Biden Puts Hold on Regulations

The White House issued a memo this week to heads of executive departments and federal agencies directing them to not propose or issue any rules until a Biden appointed or designated agency head reviews or approves them. President Biden also issued and executive order requiring a review of dozens of health and environmental actions, including an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule on Application Exclusion Zones intended to protection people near pesticide applications. The rule was slated to go into effect in December but was blocked by a temporary restraining order.  Among other rules to be reviewed, is the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule defining the scope of “Waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act; a new rule overhauling regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act; and EPA’s denial of a petition seeking to ban chlorpyrifos.