The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's recent ruling that vacates aspects of the Obama EPA's definition of solid waste (DSW) rule is prompting varied reaction, with the hazardous waste recycling industry concerned it will bring new uncertainties -- particularly if environmentalists push for rehearing -- and the chemical industry saying it will encourage more recycling.

Industry and environmental groups are bolstering their opposing arguments on EPA's draft Superfund financial assurance rule for the hardrock mining sector, with industry contending EPA failed to meet legal mandates to show such requirements are warranted and environmentalists stressing the need for safeguards in a time of dwindling cleanup budgets and increased waste volumes.

House appropriators have once again attached a policy rider to EPA's spending bill to block the agency from finalizing a Superfund draft financial assurance rule for the hardrock mining sector, but this year's language marks a change from the past because it aligns with language the Trump EPA advocated earlier this year in a budget document.

Even as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt works to roll back a host of Obama-era rules as a relatively short-term priority, he is preparing a set of medium-term plans for the agency's budget and policy agenda that would remake the agency and institutionalize the Trump administration's deregulatory agenda.

Coal ash recyclers are pressing the Trump administration to revive a controversial George W. Bush-era program through which EPA and other agencies worked with the sector to promote beneficial reuse of ash, but environmentalists are warning that the program could undermine EPA restrictions on using ash as structural fill material.

A closely watched Clean Water Act (CWA) suit over groundwater contamination from coal ash could be headed back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit less than 24 hours after it was dismissed for being appealed prematurely, thanks to a new district court order that seems to satisfy the 4th Circuit's test for a "final" decision.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in a party line vote has approved the nomination of Susan Bodine to head EPA's enforcement office, with Democrats continuing to express broader concerns about the willingness of agency officials to respond to their oversight requests.

The White House budget office has released new guidance for fiscal year 2019 reiterating that EPA could see a slight increase over what the administration sought for FY18, though the office touts the request as an opportunity to present a "comprehensive plan" for "reforming" the government and cutting its workforce, telegraphing continued steep cuts despite signs of Capitol Hill blowback.

The Trump administration's recently unveiled framework rules for implementing key provisions of the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) are sparking a debate that suggests different visions for how the law should be implemented in the future with EPA officials saying the rules were crafted to be "achievable," while agency critics charge they still need to be lawful.