Martha Marrapese Quoted in 2019 Outlook Article Regarding Increase in EPA Chemical Rules

December 21, 2018

Martha E. Marrapese, a partner in Wiley Rein’s Environment & Safety and Consumer Product Regulation practices, was quoted in a December 19 article in Bloomberg Law: Environment & Energy regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed controls for chemicals next year. More chemicals could be regulated than have been since Congress overhauled the nation’s primary chemicals law in 2016 with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), according to Bloomberg Law.

Companies and the trade associations that represent the manufacturers need to “take a deep breath and re-energize for 2019, which may be the most active year yet,” Ms. Marrapese told Bloomberg Law.

Ms. Marrapese added that the deadlines the 2016 TSCA amendments set won’t allow much time for companies or trade associations to gather information to help shape the EPA’s decisions.

“2019 is a critical year in seeing whether TSCA works,” said Ms. Marrapese.

The EPA must release a list of at least 40 chemicals by the end of March 2019 which it then must quickly sort, or “prioritize” by December 22, 2019, according to Bloomberg Law.

Ninety days in not a lot of time for industries that make and use the 40 chemicals to compile information, Ms. Marrapese said.

The article can be found here (subscription required).