On Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Federal Register notice announcing availability of a proposed draft 2026 Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges (MSGP). EPA is requesting comment on its proposed draft 2026 MSGP on or before Feb. 11, 2025. Like the current 2021 MSGP, the 2026 MSGP would apply…
On Sept. 5, 2024, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) and the International Precious Metals Institute (IPMI), leading trade organizations in the precious metals recycling sector, formally expressed their opposition to Senate Amendment 2422, part of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025. In a letter addressed to key members of the…
On Tuesday, July 30, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit seeking review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Final Rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Superfund….
Toxic Chemical Release Reporting — also known as Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting — is part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) regulations at 40 CFR Part 372. TRI Reporting does not apply to recycled materials facilities operating fully under SIC/NAICS Codes 5093/423930 (Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers) and/or 5015/423140 (Motor Vehicle Parts…
Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) is a regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (see 40 CFR § 711) that requires “manufacturers” of “chemicals” to report certain information to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every four years. Under TSCA, “manufacturing” includes “importing”, and “chemicals” includes a very wide range of materials including metals (polymers…
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced Aug. 25-31 as the dates for this year’s Brake Safety Week. Brake Safety Week is a commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative, a brake-safety awareness and outreach opportunity, and a brake-related inspection and violation data-collection project. Inspection and Enforcement CVSA-certified inspectors will…
The U.S. Mint (the Mint) recently released a proposed rule to end the Mutilated Coin Redemption Program. This has been a major issue of concern for the recycled materials industry ever since the Mint suspended the program in 2015. “ReMA is already working to respond to this latest proposal,” said ReMA President Robin Wiener. “We’re…
Under a rule effective last year (see rule here), certain manufacturers and processors of asbestos are required to report certain information to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a one-time basis from Feb. 24, 2024 to May 24, 2024. It is possible that a recycler may be required to report because of importing activity during…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued its Final Rule on its “non-compete ban,” and litigation has been filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to stop what some view as overreach, according to employment law experts The FTC rule bans new non-compete agreements in all employment contexts. The rule is likely to have a…
On April 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its Final Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process Rule, also known as the Worker Walkaround Rule. Set to take effect on May 31, 2024, this regulation significantly broadens the scope of who may participate in the walkaround phase of OSHA’s workplace inspections. For decades, only…
On April 3, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) titled “Lead Wheel Weights; Regulatory Investigation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)” (see here). Comments are due by May 3, 2024. This ANPRM follows roughly 15 years after EPA had issued a notice requesting public comment on…
ISRI celebrates the recent passage of two pieces of bipartisan legislation in the Senate dedicated to supporting our nation’s recycling systems. The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA) and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) were sponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Shelley Moore…