The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released a new training video that will help make the highways safer for cargo tank drivers and motorists alike.

"Cargo tank rollovers are among the most serious types of large truck crashes, often resulting in fatalities and serious highway infrastructure damage," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Yet rollovers can be prevented and driver safety is the key. This video is a tool to encourage tank drivers to become more safety-conscious."

Cargo tank rollovers account for 31% of large truck rollover crashes. In 75% of those crashes, unsafe driver behaviors such as inattention or excessive speeding are the primary cause.

The video provides cargo tank drivers with best practices and safety tips on how to avoid rollover crashes while transporting hazardous materials. Developed in partnership with the Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the National Tank Truck Carriers, the "Cargo Tank Driver Rollover Prevention Video" uses driver interviews and on-road scenarios to highlight the factors that contribute to rollovers.

"Tank truck rollovers are considerably more dangerous when they involve hazardous materials," said PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. "Improved cargo tank truck driver safety will also benefit the general public that shares the highways."

The video focuses on the four areas that affect the potential for a rollover: vehicle design, cargo load, highway factors and driver safety.

To view the video online, visit http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/outreach/cargo-tank-video.aspx. 

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For the first time in its history, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued final rules that will cut emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing, the third-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States.

This action limits mercury air emissions from existing cement kilns, strengthens the limits for new kilns and sets emission limits that will reduce acid gases. This final action also limits particle pollution from new and existing kilns, and sets new-kiln limits for particle and smog-forming nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
When fully implemented in 2013, the EPA estimates annual emissions will be reduced as follows:

• Mercury – 16,600 pounds (92%)
• Total hydrocarbons – 10,600 tons (83%)
• Particulate Matter – 11,500 tons (92%)
• Acid gases – (measured as hydrochloric acid): 5,800 tons (97%)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)– 110,000 tons (78%)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – 6,600 tons (5%)

The EPA estimates that the rules will yield $6.7 billion to $18 billion in health and environmental benefits, with costs estimated at $926 million to $950 million annually in 2013.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html.

The projects involve the development of 10,000 MW of offshore wind farm capacity within the next 10 years, and 25,000 MW in the next 20 years.

The German government is finalizing its energy plans for the next 40 years. Röttgen believes that Germany can reach nearly 100% renewable energy by 2050, with wind power providing approximately 50% of that power.

For Europe as a whole, offshore wind power growth is robust. In 2010, Europe’s offshore wind farm installation has proliferated, with more MW installed in the first half of 2010 than in the same period of 2009.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new rule regarding the use of cranes and derricks in construction, replacing a decades-old standard. Approximately 267,000 construction, crane rental and crane certification establishments employing about 4.8 million workers will be affected by the rule, OSHA said.

"The significant number of fatalities associated with the use of cranes in construction led the Labor Department to undertake this rulemaking," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "After years of extensive research, consultation and negotiation with industry experts, this long overdue rule will address the leading causes of fatalities related to cranes and derricks, including electrocution, boom collapse and overturning."

The previous rule, which dated back to 1971, was based on 40-year-old standards. Stakeholders from the construction industry recognized the need to update the safety requirements, methods and practices for cranes and derricks, and to incorporate technological advances in order to provide improved protection for those who work on and around cranes and derricks.

The new rule is designed to prevent the leading causes of fatalities, including electrocution, crushed-by/struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn. It also sets requirements for ground conditions and crane operator assessment. In addition, the rule addresses tower crane hazards, addresses the use of synthetic slings for assembly/disassembly work, and clarifies the scope of the regulation by providing both a functional description and a list of examples for the equipment that is covered.

"The rule addresses critically important provisions for crane operator certification, and crane inspection, set-up and disassembly," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "Compliance with the rule will prevent needless worker injuries and death, and provide protection for the public and property owners."

In 2003, the secretary of labor appointed 23 experienced Cranes and Derricks Advisory Committee members representing manufacturers and trade associations, who met 11 times until a consensus on the regulatory text was reached in July 2004. The proposed rule was published Oct. 9, 2008, and the public was invited to submit comments until Jan. 22, 2009. Public hearings were held in March 2009, and the public comment period on those proceedings closed in June 2009. OSHA staff incorporated input from the public comments and testimony to develop the final regulatory text.

