States, Chemical Industry Criticize EPA 'Next Generation' Compliance Plan

摘要

States and the chemical industry are criticizing EPA's planned "next generation" effort to use streamlined regulatory design, widespread electronic reporting and other steps to improve compliance with environmental laws, saying the plan is likely to impose significant new burdens on states and regulated entities and is potentially unlawful. The criticisms are outlined in recent comments on the agency's Jan. 28 proposal to extend its "National Enforcement Initiatives" (NEIs) for fiscal years 2011-2013 through to FY16. EPA is not proposing any new initiatives beyond the next generation compliance plan, but other commenters reiterate long-running concerns about the enforcement priorities. For example, the petroleum sector questions the agency's continuing focus on air toxics rule enforcement.