NCMA's Top Stories In The News
Highlights from NCMA's 2016 Annual Meeting
[Public Content] NCMA’s 2016 Annual Meeting was held on Sept. 19-20, 2016 at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in Wilmington, NC. Thanks to all our members who attended and made the meeting such a success! Here is what you missed. [Sept. 23, 2016]
NCMA Members Identify Alliance's Priorities For 2017
During the business session at NCMA's 2016 Annual Meeting, NCMA President Preston Howard announced the Initiatives of the Alliance for 2017, as identified by NCMA members through their annual issues ballot. [Sept. 23, 2016]
Report Card on the NCMA's 2016 Priorities
During the business session at NCMA’s Annual Meetings, NCMA’s staff traditionally reports on how we did in accomplishing the Alliances priorities for the previous year. Here is our 2016 Report Card. [Sept. 23, 2016]
Groundwater Seeps Containing Wastewater Constituents May Require an NPDES Permit
Litigation between Duke Energy and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) over the permitting of seeps from Duke Energy’s Riverbend facility may have larger implications for all NPDES permit holders, Jay Zimmerman, Director of the Division of Water Resources, told NCMA members at their Annual Meeting on Sept. 20, 2016. [Sept. 23, 2016]
DWM Developing Rule to Address Vapor Intrusion into Commercial/Industrial Buildings
Michael Scott, Director of the North Carolina Division of Waste Management (DWM), told NCMA members at their Annual Meeting on Sept. 20, 2016 that DWM would be undertaking a major rulemaking in 2017 to address vapor intrusion into buildings located on commercial and industrial sites with groundwater contamination. [Sept. 23, 2016]
EPA Retains Existing Lead NAAQS
[Public Content] EPA has issued a final rule retaining its existing lead (Pb) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) of 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) for both the primary health-based standard and the secondary limit designed to protect the environment.[Sept. 23, 2016]
EPA and OSHA Civil Penalties Increased August 1
[Public Content] In an interim final rule that was effective on August 1, 2016, EPA and OSHA increased dramatically by as much as 150 percent the amounts that may be assessed for violation. The increases affect 65 different EPA penalties, and their amounts vary by the specific statute under which they are assessed. Penalties for OSHA violations are also rising. [August 26, 2016]
OSHA Fine Increases Draw Objection from North Carolina Dept. of Labor
North Carolina Department of Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry is balking at federal OSHA's insistence that the state increase OSHA fines in line with the federal government’s 78 percent boost that began Aug. 1. Commissioner Cherie Berry told OSHA that while state plans have been expected to have “effective sanctions” against employers who violate standards, federal OSHA hadn't required states to have identical penalties. [August 26, 2016]
