For environmental regulations, we are keeping our eyes on the regulatory horizon as we move through the final quarter of 2020, seeing both near-term deadlines and long-term visions and goals.
Last month, the Business Roundtable (BRT) released “Addressing Climate Change,” a publication outlining the group’s recommendations for a carbon emissions pricing policy and other market-based principles in response to climate change. The BRT, whose membership includes more than 200 major corporate CEOs, believes that businesses and corporations should work together to limit global temperature rise. The strategies outlined in the publication would incentivize companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, ideally, encourage the development of innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions. This call for action is being praised as a transformation by environmental groups.
In addition to this major move, here’s a look into the future of environmental regulations:
RCRA 10-year goals
The recent RCRA Corrective Action Virtual Conference gave a chance for the EPA to recap its progress towards key milestones set for 2020 and to announce its 2030 vision and goals. The five new goals provide expectations and objectives for the RCRA Corrective Action Program for this 10-year timeframe.
Approaching CDR deadline
The deadline for Chemical Data Reporting is Nov. 30, 2020. Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 established the CDR rule, requiring that companies manufacturing or importing certain chemical substances for commercial purposes submit reports every four years. Due to recent amendments, some manufacturers that have not previously been required to report may now have reporting requirements.
Route to reclassify for major HAP sources
Earlier this month, the EPA released its final rule under the Clean Air Act that will allow some sources of major hazardous air pollutants (HAP) the flexibility to reclassify themselves as area sources subject to much less stringent requirements. This change may encourage sources to evaluate their operations and consider changes that could reduce HAP emissions.
