Environment Management

‘PFAS Accountability Act’ Reintroduced in Congress

On Feb. 1, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) reintroduced the ‘PFAS Accountability Act’ in both chambers.

The bill would allow individuals to hold manufacturers responsible if they have been significantly exposed to forever chemicals. 2/19/2024

House Energy Committee Hears Concerns Over PM2.5 Rule

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, led by Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA), held a legislative hearing on Thursday to address concerns over Biden’s new PM 2.5 rule.

The hearing highlighted the devastating impacts the EPA’s new requirements will have on the U.S. economy and manufacturing jobs. The committee explored common-sense solutions to modernize the EPA’s air quality standards process without compromising the nation’s economic prosperity and livelihoods.

Click here to watch the committee. 2/14/2004

EPA Rushes Out Rules, Regulations Ahead of Election

Greenwire recently detailed how the US EPA is rushing to finalize regulations and allocate billions of dollars before the next presidential election.

The full-court-press to advance their agenda for air, climate, and water regulations hopes to prevent potential stifling by a Republican-led Congress and potential White House in 2025. 2/14/2004

Biden Admin, EPA Roll Out PM2.5 Rule

This week, the Biden administration rolled out its final PM2.5 ruling, lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter.

Lowering this standard will force manufacturers to comply with unattainable emissions requirements, cost as much as $197 billion in lost U.S. economic activity, and result in a loss of 973,900 jobs nationwide.

The OMA’s President, Ryan Augsburger, issued a statement on the ruling, highlighting that the unobtainable standards will be disastrous for Ohio’s manufacturing industry.

The OMA has sounded the alarm on PM2.5 in the past. Click here to read our past opposition of this ruling.

2/8/2004

U.S. EPA Unveils Proposed PFAS Clean-Up Rules

The U.S. EPA has unveiled two proposed rules regarding PFAS. The rules would require the investigation and clean-up of certain PFAS at facilities that manage hazardous waste. OMA Connections Partner Vorys reports that the first proposed rule would designate nine specific PFAS as hazardous constituents under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act; the second would allow the U.S. EPA and authorized states to address a broader range of substances, including PFAS. 2/5/2024

East Palestine: One Year Later

A year after the toxic train derailment in Columbiana County, E&E News has published this report on the situation in the East Palestine area. The article notes that many residents, along with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, have urged the Biden administration to declare a disaster in the area, but the president has resisted the idea, saying Norfolk Southern should pay for the cleanup. U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan has pledged his agency will remain in the area until the community is back to normal.

See this summary of cleanup efforts published by Ohio EPA. 2/5/2024

Environmental Regs Among Top Manufacturing Concerns

Federal actions to restrict chemical use, along with the move by some states to ban gasoline-powered vehicles, are among the top concerns of U.S. manufacturers, according to Manufacturing Dive.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Manufacturers continues to press the Biden administration to walk back its proposed revision to the primary standard for particulate matter (PM2.5). Roughly 200 counties could be out of compliance with the tougher PM2.5 rule, which is opposed by the OMA. 1/30/2024

Impact of Good Neighbor Plan on Ohio MFG

On Feb. 21, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments opposing the U.S. EPA’s so-called Good Neighbor Plan, which would significantly expand federal oversight of interstate air emissions.

Ohio is leading the legal challenge against the regulations, which will cost manufacturers and industrial producers an estimated $910 million in yearly compliance costs. Manufacturers of cement, iron and steel, glass, and chemicals would be especially hard hit.

Bricker Graydon, the OMA’s general counsel, has produced this memo for OMA members, outlining the Good Neighbor Plan’s impact on Ohio manufacturers. 2/1/2024

DeWine Takes Aims at PFAS in Firefighting Foam

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine this week announced a new statewide initiative to collect and destroy stockpiled firefighting foam containing PFAS. The program will utilize Battelle’s patented PFAS Annihilator technology, which effectively destroys PFAS-contaminated wastewater to non-detectable levels. Read more. 1/30/2024

How Automakers Are Addressing Scope 3 Emissions

IndustryWeek recently examined the steps auto manufacturers are taking to reduce Scope 1-3 emissions. Meanwhile, EHS Today has published this short quiz regarding Scope 3 emissions, often referred to as value chain emissions. 1/31/2024