The Standard
A Periodic Newsletter from Environmental Standards, Inc.
December 12, 2018 Volume 25 Issue #3
PFAS Legislation and Research Continues at the State Level
As US EPA struggles with perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) drinking-water and cleanup standards, many states are beginning to address PFAS themselves.As US EPA struggles with perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) drinking-water…
The Middle-aged Men and the Jungle
Fishing is more than a casual hobby to a number of us at Environmental Standards, Inc. Whether this is due to having grown up in small towns with streams and lakes in the area, or next to the Atlantic coast with salt water the main pursuit, several of us were hooked at an early age. This past October…
How Confident Are You in Your CCR Groundwater Monitoring Data?
Many utility companies regulated under the US EPA Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule are nearing, or have completed, their second year of groundwater monitoring. As these CCR monitoring programs approach the deadline for 2nd annual reports, it may seem that aspects of programs are “set.”
How to Avoid Cross-contamination Risks when Sampling for PFAS
There are multiple potential sources of PFAS that some suggest could contribute to the cross-contamination of environmental samples during collection. PFAS use is widespread in many consumer, commercial, and industrial products and processes. PFAS are also reported at very low…
Eurofins Acquires
TestAmerica
During the fourth quarter of 2018, Eurofins Scientific (Eurofins), announced that it has signed an agreement with the JSTI Group, to acquire TestAmerica Environmental Services LLC (TestAmerica). TestAmerica operates a network of 24 testing laboratories and 40 service centers throughout the USA…
Medical Cannabis Now Legalized in 33 States
Cannabis legalization is sweeping the United States (U.S.). In January 2018, Vermont became the first state to legalize cannabis through its legislature rather than a ballot initiative when the governor signed the bill into law. As of the November 6, 2018 elections…
Regulator to Private
Consultant
When Rock Vitale, CEO of Environmental Standards, Inc. (Environmental Standards), first asked Patricia Hickman about her transition from regulator to consultant, she wasn’t sure how to respond. However, that question stuck with her, and as she continued her new role in the consulting…
California Asks Industrial Parties for PFAS Inventory Information
Over the last several months, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued letters to a number of industrial parties, including treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs), requesting information relating to hazardous substances, hazardous waste…
PA DEP Updates are Imminent for Act 2 and Act 32
The Pennsylvania Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act (Act 32 of 1989; Storage Tank Act) has not had substantial revisions since it was originally published in 1989. PA DEP published the recently proposed rule in February 2018 and it is anticipated the revised rulemaking will become final in…
Produced Water Governance and Chemical Characterization
Recently the US EPA and the state of New Mexico issued a draft white paper(1) outlining governance associated with produced-water management. Current practice relies heavily on deep well injection (Class II wells) yet the limited available water, especially in arid regions, points to the…
Colorado Proposition 112 is Defeated
Proposition 112 was included in the Colorado mid-term election ballot. The Proposition proposed to amend the Colorado statutes to require that new oil and natural gas development be located at least 2,500 feet from occupied structures, water sources, and areas…