Elliott Townsend (far left), Rava Kisner’s director of environmental compliance, moderated a panel discussion on air quality standards at the TACA Environment, Sustainability and Safety Seminar. Joining the panel were Ensafe’s Shawn Haven (second from left), Groundwater & Environmental Services’ Douglas Wolf (third from left), and Westward Environmental’s Melissa Fitts (far right). Photo: TACA
The Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association (TACA) will hold its annual Environmental, Sustainability and Safety Seminar on October 24th and 25th at the Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, attracting 120 people to the two-day event. Participants participated.
Participants heard from industry experts on a variety of issues, including environmental product declarations. Drug testing trends. New driver, safety and camera technology. Sustainability in Structural Engineering. Conservation Opportunities. Prevention of heatstroke. New silica standard. slag concrete. Cooperation with concrete delivery and concrete pump industry. Additionally, attendees learned about new air quality standards from a panel of three experts.
Elliott Townsend, director of environmental compliance services at Raba Kisner, moderated the panel. Participating in the panel discussion was Melissa Fitts, Senior Vice President of Permits and Compliance at Westward Environmental. Shawn Haven, Senior Project Manager at EnSafe. and Douglas Wolf, director of air quality services at Groundwater & Environmental Services.
On February 7, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule under the Clean Air Act that lowers the national air quality standard for fine particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM2.5) from 12 to 12 per year. Published. 9 micrograms per cubic meter. The aggregates industry must comply with new standards while continuing to provide materials to construct roads, bridges, schools, buildings, homes, and hospitals.
“There is no question that the final rule will have far-reaching implications both within and outside the industry,” Fitts said. “For operators, the new PM2.5 standard is likely to mean increased property line distances, production limits, enclosures, and reduced stockpiles.”
Haven said operators can reduce what is considered a negligible level of PM2.5 particles to a significant impact level ( SIL). This analysis considers multiple factors such as source type, production rate, and emission control technology to determine whether the project can be maintained at or below the overall SIL level to avoid a more comprehensive modeling analysis. Evaluate.
Wolf said wind barriers are highly effective in reducing downwind speeds by more than 50 percent, which can result in a 60 percent reduction in PM2.5 concentrations. Windbreaks could also be helpful from an aesthetic standpoint if a housing development is built next to the site, he added.
Attendees also heard from Bonnie Ebridge, Mechanical Coatings Section Manager in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Air Permit Division. Ebridge will discuss how officials are evaluating new federal air quality standards that took effect May 6 and how they will affect permits for Texas’ aggregate, concrete and cement industries. We discussed whether it was possible.
“TACA is thrilled to be able to offer environmental, sustainability and safety seminars to our members each year,” said Zach Cover, president and CEO of TACA. “For two days, we bring together subject matter experts on a variety of issues. Members spend two full days learning from speakers and members, and enjoying networking activities, all of which are of immense value to themselves and their companies.” Member benefits like these are invaluable because the standards followed by EPA are constantly changing.”
Related: TACA names new president, CEO
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