Executive Order 14091 And The EPA's Amended Emergency Response Policies

Recently, two Federal policies have been released that could have a significant effect upon environmental remediation and the emergency response procedures and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The recent train derailment in Palestine, Ohio, may bring them into sharper focus. The regulated community may find it useful to take notice of these directives.

Executive Order 14091 (dated February 16, 2023)

Executive Order 14091, "Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government," was published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2023. (See 88 FR 10825.) The stated policy of this ambitious new Executive Order is to "take additional actions across the Federal Government ... to continue the work begun with Executive Order 13995 (released on January 20, 2021), to combat discrimination and advance equal opportunity by ... redressing unfair disparities and removing barriers to Government programs