Archives: News

EPA Sends Revised WOTUS Rule to OMB The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a final definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This move paves the way for upcoming stakeholder meetings sharing their...

Congress on Recess with Limited Time Before August Break The House and Senate left Washington for a two-week Independence Day recess at the end of June and are set to return next week. Members will return to a short window and pressure to make progress...

On  June 15, the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on “Impacts of Plastic Production and Disposal on Environmental Justice Communities,” showcasing the deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans on the contentious...

The VI welcomes Ethan Thomas as our new social media and content development manager. Ethan is a skilled communications professional with extensive experience in creating and implementing social media campaigns, developing content, and conducting media outreach. In his new role, he will oversee the VI’s...

President Joe Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA, H.R. 3746) on June 3, suspending the debt ceiling for another two years just two days before the U.S. Treasury said it would default on its financial obligations.  After what essentially became a political game in...

The United Nations concluded its second in a series of five meetings to develop a binding global agreement to end plastic waste late last week. During the negotiations, a well-organized group of more than 50 nations is advocating for eliminating “problematic plastics,” including restrictions on...

The U.S. vinyl industry is once again moving quicker than many other industries, by recently releasing a second roadmap on how we can decarbonize this important U.S. industry.  The Vinyl Institute was pleased to participate in this decarbonization study with Ali Hasanbeigi and Adam Sibel...

In another blow to the Administration, the Supreme Court made a 5-4 decision in the case of Sackett v. EPA to curtail EPA’s authority and narrowed the Clean Water Act (CWA) scope regarding wetlands. The court ruled that only ” indistinguishable ” wetlands from adjacent...