Ever feel confident you’re following the rules… only to find out the rules changed?

In this episode of Tank Talk, Shannon and Haley talk about one of the most common compliance pitfalls in environmental operations: regulations evolving quietly in the background while day-to-day operations keep moving.

Just like driving down a familiar road where the speed limit suddenly changed, facilities can unknowingly fall out of compliance when regulations are updated after a plan, permit, or audit was completed.

We’re seeing this happen more and more in air and water regulations, where updates can occur on unpredictable timelines. A report that confirmed compliance a few years ago may no longer reflect the current regulatory landscape.

So how do operators avoid getting blindsided?

Shannon shares seven practical strategies that facility managers and environmental professionals can use to stay ahead of regulatory changes.

The conversation also covers what happens when regulations change, how transition periods typically work, and what to do if you discover you’re already past a compliance deadline.

If you manage fuel facilities, environmental programs, or regulatory plans, this episode offers practical steps to help ensure your compliance program doesn’t quietly expire in the background.

We’ve included a resource list with helpful agency webpages, industry groups, and notification lists that can help you stay informed when regulations change.

Remember: compliance is a point in time — and it can change without warning.

Download the guide: 7 Ways To Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes — Integrity Environmental

Support the show

intro/outro created with GarageBand

In this episode of Tank Talk, we sit down with Senior Environmental Consultant Leslie Pearson for a first-person account of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how it reshaped spill prevention and response in Alaska and across the nation.

Leslie shares her firsthand experience working on the response in 1989, from documenting shoreline impacts in Seward to navigating the early days of incident command and emergency operations. She reflects on the gaps in preparedness that were exposed, the challenges of working in remote environments, and what it was like to learn on the fly during one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history.

The conversation explores how the spill led to the creation of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), major revisions to SPCC and Facility Response Plan requirements, and Alaska’s decision to implement some of the strictest spill prevention regulations in the country under 18 AAC 75.

With decades of experience as both a regulator and consultant, Leslie explains why these regulations are more than paperwork - they are institutional memory designed to prevent history from repeating itself.

This episode offers valuable perspective for environmental professionals, facility operators, and anyone working in spill prevention, preparedness, and compliance.

Support the show

intro/outro created with GarageBand

Analytical sampling is a critical part of environmental compliance - and it’s one area where small mistakes can quickly become expensive problems.

With the upcoming release of the 2026 Alaska Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP), and the new requirement for benchmark sampling for multiple sectors, many facilities will be performing analytical samples for the first time starting this year. In this episode of Tank Talk, we’re breaking down what that means in real-world practice - from the field to the lab.

We’re joined by Justin Nelson of SGS USA, who walks us through the fundamentals of analytical sampling and helps demystify how laboratory data is generated, reviewed, and reported.

Together, we cover:

• The difference between qualitative vs. quantitative data
• What testing methods are - and why they matter
• How field sampling practices directly impact lab results
• Common sampling mistakes (labeling, preservatives, volumes, chain of custody, and more)
• What labs do once samples arrive and how testing standards are met
• How to read lab data reports, including common notes and flags

We also connect the dots between proper sample handling and better analytical results - fewer resamples, fewer corrective actions, and real cost savings.

If you’re responsible for collecting samples, reviewing lab reports, or staying compliant under Alaska’s water permitting programs, this episode is a must-listen.

Take your samples carefully - because the lab can handle a lot of things… but it still can’t analyze “oops.”

Support the show

intro/outro created with GarageBand