Cement plant emissions remain micro (< 1%) factor in EPA GHG Inventory

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency’s just-published Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks cites 5.586 billion metric tons (mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions for 2021, a 6 percent increase over the prior year. The Inventory spans six economic sectors; the third largest, Industry, accounted for 24 percent, or 1.34 billion mt…

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EPA sets 2027 target for halving heavy duty truck NOx emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing a program to further reduce air pollution, including ozone and particulate matter (PM), from heavy-duty engines and vehicles. Compared to current standards, its new emissions thresholds are significantly more stringent and cover a wider range of heavy-duty engine operating conditions. The final rulemaking promulgates new numeric standards and changes key provisions of the existing…

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EPA tour closes in on Clean Water Act 50th anniversary

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox recently joined agency colleagues, state and local officials to kick off the Clean Water Act 50th Anniversary celebration tour. Culminating in mid-October, it will highlight waters that are essential to healthy people, vibrant ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and economic growth, with stops including the Florida Everglades, Chesapeake…

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CalPortland, Cemex, Ozinga, PCA earn Energy Star Partner recognition

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff Four familiar names in construction materials are among 210 U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency 2022 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award recipients. The 2022 Partner naming marks 18 consecutive years of such recognition for CalPortland, four years for Cemex, and three years for Ozinga and PCA.

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EPA campaign targets commercial building energy efficiency

New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiatives will provide policymakers and commercial building owners resources to reduce emissions from more than 6 million commercial and multifamily buildings. Through decades of partnership with EPA’s Energy Star program, private and public building owners have significantly reduced their emissions and energy costs by improving their properties’ energy efficiency and performance. Many cities and states…

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Synthetic form release agent

Company’s newest innovation for concrete forming and casting is Platinum 727, a synthetic release agent especially suited to structural members. Powered by proprietary, economical and eco-friendly Platinum technology, the low-odor agent yields superior concrete surfaces, holding even fine detail. The product complies with Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines or rules for low volatile organic compound…

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EPA ‘Clean Trucks Plan’ nixes NOx, embraces zero emissions models

Sources: Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency plans a 2022-24 release of rulemakings to extend the sharp reduction of heavy-duty truck emissions realized from the 2010 measure that standardized diesel particulate filter, selective catalytic reduction, and related exhaust treatment system components in on- and on/off-highway fleets. 

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Shifty petitioners fail to persuade EPA to lower pH 12.5 corrosivity level

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has formally denied a 2011 rulemaking petition that sought to “revise the regulatory threshold for defining waste as corrosive from the current value of pH 12.5, to pH 11.5; and expand the scope of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrosivity definition to include non-aqueous wastes in addition to the aqueous wastes currently regulated.” 

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EPA affirms pH 12.5 corrosivity; averts new cement, concrete handling burdens

Sources: CP staff; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has formally denied a 2011 rulemaking petition that sought to “revise the regulatory threshold for defining waste as corrosive from the current value of pH 12.5, to pH 11.5; and expand the scope of the Resource Conservation and Recovery…

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EPA honors nine cement companies and PCA in 2021 Energy Star Awards

Thirteen of the 95 plants earning certification in the 2020 Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star manufacturing category produce portland cement: Argos USA LLC, Calera, Ala. and Harleyville, S.C.; Ash Grove Cement, Seattle; Buzzi Unicem USA, Festus, Mo. and Chattanooga, Tenn.; CalPortland Co., Rillito, Ariz.; Cemex USA, Miami; Drake Cement, Paulden, Ariz.; GCC of America, Pueblo, Colo. and Rapid City, S.D.;…

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