The American Institute for Steel Construction (AISC) has updated its steel fabrication standard, now titled Standard for Certification Programs 207-20, which supersedes the prior Certification Standard for Steel Fabrication and Erection, and Manufacturing of Metal Components 207-16. The new standard takes effect on June 1, 2021 and is available for download. A brief summary of […]
The American Welding Society (AWS) has released the 2020 revision of the D1.1/D1.1M Structural Welding Code for steel. You can find a summary of the changes on the American National Standards Institute website here and a YouTube video from the AWS describing the changes in more detail here. If you would like help becoming certified […]
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) has implemented changes in its Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). If your company is a participant in the RCP, it might be a good time to review your safety management system to ensure that you’re in compliance. According to The Waterways Journal Weekly, changes to the RCP include: AWO members may […]
Last month, The Seattle Times reported that, in a paper published in Science magazine, researchers have identified an antioxdiant chemical used in tire rubber that causes deaths of coho salmon, particularly in the Puget Sound region: More specifically, a single chemical, 6PPD-quinone, derived from a preservative that helps tires last longer. Through painstaking analysis and […]
Many businesses use Excel to track, collate, and process data, and it’s easy to understand why. Excel is ubiquitous and is easy to use. Excel’s strengths, however, can also become serious risks. Last October, Public Health England lost 16,000 COVID-19 test results because of limits on the number of rows Excel can handle: A million-row […]
If your business has coverage under the Alaska Construction General Permit for Discharges from Large and Small Construction Activities, you have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed final permit that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will issue to succeed the current permit. The last day to submit feedback to DEC […]
Change is inevitable in business—personnel change, requirements change, resources change—the list of potential triggers is endless; furthermore, each change is unique to the specific business, industry, and circumstance, with varying impacts and degrees of complexity. It is natural to feel overwhelmed by change and to have trouble wrapping your head around which factors to consider […]
The Washington Department of Ecology has reissued the Construction Stormwater General Permit to take effect on January 1, 2021. The permit authorizes stormwater and approved non-stormwater discharges associated with construction activity. Permit coverage is required for the following: Ongoing construction sites that are covered under the existing permit Construction sites that disturb one acre or […]
In March, the EPA released its final proposed version of the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) that will replace the 2015 version currently in force. The MSGP authorizes stormwater discharges in areas where the EPA is the permitting authority, e.g., areas not covered by a state general permit. The comment period for the proposed permit ended […]
Over the past several years, regulatory authorities and nonprofits have increased their watch over stormwater compliance. Freer Consulting routinely monitors records for the state of Washington from the Region 10 office of the Environmental Protection Agency for Notices of Intent (NOI) to Sue under the Clean Water Act. In 2019, the EPA received 21 NOIs […]