Lawyer 2 Lawyer The Banning of TCE & PCE, and the Future of the EPA
16 snips
Dec 20, 2024 Wendy Wagner, the Richard Dale Endowed Chair at the University of Texas School of Law, is a leading voice on environmental policy and law. In this discussion, she breaks down the recent EPA ban on harmful chemicals TCE and PCE, highlighting their links to severe health issues like cancer. Wendy shares her journey in environmental law, influenced by her upbringing in a polluted area. The conversation also delves into the impending political shifts under a potential Trump presidency and their implications for future EPA regulations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Sparked Environmental Career
- Wendy Wagner grew up near Gary, Indiana, in the heavily polluted Calumet region, which inspired her career.
- Childhood experiences with killed tadpoles pushed her toward ecology and environmental law.
Long Road Under TSCA
- TSCA reform in 2016 forced EPA to prioritize the worst chemicals but progress remains slow.
- EPA has worked on TCE and PCE since 2017, leading to the 2024 bans after long assessments.
Targeting Substitutable Uses
- EPA targeted uses where substitution is already occurring to minimize dislocation.
- The agency estimated significant compliance costs but sought to focus bans where safer alternatives exist.
