Advanced Environmental Compliance - How to Keep Your Workplace Safe with Proper Forklift Training

 Operators should take the time to become well-acquainted with the forklift before using it, and it's important to read the operator’s manual thoroughly. Daily visual inspections of the forklift should be conducted before each shift to ensure everything is in safe working order. For those forklifts in use around the clock, make sure to inspect them after every shift. Any issues discovered during inspections should be reported right away and resolved before the forklift is used again.

Every forklift should display a nameplate that shows its weight and rated capacity. Additionally, a horn or other loud warning device is essential so it can be heard over local noise; remember to sound this horn when entering or exiting buildings, or when approaching blind corners. A backup warning signal is also a must-have for added safety.

Preventing Heat-Related Illness - Stay Cool and Safe | Advanced Environmental Compliance

 Supervisors play a critical role in preventing heat illness among employees working in hot conditions. To fulfill this responsibility, supervisors must be proactive in monitoring the work environment and making appropriate adjustments to ensure employee safety and well-being. This includes providing frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas to allow workers to cool down and recover from heat exposure. Supervisors should also be attentive to employee complaints of heat stress and make necessary changes to work practices, such as increasing rest periods or altering work schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Proper training is essential, especially for new hires or those returning from extended absences, to educate them about the risks of heat illness and the preventive measures they can take. Supervisors must vigilantly monitor weather conditions and outdoor temperatures to anticipate when additional precautions are needed. Increasing air circulation through the use of fans can help alleviate heat stress. Providing ample cool drinking water and encouraging frequent hydration is crucial, as is making accommodations for workers who wear personal protective equipment that can trap heat and hinder perspiration. By carefully planning to schedule physically demanding or heat-producing tasks during cooler times of day or month, and providing gear like cooling bandanas and hard hat liners, supervisors can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses among their workforce.

Arkansas Senator Files Bill to Revoke Wastewater Permits

 From the Arkansas Senator

Arkansas Senator Mark Johnson recently filed Senate Bill 557, a piece of legislation aimed at strengthening the ability of state regulators to deny and revoke wastewater permits for entities that have consistently failed to comply with environmental regulations. The bill seeks to address the issue of "bad actors" - particularly land developers who install substandard package wastewater treatment systems that end up discharging poorly treated wastewater into streams and onto private property. If passed, SB 557 would require the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to deny permits to applicants who have had five or more instances of noncompliance with environmental regulations in the previous five years. This could include incomplete or deficient permit applications, violations recorded during DEQ inspections, or entering into consent administrative orders. Notably, the bill would also apply to companies or entities whose ownership includes individuals with at least a 5% stake who also own or have owned a 5% or greater stake in any other entity with a history of environmental noncompliance. In addition to the more stringent permit denial criteria, SB 557 would expand public notice requirements for new permits or major modifications to existing permits. The DEQ would be obligated to provide written notice to residents and property owners within the same zip code as the proposed or existing facility, a significant increase in public awareness compared to the current requirement of only placing a notice in a local newspaper. Senator Johnson's "bad actor bill" takes clear aim at repeat offenders who have skirted consequences and continued to pollute Arkansas communities and ecosystems with insufficiently treated wastewater. If enacted, SB 557 could represent a major step forward in holding chronic violators accountable and empowering the DEQ to more aggressively protect public and environmental health.

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Flu Prevention Tips | Health Officials Combat Arkansas Flu Spike

Solid Waste Management and Recycling in Arkansas - Improving the State's Systems | Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment

Water Monitoring & Education | Mississippi Water Stewards (MSWS)

Spill Control Countermeasures Plan (SPCC) - What is it & Who Needs It? | Advanced Environmental Compliance

Water Monitoring & Education | Mississippi Water Stewards (MSWS)

 From Mississippi State University

Mississippi Water Stewards (MSWS) is a groundbreaking statewide program that empowers citizens to become guardians of the state's precious water resources. Through a combination of education, training, and hands-on monitoring, MSWS is building a network of informed and engaged volunteers in every major Mississippi watershed. These dedicated stewards are learning about the critical water issues facing their local communities and the world at large. But MSWS goes beyond just raising awareness - the program equips participants with the scientific know-how and quality-assured protocols to gather credible data on water quality in their area. By arming citizens with this knowledge and these tools, MSWS is fostering the capacity for local communities to have a real, positive impact. The information collected by these citizen scientists can be used in a myriad of ways, from enhancing environmental education to driving waterbody restoration and protection efforts to supporting overall watershed stewardship. Already, the hard work of 75 certified MSWS volunteers across the Pearl, Coastal and Tombigbee River Basins has yielded an impressive 1,200 bacteriological and chemistry samples from 79 locations. This robust data set provides valuable insights into the general conditions at each site and helps identify areas where water quality may be impaired and falling short of designated use standards. With this information in hand, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality can take further steps to monitor and manage these sites to improve water quality. Through the dedicated efforts of its volunteer stewards, MSWS is ensuring a brighter, cleaner future for Mississippi's waterways and the communities that depend on them.

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2026 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) Revision - Understanding the Changes | Sierra Club

Louisiana Water Crisis Looming | Bayou State Faces Drinking Water Shortage

Spill Control Countermeasures Plan (SPCC) - What is it & Who Needs It? | Advanced Environmental Compliance

Texas Water Management Needs Stronger Regulations | Expert Insights

Spill Control Countermeasures Plan (SPCC) - What is it & Who Needs It? | Advanced Environmental Compliance

The Spill Control and Countermeasures Plan (SPCC) was adopted by Congress to protect people's health and well-being by preventing and mitigating environmental damage from unauthorized pollutant discharges. The plan provides a uniform notification and reporting procedure for such discharges while enabling appropriate emergency response to unauthorized discharge incidents. Information within the plan may be used to ensure compliance with permit terms and conditions. Most states follow the Federal 40 CFR 112 (EPA) regulations because they do not have their own spill laws in place.

Outdoor Education for Students in Orange County, California | Inside the Outdoors

 Source - Spectrum News 1

The Orange County Department of Education's innovative Inside the Outdoors program is providing students with hands-on environmental education in the great outdoors. For an impressive five decades, this acclaimed program has been connecting kids across Orange County with the wonders of nature, teaching them about the environment through fun, engaging experiences that bring classroom lessons to life. By blending traditional instruction with immersive outdoor activities, Inside the Outdoors helps students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world around them.

2026 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) Revision - Understanding the Changes | Sierra Club

Photo By Ken Hulsey - Advanced Environmental Compliance

The 2026 Revision of Texas' Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) is a crucial process that will shape the future of our precious water resources. Last summer, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) kicked off this multi-year undertaking, aiming to update and strengthen the standards that protect the quality of our rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries. This complex but vital effort will ensure clean, healthy water for drinking, recreation, and supporting aquatic life and wildlife.