Category: Regulatory Developments

States Move to Shore Up Enviro Authority

Although the Trump administration has stated its intent and taken recent actions to reduce regulatory burdens for industry, environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals cannot really breathe a sigh of relief because states are taking steps to make sure that they have the authority to develop and enforce environmental regulations no matter what happens on […]

power plant

AGs Intend to Fight CPP Repeal

EPA’s proposed repeal of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) is only part of Act 1 of what will be a historic confrontation over the legality of the CPP that will be waged between the plan’s supporters and the Trump administration, which will be aided and abetted by many industry associations. The Agency’s proposal […]

WOTUS Jurisdiction Argued Before Supreme Court

The issue of judicial efficiency was raised by Chief Justice John Roberts in oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that asks whether U.S. District Courts or U.S. Appeals Courts should hear challenges to the federal Clean Water Rule (CWR, also known as WOTUS for waters of the United States).

Pruitt Looks to Reform ‘Sue and Settle’

A pledge to end EPA’s past approach to reaching out-of-court settlements with environmental groups that had filed lawsuits against the Agency was one of the lesser-known but no less firmly held commitments Scott Pruitt carried with him when he became administrator. Pruitt has now issued two documents that would seem to set the Agency on […]

Emission Limits Unchanged for Paper Mills

Final amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for combustion sources at pulp and paper mills leave in place existing emissions limits while imposing new and revised requirements affecting opacity, monitoring, testing, and reporting.

EPA Officially Proposes Repeal of CPP

Nine months after President Donald Trump entered the White House carrying a campaign promise to eliminate the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the Obama EPA’s most significant environmental regulation, the Trump EPA has taken its first rulemaking action to fulfill President Trump’s pledge.

Capitol building

Senators Want to Make OSHA VPP Permanent

United States Senators from both sides of the aisle are working together to try to make OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) a permanent part of federal occupational safety and health law.

Wood Products Rule Compliance Dates Extended

In a final rule (September 25, 2017, FR), the EPA has extended the compliance dates for four requirements under the Agency’s final Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products (December 12, 2016, FR).