April 2020 - Earth Day Reflections: Environmental Compliance Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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April 2020 - Earth Day Reflections: Environmental Compliance Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic

On Earth Day 2020, PHE takes stock of how we can continue to fulfill our environmental responsibilities, even as organizations struggle to cope with a dangerous and uncertain global pandemic. COVID-19 has caused disruption on a scale not seen in recent history.  However, our experience with attendant disruptions to personnel and other resources in times of other crises (such as natural disasters), provides valuable insight into the types of compliance deficiencies and liabilities that can occur during these times.

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April 2019 - Sustainability & Waste Management at the 2019 National NAEP Conference

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Join Chris Rua, CHMM on May 21, 2019 at the 2019 National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Chris, a Senior Compliance Specialist with PHE, will be presenting a paper on why a sustainable approach to construction and demolition (C&D) waste management is not only good for our environment, but can reduce regulatory compliance burdens and add to the bottom-line.

Facility managers tasked with the responsibility of sustainably managing their wastes often run up against some significant challenges when dealing with C&D waste.  This is especially true for federal facility managers/engineers that are required to comply with Executive Order 13834, Efficient Federal Operations, which mandates that federal agencies implement waste prevention and recycling measures in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment. Register today and learn about the challenges of managing construction and demolition waste, tips for cost saving measures, and potential opportunities for sustainable management.

Looking forward with 30 years of perspective

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Looking forward with 30 years of perspective

The last 30 years have transformed the way we understand and address human impact on the environment, and have increased emphasis on conducting business in an environmentally sensitive manner. Since its founding in 1988, PHE has been helping businesses and government agencies achieve a balance between mission-effectiveness and protection of our natural resources. With three decades of hard-earned experience, PHE’s commitment to helping our clients navigate complex environmental requirements – and address new environmental and societal challenges – is stronger than ever!

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July 2018 - Top 5 Things Facility Managers Should Know About New Refrigerant Management Requirements

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July 2018 - Top 5 Things Facility Managers Should Know About New Refrigerant Management Requirements

Managing refrigerant and refrigeration systems can be a challenge for facilities and facility managers due in part to expanding regulatory requirements.  Section 608 (Refrigerant Management Requirements) of the Clean Air Act was updated to expand requirements for managing ozone-depleting substance (ODS) refrigerants to now also include ODS substitutes.  ODS substitutes which are now regulated include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (e.g., R-410A, R-407C and R-134a), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) (e.g., R-116), and hydrofluoro-olefins (HFOs) (e.g., 1234YF).  These are collectively referred to as “non-exempt ODS substitutes.” 

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March 2018 - All about Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention

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March 2018 - All about Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention

As Americans, we have come to expect that our drinking water supply will be safe and reliable, and with a few notable exceptions such as the situation in Flint, Michigan, this is a reasonable expectation. Federal, state, and local governments have invested billions of dollars to ensure that water delivered to our homes and workplaces is safe to consume. However, routine systems, equipment, and activities have the potential to contaminate water supplies and water systems. By understanding and implementing cross-connection protection practices, we can help to minimize the risk of contamination to our potable water supplies.

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April 2017 - EPCRA 101: Tips for Successfully Navigating EPCRA Reporting Requirements

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The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires most federal and industrial/commercial facilities to report information related to their use of hazardous materials.  For federal facilities, Executive Order (EO) 12856, Federal Compliance with Right-To-Know Laws and Pollution Prevention Requirements, first established EPCRA reporting requirements, which were later emphasized in EO 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.

This article reviews EPCRA reporting requirements, summarizes some of the hazardous materials that are commonly reported and those that are sometimes overlooked, and provides tips and insights to help facilities remain in compliance.

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JANUARY 2017 - PHE PULSE: 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UPDATES TO HAZARDOUS WASTE REGULATIONS

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On November 28, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule in the Federal Register. The new rule makes over 60 changes to the existing Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) generator regulations. Although some of the changes are minor or simple clarifications, many are significant and potentially applicable to every industry that generates hazardous waste. The new rule reorganizes the regulations to make them more user-friendly, clarifies many ambiguities and contradictions, and addresses previously documented gaps in the regulations.

Here are ten things that you should know about the new rule prior to it taking effect.

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September 2016 - PHE Awarded 5-Year Contract to Support Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton.

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Potomac-Hudson Engineering, Inc. (PHE) is pleased to announce that we were recently awarded a five-year contract to provide support to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton’s Comprehensive Environmental Training and Education Program (CETEP) and Environmental Management System (EMS) program.  Additionally, PHE will provide support to the Air Station’s hazardous materials management, hazardous waste management, and storm water compliance programs.  This award was based on 10 years of continuous multimedia environmental support, including the preparation of a Utilities Master Plan, an Environmental Assessment, two updates to the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan, a Pollution Prevention Plan, a Sustainability Gap Analysis and Implementation Plan, a Solid Waste Characterization Study, and an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.  PHE is grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting MCAS Camp Pendleton’s environmental programs.

April 2016 - PHE Awarded Contract to Conduct Environmental Compliance Audits for U.S. Coast Guard

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PHE was recently awarded a task order under our US Coast Guard (USCG) IDIQ Contract to conduct Environmental Compliance Evaluations (ECEs) at 16 USCG installations in Virginia, Connecticut, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam.  This project will be conducted on an aggressive timeline to complete all audits by the end of September 2016.  This award follows on PHE’s successful completion of the USCG’s FY2015 ECE program where PHE conducted ECEs at USCG installations in North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, California, Washington, and Alaska. 

Under a separate task order award, PHE is developing USCG-wide Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Compliance guidance, to provide USCG units with procedures for achieving and maintaining compliance with the various Federal, state, and local IWM regulations.  Administrative guidance for implementing the IWM Program will accompany unit-level guidance as a separate deliverable.

 PHE is grateful for the opportunity to support the US Coast Guard.

PHE Awarded Three-Year IDIQ Contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District

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July 2014 - PHE is excited to announce that we have been awarded a three year IDIQ Contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District. Under this contract PHE will provide assistance to the Fort Worth District in supporting Military and Civil entities with their compliance with environmental laws and regulations, primarily in the Southwestern Division.  The scope of work includes the preparation of NEPA documents, environmental studies, and environmental compliance related requirements. This contract builds on other recent IDIQ contract awards that PHE has been issued with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and the General Services Administration Public Building Service.