EPA certification is required for all persons who handle highly polluting machinery, like refrigerators, and air conditioners. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, three types of certification are required- Type 1 certification for small appliances like vacuums, Type 2 certification for high pressure appliances like refrigerators, and Type 3 certification for low pressure ones like centrifugals. This assures the employer, customer, and federal government that the person knows how best to handle the equipment that includes purchasing, conducting repairs, and elimination of wastes that produce negligible harm to the environment.
Environmental Training is an attempt to safeguard the environment by acquainting people with the various factors that pose a hazard to the environment, and enabling them to take steps to prevent its degradation. Various courses have been designed to this end. The Erosion Control Supervisor Storm water Management during Construction course has been designed for the Erosion Control Supervisor and aids in proper installation, maintenance, and inspection of Best Management Prices (BMP’s), thereby helping in the control of sedimentation and erosion at construction sites. The Risk Management Program Compliance course is divided into three parts- overview of the EPA Risk Management Program Rule and Requirements, EPA Risk Management Program Internal Compliance Auditing, and maintaining Compliance with the EPA Risk Management Program requirements. The Clean Air Act course attempts to understand the Clean Air Acts of 1955, 1963, 1970 and 1990, which relate to the reduction of air pollution, and consequent safeguarding of the atmosphere.
Environmental compliance and enforcement are necessary to ensure that the essential environmental goals are met. The EPA has provided specific compliance regulations regarding how businesses affect water, soil and air. A few instructions will help you to follow the environmental compliance requirements of the EPA. Firstly, generate a list of the company’s environmental affairs. Then ascertain the kinds of pollutants you might be generating and obtain a permit complying with the Clean Air Act. Be very careful about disposing hazardous wastes. Fourthly, according to the rules of the Toxic Substance Control Act, dispose off any chemicals you might use. Conform to the Clean Water Act. For small business requirements, talk to the staff at your state’s environmental agency. Lastly, before opening your business, consult with an environmental lawyer and let him check whether your business runs in compliance with the EPA regulations at least once a year.
By: Toan Dinh
Posts Tagged ‘Construction Sites’
ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING
November 17th, 2009Waste Management and Recycling
October 28th, 2009Concern over our environment has seen a massive increase in recycling globally which has grown to be an important part of modern civilization. As a society we manage to produce a vast amount of materials that are just thrown away, waste management is the collection of these materials in order to recycle them and as a result decrease their effects on our health, our surroundings and the environment. Practices in waste management are different the world over, dependant on certain issues such as how developed the nation is, if it is a city or rural area and so on. The management of waste is not only the responsibility of governments and the manufacturer, but also an individual’s duty. Waste management is an issue that has to be dealt with daily in order to control the huge amounts of waste currently passing through our towns and cities.
Australia is one such country that is giving attention and priority to how it handles its waste, and this has resulted in the emergence of companies offering environmental services for resource recovery and recycling. To reduce the impacts of waste and unwanted resources on the environment it is important to educate the populace about waste items and how they can be processed or recycled.
There are several resource recovery systems in place and facilities that have been developed to deal with these issues. Natural recovery systems make use of of food, organic and green waste and are then dealt with in in-vessel compost systems, whilst materials collected for recycling include glass, plastic bags, metals and paper. Automated and manual methods are used to sort materials from construction sites, such as brick, tiles and concrete and after being sorted are re-used for road base and construction materials. E-waste (electronic waste) comes from items such as old computers which are taken apart in order to recover materials like cabling, aluminium, copper, glass and plastics. Bioreactor landfills are deployed to generate green energy through the capturing of biogas from municipal waste. There is also help provided for councils to award innovative technologies which can be used to recover recyclables.
We can all help out when it comes to waste management and recycling in Australia. It may not seem effective to recycle products as a household, but put all those households together and you will produce a result. It is each person’s responsibility to do what they can to conserve resources, reduce landfill volumes and produce new materials using less energy. Some cities in developed nations keep a record of their resource recovery systems in order to identify if they are working effectively, evaluate them and update them if necessary, this information can then be passed onto other areas or nations to help them in the recycle challenge. Deciding to recycle is a simple step and surprisingly easy to start. If you are unsure where to begin there are lots of resources, including the local environmental sector, who will be eager to teach you how to recycle your leftover waste and check on the internet too for information.
By: Michiel Van Kets
Taking Advantage of the Growing Market for Environmental Jobs
September 24th, 2009A combination of public concern, international regulation and pragmatic resources management has led to a growth in environmental jobs. Graduates who are concerned about the state of the environment are no longer confined to protests and letter writing. There are a number of jobs throughout the United Kingdom and Europe for graduates with an extensive knowledge of environmental issues. You need to set your expectations and approach employers that fit your profile for an ideal workplace.
If your experience lies in architecture and construction, the home renovation market may be an important area for your job search. Home owners throughout the world are moving beyond traditional renovation methods in order to save on energy costs. Your interest in solar panels and your hands-on experience on construction sites can help you build new roofs for home owners. Other positions in the home renovation market include construction work around current structures and foreman positions that are given a mandate to recycle building materials.
Your expertise may lie in the area of city and national environmental regulations governing water runoff and building standards. This expertise can be best used in regulatory positions within a government agency. Agencies assigned the task of studying industrial waste, the efficiency of government environmental programmes and adherence to air pollution standards are looking for new graduates every year. You need to possess a keen eye for detail as well as an objectivity in enforcing policies to succeed in compliance positions.
The influences of human beings and industry on the environment are still not entirely known. Government agencies, private laboratories and universities hire environmental scientists to provide narrowly focussed research on major issues. You can explore the infiltration of invasive species into local waters and determine climate changes on an international level as an environmental researcher. These positions require advanced degrees in environmental science and biology to get your foot in the door.
In every environmental job available today, there is an unspoken standard of quality needed from every graduate. Scientists, builders and regulatory inspectors need to adhere to the scientific method in exploring environmental problems. There are few breakthroughs in environmental science without rigorous testing, attempts at refutation and publication of results for public consumption. You need to be prepared to spend years on a single environmental issue in order to build your credibility while helping keep the public aware of potential problems with air, water and soil.
By: Astute
