Playing by the rules of compliant chemical storage is like playing a game of chess. Just as when it looks like you’re about move freely across the board, you get slapped with a technicality. Boom. You have to move back a few spaces. But it’s not your fault. Not Everyone knows that a knight can only move in a L pattern. Well, unless your a Russian chess zealot. And like the grandmasters, the EPA can sound a little capricious at times. Why do these rules exist? Can’t they see you’re just trying to make a profit? Rest assured that government regulators aren’t out to get you. They just want to make sure everyone plays by the same rules when it comes to chemical storage. But what happens when they change storage ordinances that were once set in the stone? What do you do when the EPA designates new hazardous substance?
EPA Proposes Reclassifying PFOA and PFOS as Dangerous Chemicals
To curb harmful pollutants from reaching our sensitive groundwater reserves, the EPA is proposing reclassifying perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). These chemicals can be found at hundreds of facilities nationwide. While the names of these chemicals don’t exactly roll off the tip of the tongue like tasty flavorants – which by the way, we also provide storage for – you probably have these everyday chemicals stored away in benign places, like your kitchen or garage. But it’s not liquid plumber or the bleach under the kitchen sink that is making people sick, although we staunchly oppose the consumption of these chemicals, (and why would you want to drink these chemical cocktails anyway?)
‘Forever Chemicals’ Don’t Go Away or Breakdown. Invest in Compliant Chemical Storage to Shorten Their Half-Lives and Avoid Hefty Civil Penalties
PFOA and PFOS can be commonly found in cookware, fire-fighting foam and even some water repellants. They might seem rather benign, but they can have long-lasting harmful consequences. Known as “forever chemicals,” they can take a long time to breakdown – even quicker than a project manager racking over his brain, trying to figure out how to accommodate the sudden need for bulk storage. But before you sell off the entire business to some Chinese investors, take a second to let these new regulations soak in before they permeate our topsoil. You have options. This sort of thing happens pretty often in heavy industry, and most companies seem to emerge more than okay. But the question remains, what do you suddenly do with all these chemicals that suddenly need hazardous material storage? What do you do when the EPA designates new hazardous substance?
US Hazmat Rentals Can Provide Affordable, Effective Turnkey Storage When The EPA Designates New Hazardous Substance
You don’t have to be caught completely off guard when the EPA designates new hazardous substances, but you need to take corrective measures. Contrary to popular belief, the EPA or OSHA isn’t going to run out to the nearest factory with a pen and pad in hand, lashing out at companies with fines and tickets. As the case with most new regulations, government agencies have a soft-roll out of rules and regulations. There’s a little bit of a grace period to allow non-compliant entities to get up to speed with the new rules. They might even show a little lenience if your company can prove you were putting in due diligence to put proper storage units on site at your facility. U.S. Hazmat Rentals chemical storage lockers for PFOA and PFOS chemicals lurking in your stockpiles. Our easy to transfer and relocate chemical storage lockers can be conveniently placed anywhere in facility without interrupting day-to-day operations. And because you’re unlikely to keep these chemicals long-term due to their recent reclassification, renting a storage locker is a great option for a staging area before eventually removing them altogether from your facility. The choice is clear. Rent today to avoid fines tomorrow.
