U.S. EPA Archives - Chicago-Kent Journal of Environmental and Energy Law

What do pizza boxes, non-stick pans, make-up, firefighting foam, water-repelling clothing, and fast-food packaging all have in common? A simple, four-letter word: PFAS.^[1] Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been around for decades, appear in a vast variety of industries around the globe, and pose a substantial risk to human health and the environment.^[2] Worst of all, they rarely degrade.^[3] For this reason, they have been dubbed by the scientific community “forever chemicals.”^[4]

PFAS is an umbrella term for a group of thousands of man-made chemicals characterized by their ability to repel water, grease, dirt, and oil.^[5] PFAS are chains of one of the strongest chemical bonds in nature, which do not easily break down under natural conditions.^[6] This has far reaching implications that are not readily apparent. When the rest of a product that contains PFAS breaks down, you are left with tiny remnants of forever chemicals. But where do they go and what happens to them?

General Iron Faces Challenges as Southside Community Demands Environmental Justice

By Journal Editor

On March 1, 2021

In News & Announcements, In the News

General Iron has been making headlines for more than a year because of its pollution issues and recent attempt to relocate. RMG, General Iron’s parent company, has closed its long time North Branch-located metal shredding and recycling operation.[1] For many North Side neighbors, the facility’s closure was a win after a years-long battle to close the facility over environmental health and safety concerns from the facility’s operations, such as two explosions over the past five years.[2]

But there has been significant public outcry against General Iron’s plans to relocate to the Southeast side of Chicago at 116^th and Burnham Street. Coalitions of Southeast side residents have been protesting for months, advocating for better air quality and preventing the relocation of General Iron to their neighborhood. The Natural Resource Defense Council has drawn national attention to the facility’s explosions, contribution to air pollution, and desire to move to a predominantly Latinx neighborhood.[3]

How the Biden Administration Can Use Executive Action to Advance its Energy and Environmental Policies

By Journal Editor

On November 15, 2020

In News & Announcements

President-elect Joseph R. Biden faces a challenging road to inauguration day. But that road may be nothing compared to the to-do list waiting for him on January 21. The global pandemic and a struggling national economy are first-order priorities, but in addition to these emergent issues, energy and environmental policies were important topics for many voters during the election.[i]

Biden campaigned on a platform championing clean energy and environmental justice.[ii] Depending on the outcome of two senate runoff elections in Georgia, however, the president-elect may have to realize much of his administration’s climate and clean energy policies through executive action.[iii]

Consent Decree Requires EPA to Comply with Clean Air Act Obligations

By Journal Editor

On November 1, 2020

In News & Announcements, In the News

A California federal court recently approved an agreement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the Center for Biological Diversity (the “Center”) that requires EPA to take affirmative steps to ensure that eight states have plans in place to reduce emissions from their oil and gas extraction areas as mandated by the Clean Air Act (“CAA” or “Act”).[i]

Emphasizing health hazards like asthma and reduced lung function that can develop in people who endure prolonged exposure to ground-level ozone (i.e., smog), the Center noted that the agreement will likely improve the health of residents who live closest to the extraction areas.[ii] The Center estimates that as many as 70 million people live in these areas and are at the greatest risk of exposure to harmful asthma-causing smog from oil and gas extraction operations.[iii]

U.S. EPA to Revise Lead and Copper Rule, but Questions Remain on its Effectiveness

By Journal Editor

On October 16, 2020

In News & Announcements, In the News

In October 2019, U.S. EPA proposed a revision to the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).[1] The New York Times obtained a final draft of the proposed revision on September 27.[2] Interest in the LCR grew after residents of Flint, Michigan were widely exposed to lead through their drinking water supply in 2014.[3]

The original rule, adopted pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act, requires “drinking water systems to implement corrosion control measures when the lead level is above the ‘action level’ of 15 parts per billion (ppb).”[4] The rule mandates the collection of household tap water samples, and if more than ten percent of samples exceed the lead action level of 15 ppb, municipal and regional water suppliers must begin to address the issue.[5] But if just ten percent or fewer of samples exceed the 15 ppb action level, water suppliers are not required to address those households with lead concentrations above 15 ppb–leaving some households with elevated lead levels but no corresponding requirement for water suppliers to act.[6]

California Governor’s Executive Order Pushes Phase-Out of Gas-Powered Cars by 2035

By Journal Editor

On October 8, 2020

In News & Announcements, In the News, Blog Posts

On September 23, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order (“Order”) directing that “all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.”[1] The order’s public announcement emphasizes concern over smog and toxic diesel emissions and notes that half of California’s carbon pollution originates from the transportation sector.[2] The Order prioritizes deploying zero emissions technologies to “reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and toxic air pollutants that disproportionately burden our disadvantaged communities of color.”[3]

U.S. EPA, Some States Moving Forward With PFAS regulation

By Journal Editor

On September 30, 2020

In News & Announcements, In the News

After years of collecting data that indicate the dangers of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), the U.S. EPA and several of its state counterparts are beginning the regulatory process for these previously unregulated substances. Some state agencies have proposed PFAS legislation that seeks to regulate the substances’ concentration in everyday products and necessities through mechanisms such as drinking water limits, prohibitions on firefighting foam, and the development of groundwater and surface water quality standards.[1] U.S. EPA is still in the research and development phase of providing national recommendations.

PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in manufactured goods such as Teflon, waterproof materials, and firefighting foams.[2] PFAS are ubiquitous, persist in the environment, and bioaccumulate. Studies have found that ninety-seven percent of people have PFAS in their blood stream.[3] Research indicates PFAS exposure negatively impacts human health, from immunological effects to cancer.[4]

Illinois Pollution Control Board holds hearing, receives public comment to finalize coal ash rule

By Journal Editor

On September 3, 2020

In News & Announcements, In the News

On August 13 the Illinois Pollution Control Board (“IPCB”) held the first of two scheduled hearings on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (“IEPA”) proposed rule for mitigating and remediating coal ash ponds throughout the state.[1]

Coal combustion residual surface impoundments, known commonly as coal ash ponds, are repositories for the potentially harmful byproducts of coal-powered electric generation facilities.[2] Absent proper mitigation efforts, pollutants that collect in coal ash ponds can seep into and contaminate the surrounding groundwater.[3]

Chicago-Kent Journal of Environmental and Energy Law

Tag: U.S. EPA

PFAS: Illinois’ Chance to Confront “Forever Chemicals”

General Iron Faces Challenges as Southside Community Demands Environmental Justice

How the Biden Administration Can Use Executive Action to Advance its Energy and Environmental Policies

Consent Decree Requires EPA to Comply with Clean Air Act Obligations

U.S. EPA to Revise Lead and Copper Rule, but Questions Remain on its Effectiveness

California Governor’s Executive Order Pushes Phase-Out of Gas-Powered Cars by 2035

U.S. EPA, Some States Moving Forward With PFAS regulation

Illinois Pollution Control Board holds hearing, receives public comment to finalize coal ash rule

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