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  • What’s the difference between air sampling and air monitoring?

    Air monitoring and air sampling are two different methods of looking at air quality. Air monitoring uses electronic devices to provide real-time readings of contaminants in the air. Air sampling involves trapping air over a period of time in a container that is then sent to a laboratory for analysis…

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  • What is EPA’s role in sampling?

    EPA is part of the Unified Command consisting of different agencies to review, approve and direct Norfolk Southern’s workplans and site activities. Surface water sampling is performed by Norfolk Southern contractors, with EPA and Ohio EPA oversight. Soil sampling is performed both by Norfolk Southern contractors and EPA contractors. Air…

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  • What is the plume map and what does it tell us?

    The plume map is an “event reconstruction” based on known weather and on-site observations during a 10-hour time period after the vent-and-burn operation that occurred on Monday, February 6. It tells us where soot likely fell to the ground and where the highest concentrations of particles may be. This information…

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  • May I generate RINs that I produced and sold for non-road use in the past so that I can reinstate those RINs under RFS2?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Section 80.1426(c)(2) provides that RINs are assigned to a volume of renewable fuel when ownership of the RIN is transferred along with ownership of the volume of renewable fuel. A comparable provision appear in the RFS1 regulations, at…

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  • What is split sampling?

    Split sampling is a technique where multiple samples are collected from the same location at the same time and then sent to separate laboratories for analysis. Checking to see if the labs get the same or similar results is a way to determine the accuracy of the data. If there…

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  • What work happens after contamination under and between the train tracks is removed?

    After track work is complete, additional cleanup and assessments will continue. This includes shipping solid and liquid wastes off-site, excavating in areas where rail cars were staged and scrapped, and sampling and monitoring groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediment.

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  • Columbiana County Health District has sampled my private well, will it be sampled again?

    Residents will be contacted if they are within the priority zones and have signed up for private well sampling. Within 60 days after the first sample, private wells are resampled, and residents will be contacted to schedule resampling. Residents within one of the four priority zones can also schedule a…

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  • May I generate RINs for renewable fuel that I produced and sold for non-motor vehicle use in the past so that I can reinstate those RINs under RFS2?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No. RINs that were previously generated in 2009 and 2010 may be reinstated if they were retired for non-motor vehicle use. However, RINs may not be generated for renewable fuel produced in the past in order to retire…

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  • What changes did EPA finalize to the SPCC Rule in December 2006?

    The revised rule modifies requirements for facilities with smaller oil storage capacity and specific types of oil-filled operating equipment. If a facility has 10,000 gallons or less in aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity and the facility meets the oil discharge history criteria, then an owner/operator of a facility may prepare…

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  • SPCC change in ownership

    If there is a change in ownership at a facility, can the facility operate under the same SPCC Plan without the certification from a professional engineer (PE)? If no change in procedures has been made, it may still be feasible to operate under the existing SPCC Plan. The information in…

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  • Liability of oil retailers at SPCC regulated farm

    If a farm is out of compliance of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations and is checked by EPA and/or has a spill, is the retailer that filled the tank liable? No, EPA considers the oil tank owner responsible for lack of compliance.

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  • In addition to 2009 RINs, may a party reinstate 2008 and 2010 RINs that were retired for non-road use under RFS1?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Pursuant to §80.1429(g), any 2009 RINs that were retired for non-motor vehicle, heating oil or jet fuel use under RFS1 may be reinstated under RFS2. The regulations do not allow 2008 RINs to be reinstated. Since RFS1 RINs…

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  • How does a retiring party reinstate RFS1 RINs that were retired because renewable fuel was ultimately used for non-motor vehicle, heating oil or jet fuel purposes? What steps are required to be taken and do any codes require changing?

    See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Pursuant to §80.1429(g), parties may reinstate 2009 RINs that were retired under RFS1 because the renewable fuel was ultimately used in a non-motor vehicle application, heating oil or jet fuel. As stated in question 11.1, since RFS1 RINs…

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  • PE certifying a technical amendment

    Except as provided in 40 CFR §112.6 for qualified facilities, a Professional Engineer (PE) must certify all technical amendments to an existing SPCC Plan (§112.5(c)). When certifying a technical change to an existing SPCC Plan, does the PE have to inspect and certify the entire Plan or only the amended…

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  • What is the East Palestine Potable Water Sampling Work Plan?

    In February, EPA required Norfolk Southern to investigate drinking water sources through a work plan approved by responding agencies. The work plan is being used to monitor drinking water near the derailment site, and recently changed to include more areas for water sampling. These new areas were chosen based on…

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