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As a result of lawsuits filed by 10 environmental groups, the EPA has signed two consent decrees requiring the Agency to consider updates to toxic air standards for industrial flaring, which is used as a pollution control measure to combust waste gas compounds at petrochemical plants and storage tanks. These air standards have not been […]
The EPA recently announced flyover emissions monitoring of the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico to identify super-emitters. “The Permian Basin accounts for 40 percent of our nation’s oil supply and has produced large quantities of dangerous [volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] and methane over the years, contributing to climate change and poor air quality,” […]
On July 20, 2022, the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report critical of EPA management practices, entitled “The EPA Needs to Improve the Transparency of Its Cancer-Assessment Process for Pesticides.” The controversy uncovered by the report centers around the use of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) pesticide. The report concludes the Trump Administration EPA did […]
Expect new limits on coal ash and ozone pollution from the EPA to continue the push toward the transition from fossil fuel-powered energy generation to clean energy. The Agency continues to explore other options for decarbonization as the Biden administration pushes to achieve the president’s stated campaign goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2035. “We […]
According to a proposed consent decree filed by the EPA in the Federal Register, the Agency plans to finalize tougher ozone pollution standards for several large metropolitan areas by September 15, 2022. These areas include Chicago-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Texas; New York-North New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey-Connecticut; and Denver-Boulder-Greeley-Ft. Collins-Loveland, Colorado. On […]
In September 2021, the EPA published advance notice of proposed rulemaking, soliciting information and requesting comments to assist in the potential development of regulations for pyrolysis and gasification units that are used to convert solid or semi-solid feedstocks to useful products such as energy, fuels, and chemical commodities. The units are currently classified as waste […]
In a report issued June 30, 2022, the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined that the Agency does not have adequate internal controls in place to ensure that its screening process of self-disclosure violations reported through its eDisclosure system is effective and that significant concerns, such as criminal conduct and potential imminent hazards, are […]
On July 18, 2022, the EPA published the final rule “Implementing Statutory Addition of Certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Beginning with Reporting Years 2021 and 2022.” The rule adds five PFAS to the toxic chemicals list that must be reported under the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) and the […]
In the recently published Spring 2022 Unified Agenda, the EPA indicated a final rule amending National Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings will be issued no later than December 30, 2022. “EPA has defined VOCs as any substance which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions,” explains a JD Supra article by Mitchell, Williams, […]
On July 5, 2022, the EPA issued amendments to its Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The amendments become effective September 2, 2022. Impacted industries include chemical manufacturers, producers of petroleum and coal products, and wholesale merchants of nondurable goods. The summary of the rule states the amendments were […]