Tag:EPA
The Future of Clean Water Act Regulations Under the Future Trump Administration
A second Trump administration is sure to challenge a variety of clean water and drinking water regulations, as evidenced by various policies proposed by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. President-elect Donald Trump has distanced himself politically from the project but it remains relevant as he continues to surround himself with many of its authors. Many water lawyers and environmental advocates thus expect a second Trump administration to continue the federal water deregulation efforts seen in his first administration. Specifically, President-elect Trump will likely challenge and potentially repeal both the Biden Administration’s “waters of the US” (WOTUS) rule and its Section 401 state certification rule. These moves are likely to be compounded by other ecological regulation rollbacks and further exacerbate an already worsening climate crisis in the United States.
Clearing the Air: The Need for Federal Limits on Private Jet Usage
As the planet grapples with the alarming effects of climate change, a glaring disparity emerges: while everyday Americans are held accountable for their environmental impact, the ultra-wealthy continue to fly under the radar in their private jets. This contradiction highlights the urgent need for change in the approach to private air travel and its contribution to global warming. If society truly cares about the planet’s future, regulatory bodies need to stop turning a blind eye and hold those who are contributing to the same standard.
EPA Issued First Emergency Ban of Pesticide in 40 Years –But Why Has It Taken So Long?
On August 6, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) resurrected its emergency authority for the first time in more than 40 years to prohibit the use of a common herbicide, dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, or Dacthal) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIRFA) because of the chemical’s danger to human health. The last time the EPA exercised this power was in 1979, when the EPA banned the chemical weed killer Agent Orange which was known to cause serious birth defects and used by the United States military in the Vietnam War. The EPA has since remained reluctant to classify any other herbicide chemical as an imminent risk to the public health, until last month.
EPA Finalizes Rule Requiring Reporting of “Forever Chemicals”
On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its rule for manufactures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which requires that these manufacturers provide information about what chemicals and the amount that they produce. Effective November 13, 2023, persons that manufacture, have manufactured, or have imported PFAS in any year since January 1, 2011, will now be required to report a wide range of information of PFAS including chemical identity and structure, uses, production volumes, exposures, by-products and health and environmental effects. EPA is taking this action not only to fulfill its obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a)(7), but also to address this legacy pollution that has been, and continues to be, endangering people across the nation.
Generation Green: Young Activists Pave the Way for Environmental Justice in America
From blizzards striking California to wildfires ravaging Hawai’i and extreme heatwaves scorching Illinois, our world is witnessing a cascade of unexpected and alarming events. But, these are not merely isolated incidents; they are the very manifestations that climate change experts have long warned us about. While global awareness of the need for action grows, the United States continues to lag. Notwithstanding the recent unveiling of the American Climate Corps by the Biden Administration, environmental policies across the country face resistance from courts and legislators, leading to the emergence of the ‘Green Scare’ movement. In this context, an unexpected trend has materialized—the younger generation is fighting back.
New Rule Proposed by the EPA to Clean Up Coal Waste in the Midwest
On May 18, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new rule to address the concern of a previous loophole that allowed pits of coal ash to sit inactive and unmonitored. The new proposed rule was created in response to the August 21, 2018 opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Utility Solid Waste Activities v. EPA.
The East Palestine Train Derailment
Earlier this month, an environmental disaster caused by a train derailment in a west Ohio town has resulted in close scrutiny from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in a chemical spill of millions of liters of toxic liquids. Among the spill’s immediate effects were chemical leakage into local water supplies and air pollution originating from a controlled burn. The EPA has since stepped in to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the clean-up, but unanswered compliance questions still remain.
Off the Rails: the Norfolk Southern Train Derailment and its Aftermath
On February 3, 2023, Ohio was suddenly and unexpectedly rocked by an accident whose long-term consequences are still unfolding. A Norfolk Southern-operated freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in the village of East Palestine. This accident, which poses severe threats to the environment and safety of the local community, has raised significant concerns about the environmental implications of train accidents and the safety of transporting hazardous materials through residential areas.
On the Brink of Dead Pool: The Colorado River at Risk
The Colorado River provides water to seven U.S. states and has been experiencing drought since 2000. Tensions are now rising among the seven states that depend on water from this river. At the request of the Bureau of Reclamation, states were supposed to reach an agreement for how to limit their water usage by January 31, 2023. However, as of February 14, 2023, no such agreement has been met.
Clean Trucks Plan: How Reducing Emissions Impacts the Nation’s Commercial Vehicles
The EPA is expected to introduce tougher heavy duty emissions rules in 2023 as part of the Clean Trucks Plan with the intent to inhibit a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The quicker these changes in the greenhouse gas rules are made, the better for the environment and the future of the efficiency of transportation. The application of these regulations will lead to more efficient transmissions across the country as it impacts a large variety of important vehicles.