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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] The Story of OSHA
Date: Friday, March 27, 2020 at 12:57:41 PM
Author: James Keating <james.k.keating**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM> 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] U.S. stops enforcing many environmental laws, citing pandemic
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:46:24 +0000
Author: "Stuart, Ralph"

From: Jason Fritz <lokster.jf**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] U.S. stops enforcing many environmental laws, citing pandemic
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2020 11:30:53 -0600
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: CAPc8KTWumEOwM7y-X3vgCg5vcrp7YCJAEhQPx8FWL1rsx3mgAw**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com
In-Reply-To


Hello,

EPA OECA (Susan Bodine) just released an "enforcement discretion" letter regarding COVID-19 impacts to regulated industry, reporting and compliance requirements, etc. Available here:
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/covid-19-implications-epas-enforcement-and-compliance-assurance-program
Criminal acts will still be considered criminal acts, so intentionally violating environmental laws could still result in a criminal investigation. But industries are largely given a pass if they can document that they could not perform an activity due to COVID-19 impacts, i.e. stack testing, fence line monitoring, etc.
Some industry-specific interpretations, due to critical infrastructure requirements.
Our civil inspections are largely on hold.
Stay safe and healthy,
Jason

On Fri, Mar 27, 2020, 11:06 AM NEAL LANGERMAN <neal**At_Symbol_Here**chemical-safety.com> wrote:
Rob,
Your analysis is correct. Using the pandemic to justify regulatory relief is smoke and mirrors of the highest order. Yes, work force shortages may impact data collection for reporting but that can be handled case by case. Further endangering people by a gross reduction in protective regulations has no merit.
Stay healthy, stay safe
nl

Sent from Neal Langerman's NEXUS 6.
Standard client confidentiality terms apply.

On Fri, Mar 27, 2020, 08:44 ILPI Support <info**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com> wrote:
That's such a glib answer I feel compelled to respond even if it goes a bit off-topic.

Our "allies" the Saudis are in a price war with the Russians with all restrictions on production volume coming off April 1. The Russian goal is to destroy the fracking industry in the US by flooding the market with cheap oil and waiting it out. Oil is now trading well below its commodity price of $21 (WTI) - as little as $10 to $15 bbl, well below Permian basin break-even of ~$43. The worldwide contraction in demand from the current crisis is going to be upwards of 18M bbl per week in April and crude will drop into the teens. April contracts for gasoline are trading at 53 cents a gallon right now, and there's a glut of winter-blend gas that has to be sold. Some light reading on oil: https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/in-oil-markets-its-back-to-1998-crisis-pricing-2122511


The notion that US environmental laws have any demonstrable effect on gas prices is utterly specious.

Rob Toreki



Or go back to $5.00 + per gallon gas. Always choices I reckon

Thank you in advance,

Bill Parks
CIHM, CHST, LSP, CEHT, H2S Trainer
CHEMPHYXX......is on LinkedIn; and OutReachTrainers.org
630/380-4032

**Providing sound Industrial Hygiene; Construction Health and Safety; Pipeline Health and Safety; EM385-1-1 Project Safety Support; Environmental Health, IAQ and Mold Investigations; Environmental Science; and Laboratory Support Services and solutions**


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On Friday, March 27, 2020, 08:01:32 AM PDT, ILPI Support <info**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com> wrote:


Official word: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/oecamemooncovid19implications.pdf

News stories:



Small excerpt from the latter:

The oil and gas industry were among the industries that had sought an advance relaxation of environmental and public-health enforcement during the outbreak, citing potential staffing problems. The EPA's decision was sweeping, forgoing fines or other civil penalties for companies that failed to monitor, report or meet some other requirements for releasing hazardous pollutants.

Good chance to empty out those toxic holding ponds while you can, I guess.

Rob Toreki

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