EPA News & Regulations
EPA Releases Action Plan for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
In February of 2019, the EPA released an updated Action Plan addressing PFAS-related challenges. PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. The challenge presented by the … Continue reading
Study of Oil and Gas Extraction
EPA recently published a draft report on the Study of Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management Under the Clean Water Act. EPA states that they “conducted a study evaluating management of produced waters from onshore oil and gas extraction activities. … Continue reading
EPA Enforcement Annual Results for Fiscal Year 2018
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its annual enforcement results for the 2018 fiscal year (ranging from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018). The report highlights the results of the agency’s civil and criminal enforcement over the … Continue reading
A Year-End Review of EPA’s Recent Air Permitting Guidance Changes
As we enter into 2019, it is important to reflect on the air permitting guidance changes we have seen in what has been a very active year in EPA air permitting guidance. These guidance changes, especially those under the complex … Continue reading
Deregulation Trends in the Wake of “In-One-Two-Out” Policy
On January 30, 2017, the day President Donald Trump took office, one of his first measures was to sign in Executive Order 13771.1 This executive order became known as the “In-One-Two-Out” policy whereby for every new regulation adopted, two regulations … Continue reading
2015 UST Rules to Begin Full Implementation
The 2015 Revised Underground Storage Tank (UST) Regulations will begin full implementation in some states and 16 non-program approved states on October 13, 2018. The revisions strengthen the 1988 federal UST regulations by increasing emphasis on properly operating and maintaining … Continue reading
EPA: Landfill Emissions
The OIG plans to begin preliminary research to determine whether active municipal solid waste landfills are operating under the appropriate air-quality permit. Click here
EPA Proposes Changes to Storage Tank Emission Calculation Guidance
On July 25, 2018, EPA proposed revisions to AP-42 Section 7.1 – Organic Liquid Storage Tanks. This section, lasted updated in November 2006, provides guidance for calculating air emissions from fixed and floating-roof storage tanks. Along with EPA’s TANK 4.09d … Continue reading
DC Circuit Court Vacates Risk Management Program (RMP) Delay Rule
More than five years after President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13650, sending us down this winding road, on August 17, 2018, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the RMP Delay Rule. The Court of Appeals stated, “Because EPA … Continue reading
PFAS Chemicals and the EPA’s Plan
Trey Glenn, EPA Region 4 Administrator, recently penned an article expressing EPA’s concerns about a class of “emerging contaminants” that are showing up in aquifers and surface waters across the nation. He stated that “protecting America’s drinking water is a … Continue reading
