--- title: Audit, Compliance and Risk Blog | STP | Environmental Policy description: Environmental Policy | STP's blog giving insight into audit, compliance and risk issues for EHS, business and accounting. --- [![Specialty Technical Publishers](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/STP-logo-white-orange.png)](http://www.stpub.com/) - [My Account](http://stponline.stpub.com) - 1-800-251-0381 # Audit, Compliance and Risk Blog ## [What the Latest EPA Monitoring Data Reveal About America’s Drinking Water](https://blog.stpub.com/what-the-latest-epa-monitoring-data-reveal-about-americas-drinking-water) Posted by [Frank Skiba](https://blog.stpub.com/author/frank-skiba) on Wed, Mar 11, 2026 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/images/Water_glass.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/what-the-latest-epa-monitoring-data-reveal-about-americas-drinking-water) On February 12, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [released a major update to its national drinking water monitoring data](https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/occurrence-data-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule#5-data-finder) under the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). This dataset, representing nearly 95% of the monitoring results collected through 2025, gives the most comprehensive snapshot yet of the prevalence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in America’s public water systems. [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/what-the-latest-epa-monitoring-data-reveal-about-americas-drinking-water) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/what-the-latest-epa-monitoring-data-reveal-about-americas-drinking-water#comments-listing) Tags: [EHS](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/ehs), [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [PFAS](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/pfas), [OHS](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/ohs), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance), [EHSCompliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/ehscompliance), [Forever Chemicals](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/forever-chemicals), [EHS Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/ehs-compliance), [PFAS regulations](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/pfas-regulations), [Public Water Systems](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/public-water-systems), [UCMR 5](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/ucmr-5), [Drinking Water](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/drinking-water), [Safe Drinking Water Act](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/safe-drinking-water-act) ## [EPA narrows criminal enforcement to follow administration priorities](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-narrows-criminal-enforcement-to-follow-administration-priorities) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Fri, Sep 05, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/pexels-kindelmedia-7773260.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-narrows-criminal-enforcement-to-follow-administration-priorities) The US environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to narrow its enforcement focus in order to follow Trump administration priorities. I recently wrote about EPA’s May 2025 statement of new enforcement policies (I wrote about that memo [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-realigns-enforcement-policies-to-match-new-administration)). Now, EPA has announced further changes, to align its activities with the President’s Executive Order “Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations” (EO 14294). The remainder of this note summarizes these changes.  [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-narrows-criminal-enforcement-to-follow-administration-priorities) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-narrows-criminal-enforcement-to-follow-administration-priorities#comments-listing) Tags: [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance), [EPA Regulations](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-regulations), [EPA Standards](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-standards), [Trump Administration](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/trump-administration), [Environmental Health and Safety](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-health-and-safety), [Environmental Protection Agency](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-protection-agency), [EPA enforcement](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-enforcement) ## [Administration proposes massive cuts to EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/administration-proposes-massive-cuts-to-epa) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Tue, Jul 08, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/White%20House.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/administration-proposes-massive-cuts-to-epa) The Trump Administration has issued its budget proposal for federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026), including a 54% cut in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget, from $9.1 billion in FY 2025, to $4.16 billion for FY 2026. Many of the cuts apply to grant programs, and the proposal would cut staffing by 9%, from 14,130 full-time-equivalent employees (FTE) to 12,856. Readers should note that these cuts are comparable to those proposed by President Trump during his first term; EPA’s actual annual budget depends on that adopted by Congress (or a continuing resolution in lieu of an adopted budget). The remainder of this note summarizes EPA’s proposed FY2026 budget, including proposed reductions, drawn from EPA’s “Budget in Brief” (68 pages) and “Justification of Appropriation Estimates” (736 pages).  [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/administration-proposes-massive-cuts-to-epa) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/administration-proposes-massive-cuts-to-epa#comments-listing) Tags: [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa), [RCRA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/rcra), [tsca](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/tsca), [Clean Air Act](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/clean-air-act), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Climate](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate), [EPA Regulations](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-regulations), [EPA Standards](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-standards), [Trump](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/trump), [Trump Administration](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/trump-administration), [Climate Reporting](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate-reporting) ## [SEC ends legal defense of climate-related disclosure requirements for public companies](https://blog.stpub.com/sec-ends-legal-defense-of-climate-related-disclosure-requirements-for-public-companies) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Thu, May 15, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/pexels-pixabay-221012.