Icosapent

As the 2025 Legislative Session approaches, MACo highlights major issues, including the Chesapeake Bay's preservation. Despite progress, challenges like climate change, land use changes, and population growth hinder meeting 2025 goals. The Chesapeake Bay Program aims to establish a path forward beyond 2025, focusing on science, restoration, and partnership.

Communities worry about EPA rollbacks under Trump; Rice research suggests ancient Mars could have supported hidden water reservoirs; Trump brings majlis to Mar-a-Lago; Rice partners with Houston Methodist for Digital Health Institute; Greentown Labs receives $4M investment; Rice's space science department and Keith-Weiss Geological Laboratory Building are mentioned; Rice's men's basketball team loses to UNT Dallas; Mexico's 2025 outlook and a new drug synthesis method are highlighted.

Elon Musk's xAI launched Colossus, a supercomputer in Memphis using 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, with plans to expand to 200,000 GPUs. The facility's energy demand is significant, raising environmental concerns over air quality and water usage. Critics argue for renewable energy solutions and transparency in project planning.

EPA is fast-tracking PFAS approval for semiconductor industry while publicly increasing scrutiny of new PFAS, despite health risks. Critics argue EPA prioritizes industry needs over public safety, with unclear safety frameworks and reliance on industry science. PFAS alternatives are slow to develop due to semiconductor production complexity.

ASTA session speakers discuss navigating political transitions, focusing on policy, innovation, and agriculture's future. Key topics include trade, sustainability, biotechnology, regulatory efficiency, and the importance of science in agriculture.

Republicans plan to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to swiftly overturn Biden-era regulations, especially 'midnight regulations.' The CRA allows Congress to review and nullify new federal regulations within 60 legislative days, bypassing the filibuster. Biden-era environmental rules, immigration policies, and diversity initiatives are likely targets for repeal.

President-elect Trump's second administration aims to reduce regulatory burdens on innovative agricultural technologies like GMOs, promising a boost to the U.S. agricultural economy. ITIF has long advocated for science-based regulation, matching scrutiny to product risk. While progress has been made, particularly by USDA, further reforms are needed at FDA and EPA to align regulatory scrutiny with actual risk levels, ensuring innovation is not unduly hindered.

Mana whenua and Greenpeace resist Trans-Tasman Resources' seabed mining, despite TTR using a fast-track approval process. TTR plans to extract 50 million tonnes of sand annually for 35 years, but faces opposition from local iwi, environmental groups, and over 60,000 petitioners. The EPA previously rejected TTR's application due to environmental concerns.

B&C launches Public Policy and Regulation Blog, offering expert insights on chemical policy developments. Webinar on Jan 14, 2025, features Lynn L. Bergeson, James V. Aidala, Mark J. Washko, and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., discussing future chemical policy impacts.

The EPA finalized the PFAS Designation Rule in April 2024, classifying PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law, effective July 2024. This designation imposes release reporting obligations and significant liability for improper disposal, including cleanup costs, natural resource damages, and fines. Industries must adopt safe disposal methods, such as thermal treatment, landfilling, and underground injection, while transactional due diligence must now include PFAS assessments. The rule also impacts Superfund litigation and liability, with potential for expanded CERCLA claims. The EPA's Enforcement Discretion Policy aims to focus on entities that significantly contributed to PFAS contamination, but challenges remain in implementation. Industry groups have petitioned to challenge the rule, and the incoming Trump Administration may seek to limit or eliminate it.