Final Writing Project

Running head: DRAFT OF THE FINAL WRITING PROJECT

DRAFT OF THE FINAL WRITING PROJECT 8

Draft of the Final Writing Project

Heather Fuller

LS302: Environmental Law and Policy

November 08, 2015

RRE International wants to begin the construction and operation of the smelter in the City of Riverside. There is the need for the company to get permits for its operation as it intends to build and operate the smelter, construct outfalls that will discharge into the Long Trout River, and store and transport the hazardous waste.

The paper will look at various issues that might come up with the building of the facility in that area. The issues include the opposition from residents living within the surrounding community who might oppose the facility from being built in that area. The other issue is the concerns of the reactions from local and state officials to locating this facility in their area. Another issue that will be discussed is the possible contamination of soil and river that will raise concern from the citizens.

Another issue of concern will be the air quality of the area due to building of the facility.

The paper will also look at some of the permits that will need to be pulled before the facility is set up. The environmental acts involved in the building of the facility will also be highlighted. Finally, there will be a discussion of the development and fostering of relations with government officials.

Permits and needs for the permits

There are several permits that RRE International will require to obtain before they begin the construction and operation of the smelter company they want to set up in the City of Riverside. One of the permits is the building and construction permit which is the formal permission to start the construction, demolition, addition or renovation of property. The other permit is the business license that is needed for entities that are carrying out business in the limits of a city. The other required permit is the certificate of disclosure of hazardous substances. This requires those businesses which handle hazardous materials to report the information to implementing agencies. The facility is also required to fill a Business Emergency/Contingency Plan so as to develop an emergency plan.

Another requirement is the land use permit/zoning clearance is needed to allow specific types of development. Land use permit is required for the zoning of a site. There is also a requirement for police regulations or public safety. The city of Riverside has an ordinance that requires the facility to get a permit to have an entry alarm. The facility requires obtaining a fictitious business name since the organization’s business name does not contain the surname of its owners. Another permit required is the hazardous material/waste generation program which is to be filled if an organization handles, stores, transports or disposes hazardous waste. The facility is also required to get a notification to assessor of business activity. This is important for notifying the country’s assessor’s office of the new business activities. Required to notify the county assessor’s office of new business activities the facility intends to carry out.

Another permit required by the facility is an Industrial Activities Storm Water General Permit. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit No. CAS000001 includes waste discharge requirements for discharges of storm water associated with industrial activities. The facility should make available occupational safety and health information to its employees. The facility is required to get State EPA ID Number before starting its operations.

Apart from the permits, there are also waste discharge requirements that RRE International has to follow when setting up the facility. This requirements state that any facility or activity that discharges, or proposes to discharge, waste that may affect groundwater quality or from which waste may be discharged in a diffused manner (e.g., erosion from soil disturbance) must first obtain waste discharge requirements

Major environmental acts

The facility is also required to carry out its operations in line with various acts. These acts include the Clean air Act which is a federal law put in place to control air pollution. The other act is the Clean water Act which is a federal law that governs water pollution in the United States. Another act that the facility should comply with is the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act. This act establishes amended provisions when it comes to the reporting and dissemination of information under the clean air act.

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires hazardous chemical emergency planning to be put in place by all levels of government and industry. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)’s basic policy is to make sure that the branches of the government give proper consideration to the environment before undertaking federal action that has an impact on the government. The facility should also comply with the Noise Control Act which deals with the regulation of noise pollution. The last act is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. This act regulates the introduction of new chemicals and those already in existence. Comment by choward: Do you need NEPA as applies to government not private companies

Opposition

RRE International is likely to face opposition from various organizations and individuals. The first organization that will oppose the building of the smelting facility is the EPA. The EPA will conduct research on the environmental impacts of the operations of the smelter. The EPA will require regulating activities in the smelter that lead to environmental harm. The EPA will oppose the operations of the smelter due to the environmental impact the operations have on the environment. The organization will also face opposition from Clean Air now Organization, based in Riverside, CA. The organization will oppose the operations of RRE International due to the air pollution associated with the organization.

The citizens also have the right to make sure that the plant will not pollute or make the area become harmful. Therefore, they will strive to make sure that the activities carried out in the facility do not harm the environment.

Major Environmental Issues:

There are numerous issues that are associated with the operations carried out in the smelting facility. First, the smelting can lead environmental pollution. There are various toxic substances that will be released to the air and water bodies from the smelting facility. These pollutants include sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, mercury and metals. These pollutants have the potential of causing various acute and chronic diseases to human beings. The more serious and chronic effects are heart and lung problems, and even premature death. The pollutants can result into birth defects, kidney and liver problems, gastrointestinal tract issues, joint pain, as well as nervous, respiratory and reproductive system damage. Smelter contaminants through inhalation and ingestion.4 Inhalation of pollutants occurs as a consequence of gaseous emissions and fine particulate matter (i.e. dust). Layers of dust can also settle onto nearby agricultural fields, causing crop intake of pollutants and later consumed by humans. Particulate matter emissions, sewage waters, and solid wastes get into waterways that are used for drinking water. People working in the metal processing plants and smelters generally have a higher risk of exposure to toxic pollutants since they can come into direct contact with the pollutants when working with substances containing metal processing and smelting waste.

Development and fostering relations with government officials

RRE International is required to develop and foster relations with government officials. This is through making sure that they abide by the regulations set by the government through the different acts. This can also be achieved through partnering with the government officials in community development programs. The development and fostering relations with government officials is important as these officials will support the operations of the facility.

References

Doing Business Here. (2015). Retrieved November 9, 2015 from

https://www.riversideca.gov/business.asp

Metals Smelters and Processing. (2014). Retrieved November 9, 2015 from

http://www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/61

List of permits needed

http://calgold.ca.gov/Results.aspx?location=409&businessTypes=35,176,106,61&greenBusiness=False

Air quality in Riverside

http://riversideca.gov/publicworks/air/air-quality.asp

Environmental compliance

http://riversideca.gov/publicworks/sewer/EC.asp

Clean Air Now Organization

http://www.clean-air-now.com/home.html

Review of EPA homeland security efforts Safe Buildings Program research implementation plan. (2003). Washington, D.C.: National Academies, Press.

Hajdu, A., & Licsko, I. (2009). Environmental pollution caused by a non-ferrous metal smelter. Water Science and Technology, 165-168.

Duncan, W. (2010). Obtain Zoning Approvals and Building Permits. Substantial Rehabilitation & New Construction, 141-142.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2005). Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia.

Heather

The rough draft is good but there is things that need to be done to convert to final draft. First given this is a private company do you need to meet any NEPA standards? Next, the paper did a good job of summarizing the major acts like CWA and CAA and the permits that are needed, Finally work on the relations with general public and government officials some more as company should work with the general public and local government through lobbying and marketing and also develop relations with staff at EPA and state agency as well.