#WorkforceWednesday: Labor Market Imbalance, Return to Work, OSHA Enforcement Guidance - Employment Law This Week®
With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent announcement of final maximum contaminant levels for various per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), public water systems (PWSs) are determining what actions...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted final rules that affect businesses that manufactured or used PFAS substances and establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking water....more
As discussed in more detail in BCLP’s 2023 federal recap client alert, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) were a major focus for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in 2023, and 2024 will...more
On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of...more
On June 27, 2022, two new laws went into effect to place limits and regulate the levels of certain Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”) chemicals in drinking water, ground water, surface waters, and landfills...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new interim lifetime drinking water health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), as well as final health advisories for...more
On June 15, 2022, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new health advisories for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The health advisories significantly lowered the level considered safe to...more
On December 20, 2021, U.S. EPA finalized its Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) that will require public water systems (PWS) to collect monitoring data for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and...more
On October 26, 2021, the U.S. EPA announced it will initiate two rulemakings that will take significant steps to address PFAS contamination across the country. The first rulemaking will designate four of the so-called...more
In recent years, states have begun investigating the health and environmental effects of PFAS and the class of chemical compounds that have come to be known as “forever chemicals.” This has led states to initiate massive...more
In September 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released its Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (“Preliminary Plan 15”) which includes two new rulemakings that are intended to reduce Per- and...more
Near- and Longer-Term Objectives Expected to Impact Wide Range of Industries - On October 18, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA’s Commitments to Action 2021-2024. For...more
On October 18, 2021, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA’s Commitments to Action 2021-2024 (Roadmap). The Roadmap is intended to be a comprehensive approach to confronting PFAS...more
If your organization has not already started thinking about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), there's no time like the present. PFAS refers to a family of man-made, environmentally persistent chemicals (often...more
The EPA has made public an April 30 memo from the acting assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to the national and regional enforcement managers that signals clear and specific...more
The Biden administration hit the ground running on its initiative to "confront the climate crisis." On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 13,990 (EO), which directed all federal agencies to "immediately...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a long-awaited update to its enforcement policy on vehicle and engine tampering and aftermarket parts....more
Citing recent investigations and new emissions detection capabilities, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) urges automakers and equipment manufacturers to voluntarily disclose potential violations of regulatory...more
Many businesses subject to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations continue to face uncertainty as they navigate environmental compliance and enforcement issues arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The EPA and...more
White House directs agencies to relax enforcement - Los Angeles Times – September 9 - A memorandum produced by the White House Office of Management and Budget and sent to federal agency heads last week instructs them to...more
In late March 2020, as many states adopted responses to the coronavirus pandemic that either encouraged or mandated “work from home” practices, U.S. EPA and other environmental regulators developed temporary enforcement...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will terminate its temporary policy regarding the exercise of enforcement discretion during the COVID-19 public health crisis on Monday, August 31, 2020. So, on September 1,...more
In late July, the Environment and Natural Resources Division (“ENRD”) of the Department of Justice released a memo setting forth the Division’s policy for handling enforcement of civil Clean Water Act matters when a State has...more
Susan Bodine, the assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), issued a memorandum on March 26 setting forth a temporary policy regarding EPA...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 29, 2020, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum regarding termination of the COVID-19 temporary enforcement policy. EPA has selected August 31, 2020 as the termination date...more