The new administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Lee Zeldin, announced the Federal agency will deliver on President Donald Trump’s promise to review several rules. One of the first on the to-do list is revising the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. The Trump Administration cites the U.S. Supreme Read More
Tag: USEPA
Wastewater Regulatory Changes Planned in Support of Energy Industry
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced plans to modernize the effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) on oil and gas extraction wastewater discharges to lower energy costs while supporting environmentally sustainable water reuse. The regulatory review will evaluate modern technologies and management strategies to provide flexibility for produced water to be treated for beneficial Read More
Nine PFAS Added to Toxics Release Inventory
The year began with the addition of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) collects the data annually from facilities in designated industry sectors and Federal facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use TRI-listed chemicals above set quantities. Read More
Insight into Draft Risk Assessment About PFAS in Biosolids
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released a draft risk assessment in January of the potential human health risks associated with the presence of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in biosolids. Specifically, the scientific evaluation of PFAS in sewage sludge (biosolids) assessed the risk of two PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), Read More
New Health-Based Recommendations for PFAS in Bodies of Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced draft national recommendations for health-based levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in waterbodies. Once final, these recommended criteria can be used by States and authorized Tribes to establish water quality standards that help protect people from exposure through consuming water, fish and shellfish from waterbodies that may be polluted by Read More
New Initiative to Tackle PFAS & Identify Emerging Contaminants in Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) launched a new, no-cost technical assistance effort in November that is focused on reducing exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants. This initiative is part of the Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) program and is focused on small or disadvantaged communities. The Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative will Read More