The line between complying with and lobbying against can get blurred, especially in today's creative accounting environment.

In January 2001, EPA proposed a comprehensive water pollution point source category ruling covering 18 Metal Products and Machinery (MP&M) industrial sectors.

Evaluating a shop process based only on the "bottom line" doesn't always give the whole picture. For example, throwing disposable wipes into general trash versus using an industrial rag-laundering service could make good business sense in some cases, but many times it could lead to a hazardous waste-compliance issue.

It's good practice to not only know and document your used-oil management processes, but also hold your transporter and reclamation facilities to high standards.

On February 14, 2002, President Bush delivered two major proposals addressing air quality and global warming: the Clear Skies Initiative (CSI) and Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI).

Have you completed an air emission survey for your operations? Most States are now requiring air emission surveys for nearly all manufacturing operations.

The theory behind market-based incentives is supported by the concept that industrial source managers are more knowledgeable of their operations and are, therefore, the best entity to make cost-effective decisions. Ideally, the result should be increased regulatory flexibility and accelerated progress toward environmental goals.

Most companies are actively seeking ways to improve energy efficiency as a means to remain competitive by decreasing the amount of energy needed to produce a unit of product. This way of thinking often frames the issue as one within the confines of the operating plant and leaves the rest of the facility out of the energy management plan.

Radiant tube style furnaces are common in the heat-treating industry because they offer the opportunity to elevate the temperature of a product in a neutral or specially designed atmosphere. Essential to providing consistent product quality, reliability, affordability and improved environmental performance, these furnaces should be maintained to assure normal and consistent operations and whenever possible, be optimized using new technology.

The key to being prepared is to have a communication plan in place before an emergency happens. Instead of trying to build a plan when an event occurs and when resources and emotions are strained, it should be built over time, when clearer minds prevail.