Turnaround by EPA on leniency in compliance for the coke sector
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its decision to withdraw an interim rule that was published in July 2022, which gave the coke industry until 2027 to meet strengthened regulations. This decision comes only months after the rule was initially announced as urgently needed.
The EPA's air chief, Aaron Szabo, wrote an accompanying statement explaining the decision. According to Szabo, the decision is pending a 'broader reconsideration of the underlying standards.' No new timeline for this reconsideration has been provided.
The rule, which required monitoring for cancer-causing benzene and other safeguards, will no longer be in effect with the withdrawal of the interim rule. The EPA has also decided to allow the original compliance deadlines to remain in effect.
The EPA's decision to withdraw the rule comes after the agency collected more feedback from a public hearing and other sources. This move follows a court filing late Thursday, where the EPA made its intention clear.
The EPA's decision to withdraw the rule is significant, as it means that the matter will now be moot. This decision may be of concern to environmental groups, who had previously filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to either throw out or stop the interim rule from taking effect.
It is important to note that the EPA attorneys have urged a three-judge panel to avoid ruling on the motion, as the EPA has decided to drop the rule. The EPA is reversing its decision on the rule, which was a response to the July 2022 rule that gave the coke industry until 2027 to meet strengthened regulations.
This decision by the EPA is a notable development in the ongoing efforts to regulate the coke industry and ensure the safety of the environment and public health. As the EPA continues its broader reconsideration of the underlying standards, it is hoped that a comprehensive and effective solution will be found to address the concerns raised by the July 2022 rule.
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