Chris Lynch

Office of Energy Efficiency Small Business Funding

As part of this week’s funding opportunity (FOA) announcement  from the Energy Department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Office for approximately  $37 million, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) expects to fund more than 100 new projects, totaling approximately $20 million. Nine EERE technology offices will fund and manage proposals under these topics—one for each technology office (Advanced Manufacturing, Bioenergy, Buildings, Fuel Cells, Geothermal, Solar, Vehicles, Water, and Wind), with three joint office …

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Air pollution bad for business

Leaders from nearly every country attended the World Health Organization’s (WHO) inaugural Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva, along with academics and nongovernmental organizations, but there were no corporate leaders in attendance. The absence of companies suggests that air pollution isn’t front and center on business leaders’ radars. Here are three reasons why it should be. 1. Air pollution is bad for business. The WHO director general went as far as to suggest that air pollution is “the new tobacco.” …

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GIR container labeling

Per the generator improvements rule (GIR), container management standards for generators are now located in §262.15 for satellite accumulation areas, §262.16 for small quantity generators (SQGs), and §262.17 for large quantity generators (LQGs). One significant GIR issue is more-stringent regulations regarding container labeling. This includes new pretransportation provisions in §262.32. Because these more-stringent labeling requirements must be adopted by RCRA-authorized states, we recommend beginning compliance now so your team is already in compliance when your state adopts them, if it hasn’t already. Satellite Accumulation Containers The labeling …

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Ground level Ozone Basics

What is “good” vs. “bad” ozone? Ozone can be “good” or “bad” for health and the environment depending on where it’s found in the atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone is “good” because it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ground-level ozone, the topic of this website, is “bad” because it can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma. Learn more about ground-level ozone. Ozone is a gas …

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E-Waste Manifest System Amendments

Rule Summary Former EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, signed the e-Manifest User Fee Final Rule on December 20, 2017 and it was published in the Federal Register (FR) on January 3, 2018. The final rule establishes the methodology that EPA will use in setting and revising user fees in order to recover the full costs of the electronic manifest system. This includes costs incurred in developing, operating, maintaining, and upgrading a national e-Manifest system, as well as any costs incurred in collecting and processing …

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The Benefits of Reducing Idling

Benefits and Methods for Reducing Idling Operator comfort is essential to maintaining focus and high performance in locomotive shipping.  However, changing how you achieve it by reducing idling can help you achieve significant benefits. Benefits from reducing long-duration idling include: Decreasing fuel costs, Decreasing engine maintenance costs; Extending engine life; Improving operator well-being by decreasing noise levels; Decreasing emissions that are harmful to the environment; and Improving relationships with surrounding communities. There are two ways of reducing idling: Behavioral strategies …

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BEP in the News

UNR Business Environmental Program head: ‘Green’ can be profitable CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Northern Nevada Development Authority was told Oct. 24 being “green” doesn’t have to cost businesses on their bottom line. Chris Lynch, head of the UNR Business Environmental Program, told an audience of about 40 he was told by one businessman “environmental is nice, but I don’t have time for it.” “First, when it’s the environment, you don’t have a choice,” he said. “You have to comply.” The …

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Interim Final Rule: Safe Management of Recalled Airbags

Rule Summary EPA is issuing, with good cause, this interim final rule in response to the urgent public health issue posed by recalled Takata airbag inflators still installed in vehicles. With this rule, EPA is facilitating a more expedited removal of defective Takata airbag inflators from vehicles by dealerships, salvage yards and other locations for safe and environmentally sound disposal by exempting the collection of airbag waste from hazardous waste requirements as long as certain conditions are met. What does the …

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