US EPA faces litigation over gutting of chemical disaster rule - México - Chemical

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US EPA faces litigation over gutting of chemical disaster rule

EPA | January 14, 2020

Environmental and trade union organisations have sued the US EPA for gutting regulations designed to improve safety at chemical facilities. The lawsuits aim to reverse a Trump administration rollback of the Obama-era Chemical Disaster Rule. The original rule – which took the form of an amendment to the Risk Management Program (RMP) – was meant to make it easier for the public to access hazard planning documents, provide increased information to local officials and require more coordination with first responders. The Obama administration developed it in the wake of a 2013 explosion at a Texas fertiliser plant that killed 15 people. But the EPA in November released its Risk Management Program Reconsideration Rule, which rids chemical plants of what EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said are "unnecessary regulatory burdens" imposed by the previous administration.

Relevant Industrial, LLC a leader in value-added distribution and service for instrumentation and automation, rotating equipment, valve, purification, and thermal equipment solutions, announced the acquisition of CHEMFLOW Products and its subsidiaries, CHEMSeal Couplings and (CHEMFLOW).CHEMFLOW is a leading value-added distributor and manufacturers' representative specializing in precision-engineered Flow Control products for Chemical services. With over 75 years of combined expertise, CHEMFLOW has brought together the highest quality manufacturers of valves, automation, breakaway couplings, safety shutdown systems, and hoses, affording customers specially designed solutions meeting stringent industry standards for hazardous chemical bulk transfer in the safest possible way. CHEMFLOW brings an unmatched expertise in packaging a full range of products and services designed to improve reliability, enhance safety and environmental impact, and minimize downtime.Relevant Industrial's strategic acquisition of CHEMFLOW Products aligns seamlessly with its commitment to delivering comprehensive and cutting-edge solutions to clients across various industries. This move enhances Relevant Industrial's portfolio, allowing the company to offer a broader range of services and products to its clientele, as well as offer Relevant's unique set of industrial automation solutions to CHEMFLOW's strong customer base.John Carte, CEO of Relevant Industrial, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "The addition of CHEMFLOW Products to the Relevant Industrial family is a significant step forward in our mission to provide top-tier solutions to our customers. CHEMFLOW's extensive experience and proficiency in Flow Control products for hazardous chemicals complement our capabilities. We are confident that this acquisition will both benefit our customers and contribute to the continued growth and success of Relevant Industrial."Mike Johnson, CEO of CHEMFLOW Products, shared his perspective on the collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with Relevant Industrial. This partnership represents a strategic alignment of values, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Together, we look forward to delivering innovative solutions and unparalleled value to our customers." As part of this collaboration, Mike will transition to the role of Vice President of Chlor-alkali Business Development within the dynamic CHEMFLOW/Relevant team. In this capacity, he will leverage his extensive industry knowledge and strong leadership skills to lead initiatives aimed at expanding Relevant Industrial's footprint in the chlor-alkali sector.CHEMFLOW Products and its subsidiaries will become an integral part of Relevant Industrial, contributing to the company's expanded workforce of over 450 employees. The combined entity will operate from a total of 30 strategic locations, further adding to existing customer service capabilities and extending its reach across the majority of the lower 48 states. With an OEM status that provides a global reach, Relevant Industrial is poised to further strengthen its position as an industry leader.This strategic acquisition is anticipated to create collaborative dynamics that will not only benefit customers, partners, and employees but also propel Relevant Industrial and CHEMFLOW Products into a new era of mutual growth and innovation. The powerful combination of expertise and resources between Relevant Industrial and CHEMFLOW Products opens new horizons for both companies, fostering accelerated customer service, deeper chemical industry capabilities, and enhanced technical expertise.About CHEMFLOWCHEMFLOW Products LLC, celebrated for its unwavering commitment to "SOLUTIONS WITH INTEGRITY," functions as a Manufacturers' Representative Company specializing in Flow Control products designed for applications in Chemical services. With a focal point on Hazardous Chemicals, the company exhibits distinct expertise in various domains, including Chlor-akali, AgChem, Vinyls, Urethanes, Refrigerants, Polysilicon, Pigments, and HF Alkylation. A distinguished leader in Flow Control solutions for hazardous chemicals, CHEMFLOW has been a stalwart in serving industries for over 15 years. Their specialization encompasses applications involving Chlorine, Chlor-akali, AgChem, Vinyls, Urethanes, Refrigerants, Polysilicon, Pigments, and HF Alkylation, showcasing unparalleled proficiency in specialty valve applications, safety shutdown systems, bulk transfer hose & coupling, and sampling valves.About Relevant IndustrialRelevant Industrial, LLC, is a leading value-added distribution channel serving mission-critical applications across diverse industries. Founded in 1965 as Wilson-Mohr, today Relevant is a dynamic partner providing expert solutions in instrumentation and automation, rotating equipment, valves and valve actuation, purification, and thermal equipment. Relevant Industrial brings together the finest problem-solvers in the world: trained technicians, engineers, designers, and experts in a dozen other crafts focused on finding answers and delivering results. We sell parts and services, but our mission goes beyond that; we help customers realize new and better ways to operate more efficiently. Every solution we deliver is specialized and customized for each demanding situation a client presents to us.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, ChemChain's proprietary IP and technology will bring an expanded, innovative approach to further augment 3E's Supply Chain & Sustainability solution, 3E Exchange. 3E Exchange's unified supply chain platform helps customers organize their global library of supply chain data and streamline workflows in a scalable and compliant manner. Specifically, 3E leverages its market leading digital product passport and renowned regulatory content capabilities to drive best-in-class supply chain management for its growing list of customers. Together, 3E and ChemChain are united in their mission to accelerate global supply chain transparency and sustainability with a unique combination of technology and regulatory expertise."ChemChain and 3E share a vision to create a safer, more sustainable world that protects people, safeguards products, and helps businesses grow," said Greg Gartland, Chief Executive Officer of 3E. "Together with ChemChain, 3E offers an unmatched combination of global regulatory expertise and a cutting-edge platform that dramatically simplifies transferring information along the value chain in a transparent and secure manner. 3E improves cross-functional engagement across global enterprises, and future-proofs products against ever-changing regulations. We look forward to the continued expansion of our supply chain solutions and empowering our clients to further accelerate their sustainability efforts."With 175,000+ supplier relationships across all major geographies, the 3E Exchange platform drives a strong return-on-investment for its customers. Powered by 3E's market leading regulatory expertise covering over 500,000 chemical substances, 3E Exchange enables superior supply chain management while also advancing companies' ESG objectives. Continued momentum towards sustainable supply chains has highlighted that preparing for a circular economy should be a critical component of every company's product strategy.Pete Girard, Managing Director of Supply Chain and Sustainability at 3E, said "The acquisition of ChemChain illustrates our continued focus on supply chain product innovation and thought leadership. The ChemChain team has incubated a novel and tech-forward approach to drive digital product passport adoption, and we look forward to integrating these technologies into 3E Exchange.""The highly scalable digital product passport model offers a single source of truth that underpins sustainable supply chain management, while ensuring maximum protection of company trade secrets" added Lorenzo Zullo, Co-Founder and CEO of ChemChain. "As part of 3E, and leveraging tracked experience in end-to-end supply chain transparency across multiple industries, including textile & clothing, furniture, and detergents, ChemChain will accelerate innovation and position customers for success in the face of a highly complex and dynamic global regulatory landscape."ChemChain represents 3E's fourth acquisition announcement since its separation from Verisk in March 2022.Shearman & Sterling LLP served as the legal advisor to 3E. Cambrian and Elev8law served as the legal advisors to ChemChain.About 3EFor more than 35 years the world's leading companies have trusted 3E to provide the intelligent compliance solutions they need to ensure safety and sustainability. Unmatched Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S) and product compliance expertise empowers clients to improve chemical and workplace safety, product safety and stewardship and supply chain transparency. 3E is deeply committed to serving its more than 5,000 customers worldwide, representing a wide variety of industries and including the world's largest chemical manufacturers, retailers and pharmaceutical companies.About ChemChainChemChain is a trusted, decentralized, and globally accepted infrastructure that enables customers to build, exchange, store, and track chemical-related information along the supply chain. ChemChain's proprietary architecture, underpinned by blockchain technology, facilitates a scalable and tamper-proof digital product passport environment.

Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced a major investment in Resynergi, a pioneering leader in plastic recycling technology, to scale production of Resynergi's modular Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis (CMAP) technology. CMAP converts plastic waste into reusable materials at a rate 20 times faster than traditional pyrolysis methods. Lummus' President and Chief Executive Officer, Leon de Bruyn, will also join Resynergi's board of directors."Lummus' is not only investing in Resynergi, we are partnering with true innovators to develop and scale sustainable solutions that advance the circular economy," said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lummus Technology. "Combining our global licensing expertise with Resynergi's proven CMAP technology will help us accelerate the conversion of plastic waste into high-quality, reusable material. I also look forward to collaborating with Resynergi's team and the board of directors to help reduce the carbon footprint of conventional plastics production and meet the growing demand for recycled plastics.""The investment from Lummus, along with their global licensing expertise, will allow us to scale our innovative recycling technology and collectively reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by addressing plastic waste and accelerate plastic circularity," said Resynergi Chief Executive Officer Brian Bauer.With an estimated 70% growth in plastic waste by 2050, Resynergi's modular CMAP technology is positioned to scale waste conversion creating positive social and environmental impact.Key Resynergi CMAP Technology HighlightsModular Design – allows for rapid deployment and scalability, making advanced recycling more affordable and versatile.Compact Footprint – 10X smaller reactor footprint and system-on-a-skid design eliminates local waste management and municipality's typical square footage requirements for a "recycling plant."Rapid Time to Value – Modules scale horizontally, allowing deployment and start up in weeks, rather than years.Faster Conversion – Harnessing microwave energy, plastic molecules are broken down 100X faster than traditional pyrolysis reactors.High Quality Output – Oil products that meet standards set by refinery partners for chemical recycling.Clean Energy Efficiency and Environmentally Friendly Process – CMAP generates clean products with up to 68% CO2e reduction.About Lummus TechnologyLummus Technology is the global leader in developing technology solutions that make modern life possible and focus on a more sustainable, low carbon future. We license process technologies in clean fuels, renewables, petrochemicals, polymers, gas processing and supply lifecycle services, catalysts, proprietary equipment and digitalization to customers worldwide.About ResynergiResynergi, headquartered in Rohnert Park, CA, is an advanced recycling technology company accelerating plastic circularity to protect human health and the environment. Its innovative, scalable and environmentally efficient Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis (CMAP) technology reduces fossil-based resource dependency by converting plastic into its molecular building blocks to be used to create new materials. Resynergi works with recycling organizations to secure used and hard-to-recycle plastics, effectively diverting millions of pounds of plastic from landfills and oceans. Its proprietary process creates clean, liquid hydrocarbons serving as feedstock for the synthesis of new plastics.