Following up our recent post on EPA’s publication of its formaldehyde in composite wood rule, the Trump administration has delayed the rule’s effective date from February 10, 2017 to March 21, 2017. This delay is part of the administration’s “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review.” It is unclear what impact this freeze will have on the rule’s implementation, as the “manufactured by” date that triggers compliance is based on EPA publication (December 12, 2016), not the original effective date (February 10, 2017). But the “freeze” is intended to prevent implementation of EPA regulations without review, and directs agencies to:
…consider proposing for notice and comment a rule to delay the effective date for regulations beyond … [the current delay]. In cases where the effective date has been delayed in order to review questions of fact, law, or policy, you should consider potentially proposing further notice-and-comment rulemaking. Following the delay in effective date
- for those regulations that raise no substantial questions of law or policy, no further action needs to be taken; and
- for those regulations that raise substantial questions of law or policy, agencies should notify the OMB Director and take further appropriate action in consultation with the OMB Director.
We assume that until further notice, implementation is on hold. We will continue tracking this issue and providing updates as they develop.