Archives

February 7, 2025

EPA Administrator Zeldin Announces Five Pillar Initiative to Guide EPA; What Does It Mean for OCSPP?

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on February 4, 2025, announced the “Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative” (PGAC Initiative). It consists of five pillars and is intended to serve as a roadmap to guide EPA’s actions under Administrator Zeldin. The five pillars are:  Administrator Zeldin explained Pillar 3 by stating, “Any business that wants to invest in America should be able to do so without having to face years-long, uncertain, and...
January 27, 2025

EPA Proposes Risk Management Rule to Protect Workers from Inhalation Exposure to PV29

On January 14, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to address the unreasonable risk of injury to human health presented by Color Index (C.I.) Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) under its conditions of use (COU) as documented in EPA’s January 2021 risk evaluation and September 2022 revised risk determination. 90 Fed. Reg. 3107. The proposed rule states that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires that EPA address by rule any...
January 23, 2025

EPA Administrator Nominee Advances to Senate for Confirmation Vote: Nomination Hearing Highlights

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) on January 23, 2025, advanced the nomination of Lee Zeldin to the full Senate for a vote to confirm him as the next Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 11-8 vote to advance the nomination was largely along party lines, with Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) as the only Democrat to vote in favor of advancing Zeldin’s nomination. Zeldin is expected to be confirmed...
January 10, 2025

Lynn L. Bergeson, Compliance Advisor: What to Expect from EPA in 2025, Chemical Processing, January 10, 2025.

Much speculation is growing about what to expect from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2025 under the Trump administration. Donald Trump’s presidential campaign focused on downsizing the federal government, especially the EPA. The first Trump administration tried hard to cut the agency’s workforce and funding while working to decrease regulations it viewed as burdensome.  The new administration will likely follow a similar path, taking significant steps to roll back...
December 12, 2024

EPA Begins Public Consultation on Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts

On November 21, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts (Interim Framework). 89 Fed. Reg. 92125. According to EPA, the Interim Framework provides a shared reference point for EPA programs and regions as they determine when and how to analyze and consider cumulative impacts. EPA states that Agency programs will incorporate the Interim Framework “into their processes and programs, as appropriate,...
December 6, 2024

Lynn L. Bergeson, “EPA Proposes Expanded Chemical Tracking for PFAS, Now What?,” Chemical Processing, December 6, 2024.

The number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list is expected to expand greatly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed on Oct. 8, 2024, to add 16 PFAS and 15 PFAS categories representing more than 100 individual PFAS subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020...
November 22, 2024

EPA Releases National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution

On November 21, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: Part Three of a Series on Building a Circular Economy for All. According to EPA, together with EPA’s “National Recycling Strategy” and the “National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics,” the “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution” presents opportunities for voluntary and regulatory actions by...
November 19, 2024

What to Expect When You Don’t Know What to Expect in Chemicals Policy and Regulation and on Capitol Hill in 2025, January 14, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EST), via webinar

Register now to join Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) for “What to Expect When You Don’t Know What to Expect in Chemicals Policy and Regulation and on Capitol Hill in 2025,” a complimentary webinar offering our best-informed judgment as to the trends and key developments chemical industry stakeholders can expect in 2025. The return of President-elect Trump for a second term instantly raises important questions: will the Senate defer some of its traditional roles as...
October 3, 2024

Ya-Wei (Jake) Li, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs, to Leave EPA and Take Position with FWS

On September 30, 2024, Ya-Wei (Jake) Li, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced that he will be leaving EPA to take a position with the U.S. Department of Interior’s (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as the Assistant Director for Ecological Services. This program is responsible for how the agency conserves endangered species and many other wildlife. Li was Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs for...
August 22, 2024

EPA Updates Safer Choice and DfE Standard

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 8, 2024, the availability of the final updated Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) Standard (the Standard). 89 Fed. Reg. 64915. According to EPA, the update includes a name change to the title of the Standard, a revision to the packaging criteria, a new certification for cleaning service providers, a new provision allowing for preterm partnership termination under exceptional circumstances, and the addition of...