EPA Plans 'Legacy' Coal Ash Rule But OLEM Slows Key Waste Measures

摘要

EPA appears likely to propose new rules tightening requirements for "legacy" coal ash disposal sites at closed power plants, one of a series of rules addressing waste cleanup and industrial incidents the Biden administration is preparing to issue, according to the agency's just-issued unified agenda of upcoming regulatory actions. In addition to the coal ash rule for legacy sites, the agency's Office of Land and Emergency Response (OLEM) is also poised to issue a final regulation as soon as next month governing closures of existing ash impoundments. Also, EPA is laying out plans to revise Risk Management Plan (RMP) requirements at chemical facilities, after already signaling it was likely to reverse the Trump administration RMP rule that weakened previous requirements. And the office is also working on other measures that will seek to potentially strengthen oil spill response and address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).