ACD Press Release

ACD Welcomes EPA’s Extension of the Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans Compliance Deadline

Arlington, VA –Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) President and CEO Eric R. Byer released the following statement welcoming the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to extend the compliance deadline for the Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans rule by three years, from June 1, 2027, to June 1, 2030:

“ACD applauds Administrator Lee Zeldin and the EPA for listening to industry concerns and recognizing the significant challenges businesses face in complying with this complex regulatory program. Our members are deeply committed to protecting their employees, communities, and the environment, but it is not reasonable to expect facilities to be able to comply with this new regulatory program without guidance and other assistance from the EPA. This extension is an important step toward ensuring that the program is both practical and effective. We appreciate the administration's willingness to work with industry to address these challenges and look forward to continued engagement with EPA as it reconsiders the rule's underlying requirements.”

Nicholas Breslin, Director of Regulatory Affairs for ACD, added:

“This extension provides businesses large and small with much-needed time to understand the requirements and make any necessary adjustments to their facilities and operations. It also gives EPA an opportunity to develop clearer compliance guidance and reconsider provisions that could impose unnecessary burdens on facilities that already uphold comprehensive safety and environmental standards. We encourage the agency to use this additional time to ensure the program is appropriately targeted and achieves its intended purpose of protecting our nation's waterways.”

ACD previously submitted comments to EPA warning that the program's overly broad scope, complex requirements, and duplicative nature would impose significant regulatory burdens on chemical distribution facilities already complying with comprehensive federal safety and environmental regulations. In this final decision, EPA acknowledges the complexity of the requirements and the need for additional compliance guidance, reinforcing concerns raised by ACD and other industry groups. ACD will continue working with the agency to ensure the program focuses on facilities posing the greatest risk to navigable waters while avoiding unnecessary compliance costs as the EPA looks to make additional changes to the program.

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The Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) partners with our more than 400 chemical distribution industry members to provide the education, connection, standards, and advocacy they need to responsibly move the essential products our world depends on. As leaders in the $27B+ chemical distribution industry, ACD member companies commit to the highest standards in quality, safety, sustainability, and performance through ACD Responsible Distribution^TM. For more information, visit www.acd-chem.com.