In this time of social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s challenging to comply with regulatory requirements due to disruptions in business operations or lowered staff availability. Despite these challenges, there isn’t a legal mechanism that relieves businesses of their duty of regulatory compliance. The pandemic and efforts to fight it continue, yet rain […]
On March 31, 2020, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) updated CG-CVC Mission Management System Work Instructions CVC-WI-005(2) Request For Recognized Organization Internal Quality Management System Review – “Quality Case” to inform USCG Marine Inspectors to “evaluate situations where objective evidence indicates that a potential failure of a Recognized Organization (RO) or a Third Party […]
Electronic waste is all too often making its way into local landfills or being exported to countries where it is improperly disposed of, posing a significant threat to the local people and the environment in general. Responsible Recycling Practices Standard, known as R2, was facilitated by the EPA and developed by recycling stakeholders to promote […]
The new Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) for the state of Washington went into effect on January 1, 2020 and contains many changes from the 2015 permit that affect both current permittees and businesses that were previously not covered by the permit. Major changes include: When applying for coverage, applicants must identify their industrial category […]
The ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted environmental system that will increase efficiency within your company, and is needed for getting certified with other leading environmental standards. Keeping an eye out for the environment in this day and age should not only be a top priority for ourselves, but for our businesses as well. Implementing […]
Freer Consulting recently took over the management of a “Regulatory Database” for a key maritime transportation client. This database tracks the expiration of important licenses and certifications for the company’s vessels. The maritime regulatory ecosystem is vast, with diverse state, Federal, and international authorities requiring certificates that expire on different dates and can have different […]
Here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s easy to take our abundance of water for granted. Our region is fortunate to have numerous streams, rivers, and lakes that we depend upon for drinking water, for recreation, and for ecological sustainability. In recent years, greater attention has been paid to understanding the impact that stormwater runoff has […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a change in definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The move represents a long running argument between interested parties and how broad the definition should be. The definition hinges on what “navigable waters” means. A prior rule change in 2015 was […]
For any business, keeping track of labor costs is crucial. This can be a challenge when workers are widely dispersed, which is especially true for maritime companies that have employees on vessels anywhere in the world. Freer Consulting’s customizable and scalable Vessel Management System (VMS) software allows for seamless syncing with ADP’s eTIME software. Employees […]
We had the pleasure of attending the vendors’ expo at Stormcon 2017 last month and seeing the latest and greatest in stormwater treatment technologies. Stormwater treatment is often necessary to meet regulatory requirements for limiting levels of pollutants such as turbidity and metals. Whether you need improved sweeping BMPs, catch basin filtration systems, or a […]