Clinton Administration Pushes for Environmental Regulations Despite Industry Concerns

Strategic Insights -

The Clinton administration is moving forward with plans to expand the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program, despite objections from the oil and chemical industries. The administration seeks to expedite a rulemaking to require reporting not only of chemicals released as waste, but also of all chemicals used. Industry representatives, including Terry Wigglesworth of Ashland Inc. and the National Petroleum Refiners Association (NPRA), argue that the proposal would be expensive and provide no information about actual risk. They also object to the EPA's intrusion into company data, citing concerns about confidentiality and the potential for "tons and tons" of unnecessary data collection.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Clinton administration plans to expedite a rulemaking to expand the TRI program, requiring reporting of all chemicals used, not just those released as waste.
  • The proposal would be expensive for the oil and chemical industries, with one industry source estimating that collecting the required data would be a "tons and tons" of work.
  • The industry objects to the EPA's plan because it would provide no information about actual risk and would be an intrusion into company data.
  • Terry Wigglesworth of Ashland Inc. and the NPRA spoke out against the proposal, suggesting that reporting chemical use data would be unnecessary and could lead to confidentiality issues.
  • The proposal would affect both large and small producers, including contract staff, with 10 or more employees.
  • The EPA budget bill includes a rider to prohibit funding of the TRI program's expansion, while a rider to prohibit increasing the number of facilities covered is expected to be added.

Statistics:

  • The proposal would require reporting of "tons and tons" of data, according to industry sources.
  • The proposed rulemaking on facility expansion is scheduled to be issued in April 2023, as long as funding holds up.
  • The EPA plans to expedite a rulemaking to expand the TRI program, in response to an executive order issued on August 8, 2022.
  • The industry estimates that collecting the required data would be expensive, but does not provide a specific figure.
  • The proposal would affect 10 or more employees at both large and small producers, including contract staff.

Sources:

  • "EPA to expedite rulemaking on TRI expansion" - Undated article from an oil industry publication, citing industry representatives.
  • "EPA proposes to expand the scope of facilities covered by TRI" - Legislative rider to the House EPA budget bill.