Bloomberg Environment Features Comments By Lynn L. Bergeson Regarding EPA’s 2019 Chemical Rules Outlook

On December 19, 2018, Bloomberg Environment spoke with Lynn L. Bergeson, President, The Acta Group (Acta^®), for the article “2019 Outlook: ‘Most Active Year Yet’ Looms on EPA Chemical Rules.”

The EPA didn’t reply to a question about how many people are working in its chemicals office but said it was allowed to hire up to 340 in fiscal year 2018, an increase from 311 in the previous year.

The agency said it couldn’t comment on how many people it will have in fiscal year 2019 until Congress decides on the EPA budget.

But the workload facing the EPA’s chemicals office will expand in 2019 faster than the office’s workforce will, said Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C.

Industry fees, which companies began to pay on Oct. 1, 2018, will help the agency hire staff and contractors, she said by email.

“But there will be a significant lag while EPA searches for and hires the necessary experts or while EPA sets up new contracts to support its work,” Bergeson said.

See – https://bnanews.bna.com/environment-and-energy/2019-outlook-most-active-year-yet-looms-on-epa-chemical-rules (subscription required)