Zephyr alerts is a periodic feature of Currents, Zephyr Environmental Corporation's free quarterly newsletter that reports on regulatory issues and hot industry topics. Alerts benefit environmental, health, and safety professionals by informing them about new and significant risk management topics and trends in the areas of air & water quality, waste issues, incident management, and workplace & community safety.
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PCA CO2 Emissions Inventories Due January 31, 2008
As you may be aware, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) has established a January 31, 2008 deadline for members to submit 2007 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas protocol. Emissions must be reported using the comprehensive and somewhat complex Microsoft Excel based workbook titled CO2 Emissions Inventory Protocol, Version 2.0. Zephyr has acquired the skills to assist with completing these reports at both the plant-level and company-wide.
Two of Zephyr's consulting engineers participated in the November PCA sponsored workshop on the CO2 Emissions Inventory Protocol held in Rosemont, Illinois. With this training, Zephyr supplemented our existing general expertise in estimating emissions, with proficiency in accounting for CO2 emissions from cement plants. Specifically, we can assist with the nuances of data collection and entry, for both direct and indirect emissions, using the mandated protocol workbook. This includes assessing the use of default versus plant specific CO2 emissions factors, determining netting results from the use of alternative fuels, and calculating plant specific clinker CO2 factors.
For more information regarding Zephyr's GHG Emissions Inventory Services or for assistance with the CO2 Emissions Inventory Protocol, contact: Brett Davis, PE in Austin at 512-879-6628 or bdavis@zephyrenv.com, or Lynne Spector in Columbia, MD at 410-312-7906 or lspector@zephyrenv.com.
DHS "Top-Screen" Reporting Due January 22, 2008
This Alert updates Zephyr's May 23, 2007 Alert regarding The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). The final list of DHS Chemicals of Interest (COI), found at Appendix A to 6 CFR 27, was published in the Federal Register on November 20, 2007 (72 FR 65395). This means that thousands of facilities across the country storing COI in quantities exceeding the screening thresholds listed in Appendix A must complete the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) "Top-Screen" initial assessment process by January 22, 2008. (Note that many notices are incorrectly reporting January 19 as the deadline. DHS has posted January 22 as the actual deadline, as is discussed in FAQ 1240 at http://csat-help.dhs.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:1:1359166075553293#1240.) The CFATS and Appendix A can be found at www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/laws/gc_1166796969417.shtm.
To assist facilities with the Top-Screen process, DHS has posted a 111 page Top-Screen guidance document and a 71 page Top-Screen User Manual at http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/gc_1169501486197.shtm. The Top-Screen process involves registering with DHS and entering the data required by the on-line tool. Afterwards, DHS will determine if a facility qualifies as a high risk chemical facility covered by the CFATS. If so, other tools, specifically the Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) and Site Security Plan (SSP), will be made available to satisfy additional CFATS requirements.
DHS expects that the reporting burden for completing the CSAT Top-Screen will be 30.3 hours.
Zephyr has expertise in CFATS at all three of our offices. For more information or assistance with completing the Top-Screen, contact Roger Brower in Columbia, MD at 410-312-7907 or rbrower@zephyrenv.com, Brett Davis in Austin at 512-879-6628 or bdavis@zephyrenv.com, or Becky Luman in Houston at 281-668-7343 or rluman@zephyrenv.com.