President-elect Trump’s proposed (and aspirational) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is the latest incarnation of a new Administration’s attempt to leave its mark on the federal government. In the November 20, 2024, Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy published an Op-ed about the DOGE effort they will lead and the three kinds of reform DOGE will pursue: regulatory recissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings. We propose that DOGE add a fourth, equally...
November 22, 2024
EPA Announces Interim Guidance on the 2024 Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Rule under the Agriculture Worker Protection Standard
On November 13, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of its interim guidance and additional materials to support the regulatory community in implementing the requirements of the October 4, 2024, final rule for the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) (2024 AEZ Rule). EPA also has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document regarding the rulemaking, as well as a chart comparing the differences between the 2015...
On November 6, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of updates to suggestions it provides to registrants when they develop benefits information for new conventional pesticide registrations and new outdoor uses of conventional pesticides. EPA states the updated document may assist registrants to ensure they submit useful and complete benefits-related information and thus save EPA’s review time for new pesticide registrations and outdoor uses. As background,...
November 21, 2024
EPA’s Tackling Emerging Contaminants Initiative Will Reduce Exposure to PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants in Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on November 20, 2024, the launch of the Tackling Emerging Contaminants (TEC) initiative, a new, no-cost technical assistance effort focused on reducing exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities. According to EPA, the objective of the TEC Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) is to support small or disadvantaged communities assess and address...
November 20, 2024
Biomanufacturing Interagency Working Group Identifies Actions to Increase U.S. Biomanufacturing Capacity
On November 15, 2024, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a report by the Biomanufacturing Interagency Working Group entitled “Building a Vibrant Domestic Biomanufacturing Ecosystem.” The Working Group includes representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of State, the...
November 20, 2024
EPA Extends Deadline for Public Comment on Manufacture of Certain PFAS during Fluorination of HDPE and Other Plastic Containers
On November 20, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an extension to the comment period for the notice published September 30, 2024, seeking public comment on the manufacture of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), during the fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other plastic containers to inform regulations as appropriate under the...
On November 14, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of its third annual progress report, “highlighting the significant achievements the agency has made under its PFAS Strategic Roadmap and the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government strategy to protect communities from the impacts of forever chemicals.” According to EPA’s press release, progress on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during the Biden-Harris Administration includes:...
November 14, 2024
Leadership Changes Coming to EPA and Environmental Committees in Congress; TSCA Fees Due to Be Reauthorized by 2026
Elections bring significant change, especially in Presidential election years. During the 76-day period between Election Day and Inauguration Day, President-elect Trump and his transition team are busy selecting people to serve in his Administration. Congress has even less time, only 59 days from the election until the 119th Congress convenes January 3, 2025, at noon. A previous post looks at what Congress may do during the lame duck period. This post looks at who will...
November 12, 2024
EUON Publishes Study on Nanomaterial Applications for Agriculture
The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced on November 12, 2024, that it published a new study evaluating nanomaterials applications in biocidal, plant protection, and fertilizing products used in agriculture. The study, “Collection and review of information on nanomaterial-based and nano-enabled plant protection products, biocidal products and fertilising products,” addresses knowledge gaps on applications, exposure, and hazards of nanomaterials and...
On October 28, 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) announced that a new NASEM initiative, the International Bioeconomy Forum, will launch in early 2025. According to NASEM, its International Bioeconomy Roundtable and the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) met on September 13, 2024, during the Global Bio-India 2024 conference in New Delhi, India, to discuss the scope of the International Bioeconomy Forum. NASEM states that the forum will...