On July 27, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its anticipated Semiannual Regulatory Agenda. This bi-annual disclosure is designed to provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of the agency’s plans to review, propose, and implement regulations in the forthcoming months. Here’s where you can find more detailed information.
Significant among the agenda items are actions associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These man-made chemicals have drawn considerable attention in recent years due to their ubiquity and environmental persistency, which have raised public health concerns.
As legal professionals, especially those working with environmental regulations in large corporations and law firms, it is vital to stay informed about these regulatory shifts. The policies and measures that the EPA will present in their Semiannual Regulatory Agenda could have a considerable influence on commercial and legal practices, requiring careful consideration and potentially, anticipatory action.
While the summary of PFAS-related actions is not yet fully available, we can expect the focus to be on tackling contamination and exposure prevention. PFAS management strategies could consist of rulemaking initiatives, which could cover anything from significant manufacturing use rules to stringent disposal regulations.
This is a developing story to be watched closely. The full impact of these PFAS-related agenda items on the EPA’s broader regulatory strategy, as well as the potential effects on corporate and legal processes, will unfold in the coming months.