Legal Analysis DC Circuit Weighs in on EPA’s Science Mandates At EPA, sound science is inextricably linked to how the agency fulfils its statutory mandates. Willfully failing to get the science right means failing to adequately carry out its legal […] May 7, 2020
Legal Analysis Cutting Science Advisors Out of the Decision Making Process On February 25, 2020, EPA Administrator Wheeler signed a memo changing how EPA engages with the Science Advisory Board (SAB) to decide which of EPA’s proposed regulatory actions the SAB […] April 29, 2020
Legal Analysis More Legal Questions in EPA’s Supplemental Regulatory Science Proposal On March 18, 2020, EPA published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to amend EPA’s 2018 proposed rule, Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science. After an extension, the comment period for […] April 27, 2020
Legal Analysis Legal and Legislative Challenges to EPA’s FOIA Restrictions In June 2019, EPA limited access to public records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The new rule, which was published without public input, allows EPA political appointees […] February 26, 2020
Legal Analysis Science Advisory Board Draft Reports Reviewing Four Major Proposed Rules EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) has released four draft reports that cast doubt on the science underlying four major proposed rules that would impact clean water, mercury pollution from power […] January 9, 2020
CleanLaw Podcast CleanLaw: Laura Bloomer Speaks with Gretchen Goldman about EPA Science Advisory Panels Laura Bloomer and Gretchen discuss the Trump administration’s changes to EPA’s process for reviewing the national ambient air quality standards. December 18, 2019
Legal Analysis Timeline of Changes to the Air Quality Standards Review Process EPA continues to compress and weaken the long-standing, scientifically-sound process for reviewing the adequacy of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Clean Air Act requires that EPA review […] December 9, 2019
Legal Analysis Updates to the Environmental Appeals Board Procedures EPA recently proposed updates to the procedures for the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB)’s review of agency-granted permits. While the proposed rule intends to “streamline and modernize” the permit review process, […] December 2, 2019