The recently released Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15) are the EPA’s national wastewater discharge standards developed on an industry-by-industry basis. Consistent with the EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, Plan 15 focuses on evaluating nutrient and PFAS discharges, including:

• Revisions to effluent limitations guidelines and pretreatment standards for reducing PFAS in leachate discharges from landfills
• Two PFAS studies: Textile Mills Category and Publicly Owned Treatment Works Influent
• A detailed study of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Category
• Rule updates to discharges from Steam Electric Power Generating, Meat and Poultry Products, Organic Chemicals, Plastics & Synthetic Fibers, and Metal Finishing and Electroplating Categories

Plan 15 is one to watch, especially if you operate in one of the targeted categories. We, along with our PFAS and Industrial Water teams, will be keeping our eye out for opportunities to help our clients prepare and plan for pending proposed rules, permitting changes, and other updates.

In other environmental updates, we highlight the following in our Compliance News:

EPA proposes enforcement initiatives

The EPA is seeking public comment on its proposal to address environmental justice, climate change, and PFAS contamination in its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs).

New guidance on climate change and environmental justice

For those seeking federal permitting or funding, the White House Council’s on Environmental Quality (CEQ) interim guidance establishing uniform practices for assessing the scope of greenhouse gas (GHG) and the EPA Office of Air and Radiation guidance on “Principles for Addressing Environmental Justice in Air Permitting” may be of particular interest.

Hazardous chemicals labels

In support of safety in the workplace, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard outlines important criteria for classification and labels.