U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule this week to further delay the effective date of EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) Amendments to allow EPA time to complete the process for reconsidering the RMP Amendments issued on January 17, 2017.

“We want to prevent regulation created for the sake of regulation by the previous Administration. Any expansion of the RMP program should make chemical facilities safer, without compromising our national security. And, any new RMP requirements should be developed in accordance with the explicit mandate granted to EPA by Congress,” said Administrator Pruitt.

Administrator Pruitt’s proposal to further delay the effective date of the amendments will allow the Agency time to evaluate the objections raised by multiple petitioners and consider other issues that may benefit from additional public input. The Agency will also use this time to ensure that all provisions in the RMP Amendments are in accordance with the explicit mandate granted to EPA by Congress in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

On March 13, 2017, Administrator Pruitt signed a letter announcing the convening of a proceeding for reconsideration of the RMP Amendments and signed a final rule issuing a three-month stay of the effective date, thereby delaying the effective date to June 19, 2017. The proposed rule signed by Administrator Pruitt on March 29, 2017, would, if finalized, further delay the effective date of amendments to the Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act until February 19, 2019.

EPA will hold a public hearing on this proposed rule on April 19, 2017, to solicit input on the proposed delay of the effective date. Written comments on the proposed delay are due by May 19, 2017.

You can read this article on the EPA website here.