4 The Record: Behind The Scenes Colin McCall

In this episode Colin talks with ALL4 colleagues Daryl Whitt, Technical Director of Climate and Sustainability and Connie Prostko-Bell, Director of ESG & Sustainability to understand the SEC Climate Disclosure rules which were approved by the Commission on March 6, 2024. We will talk about why it’s important, what’s in the rule, who will need to comply, the timeline, and how to get ready.

In this episode I am joined by Dan Dix to discuss U.S. EPA's announcement of a more stringent fine particulate NAAQS. We review the changes that have been finalized, the process that state agencies will now embark on to set new NAAQS designations, future permitting and compliance implications, and steps that companies can take right now to plan ahead for continued operations and their important capital projects.

In this episode I am joined by Karen Thompson to discuss PFAS. We review the current landscape of PFAS regulatory and policy developments and talk about the implications of proposed regulations for manufacturers, waste disposal, and public treatment plants among others. We also discuss regional waste capacity disposal considerations.

In this episode I am joined by Nick Evans of Precision Partners. Nick and I discuss how Precision Partners is offering environmental compliance as a service (ECAAS). We discuss broadly the concept of ECAAS and how it can be applied as a tool in the management of environmental programs and risk, specifically to air pollution control systems and outlet emissions rates. We also discuss the "as a service" model and where it has been applied to other areas within manufacturing (e.g., energy as a service). Finally, we discuss those situations where ECAAS is most appropriate and when it might not be a fit and finish up looking to the future of the service concept.

If you are involved in permitting associated with particulate matter to any extent, you won't want to miss this conversation. In this episode we discuss U.S. EPA's proposed tightened PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard. We discuss the standard, timing, monitoring data availability, upcoming state agency actions, the difference between the low and high end of the proposed range, and permitting implications and proactive steps that companies can take to plan ahead.

In this episode we provide an update on all things Environmental Justice regulatory and policy. We discuss U.S. EPA's anticipated cumulative risk rulemaking and its potential implications on permitting and capital projects. We then move to a discussion about EJ screening tools that have been released including EJScreen 2.1 and items therein to be aware of. We discuss the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council recommendations to U.S. EPA that include proposed implementation of an ambient monitoring network that would provide public access to ambient monitoring data in near real time. We also cover some local examples of Environmental Justice philosophy being applied by U.S. EPA and state agencies to specific projects. We wrap up with practical advice on what industrial facilities and companies can be doing to proactively plan for EJ policy and regulation.