VSRA News

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 302 and 355 Administrative Reporting Exemption for Certain Air Releases of NOX (NO and NO2) ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a final rule that will reduce reporting burdens under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Which NO and NO2 Releases Are Administratively Exempt From the Reporting Requirements? In this final rule, releases of NO to the air that are the result of combustion and combustion-related activities that are less than 1,000 pounds per 24 hours, and releases of NO2 to the air that are the result of combustion and combustion-related activities that are less than 1,000 pounds per 24 hours, are administratively exempt from the reporting requirements of CERCLA and EPCRA, established in 40 CFR 302.6 and 40 CFR 355.40, respectively. The existing RQ for both NO and NO2 is 10 pounds in any 24 hour period. EPA is promulgating the administrative reporting exemption at 1,000 pounds for 24-hours, based on our review of the comments, for three principal reasons. First, the 1,000 pound level represents a 100-fold increase from the regulatory RQ of 10-pounds. This level was one of three (100, 1000, and 5000 pounds) levels suggested by two organizations representing regulated industries 7 as a level for the Agency to raise the RQ for NO and NO2. Second, the Agency sought public comment on human health risk assessment data or other relevant data that related to its proposed rule, including an alternative for a complete exemption from the notification requirements under CERCLA and EPCRA. Although the Agency received considerable comment, including two specific examples generated from a USEPA screening model that support the desire to (1) raise the administrative exemption to 5,000 pounds or higher or (2) completely exempt NO and NO2 from CERCLA and EPCRA reporting requirements, the Agency did not receive risk assessment data that would support a different level for the administrative reporting exemption. The Agency also did not receive any human health risk assessment data that would oppose the administrative reporting exemption at the proposed level. Third, EPA believes that a CERCLA response to the release otherwise reportable would be very unlikely and possibly infeasible or inappropriate, because (1) the releases are generally at levels below those that are regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA), and (2) the Agency has generally not responded to such releases. As a result, the administrative reporting exemptions are intended to allow EPA to focus its resources on the more serious releases and to protect public health and welfare and the environment more effectively and efficiently. At the same time, the exemptions will significantly eliminate unnecessary reporting burdens on persons-in-charge of facilities and vessels that release NOX during combustion and combustionrelated activities.

On September 20, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce held its annual Small Business of the Year Awards Luncheon at the Chesapeake Conference Center. This annual event is designed to recognize the best business in each of the five south side cities and then, out of these five businesses, pick the one that is considered the best in the region. Hearty congratulations to VSRA Member Empire Machinery and Supply Corporation of Norfolk for being awarded the overall winner of the Small Business of the Year for Hampton Roads. In addition, each city’s Department of Economic Development identifies five businesses that they consider as potential SBOY winners somewhere down the road. The “Rising 25” Award honors those businesses. VSRA Member Pender and Coward was chosen by Suffolk as one of the "Rising 25".

"New Navy repair official: Drive will be saving cash" By JON W. GLASS, The Virginian-Pilot © September 20, 2006 | Last updated 7:28 PM Sep. 19 PORTSMOUTH - The new commander of the Navy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center said Tuesday he plans to focus on getting the "best value" for Navy ship-repair dollars. That will involve working closely with the region's private shipyards to try to drive down the costs of maintenance contracts, Rear Adm. J. Clarke Orzalli told members of the Virginia Ship Repair Association. "It's all about teamwork and working together," Orzalli said during the association's annual luncheon at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Convention Center. Orzalli said the Navy is committed to its new multiship, multioption method of awarding maintenance contracts for all its ships - designed to reduce costs and add stability for the industry. The Navy began issuing the multiship contracts in Hampton Roads about three years ago. Under the awards, a single shipyard takes primary responsibility for maintaining a class of ships, a switch from the old method of awarding contracts one ship at a time. Orzalli is the first flag officer to lead the regional maintenance center, part of the Navy's move in 2004 to consolidate ship repair operations into seven regional centers. In the new arrangement, the Mid-Atlantic command will be responsible for establishing standard practices, such as contract oversight, that all seven centers will follow. The 28-year Navy veteran, on the job three weeks, last served in the Pentagon as deputy director of the fleet readiness division. He also served as commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and he helped establish the Navy's Northwest Regional Maintenance Center in Bremerton, Wash. In his new command, Orzalli oversees a military and civilian work force of nearly 3,100 and the maintenance of more than 85 ships in the m id-Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf regions. Reach Jon W. Glass at (757) 446-2318 or jon.glass@pilotonline.com.

