EPA has denied an industry request to delay the effective of date of the Obama administration's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reporting rule for nanomaterials in commerce, but the agency has updated implementing guidance to better clarify “reportable substances” and is promising to answer additional questions in future updates to the guide.
September 17, 2026
Several environmental groups have filed multiple suits over two of EPA's initial rules for implementing the revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), pursuing challenges in several federal appellate courts claiming that the regulations violate the provisions of the updated toxics law and the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Washington state firefighters are urging Democratic senators to halt development of a novel dispersion modeling approach for assessing risks from toxic gas releases, arguing the federal agency and industry collaboration underestimates risks to the public in filings with EPA and other agencies, though an industry group says the method is based on sound science and may still be revised.
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Environmentalists and Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) are faulting EPA's “operating principles” for streamlined review of new chemicals under the revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), saying it fails to adequately address “reasonably foreseen uses” -- the same narrow approach EPA is using for existing chemicals that critics say is unlawful.
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The federal judge hearing litigation challenging President Donald Trump's executive order (EO) requiring OSHA, EPA and other agencies to repeal two rules for every new measure issued appeared to criticize the measure during Aug. 10 arguments charging it functions as a “shadow” regulatory review process that would not have a transparent effect.
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The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is urging the Labor Department (DOL) to address two Obama OSHA priorities, calling for DOL to determine whether new regulation is needed to address workplace violence in the health care sector and to reduce risks of accidents at facilities that handle toxic chemicals such as ammonium nitrate.
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EPA is diverting full-time equivalent (FTE) staff to help implement an updated process to streamline risk reviews for “new” chemicals as required by the overhauled Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), outlining a set of “operating principles” for the effort and vowing to release draft documents this fall offering further details.
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AUSTIN, TX -- A senior Justice Department (DOJ) official is vowing to aggressively defend EPA, OSHA and other agencies' rules rather than “going directly to a settlement” and reiterating Reagan-era guidance to ensure that settlements comply with DOJ policies, sending a message that the Trump administration will not enter so-called “sue-and-settlement” agreements with environmentalists.
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Industry sectors affected by EPA regulation of formaldehyde emissions from pressed wood products are split in their reaction to the agency's latest direct final rule to alter or delay the emissions standards, with a consumer electronics association seeking another extension of compliance deadlines while other industry groups support the rule.
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Several environmental groups are questioning multiple aspects of EPA's efforts to launch its new risk evaluation program for existing chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and in a new letter are pressing agency officials for reassurances that its first 10 risk evaluations will comply with the law's intent.
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An appeals court has again delayed briefing in industry's lawsuit challenging an Obama OSHA final rule strengthening limits for worker exposure to beryllium to allow for ongoing settlement talks and public input on a Trump administration proposal to amend the rule, which could preclude or limit the need for litigation.
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EPA's latest proposed settlement with a company for alleged violations of the Risk Management Plan (RMP) facility safety program includes strict mandates for independent audits to prevent future violations, suggesting the agency will retain reliance on audits in such pacts despite delaying an Obama-era rule to mandate audits as part of RMP.
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A former Obama OSHA official is urging the Trump administration to issue more public notices of significant penalties for violations of workplace safety rules in order to discourage non-compliance, reiterating criticism that Senate Democrats included in a call for a Labor Department Inspector General (IG) review of OSHA this spring.
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Environmental and labor groups challenging EPA's lengthy delay of an Obama-era facility accident prevention rule are urging a federal court to reject the agency's request for 60 days to file its brief, arguing any further delay would unfairly boost EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's goal of stalling the facility safety update rule.
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House lawmakers have introduced a bill to circumvent a controversial 2015 ruling that expanded the definition of joint employer and prompted strict Obama OSHA enforcement guidance, and though the bill would not directly impact OSHA, a source says lawmakers are tracking whether a similar change to the agency's governing statute may be needed.
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House lawmakers appear poised to introduce a bill seeking to roll back the effect of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that expanded the definition of joint employer and broadened liability for workplace safety and other labor law violations, announcing a July 27 news conference on a legislative fix to the definition of joint employer.
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A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general (AG) are suing EPA over its delay of an Obama-era rule updating the agency's facility accident prevention program, pointing to a fact sheet issued by the Trump agency as showing the rule is needed to protect communities, workers and first responders from accidents.
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The Trump administration has scrapped Obama OSHA plans for numerous new rules intended to improve worker safety, including regulations aimed at strengthening chemical exposure limits, preventing workplace violence in health care and addressing combustible dust, drawing fire from labor groups who say the rules are needed to protect workers.
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Environmental and labor groups are renewing their arguments aimed at vacating the Trump administration's lengthy delay of an Obama-era update to the agency's Risk Management Plan (RMP) facility safety rule, charging the delay violates the Clean Air Act and faulting EPA's claim that seeking public input allows for lengthy reconsideration of final rules.
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House appropriators are slashing funding for OSHA enforcement while backing industry criticism that the Obama administration's enforcement-heavy approach undermined workplace safety.
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