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/sec-ends-legal-defense-of-climate-related-disclosure-requirements-for-public-companies) On March 27, 2025 the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to stop defending rules adopted in 2024 (during the Biden administration) that would have required selected “public companies” (i.e, listed on national securities exchanges) to provide “climate-related disclosures for investors” in their registration statements and annual reports. SEC had stayed these rules’ effectiveness after being sued by two energy companies, which were later joined by other plaintiffs as well as state and nonprofit supporters of the rules. The latest SEC decision ends the agency’s defense in that litigation. [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/sec-ends-legal-defense-of-climate-related-disclosure-requirements-for-public-companies) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/sec-ends-legal-defense-of-climate-related-disclosure-requirements-for-public-companies#comments-listing) Tags: [SEC](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/sec), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Climate](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate), [ESG](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/esg), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance), [Risk Management](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/risk-management), [Sustainability Reporting](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/sustainability-reporting), [Climate Disclosure](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate-disclosure), [Climate Risk](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate-risk) ## [EPA announces 31 reconsiderations and revisions toward Trump administration priorities](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-announces-31-reconsiderations-and-revisions-toward-trump-administration-priorities) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Tue, Mar 18, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/images/EPA_logo.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-announces-31-reconsiderations-and-revisions-toward-trump-administration-priorities) On March 12, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced “31 historic actions in the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history.” These actions move to reconsider, and likely reverse, actions from the Biden administration as well as earlier EPA actions dating back to at least 2009. These actions are summarized in a general press release, and accompanied by more than 20 additional releases announcing specific actions; most involve the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA links these initiatives to President Trump’s latest executive orders (EOs) and policy initiatives (I wrote about the EOs [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/trump-executive-orders-and-memoranda-reversing-biden-environmental-initiatives) and [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/trump-administration-reworking-the-environmental-protection-agency)). In earlier notes I addressed many of the regulatory and policy actions that will now be reconsidered. ) [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-announces-31-reconsiderations-and-revisions-toward-trump-administration-priorities) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-announces-31-reconsiderations-and-revisions-toward-trump-administration-priorities#comments-listing) Tags: [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa), [Clean Air Act](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/clean-air-act), [Clean Energy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/clean-energy), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [CCA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/cca), [Deregulation](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/deregulation), [Manufactoring](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/manufactoring) ## [Environment and Climate Change Canada publishes Phase 1 reporting guidelines for Federal Plastics Registry](https://blog.stpub.com/environment-and-climate-change-canada-publishes-phase-1-reporting-guidelines-for-federal-plastics-registry) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Mon, Feb 24, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/Plastics-2-1.png) ](https://blog.stpub.com/environment-and-climate-change-canada-publishes-phase-1-reporting-guidelines-for-federal-plastics-registry) Canada has established a goal of zero plastic waste by 2030, and has established a variety of regulatory and informational programs to pursue that goal. As part of these effort, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has established the Federal Plastics Registry (FPR), along with accompanying regulations requiring reporting by targeted producers of plastic packaging, electronic and electrical equipment, and single-use or disposable products. These entities’ reporting requirements expand annually in three “phases,” beginning with Phase 1 reports starting with selected 2024 data due by September 29, 2025. (I wrote about ECCC’s proposal to establish the FPR, [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/canada-identifies-possible-provisions-for-a-federal-plastics-registry)). The remainder of this note summarizes Phase 1 requirements and identifies Phase 2-4 targets. **** [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/environment-and-climate-change-canada-publishes-phase-1-reporting-guidelines-for-federal-plastics-registry) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/environment-and-climate-change-canada-publishes-phase-1-reporting-guidelines-for-federal-plastics-registry#comments-listing) Tags: [Environmental risks](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks), [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [climate change](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate-change), [Environmental Projects](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-projects), [Environment](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environment), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Climate](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate), [plastics](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/plastics), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance), [Plastic Waste](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/plastic-waste) ## [Trump's first day executive orders and memoranda reversing Biden environmental initiatives](https://blog.stpub.com/trump-executive-orders-and-memoranda-reversing-biden-environmental-initiatives) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Thu, Feb 20, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/Environment-1.png) ](https://blog.stpub.com/trump-executive-orders-and-memoranda-reversing-biden-environmental-initiatives) Since re-entering office, President Trump has moved quickly to reverse many of President Biden’s environmental policies; actions include a flurry of Executive Orders (EOs) that reverse or cancel his predecessors EO-based and other environmental initiatives. The remainder of this note summarizes changes presented in the initial EOs.  [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/trump-executive-orders-and-memoranda-reversing-biden-environmental-initiatives) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/trump-executive-orders-and-memoranda-reversing-biden-environmental-initiatives#comments-listing) Tags: [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [Environment](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environment), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Joe Biden](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/joe-biden), [Policy Change](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/policy-change), [Trump Administration](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/trump-administration) ## [States Enact “Climate Superfund” Laws](https://blog.stpub.com/states-enact-climate-superfund-laws) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Mon, Feb 03, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Climate%20change%202.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/states-enact-climate-superfund-laws) During 2024, at least five states considered legislation to enact “Climate Superfund” laws targeting fossil fuel companies, applying “polluter pays” principles enshrined in the US federal Superfund law (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA of 1980) and its many state counterparts. At least two states enacted such laws – Vermont and New York. The rest of this note provides brief summaries of these laws.  [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/states-enact-climate-superfund-laws) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/states-enact-climate-superfund-laws#comments-listing) Tags: [Environmental risks](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks), [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [Greenhouse Gas](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/greenhouse-gas), [climate change](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate-change), [Environmental Projects](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-projects), [Environment](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environment), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Climate](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/climate), [environmental law](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-law), [environmental protection](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-protection), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance) ## [EPA further limits uses of carbon tetrachloride and perchloroethylene](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-further-limits-uses-of-carbon-tetrachloride-and-perchloroethylene) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Fri, Jan 10, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/pexels-mediocrememories-954585.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-further-limits-uses-of-carbon-tetrachloride-and-perchloroethylene) The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) includes procedures for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate risks presented by existing chemicals using the latest scientific information – incorporating information developed after a chemical entered use in the US. Based on these reviews, EPA updates its regulatory requirements, ranging from labeling-only through use restrictions up to and including bans from further distribution and use. (I summarized these review requirements [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/the-new-tsca-1-reviewing-more-existing-chemicals)).  On December 18, 2024, EPA published restrictions in the Federal Register, for carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and perchloroethylene (PCE), based on its hazard reviews for those chemicals. The rest of this note discusses these new restrictions. [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-further-limits-uses-of-carbon-tetrachloride-and-perchloroethylene) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-further-limits-uses-of-carbon-tetrachloride-and-perchloroethylene#comments-listing) Tags: [Environmental risks](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks), [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa), [tsca](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/tsca), [Environmental Projects](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-projects), [chemical safety](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/chemical-safety), [Environment](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environment), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Chemical Safety Board](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/chemical-safety-board), [Hazardous Chemicals](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/hazardous-chemicals), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance), [EPA Regulations](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-regulations), [EPA Standards](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa-standards) ## [EPA adopts management requirements for equipment containing HFCs](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-adopts-management-requirements-for-equipment-containing-hfcs) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Thu, Jan 02, 2025 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/images/Air_Pollution-1.jpg) ](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-adopts-management-requirements-for-equipment-containing-hfcs) Effective December 10, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted rules for the management of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) potentially released from equipment during maintenance or other services, .. These rules support US efforts to implement the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the United Nations-sponsored Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (which I wrote about [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/the-world-decides-to-help-the-climate-by-helping-the-ozone-layer)), and codified in the December 2020 coronavirus relief bill (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act; which included dozens of unrelated provisions within its 5,593 pages). EPA adopted over-arching HFC phase-down rules in September 2021 (I wrote about them [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-finalizing-hfc-phase-down-rules)), and continues to adjust and refine their requirements. These latest rules appear in a 191 page document in the Federal Register, finalizing (with revisions) most provisions in a proposal issued in October 2023 (which I wrote about [HERE](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-proposes-management-requirements-for-equipment-containing-hfcs)).The remainder of this note summarizes EPA’s new rules, which impose requirements using authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  [Read More](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-adopts-management-requirements-for-equipment-containing-hfcs) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.stpub.com/epa-adopts-management-requirements-for-equipment-containing-hfcs#comments-listing) Tags: [Environmental risks](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks), [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa), [Environmental Projects](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-projects), [Environment](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environment), [Environmental Policy](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy), [Environmental Compliance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-compliance) [All posts](https://blog.stpub.com/all) [Next](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-policy/page/2) ### Follow Me ### Subscribe by Email ### Browse by Topic Area - [Accounting & Tax ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/accounting-tax) - [Business & Legal ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/business-legal) - [Corporate Governance  ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/?Tag=Corporate+Governance) - [Environmental ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/?Tag=Environmental) - [Global ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/?Tag=Global) - [Health & Safety ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/health-safety) - [Internet ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/?Tag=Internet) - [Transportation ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/?Tag=Transportation) ### Browse by Tag - [Environmental (344)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental) - [Business & Legal (309)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/business-legal) - [Environmental risks (300)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks) - [Health & Safety (296)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/health-safety) - [EPA (283)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa) - [Terms & Conditions](https://stphub.stpehs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/STP-Terms-of-Use-Dec-20.pdf) - [Privacy Policy](https://stphub.stpehs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/STP-Privacy-Policy.pdf) - [License Agreement](https://stphub.stpehs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/STP-License-Agreement-Dec-20.pdf) - [Sitemap](http://stpub.com/sitemap) - [Support](http://stpub.com/support) © 2021 STP ComplianceEHS - All rights reserved