Multimedia News Update
Air Quality News
Emission Inventory Reports Due June 30
The Division of Air Quality is conducting its annual Air Emissions Inventory of selected North Carolina facilities. Packets were mailed in late January by the regional offices. The inventory is for Title V and selected other facilities. Every third year, all permitted facilities in the state are included in the inventory.
The inventory for fiscal year 1997 is directed primarily to Title V facilities, although a few synthetic minor facilities also are included. These minors previously have emitted more than 100 tons per year of any one pollutant, or 10 tons per year of a Hazardous Air Pollutant.
The Title V inventory results are the basis of the annual emission fees. These inventories are conducted by facilities as a self-assessment and are certified correct by a legally responsible facility designee. Many facilities find the results useful for pollution prevention assessments and other internal company uses.
For additional information about the Air Emission Inventory, contact the appropriate DENR Regional Office or the Office of Small Business Ombudsman at (800) 829-4841.
Solid Waste News
Self-Help Ventures Fund Approves Recycling Loans
For the past year, Self-Help Ventures Fund, North Carolina’s community development bank, has been working with the DPPEA on the North Carolina Recycling Finance Project.
The project successfully obtained its goal to increase the amount of capital available to recycling firms and to increase Self-Help’s capacity to serve the recycling industry.
As a result, Self-Help approved more than $1.6 million in direct financing and leveraged another $2.6 million in private capital to recycling oriented businesses.
Six recycling/reuse companies received loans, which created 92 new jobs, retained 121 jobs and led to the diversion of 328,000 tons of waste. The six companies included a fiberglass strand waste processor, a scrap metal processor, a seller of reused boxes, a manufacturer of plastic nursery containers from recycled resins, a company that uses recycled fiberboard for residential door construction, and a company that refurbishes and resells old phone systems.
The project also developed a Lender’s Guide to Recycling Companies, which offers resources as well as assistance to loan officers with assessing the risks involved with potential lending projects to the recycling industry.
For more information, call Robert Schall, Self-Help Ventures Fund, at (919) 956-4400 or Matt Ewadinger, Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC), at (919) 715-6504.
Hazardous Waste News
Questions and Answers
- Q. Do I need an EPA identification number to transport hazardous waste in North Carolina?
- A. A North Carolina EPA identification number is required if a facility operates from a North Carolina location. An application form can be obtained by contacting Jim Edwards, Hazardous Waste Section, (919) 733-2178, ext. 209. If a company transports waste through the state, or picks up waste in North Carolina and continues on to other states, the transporter can use an EPA identification number issued by another state. The company must notify the North Carolina Hazardous Waste Section via a letter indicating the company name they are working under in North Carolina is in compliance with the federal hazardous waste transporter regulations in 40 CFR 263, codified at 15A NCAC 13A .0107, and indicate the active EPA identification number they use.
- Q. When should I submit a new hazardous waste notification form to the Hazardous Waste Section?
- A. Submit a new notification form (EPA Notification of Regulated Waste Activity Form 8700-12) when there are changes such as facility name, contact name, company ownership, or mailing address. If a company moves to a new location, a new form must be submitted and a different EPA identification number will be issued for the new site. The company should notify the state that it is ceasing operation at its old site, and that it wants the current number inactivated. A new company moving onto the old site can reactivate the number under its company if the company manages hazardous waste. The number remains with the site.
Water Quality News
New Compliance and Enforcement Policy
DENR recently announced a new compliance and enforcement policy for water quality. Through the following five elements, this policy intends to provide a comprehensive route to strengthened enforcement and heightened compliance for all dischargers and nonpoint sources of water pollution in North Carolina.
Foster compliance: This strategy recognizes that the best method to improve water quality is for the polluter to prevent or reduce pollution without the need for intervention by enforcement. One component of this strategy will re-establish pollution prevention as the preferred approach for achieving environmental protection. Other components are intended to provide incentives that reward and encourage facilities to go "beyond compliance" in all environmental programs.
Enhance enforcement: Although enforcement is not the preferred means to gain compliance, it remains critical to have an effective regulatory presence that everyone — public and regulated community alike — knows will assure that the state’s laws are carried out.
Focus on bad actors: DENR will have the ability and resolve to focus on chronic and willful violators — those who apparently are resistant to the incentives for compliance that most persons find compelling.
Assure improvement in compliance and enforcement: DENR will improve the process of gathering, processing, and publishing information on the results of compliance and enforcement policies.
Find and use all available resources for compliance needs: DENR will work with local, state and federal agencies as well as private and non-profit groups to identify all resources available for funding needs.
Specific activities of the new compliance and enforcement policy will be discussed in the next issue of FOCUS.
