EPA’s Midnight Reg About Face Explained—Sort Of
As ProPublica reported earlier today, the Environmental Protection Agency reversed course on two of its rules that had been in the works. But we were curious why the agency chose to abandon these two when there are still others in various stages of the rulemaking process.
EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar told ProPublica the agency had tried to “squeak by,” but finally realized they didn’t have enough time.
As for those still pending? As far as he is aware, the only “major” rule still up for consideration involves a proposal to not regulate perchlorate, a chemical component of rocket fuel, in our drinking water. Work continues with that rule, he said, and referred to language in the White House memo (PDF) on rulemaking that makes exceptions for “extraordinary circumstances” as justification. The memo had set a Nov. 1 deadline for publishing final rules in the Federal Register.
There are other last minute rules to be sure. ProPublica has had its eye on a number, including one easing rules for factory farms on reporting air pollution from animal waste and another on exempting certain industrial materials from hazardous waste management requirements so they can be converted into fuel.
To see these rules, as well as the others we are following, visit our Midnight Regulations chart.
Get Updates
Our Hottest Stories
- The 182 Percent Loan: How Installment Lenders Put Borrowers in a World of Hurt
- IRS Office That Targeted Tea Party Also Disclosed Confidential Docs From Conservative Groups
- Medicare Drug Program Fails to Monitor Prescribers, Putting Seniors and Disabled at Risk
- On Victory Drive, Soldiers Defeated by Debt
- The Most Important #Muckreads on Rape in the Military
- Everything We Know About What’s Happened Under Sequestration
- The Story Behind Our Hospital Interactive
- Is Obama Delivering on His Promise of a “21st Century” Approach to Drugs?
- Lifting the Veil on Dangerous Prescribing
- FAQ: What You Need to Know About Prescriber Checkup
- IRS Office That Targeted Tea Party Also Disclosed Confidential Docs From Conservative Groups
- The 182 Percent Loan: How Installment Lenders Put Borrowers in a World of Hurt
- Everything We Know About What’s Happened Under Sequestration
- On Victory Drive, Soldiers Defeated by Debt
- Medicare Drug Program Fails to Monitor Prescribers, Putting Seniors and Disabled at Risk
- Is Obama Delivering on His Promise of a “21st Century” Approach to Drugs?
- How the IRS’s Nonprofit Division Got So Dysfunctional
- Intern vs. Mayor: Battle Bares Bloomberg's Argument for Secrecy
- The Most Important #Muckreads on Rape in the Military
- How We Analyzed Medicare’s Drug Data






