On Tuesday, June 16^th, a package of Senate bills (SB 400, 401, and 402) was introduced to implement changes to the Part 121 Liquid Industrial Waste Rules. These changes are a product of a stakeholder workgroup formed to address an ORR recommendation that the DEQ streamline the process of handling these materials. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.

The MCC and member company representatives participated in the stakeholder process to develop these recommendations. Please let us know as soon as soon as possible if you have any questions or concerns about the changes.

We have posted updates, presentations, and pictures from our 2015 Annual Meeting, which took place on Wednesday, May 13th at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing.

Please click here for the details!

On Friday, May 29th, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a memo (attached) detailing its interim enforcement guidance for the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) labeling requirements, effective today, Monday June 1st.

The memo clarifies that manufacturers and importers will not be cited if able to demonstrate reasonable diligence and good faith efforts to obtain classification information from upstream suppliers or alternative sources. Also, existing stock that has been packaged for shipment prior to June 1st may continue to be shipped downstream with no requirement to re-label such containers.

On June 1, 2015, OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) goes into effect.

Any employer that uses hazardous chemicals in its workplace is subject to the communication and training requirements of the HCS.

Please click here for a printable version of this bulletin.

Please click here for a frequently-asked-questions resource on this issue.

EPA has finalized a rule that purportedly clarifies the definition of “waters of the U.S” and therefore affects the applicability of all Clean Water Act programs.

EPA’s rulemaking has been the subject of national attention, with more than 1 million total comments received - some for and some against the rule.

The Michigan Chemistry Council's 2015 Policy Priorities may be found by clicking here.

The Michigan Chemistry Council's 2015 Energy Policy Agenda may be found by clicking here.