Air


All employers, employees, and contractors within all three segments of the oil and gas industry (upstream, midstream, and downstream) are responsible for ensuring safe and healthful work sites.

LDAR Programs Continue to Evolve

LDAR programs are shifting from reactive to proactive, evolving from mere compliance to actively seeking and repairing leaks to using the best available control technology and practices to prevent leaks from occurring in the first place. Mandated use of preventive technologies and programs could be next.

EPA and DOT Finalize Fuel Efficiency Standards for Trucks

EPA and DOT Finalize Fuel Efficiency Standards for Trucks

In terms of emissions and energy use, trucks are the second-largest segment in U.S. transportation.

Wildfires Will Expose Millions of Americans to Air Pollution

Wildfires Will Expose Millions of Americans to Air Pollution

Intense climate change in states like California has resulted in wildfires that are not easily containable, leading to health risks due to air pollution.

Cemex Agrees to Clean Air Act Settlement

"This settlement requires Cemex to use state-of-the-art technology to reduce harmful air pollution, improving public health in vulnerable communities across the South and Southeast," said Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles of EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

EPA Takes Aim at Commercial Aviation's Emissions

EPA expects the International Civil Aviation Organization will adopt its environmental committee's agreement on international aircraft CO2 standards in March 2017. EPA anticipates moving forward on standards that would be at least as stringent as ICAO's standards.

U.S. Vehicles' Fuel Economy Progress on Track, EPA and DOT Announce

The National Program was developed jointly by the EPA and DOT, in coordination with CARB. It applies to passenger cars and light-duty trucks through model year 2025 and requires manufacturers to improve average fuel efficiency and reduce average greenhouse gas emissions over time.

Chemtrade Receives New York State Recognition for Pollution Reduction with the Help of Dürr Technology

The process enters the SCR system at a relatively low temperature, so a heat exchanger/burner combination was incorporated into the system. The heat exchanger greatly improves the overall energy efficiency of the system while maintaining the small footprint Chemtrade required.

Volkswagen Will Pay Nearly $15 Billion in Emissions Violation Settlement

Volkswagen Will Pay Nearly $15 Billion in Emissions Violation Settlement

In two settlements, Volkswagen will be require to pay $14.7 billion to settle allegations of cheating emissions tests. $10 billion will be used to buyback affected cars and the remainder will be spent on pollution mitigation and zero-emission vehicle technology.



Boeing reports that its 787 Dreamliner family of aircraft improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 20-25 percent compared to the airplanes they are replacing. (Boeing photo)

Boeing 2016 Environmental Report Tracks Progress

The company reported that its operations reduced greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste to landfill, water intake, and hazardous waste generation by between 6 and 11 percent in 2015.

Marathon Petroleum Agrees to Install Flare Gas Controls at Five Refineries

The settlement filed June 9 in a Detroit federal court amends a 2012 consent decree involving Marathon's flares. When the changes are fully implemented, emissions of VOCs, sulfur dioxides, and nitrogen oxides will be reduced by approximately 1,037 tons per year, according to EPA and the Justice Department.

EPA recognizes DFW Airport for its leadership in Greenhouse Gas Management.

DFW Airport Becomes First U.S. Airport to Receive EPA Climate Leadership Award

EPA recognizes DFW Airport for its leadership in Greenhouse Gas Management.

Large designs are available to cover as much as 280,000 square feet with a single machine. (Dust Control Technology photo)

Southwest Business Juggling Act: Droughts, Dust, and Water Regulations

Controlling dust while eliminating the use of high-pressure hydrants and reducing the amount of visible runoff can help reduce the number of complaints to local and state environmental authorities. Methods that both conserve water and suppress dust carry multiple benefits beyond compliance.

Anguil Aqua Systems, LLC provides turnkey water treatment systems and support for industrial facilities and remediation applications. (Anguil Aqua Systems, LLC photo)

Anguil Environmental Launches Water Treatment Division

Anguil Aqua Systems, LLC provides turnkey water treatment systems and, working with its parent company, can supply integrated air and water treatment solutions.

Oregon Agencies Seeking Hexavalent Chromium Source in Portland

The Department of Environmental Quality said its investigators continue to seek the source of the heavy metal selenium that has been, on average, elevated in southeast Portland's air since March 1.

EPA Awards Grant to Central States Air Resource Agencies Association

Nine states in the central United States will work on issues related to air pollution moving between states and provide lower-cost training for states' staffers.

This photo is a complete view of the DFTO system. (Dürr Systems, Inc. photo)

How Thermal Oxidation Can Increase the Sustainability of a Chemical Plant

For this manufacturer of organic chemicals operating many smaller processes, a single centralized thermal oxidizer system was the most cost-effective path to expand production while meeting new emission controls requirements.

This article originally appeared in the April 2016 issue of Environmental Protection.

Cross-Border Truck Convoy Ready to Roll

The challenge is also backed by ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, with hopes to accelerate the development of convoy-driving corridors in Europe and pave the way for EU legislative changes.

Spend a day in a data center and you will come away with a deep appreciation that indoor noise exposure is a priority safety consideration. (Digital Realty Trust, Inc. photo)

Data Center EH&S 101

Stakeholders' concerns range from asbestos and lead-based paint typically found in older and/or legacy data centers to fire-resistant clothing, contractor and construction management, elevated work such as portable and fixed ladders, and rooftop maintenance.

This article originally appeared in the April 2016 issue of Environmental Protection.

EPA Announces 2017-2019 Enforcement Initiatives

EPA reported it is expanding its initiative focused on reducing toxic air pollution by adding large storage tanks and hazardous waste facilities to its work to address public health threats.

The time is right to begin looking beyond the tailpipe and instead consider the full life cycle emissions of vehicles.

Beyond the Tailpipe to Considering Life Cycle Emissions

The time is right to begin looking beyond the tailpipe and instead consider the full life cycle emissions of vehicles. The trend is not unlike what has happened in the construction industry over the last several years.