Federal Policy Granting Pandemic-Related Temporary Supply Chain Flexibility for Disinfectant Product Ingredients to End in September 2022
Effective September 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be terminating a COVID-19 pandemic-related policy that granted antimicrobial disinfectant product manufacturers short-term flexibilities for sourcing active ingredients from the global supply chain. EPA regulates these antimicrobial disinfectant products, and the process of substituting active ingredients, under the federal pesticide law, known as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. (more…)
EPA Targets PFAS and Environmental Justice in Proposed Effluent Guidelines
On September 8, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) released Preliminary Effluent Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15), which outlines the Agency’s 2020 annual review of effluent guidelines and pretreatment standards (ELG), identifies new or existing industrial categories for ELG rulemaking, and provides an update on the Agency plan to improve its annual review and biennial planning process. (more…)
Biden Administration Proposals: Sustainable Fuels, Greenhouse Gas Reductions in the Aviation Industry
U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled an initiative to promote the production and use of sustainable fuel in the aviation industry on Thursday, September 9. This initiative includes a goal to cut emissions in the aviation sector by 20% by 2030 and is part of the Administration’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. (more…)
EPA Publishes Landmark Study on the Effect of Climate Change on Socially Vulnerable Populations
On September 2, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) released a 100-page report, entitled “Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States,” that analyzes the impact of projected climate change on four population groups within the United States. This report represents the Agency’s latest effort to further the Biden administration’s agenda to advance environmental justice and address the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, as outlined in Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. (more…)
EPA Announces Analytical Method for Testing for PFAS
On September 2, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the publication of a laboratory-validated analytical method (Draft Method 1633) for testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances. EPA reported that its Office of Water developed Draft Method 1633 in conjunction with the Department of Defense. The method is reportedly able to test for 40 PFAS compounds in eight different media, including wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, biosolids, sediment, landfill leachate, and fish tissue. (more…)
OMB Is Reviewing EPA’s e-Manifest Rule Proposed for Hazardous Waste Exports
The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing a rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that aims to incorporate exports of hazardous wastes into its electronic waste manifest (e-Manifest) program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). (more…)
EPA Bans Use of Chlorpyrifos (Pesticide) on All Food
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that essentially bans the use of chlorpyrifos on all food. With this rule, EPA is revoking all “tolerances” for this pesticide, which establish an amount allowed for use on food. (more…)
Environmental Protection Agency Takes Action to End All On-Food Use of Conventional Pesticide Chlorpyrifos
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) has issued a prepublication rule that will revoke all on-food tolerances for the conventional pesticide called chlorpyrifos and has announced that it will also issue a Notice of Intent to Cancel all food uses for the pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA stated that “taking into consideration the currently available information and the currently registered uses of chlorpyrifos, EPA cannot make a safety finding to support leaving the current tolerances for residues of chlorpyrifos in place” consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (more…)
Texas Receives Coal Ash Rule Approval from EPA
On Monday, June 28, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) request for delegated permit authority over coal ash disposal under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).1
EPA Adds Three Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory
On June 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a rule adding three more per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals requiring toxic chemicals release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and the Pollution Prevention Act, that is, Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The PFAS added are perfluorooctyl iodide, potassium perfluorooctanoate and silver(I) perfluorooctanoate, which must be included in TRI reports due July 1, 2022.