Waste

From brownfields to Superfund sites, and from coal waste rules to handling hazardous waste, this section tracks EPA's efforts to tackle a wide-ranging waste agenda.

Topic Subtitle
From brownfields to Superfund sites, and from coal waste rules to handling hazardous waste, this section tracks EPA's efforts to tackle a wide-ranging waste agenda.

CHPAC Doubts EPA Efforts To Advance MAHA Agenda In Face Of Rollbacks

EPA’s children’s health advisors are doubting Trump administration efforts to advance its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda given the adverse health effects they expect will result from the agency’s broad rollbacks, though top EPA officials are touting their deregulatory efforts, saying they will result in significant benefits. “I read with great interest the MAHA report, and I agree with a lot of what’s in it, you know, the cumulative impact of chemical exposures on children’s health. . . ...

New Mexico Urges Judicial Panel To Send PFAS Suit Back To State Court

New Mexico is urging a federal judicial panel to reject Air Force efforts to move its recently filed lawsuit against the service over PFAS releases to the massive multidistrict litigation (MDL) over firefighting foam, arguing the suit belongs in state court in a case that could test what recourse states have in pursuing their claims against federal facilities. In an Aug. 20 brief , New Mexico Attorney General (AG) Raul Torrez told the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML)...

Court Dismisses Ohio Plant’s Suit Over Biden EPA’s CCR Interpretation

A federal court is dismissing an Ohio power plant’s suit challenging the Biden EPA’s interpretation of its 2015 coal combustion residuals (CCR) rule when it denied the facility’s request to extend deadlines to cease receipt of waste and close one of its facilities, marking the second court to find the agency “straightforwardly applied” the rule’s mandates. The decision could complicate efforts by the Trump EPA and industry groups seeking to overhaul the agency’s 2015 CCR rule and some of its...

Utilities Back EPA Legacy CCR Extensions, Seek Additional Changes

Regional power utilities are supporting the Trump EPA’s direct final rule that would extend certain deadlines for complying with the Biden-era rule governing legacy coal combustion residuals (CCR) surface impoundments, though they are recommending additional extensions and emphasizing the need for significant revisions in a future rulemaking. EPA on Aug. 25 posted a series of comments filed by regional power utilities expressing support for the agency’s direct final rule and companion proposal that would extend deadlines for facilities to comply...

EPA Allows Industrial Incinerators To Temporarily Burn ‘Disaster’ Debris

EPA is authorizing temporary use of commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators (CISWI) to burn debris from disasters such as hurricanes, citing the Biden administration’s refusal to take the step in response to a request from North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene that caused extensive damage to the state in 2024. The authorization made in an Interim Final Rule (IFR) announced Aug. 22 will enable faster emergency cleanup of damage, the agency says. “With this action, EPA is...

EPA agrees to craft strategy to improve radiation response

EPA is agreeing with calls from its Office of Inspector General (OIG) to develop a strategy to improve its ability to respond to radiation emergencies after the office found a key center is unprepared to address such emergencies due to staff shortages, lack of training and poorly maintained equipment. “The Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) will, on an annual basis, assess the importance, role, mission, location, size and staff composition of [National Center for Radiation Field Operations (NCRFO)],”...

Environmentalists Resist EPA Plan To Refocus CHPAC On MAHA Goals

Environmentalists are opposing the Trump EPA’s plan to task the agency’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) with focusing on actions to implement the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) strategy elements ahead of the committee’s meeting next week CHPAC, “historically an independent body providing science-based recommendations, would now be forced to ‘align’ its guidance with MAHA’s political agenda,” Earthjustice says in an Aug. 20 blog post . “This change risks turning a scientific advisory body into a rubber...

2023 TRI Analysis Shows Facilities Treated More PFAS Waste, Cut Releases

Facilities managed more PFAS waste in 2023 compared to previous years, according to EPA’s new analysis of 2023 data reported to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), but more of that waste was treated than before, resulting in a reduction in releases through air, water, land and other media compared to 2022. But the data for 2024 is expected to show an increase in volumes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) waste as 2023 was the last reporting year when facilities...

New Jersey’s PFAS Settlements May Offer ‘Roadmap’ For Other States

New Jersey’s multi-billion dollar proposed settlements with various chemical manufacturers over PFAS contamination are likely to serve as a “roadmap” for dozens of other states pursing natural resource damages (NRD) and drinking water cleanup claims due to PFAS contamination, legal experts say, though some are more cautious. “This landmark settlement sets a powerful precedent for environmental protection efforts nationwide,” says William Jackson, an attorney with Kelley Drye, who served as co-counsel along with two other law firms to New Jersey’s...

California Lawmakers Attack Newsom’s Eased Draft Plastic Recycling Rules

California lawmakers are continuing to attack Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his recycling department over draft rules to implement the landmark 2022 law SB 54 requiring an extended producer responsibility (EPR) plastics recycling program, saying they run afoul of the law by exempting products and including lax reuse standards, among other ways. “We know that the regulatory process before us here has been anything but getting this right, or leading the way, but it’s not too late for us to...

Court Grants EPA Request To Again Delay Suit Over PFAS CERCLA Rule

The D.C. Circuit has granted the Trump EPA’s request -- its fifth -- to again delay industry litigation challenging the Biden-era rule designating two legacy PFAS as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law, giving the agency 30 more days to determine how to proceed. “Upon consideration of respondents’ unopposed motion to continue abeyance, it is ORDERED that the motion be granted, and these cases continue to remain in abeyance,” the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit...

Sen. Ricketts Proposes CERCLA PFAS Liability Protections In FY26 NDAA

Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) is proposing an amendment to fiscal year 2026 defense authorization legislation that would carve out Superfund liability protections for fire suppression, wastewater and other entities in response to requirements designating two PFAS as “hazardous substances,” marking an early test of legislative support for such measures. Ricketts’ amendment , filed July 31 before senators broke for their summer recess, also proposes a new definition for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that would narrow the current definition contained...

EPA Asks Court For Fifth Delay In Suit Challenging PFAS CERCLA Rule

The Trump EPA is again asking the D.C. Circuit to delay litigation in a case brought by industry challenging the Biden-era rule designating two legacy PFAS as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law, the fifth such request the agency has made as officials say they still need more time to evaluate how to proceed in the litigation. “EPA’s new leadership is currently still in the process of reviewing the issues presented in this case, evaluating the Rule within the broader...

EPA Looks Beyond Biden-Era ELG, CCR Rules For Potential Revisions

EPA is looking beyond Biden-era rules governing coal-fired power plants’ effluent limitations and coal combustion residual (CCR) disposal at legacy sites for potential revision, signaling in recent legal filings as well as regulatory docket entries that it may revisit aspects of previous Trump and Obama-era rulemakings. EPA is currently in the midst of taking actions to extend compliance deadlines associated with the Biden administration’s 2024 rules strengthening effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for the steam electric generating category and setting requirements...

MAHA Backers Warn Of Fallout For GOP Over PFAS Biosolids Measure

Supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement are pressing President Donald Trump to oppose a measure included in FY26 House spending legislation that would bar EPA from acting on a Biden-era draft risk assessment of two legacy PFAS in biosolids. In an Aug. 11 letter to the president, as well as EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, they warn of potential political repercussions for Republicans in the...

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