Trump’s Rollback Reversed: EPA Strengthens Chemical Plant Safety Regulations

To enhance safety and prevent accidents at chemical plants and industrial sites, the Biden administration has tightened regulations that were previously relaxed during the Trump administration.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced amendments to its Risk Management Program, implementing the most protective safety measures for chemical facilities in U.S. history. These measures focus on prevention, preparedness, and public transparency.

In a news release, EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the importance of these new rules in protecting vulnerable communities from chemical accidents.”This final rule is a critical component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice through stronger safety requirements for industrial facilities and enhanced protection for communities,” said Regan.

The EPA outlined that the updated regulations aim to empower workers in safety decisions and increase access to facility information for surrounding communities. Additionally, the agency is working towards making RMP information available on its website in the near future to enhance public transparency.

Following a tragic explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant in 2013, the Obama administration attempted to strengthen rules, only to have them rolled back by the Trump administration before they could take effect. Now, in 2021, the EPA is moving to reinstate and enforce these rules.

The EPA estimates that accidental releases from RMP facilities cost over $540 million annually and that around 131 million people live within three miles of these facilities. The new rule covers all 11,740 regulated facilities nationwide, with stricter requirements for high-risk facilities.