If you haven’t already, you’ll soon be hearing a lot about Conceptual Site Models, or CSMs, for environmental projects in Indiana. CSMs have been used for decades in some quarters, particularly in federal programs, to guide environmental investigation and remediation.  General discussions for developing and using CSMs appeared in U.S. EPA Superfund-related guidance documents in the late 1980s, and CSMs are an important part of EPA’s influential Soil Screening Guidance published in April 1996.  ASTM published its first CSM standard guidance (ASTM1689) in 1995 (reapproved in 2008).

Since air emission standards were first established in 1971, periodic review of the standards has resulted in the standards being regularly revised. With respect to particulate matter regulations, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has focused on adding standards of ever increasingly fine particulate matter to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

On March 21, 2011 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published two (2) final rules establishing a National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for both new and existing boilers and process heaters.  One rule regards such facilities which are major sources of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), while the second rule regards such facilities which are area sources of HAPs.  EPA delayed the effective date of the standards applicable to affected sources located at major HAP sources pending reconsideration of legal challenges.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) released a draft version of the Remediation Closure Guide (RCG) on May 6, 2011.  The purpose of this Nonrule Policy Document is to provide guidance for the investigation, remedy selection, and cleanup of contaminated sites.  Public comments were received up until June 20, 2011.  A total of 253 pages of public comments were received, including Astbury Environmental Engineering’s comments, which were submitted through the Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association (MSECA).  Follow this link to review and/or download the public comments: Remediation Closure Guide Comments.

The Excess Liability Trust Fund (ELTF) is an Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) managed trust fund established so that owners/operators of underground storage tanks (USTs) could meet their financial obligations as part of the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) US EPA requirements.  The investigation and cleanup of facilities that have regulated USTs and are in substantial compliance with the ELTF Rule are eligible for coverage of up to $2 million per location, after having met the per-site deductible.