California Environmental Regulations - Differences Between Federal EPA and State Requirements

Why Should You Attend:

This webinar will explain, in a well-organized and effective manner, the key differences in regulations that any person responsible for environmental compliance in California needs to know.

As most national and international corporation headquarters are located outside of California, there often is a gap in understanding this state’s unique, complicated, and heavily-enforced environmental regulations. This is due in part to the fact that most other states consistently follow U.S. EPA environmental regulations, whereas many California requirements predate federal regulations, or modify them to be more stringent. In addition, the state has unique regulatory programs that have no federal or other state counterpart.

In view of onerous enforcement and strict liability (“lack of knowledge is no defense”), it is essential to understand the differences and how to comply to avoid serious problems. There are numerous examples of major corporations that have incurred substantial penalties because of the lack of information in this regard.

The webinar’s instructor has over 20 years of experience in assisting clients comply with California’s tough environmental requirements, as well as defending clients in administrative, civil, and criminal cases in all of these topics. This webinar is based on the popular “Environmental Crash Course” attended by thousands of California business representatives. It covers Community Right-to-Know, air pollution regulation of stationary sources and consumer products, Proposition 65, and hazardous and universal waste.

Learning Objectives:

• Provide participants with practical understanding of differences between California and federal environmental requirements.
• Serve as a foundation for specific environmental regulation topics.

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Introduction: Basis for differences between California and federal environmental rules, source of regulations, regulatory organization, and enforcement trends.
• Community Right-to-Know: Covers federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA) regulation on inventory and release reporting and compares these to California Hazardous Materials Business Plans, Inventories, and Release Reporting.
• Air Pollution: Explains California’s unique system of 35 different air districts and district rules, and how federal Clean Air Act requirements are implemented for stationary sources, and enforced by both U.S. EPA and state/local officials. Also covers the State Air Resources Board’s regulations of non-stationary sources (consumer products) and engines.
• Proposition 65: This one-of-a-kind regulatory program requires warnings with respect to chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive harm provided to consumers, residents, and workers. Its enforcement by private citizens and the Attorney General has cost businesses hundreds of millions in settlement proceeds in addition to defense and compliance costs.
• Hazardous and Universal Waste: California’s Hazardous Waste Control Law and Title 22 regulations are compared to federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The substantial differences in types of wastes regulated as hazardous, more strict regulation of generators, more universal wastes than federally regulated, and unique multi-jurisdiction enforcement are covered.

Handout Materials:

The webinar will include well-organized PowerPoint explanations of regulatory requirements, as well as tables comparing federal and state requirements. The CD has hyperlinks to regulations covered in the program.

Who Will Benefit:

This webinar is designed to provide a basic overview of differences between California environmental requirements and federal rules generally applicable in other jurisdictions for personnel with responsibility for environmental compliance in California. It also provides a foundation for additional, more in-depth webinars on specific environmental topics.

• Senior Management
• EH&S professionals
• Facility management personnel
• Operations personnel with responsibility for environmental compliance in California, or with multi-state responsibility that includes this state
• For recent transfers to California in positions with environmental oversight or responsibilities, this webinar is a “must attend.”

James T. Dufour
Founder and Principal, Dufour Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Law

James T. Dufour, MS, JD, CIH is an attorney with a background in environmental management and industrial hygiene and workplace safety with more than 3 decades of experience, including private law practice since 1987 effectively representing clients in federal, California, and other state OSHA appeals and administrative, civil and criminal environmental cases. Recognized as a proficient strategist, his preventive and post-enforcement cost-effective compliance/clean-up plans have been highly regarded by clients, regulators, and judges. (www.dufourlegal.com)

He also has devised corporate regulatory compliance programs in response to new standards and regulations for corporations and trade association membership, including compliance manuals on OSHA and environmental compliance topics published by the California Chamber of Commerce and other trade groups, including the best selling Injury & Illness Prevention Program Compliance Manual (first edition – 54,000 copies), Cal/OSHA Basics and Written Programs, OSHA Compliance in 10 Practical Steps, Proposition 65, and the California Environmental Compliance and Hazardous Waste Handbooks.

James also has instructed thousands of participants in seminars and webinars sponsored by Dufour Seminars & Training, corporate and association clients, and webinar producers since 1986.

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