EPA Roundup: Chemical Safety Board Closure, Deregulation Plans, and More

# EPA Weekly Roundup: Environmental Policy in Transition

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Welcome to Environmental Pulse, your weekly EPA update. I'm your host, bringing you the most significant developments from the Environmental Protection Agency. This week, the White House has proposed shutting down the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board by October 2026, an independent agency that investigates chemical disasters nationwide.

The EPA is making waves with Administrator Lee Zeldin's announcement of 31 sweeping deregulatory actions, described as the "biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history." These changes aim to reduce regulatory costs by trillions of dollars, lower household expenses, and shift decision-making to state governments.

In other significant news, the EPA plans to reconsider its 2024 Clean Water Act rule requiring facility response plans for worst-case discharges of hazardous substances. The original compliance deadline of June 1, 2027, is expected to be extended by up to five years, giving affected facilities more time to prepare.

For communities in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the EPA has scheduled a virtual public meeting on June 10th to discuss Superfund site cleanup work. EPA officials will present updates on work completed in 2024 and plans for 2025, with a public comment period running from June 11th to July 10th.

Meanwhile, the agency's plan to eliminate the Energy Star program has drawn significant criticism from lawmakers. Senator Ruben Gallego called it a "misguided decision that would be counterproductive to our national housing, economic, and electricity goals." A group of 22 senators argued the program is "protected under federal statute and thus illegal for the Administration to terminate unilaterally."

The EPA's Office of Inspector General recently completed an investigation into whistleblower complaints about the ASPECT program, which monitors chemical disasters. While finding procedural deficiencies, the investigation didn't substantiate claims about data manipulation, though the whistleblower maintains that EPA officials lack understanding of the technology.

For those interested in participating in the New Bedford Harbor meeting, visit epa.gov/new-bedford-harbor for joining instructions. To comment on regulatory changes, head to regulations.gov and search for the relevant docket numbers.

Stay informed and engaged as these environmental policies continue to evolve. Join us next week for more updates from the EPA.

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