2015 U.S. Environmental Federal Regulatory Recap

by Brittany Tofinchio Palmer

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Listed below are the names of key regulations, acts, and legislation that have been enacted, proposed, updated and passed in 2015 at the federal level.  Topics covered include air, chemicals, enforcement, underground storage tanks (USTs), waste, and water.  Updates and changes are centered on actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, and Congressional legislation that affect general manufacturing operations with limited air emissions and at times, corporate offices.  Links, when available, have been provided for the reader’s convenience.

New Regulations, Acts, and Laws

1.    Air
           a.    Phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons
                        i.     http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/HFC_Amendment_2015_Summary.pdf
            b.    Refrigerant Management Update
                        i.    https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-26946
            c.    Clean Power Plan
                        i.    http://www.epa.gov/airquality/cpp/cpp-final-rule.pdf
            d.    Ozone Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/10/26/2015-26594/national-ambient-air-quality-standards-for-ozone

2.    Chemicals
            a.    TSCA Section 5 Reporting Requirements         
                        i.    https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-17737
            b.    Microbeads Ban
                        i.    https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1321/text
            c.    I-bromopropane under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/11/23/2015-29799/addition-of-1-bromopropane-community-right-to-know-toxic-chemical-release-reporting

3.    Enforcement
            a.    Corporate Wrongdoing - targeting individuals
                        i.    http://www.justice.gov/dag/file/769036/download
            b.    Prosecutors encouraged to jointly prosecute environmental and safety violations
                        i.    http://www.justice.gov/enrd/file/800431/download

4.    USTs
            a.    Revising Underground Storage Tank Regulations
                        i.    http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201410&RIN=2050-AG46

5.    Waste
            a.    Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Definition of Solid Waste
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/01/13/2014-30382/definition-of-solid-waste

6.    Water
            a.    Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/06/29/2015-13435/clean-water-rule-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states
            b.    Ambient Water Quality Standards
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/06/29/2015-15912/final-updated-ambient-water-quality-criteria-for-the-protection-of-human-health
            c.    National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/06/16/2015-14792/final-national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-general-permit-for-stormwater-discharges
            d.    Clean Water Act Electronic Reporting Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule

Proposed Regulations, Acts, and Laws

1.    Air
            a.    Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/12/03/2015-29796/cross-state-air-pollution-rule-update-for-the-2008-ozone-naaqs

2.    Chemicals
            a.    TSCA Reform Bill (awaiting final revisions and signature by the President)
                        i.    https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2576/actions
            b.    Significant New Use Rule for Trichloroethylene
                        i.    https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-19348

3.    Enforcement
            a.    EPA Proposed Enforcement Initiatives
                       i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/09/15/2015-23056/public-comment-on-epas-national-enforcement-initiatives-for-fiscal-years-2017-2019

4.    Waste
            a.    Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/09/25/2015-23167/management-standards-for-hazardous-waste-pharmaceuticals
            b.    Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/09/25/2015-23166/hazardous-waste-generator-improvements
            c.    Hazardous Waste Import-Export Rule
                        i.    https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/10/19/2015-25348/hazardous-waste-export-import-revisions

5.    Water
            a.    Congressional Disapproval of Waters of the U.S.Rule (pending presidential review)
                        i.    https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/22/actions

In the Pipeline

1.    Air
            a.    Modernization of accidental release prevention regulations
                        i.    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/rulegate.nsf/byRIN/2050-AG82

2.    Chemicals
            a.    Expansion of facilities subject to the EPCRA
                        i.    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/RuleGate.nsf/byRIN/2025-AA33#1
            b.    Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Reassessment and Use Authorizations
                        i.    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/RuleGate.nsf/byRIN/2070-AJ38

3.    Waste
            a.    Financial Responsibility under Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
                        i.    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/RuleGate.nsf/byRIN/2050-AG56

4.    Water
            a.    Addressing stormwater discharges from developed sites
                        i.    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/rulegate.nsf/byRIN/2040-AF13