Lead Dust Ruling May Open Door To Suits Forcing EPA Rulemaking Efforts

摘要

Environmentalists and industry lawyers say they expect a new wave of lawsuits against EPA and other agencies seeking deadlines for rule updates based on the recent appellate decision ordering EPA to craft new hazard standards for lead dust, though industry holds out hope that the precedent it set can be limited to that circuit. Sources on both sides told Inside EPA that they expect environmentalists to invoke the Dec. 27 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in A Community Voice, et ai, v. EPA in other suits alleging that the agency has neglected a statutory mandate to act.