EPA provided an explanation of its decisions to deny two petitions submitted under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020, the first requesting that the Agency provide an exemption for the use of certain regulated substances in pain relief sprays and the second requesting that the Agency subject gas canisters of certain regulated substances to import restrictions established under the HFC Allocation Framework Rule.

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office seeks public input in updating the National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy.

The Internal Revenue Service proposed regulations related to excise taxes imposed on certain chemicals and imported substances, effective July 1, 2022.

In re Betteroads Asphalt, LLC, No. 17-04156-ESL11 (Bankr. D.P.R. Mar. 21, 2032). Under a proposed CERCLA settlement agreement, EPA will have an allowed claim of $1,095,567 in connection with the PROTECO Superfund site in Penuelas, Puerto Rico.

HUD proposed to revise regulations governing floodplain management and the protection of wetlands to implement the federal Flood Risk Management Standard, in accordance with Executive Order No. 16390, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input, to improve the resilience of Department-assisted or financed projects to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, and provide for greater flexibility in the use of HUD assistance in floodways under certain circumstances.

EPA Region 8 announced a prospective lessee agreement between the United States, the state of South Dakota, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, and Agnico Eagle Limited (collectively “Agnico”), providing that Agnico will perform a reuse assessment, including surface and subsurface sampling, and pay at least $2.5 million annually to cover the cost of water treatment and site operations for the duration of the agreement at the Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site in Lawrence County, South Dakota.

EPA seeks input on criteria to help align and ensure consistency across radon service provider credentialing programs operated by certification bodies and states.

United States v. Cohen, No. CV-06-4818 (JMA)(AYS) (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 14, 2023). Settling CERCLA defendants must distribute certain assets among claimants for recovery of response costs related to historical operations at Lawrence Aviation Industries, Inc., in Port Jefferson, New York.

United States v. United Alloys & Steel Corp., No. 23-1968 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 8, 2023). A settling CERCLA defendant must pay $260,000 to reimburse the United States’ past response costs regarding the Port Refinery Superfund site in New York.

EPA Region 7 entered into a proposed settlement agreement under CERCLA for recovery of past response costs concerning the Newton County Mine Tailings Superfund site in Missouri.