The Department of Natural Resources adopted amendments to regulations governing the Surface Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. The amendments clarify and update information to keep up with industry regulations, including general requirements, monitoring, use of explosives, training, and licensing. See https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/index/register/volume48/register_volume48_27.pdf (pp. 9650-89).

The Department of Energy and Environment proposed amendments to regulations governing the removal of Title V emergency affirmative defense provisions. The amendments would remove language related to emergency affirmative defenses to comply with EPA’s 2023 rulemaking that removed all emergency affirmative defense provisions from the CAA Title V program. Comments are due August 5, 2024.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection proposed amendments to regulations governing USTs. The amendments would amend definitions, clarify statutory requirements for tank construction, require owners and operators to conduct annual inspections, require certain UST system components to be upgraded within specific time frames, extend tank life expectancy from 30 to 45 years, and add a new civil penalties schedule. A hearing will be held July 30, 2024. Comments are due August 12, 2024.

The Water Quality Control Commission proposed amendments to regulations governing 401 certification and water quality civil penalty inflation adjustment. The amendments would include clarifying edits, incorporate additional information by reference, provide more details on water quality certification applications and requirements, and adjust the 2025 maximum penalty to $64,326. A hearing will be held October 15, 2024. Comments are due October 2, 2024.

The Department of Public Health and Environment adopted amendments to regulations governing the extended producer responsibility program. The amendments raise the producer exemption dollar limit from $5,320,000 to $5,506,200. See https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/RegisterContents.do?publicationDay=07/10/2024&Volume=47&yearPublishNumber=13&Month=7&Year=2024.

The Department of Environmental Management adopted amendments to regulations governing the scrap tire program. The amendments, among other things, update definitions, clarify the scrap tire environmental fee, clarify limited-use transporter permits, and update recordkeeping and reporting requirements. See https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-monthly.

The Department of Environmental Management proposed amendments to regulations governing solid waste program permitting, public notice, and hearings. The amendments would make general needed updates, such as changing references to outdated forms and language. A hearing will be held August 8, 2024. Comments are due the same date. See https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-monthly.

The Department of Environmental Management proposed amendments to regulations governing landfills. The amendments would revise provisions concerning general operation standards for landfill units, specific requirements for municipal solid waste landfills, and specific requirements for inter-construction/demolition landfills and industrial landfills. A hearing will be held August 8, 2024. Comments are due the same date.

The Department of Environmental Management proposed amendments to regulations governing requirements for Tank Trust Fund coverage of response action costs for UST and above-ground storage tank systems. The amendments would update the requirements for fund coverage of emergency response action costs and increase the additional expenditures amount to $150,000. A hearing will be held August 8, 2024. Comments are due the same date.