What impact will the EPA’s Climate Enforcement and Compliance Strategy have on environmental regulations?

The strategy, announced in late September, is part of a “whole government approach” to addressing climate change. Through this action, the EPA will incorporate climate change considerations, wherever appropriate within its jurisdiction. The EPA plans to prioritize climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies through enforcement and compliance offices.

As a result, industries and other regulated entities can expect more frequent information requests, operational scrutiny, and enforcement associated with greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental justice and green remediation technologies will continue to be areas of emphasis by EPA regulators.

Brown and Caldwell’s Climate Change and Resilience Team takes a comprehensive look at local- to federal-scale climate policies and regulations to help clients proactively assess climate risk and provide planning support. For more information about BC’s climate-related services, visit our Climate Change and Resilience site.

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

Proposed regulation changes may double methane reporting

The EPA’s proposed revisions to Subpart W of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program would require more accurate and comprehensive reporting of methane emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems. This “would more than double 2021 reported methane and increase overall carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by 41%,” according to Enverus Intelligence Research.

PFAS final data reporting regulations under TSCA

The EPA’s final rule will require manufacturers and importers of PFAS and PFAS-containing articles to report information on chemical identity, uses, volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards to the agency. The rule is expected to provide the largest-ever dataset of PFAS in the U.S. and help the EPA better understand and regulate these chemicals.

BC Insider: EPA POTW PFAS Influent Study

The EPA recently solicited feedback from stakeholders on draft language outlining the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) influent PFAS study, which may require selected POTWs to collect samples of influent, effluent, and biosolids to be analyzed for PFAS. Learn more about in the latest edition of BC Insider.