Environmentalists Petition EPA To Update Plastics Production ELGs

摘要

Hundreds of environmental and other groups are petitioning EPA to revise its effluent limits for the production of petroleum-based plastics, saying an update is necessary to comply with Clean Water Act (CWA) mandates to reflect new science and ensure new technologies and treatment methods are used to address emerging contami-nants. "Despite plastic production's harms, EPA is allowing this industry to expand its poisoning of our nation's waters," the July 23 petition says. "EPA only regulates a subset of wastewater pollutants produced by this industry under its current Clean Water Act regulátory program, using unacceptably old technology-based standards. EPA must start more effectively regulating the plastics industry now." The push for updated effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for plastics marks the latest effort by environmentalists and Democrats to clamp down on the industry, blaming it for a global waste problem. For example, two Democratic lawmakers are planning to introduce legislation to reduce plastic waste through a combination of bans, incentives, and end-of-life management programs.