The new rule will take effect on Nov. 8, 2010. 

On July 3, 2010, President Obama announced the offer of a conditional commitment to Solana, Arizona-based Abengoa Solar Inc. for a $1.45 Billion loan guarantee to finance the construction and start-up of a concentrating solar power generating facility. The facility will utilize parabolic solar trough technology and a 6-hour energy storage system, which will add 250 MW of capactiy to the electrical grid.

Solar trough systems use parabolic mirrors that focus the sun’s energy at up to 60 times its normal intensity onto a receiver pipe filled with a fluid, usually synthetic oil. The fluid becomes heated to over 700°F and is pumped through a heat exchanger to produce steam. Electricity is then produced with a conventional steam turbine. The Solana facility will also inlcude 6 hours of molten salt thermal energy storage, which will dispatch energy during cloudy periods and evening hours.

The project will create over 1,600 construction jobs with an additional 85 permanent jobs, and is expected to attract hundreds more in indirect employment. Two assembly plants will be constructed on the Solana Project site, as well as a factory in Surprise, AZ to supply the company’s need of over 900,000 mirrors.

Regarding the Solana Project, Energy Secretary Steven Chu stated, “Supporting this type of innovative renewable energy project is part of our commitment to creating a clean energy future while significantly reducing green house gases.”

Operators of heavy-duty trucks in North Carolina must reduce unnecessary idling to help improve air quality, under a new rule that took effect this week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing regulations to curb power plant air pollution that drifts across the borders of 31 eastern states and the District of Columbia. Along with local and state air pollution controls, the new proposal, called the transport rule, is designed to help areas in the eastern United States meet existing national air quality health standards, the EPA said.

“We’re working to limit pollution at its source, rather than waiting for it to move across the country,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

Specifically, the transport rule would reduce power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) to meet state-by-state emission reductions. By 2014, the rule and other state and EPA actions would reduce SO₂ emissions by 71% over 2005 levels. NO_x emissions would drop by 52%.

The EPA said it is using the “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act to reduce interstate transport, which is the upwind state emissions that contribute to air quality problems in downwind states.

In 2014, the EPA says the annual cost of compliance with the proposed rule will be approximately $2.8 billion and the annual health benefits would equal an estimated $120 billion.

The proposal would replace and improve upon the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered EPA to revise in 2008. The court allowed CAIR to remain in place temporarily while the EPA works to finalize the replacement rule proposed today.

EPA will take public comment on the proposal for 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. The agency also will hold public hearings.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/airtransport.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting public comment on which industry related greenhouse gas (GHG)  information would be made publicly available and which would be considered confidential. Under the Clean Air Act, all emission data are public. Some non-emission data, however, may be considered confidential, because it relates to specific information which, if made public, could harm a business’ competitiveness. Examples of data considered confidential under this proposal include certain information reported by fossil fuel and industrial gas suppliers related to production quantities and raw materials. EPA is committed to providing the public with as much information as possible while following the law.

The GHG reporting program requires suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial GHGs and large direct emitters of greenhouse gases to report to EPA. Collecting this data will allow businesses to track emissions and identify cost effective ways to reduce emissions. EPA is preparing to provide data to the public after the first annual GHG reports are submitted in March 2011.

There will be a 60-day public comment period on the proposed rules that will begin upon publication in the federal register.

More information on the proposal on data confidentiality:

The results of a survey of 300 global corporations with $1 billion or more in revenue showed that the majority of executives anticipate making considerable near-term investments in climate change initiatives to cut costs and generate revenue. The majority of the executives believe that climate change initiatives will considerably impact their business strategy over the next few years, according to the survey commissioned by Ernst & Young. Between 2010 and 2012, 70% plan to increase spending and almost half project spending from 0.5% to more than 5% of their revenue on climate change enterprises.

Energy efficiency, new ventures and new products and services top the list of climate change issues. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed plan to invest in energy efficiency initiatives within the next year. New ventures such as spin-offs or start-up businesses are the focus of nearly half of the executives. Sixty-five percent intend to focus investments on new products and services. The vast majority of respondents recognize the importance of emerging national and international climate change policies in shaping their business strategies.

To view the complete survey, visit www.ey.com/ccassexecutivesurvey.