Search

9 States Challenge EPA’s COVID-19 Enforcement Policy

Posted on 5/18/2020 by Roger Marks

Attorneys General from nine states filed suit against US EPA over the agency’s Temporary Policy on environmental enforcement during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The states filed the complaint to “challenge a final agency policy under which EPA has stated it ‘will not’ enforce a wide range of monitoring and reporting requirements under federal environmental laws” on May 13 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Attorneys General from California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia have this to say about EPA’s COVID-19 enforcement policy:

“…rather than exercising enforcement discretion as authorized by law, EPA issued a broad, open-ended policy that gives regulated parties free rein to self-determine when compliance with federal environmental laws is not practical because of COVID-19.”

Issued on March 26, 2020, EPA’s temporary enforcement policy applies to civil violations of routine environmental monitoring and reporting obligations.

Petition for Emergency Rulemaking

These nine states are not the first to file suit concerning EPA’s COVID-19 policy.  

On April 1, groups including the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) petitioned EPA to create an emergency rulemaking that would obligate companies to inform the public of their intention invoke the COVID-19 defense. After waiting two weeks for a response from EPA, the groups filed suit on April 16.

The suit asks the Court “to order EPA to respond to the emergency rulemaking petition as soon as possible.” 

Convenient, Effective Online EHS Manager Training

Managing site compliance with the many complex EPA programs that affect your business—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to TSCA, EPCRA, CERLCA, and more—is a major challenge. If you’re new to the field or need an update on changing EPA rules, online training is a convenient way to quickly build in-depth expertise.

Check out the latest EPA compliance training courses:
Complete Environmental Regulations  
Clean Air Act Regulations Online
TSCA Regulations Online
Clean Water Act & SDWA Regulations Online
Superfund and Right-to-Know Act Regulations Online 
 

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

I chose Lion's online webinar because it is simple, effective, and easily accessible.

Jeremy Bost

Environmental Health & Safety Technician

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

This is the best RCRA training I've experienced! I will be visiting Lion training again.

Cynthia L. Logsdon

Principal Environmental Engineer

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

Very good. I have always appreciated the way Lion Tech develops, presents and provides training and materials.

John Troy

Environmental Specialist

I can take what I learned in this workshop and apply it to everyday work and relate it to my activities.

Shane Hersh

Materials Handler

These are the best commercial course references I have seen (10+ years). Great job!

Ed Grzybowski

EHS & Facility Engineer

The price was reasonable, the time to complete the course was manageable, and the flexibility the online training allowed made it easy to complete.

Felicia Rutledge

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Lion courses always set the bar for content, reference, and practical application. Membership and access to the experts is an added bonus.

John Brown, CSP

Director of Safety & Env Affairs

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

In most cases, injuries that occur at work are work-related and must be recorded to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations. This report shows you the 9 types of injuries you don’t record.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.