Author Archives: Justin Ripple
New EPA nominee faces hard road to confirmation
Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), advanced in the Senate confirmation process by a 10-8 party line vote on Thursday. The vote occurred one week after Republican members of the Senate Environment and … Continue reading
A regulatory compliance history of the West Fertilizer Plant in Texas
Please scroll down for more original TCEQ documents. The West Chemical and Fertilizer Company started in 1962 on the outskirts of Abbot Hill, Texas – just under five miles northeast of its current location in the town of West. … Continue reading
Phase I ESA changes expected with ASTM E1527-13
Many in the environmental industry are concerned about the upcoming proposed changes to ASTM E1527-05, the protocol established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to advise environmental professionals on best practices when conducting a Phase I … Continue reading
Keystone XL and pipeline leaks in the United States
Most everyone has heard about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline at this point. The international pipeline is proposed to deliver Canadian crude oil from northeastern Alberta to markets and refineries in the United States. The pipeline is already partially … Continue reading
Common abbreviations used by the TCEQ
When conducting state agency file research it’s important to know the lingo. Reports and correspondence documents found at the Central Registry are loaded with technical jargon and acronyms. This is a brief guide to the most common acronyms used by the … Continue reading
Love Canal disaster and the origin of CERCLA: Part 1
The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act – also known as CERCLA or Superfund – has changed the landscape of legal precedent and liability in cases of environmental contamination. It is the driving legislation behind Phase I … Continue reading