufacturer in Iowa and California wouldn’t take into consideration the needs of either business or the community surrounding it. An overarching standard would be too strict for one and too lax for the other and would fail to […]