The Environmental Protection Agency announced last week it will begin seeking input to repeal, replace or modify its existing regulations as directed under an executive order enacted in February. The order, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” is intended to provide a framework for helping agencies to identify regulations that should be changed or could be eliminated in advance of issuing any new regulations.

The order requires an appointed regulatory reform officer and task force to help “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” EPA is the first of the agencies to solicit comments as a part of this process.

IDFA considers several EPA rules and regulation changes to be burdensome to dairy companies. For example, in recent comments submitted to the Department of Commerce on regulatory burdens, IDFA listed changes to EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations that require third-party audits, public disclosures of sensitive facility information and redundant oversight by the agency as extremely burdensome and costly with no added benefit to environmental or worker safety. 

The association also called for EPA to establish default tolerance levels for pesticides and to ensure that inspectors are properly trained to reduce the burden associated with improper application of standards and regulations.

EPA will receive comments on regulatory reform until May 15. View the request for comment, “Evaluation of Existing Regulations,” in the Federal Register.

IDFA is considering submitting comments to the agency and is currently soliciting suggestions from members. Members may submit feedback to Emily Lyons, IDFA director of regulatory affairs and counsel, at elyons@idfa.org.