Regulatory Activity

Pesticides and Waters of the United States

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting comment on its proposed data collection concerning potential changes to its permits for discharges to waters of the U.S. from biological and chemical pesticides that leave a residue. Comments are due by September 15.

Ozone

EPA is considering updating its National Refrigerant Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program. The program sets standards for compliance concerning ozone-depleting refrigerants. According to EPA, impacted entities will include “technicians and technician certification programs, equipment testing organizations, refrigerant wholesalers and purchasers, refrigerant reclaimers, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owners, and other establishments that perform refrigerant removal, service, or disposal.” Comments are due September 12.

Legislative Activity

This Week’s Hearings:

Department of Energy Nomination

Thursday, July 24: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a full committee hearing to consider the nomination of Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy. Ms. Sherwood-Randall’s currently serves on the National Security Council addressing nuclear proliferation issues.

Senate to Examine EPA and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Wednesday, July 23: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold an oversight hearing concerning regulations of greenhouse gas emissions titled “EPA’s Proposed Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants.”

Critical Minerals

Wednesday, July 23: The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, will hold an oversight hearing concerning the production of minerals that are critical to goods and manufacturing in the U.S. The hearing is titled “American Metals and Mineral Security: An examination of the domestic critical minerals supply and demand chain.”

Regulation and Permitting Improvement

Wednesday, July 23: The House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, will hold a hearing titled “Modernizing the Business of Environmental Regulation and Protection,” which will focus on optimizing state and federal cooperation to improve the efficiency of environmental regulation. Similarly, on Thursday, July 24, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, will hold a hearing titled “Integrated Planning and Permitting Framework: An Opportunity for EPA to Provide Communities with Flexibility to Make Smart Investments in Water Quality.”

Natural Resource Production

Tuesday, July 22: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Leveraging America’s Resources as a Revenue Generator and Job Creator” to examine jobs creation and revenue for state and local governments derived from natural resource production.