Rear Admiral Clarke Orzalli, Commander of the Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, will be the Guest Speaker for VSRA's Annual Meeting and General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, September 19th. The meeting will be held at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel, beginning with lunch at 12:00 noon. On August 29th, RDML Orzalli relieved CAPT Kevin Taylor as the MARMC Commander. With that transition, he became the first flag officer to command a Navy Regional Maintenance Center. MARMC is the Navy's lead RMC; therefore, the other regional RMC Commanders will now report to Admiral Orzalli. He will address the VSRA membership on his vision of aligning the Navy's RMC's with parallel processes and best practices. For more information of Rear Admiral Orzalli, you can read RDML Orzalli's bio.

The preliminary FY-08 NAVSEA Standard Items, SSRAC-responsible Standard Work Templates, and Appendix 4-E to the Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual (JFMM) Volume VII, Chapter 4, have been posted on the SSRAC Website for review and comment in accordance with SSRAC milestones. Visit the site and follow the links to view the items. If you do not see the files, "refresh" your browser and try again. Changes or additions are identified by showing added or changed verbiage in bold Italics. Deletions are identified by a vertical line in the right-hand margin beside the deletion. New or completely revised SIs are identified by a vertical line in the right-hand margin beside the ITEM NO, DATE, and CATEGORY lines. Note: An item with a 13 JUL 2006 date but no visible changes indicates that the item was reviewed but no changes were made. These results are PRELIMINARY and are not intended for immediate distribution or invocation. Please review these products carefully and provide any comments you may have NLT 15 SEP 2006, using the 2006 FY-08 Standard Items Comment Form (also available on the web site). Comments relating to subjects that were not reviewed by the subcommittees at the 2006 SSRAC Meeting will be deferred for consideration at the 2007 SSRAC Meeting. Please attach your comment form(s) and e-mail it/them to linda.mayle@navy.mil or ssrac@supship.navy.mil.

OSHA has posted the Fire Protection Module of the Shipyard Employment eTool on the agency's Web site. The tool was development as a product of the SCA-OSHA National Alliance. Representatives from VSRA members BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair and Colonna's Shipyard attended a two-day drafting meeting February 8-9 at the OSHA Norfolk, VA Area Offices. At the meetings, industry and regulatory safety professionals discussed possible hazards from shipyard operations and solutions to assist employers and employees in developing an effective fire protection program. The Shipyard Employment eTool “describes common hazards and possible solutions for tasks performed during shipyard operations.” The webpage contains separate modules in Ship Repair, Ship Breaking, Support Operations and Barge Cleaning. The Alliance program was initiated by former Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health John Henshaw (2001-2004). While serving as head of OSHA, Henshaw stressed compliance assistance, outreach and education in addition to enforcement. Through his stewardship, OSHA promoted safety and health goals through the development of: (1) alliances and partnership with business, labor and community groups; (2) safety and health recognition programs like the voluntary protection program (VPP) and SHARP; and (3) online interactive training tools, including safety and health information pages.

It was learned today that the presenter for the September Contracts Seminar, "Financing in the Government Contracts World" would not be able to make the seminar. This session of the seminar has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date based upon the availability of the presenter. The remainder of the 2006 Contracts Committee Training Seminars can be found at 2006 Contracts Committee Training Seminars. In particular, the next scheduled seminar is on Tuesday, October 24th - "Internal Investigations: A Coherent Response to DCIS, NCIS, FBI and IG Investigations" by John West of Troutman Sanders, LLP

This annual event brings in subject matter experts in the fields of maritime and ship repair health and safety. This year's seminar will focus on the Line Supervisor and Safety Leadership. The Seminar will take place at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. The keynote address will give you the latest on the new OSHA Standard for Hexavalent Chromium. Dan Nadeau from Bath Iron Works, a national safety expert, will provide critical information from his shipyard perspective. The remainder of the day will be devoted to four expertly designed "tracks" where you can follow your specific topics of interest. Visit the Event Page for specific schedule information, seminar fees, and registration form.

The most recent meeting of the Joint Industry Navy Improvement Initiative (JINII) was held July 24th, 2006 in Chesapeake, Virginia. JINII Action Items (7/24/06) can be found here. They will also be distributed with the meeting minutes. Additional information may be found on the JINII Website, and on the NST Center Website under the JINII tab at the top of the homepage.

George Yount retired from the U.S. Navy as Deputy Commander for Ship Design Integration and Engineering, Naval Sea Systems Command, in 2001. He is now the Sector Vice president of Ship Construction for Northrop Grumman Corporation providing oversight of operations in Avondale and Pascagoula. Most recently LPD-17 has been delivered by Northrop Grumman and Hurricane Katrina received by Northrop Grumman. George will speak at the American Society of Naval Engineers dinner on Wednesday, September 13th. Details of the event and RADM Yount's career can be found on the ASNE Dinner Announcement (9/13/06). An evening with George Yount promises to be an interesting one.