The 2026 North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (NCMA) Environmental, Energy, Health & Safety (EEHS) School (School) brought together regulators, legal experts, consultants, and industry professionals to discuss EHS areas of interest to North Carolina manufacturers. The School covered a wide range of topics including EHS fundamentals, regulatory updates, emerging technologies, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in manufacturing. Below is a summary of takeaways from the conference with a focus on air, water, and health and safety.
Air Quality
Leslie Pearce updated conference attendees on the 2026 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory agenda. U.S. EPA is focused on reconsideration of several energy and cost of living-related rules (e.g., lime maximum achievable control technology (MACT), chemical rules, oil and gas rules, etc.). Additionally, the final risk management plan (RMP) rule revisions are expected this fall, along with a final decision on whether greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting will be required under 40 CFR Part 98. Combustion turbine and cement MACT proposals are also expected in late 2026. Although pulp and paper mills started gathering data for updates to MACT Subpart MM under the previous administration, a pulp and paper MACT information collection request is not being pursued by this U.S. EPA administration. Finally, U.S. EPA has a priority to reduce permitting burden and has proposed revisions to the definition of begin actual construction under the New Source Review (NSR) rules, has reinstated the Pruitt memo (no second guessing of projected actual emissions), and has proposed to make public involvement in Minor NSR permitting optional for states. In a recent favorable DC Circuit Court decision, the Project Emissions Accounting rule was upheld (emissions decreases within the same project can be taken in “Step 1” of a Prevention of Significant Deterioration analysis). You can get involved in issues important to your sector by participating with your industry association, participating in the public comment process, and engaging with your state agency on the impacts of U.S. EPA actions.
Hot off the Press: North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NC DAQ)’s portal to submit air permit applications electronically is open for Title V facilities! The portal will be available to non-Title V facilities later in 2026. NC DAQ’s air quality permitting landing page includes links to instructions and where to access the portal. For new users, the responsible official (RO) will need to create their own account to certify the application. Environmental staff can also create an account to upload the application, enter other required information, and push the draft submittal for RO certification.
Update on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
Karen Preston provided a detailed overview of the rulemaking history and current status of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring and minimization rules as they relate to NPDES permits. In our June 11, 2026 article, we detailed the proposed rule changes regarding PFAS in wastewater under 15A NCAC 02H .0923 and 15A NCAC 02B .0512 which require industrial direct dischargers with individual NPDES permits, Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) with a local pretreatment program, and Significant Industrial Users (SIUs) to perform initial baseline quarterly characterization monitoring sampling for PFAS. Facilities will be required to collect quarterly samples for one calendar year beginning within three months of receiving notice. Facilities that detect PFAS above the lowest reporting concentration (meaning, not a non-detect) in any quarterly effluent sample will be required to conduct ongoing monitoring. Facilities required to conduct ongoing monitoring will also be notified that a minimization plan to reduce or eliminate PFAS loading to surface waters is required.
The public comment period ended on June 15, 2026 and the division of water resources (DWR) is currently processing and categorizing the public comments to be presented to the hearing officers who will provide recommendations to the Environmental Management Commission (EMC). If rules are not moved forward to adoption and substantial changes are required, rulemaking may be slowed or paused.
Health and Safety
Scott Mabry, Deputy Commissioner and Director of NC department of labor, provided a 3rd quarter report on workplace health and safety and special emphasis programs (SEPs) that are part of the NC OSH Division’s 2024 – 2028 strategic management plan. The goals of the plan are: 1) to reduce the state’s workplace fatality rate by at least 2%; and 2) to reduce the state’s non-fatal injury and illness rate by at least 5%. As part of his presentation, he reviewed the recently implemented NC special emphasis program (SEP) for prevention of struck-by incidents that began on October 1, 2025. There has been an increase in injuries of employees being struck by vehicles, equipment, and tools. The SEP will focus on preventing these struck-by injuries in industry and construction. The first year of the program was a planning year and compliance activity will start on October 1, 2026, where safety inspectors will select and inspect high risk industries for this hazard.
Conclusion
ALL4 is tracking regulatory developments related to these and other environmental, health, and safety (EHS) topics. If you have questions about how these regulatory changes might affect you or need help with EHS permitting and compliance in the Carolinas, please reach out to Claire Corta at ccorta@all4inc.com or 919-578-4195.
