EPA Budget to Increase for FY 2022
The Biden-Harris administration submitted its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget to Congress on May 28, 2021. It included $11.2 billion earmarked for the EPA, according to an Agency press release.
Category: Special Topics in Environmental Management
New Construction General Permit for Stormwater Proposed by EPA
The EPA is seeking public comment on its proposed 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP) for stormwater discharges from construction activity until July 12, 2021.
EPA Announces Another Revision to CWA Section 401 Certification Rule
On May 27, 2021, the EPA announced in a press release that it will revise the 2020 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification Rule after determining the rule hinders state and tribal authorities from protecting their water resources.
Court Tells EPA to Strengthen Lead Paint and Dust Standards
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has again ruled that the EPA must do more in setting lead paint and dust standards.
Cumulative Impact Ordinances Address Environmental Justice
Chicago may be the latest city to join other cities that have enacted cumulative pollution impact ordinances that address the impact of additional pollution from industrial operations seeking to open or expand operations “in already burdened low-income communities of color,” says the Chicago Sun Times.
EPA Adds New PFAS to Drinking Water Treatability Database
On May 19, 2021, the EPA announced it has added treatment information on 11 new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to its Drinking Water Treatability Database (TDB).
Brownfields: A Look at Designations, Funding, and Usage
The dictionary describes a brownfield as a former industrial or commercial site where future use is negatively impacted due to real or perceived environmental contamination. According to the EPA, there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the United States.
Benefit-Cost Rule Rescinded by EPA
On May 13, 2021, the EPA announced it is rescinding the “Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process,” also known as the Benefit-Cost Rule. The rule was categorized as “unnecessary.”
EPA Rescinds Rule on Guidance Documents
The EPA issued a final rule on May 21, 2021, rescinding its October 18, 2020, rulemaking that established the Agency’s procedures for issuing, modifying, withdrawing, and using guidance documents.
HFC Phasedown Announced by EPA
The EPA is proposing to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are highly potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) commonly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and many other applications. This is the EPA’s first proposed ruling under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020.