Key takeaway
What This Development Means
NAM’s regulatory recommendations mark a decisive pushback against Biden-era chemical policies. By aligning with Executive Order 14219, manufacturers are advocating for more predictable, science-based, and economically viable chemical regulations—changes that could redefine the compliance landscape for multiple sectors.
What is Executive Order 14219 and how does it affect chemical regulation?
Executive Order 14219, issued by President Trump, mandates federal agencies to review regulations that may impose excessive costs or lack statutory basis. It serves as the framework for NAM’s push to reverse EPA rules deemed burdensome or unsupported by sound science.
Why are PFAS regulations under scrutiny by manufacturers?
NAM argues the current PFAS reporting and clean-up rules are impractical, lacking thresholds for small businesses and pushing standards below detectable levels. These rules expose a wide range of entities to liability without clear public health benefits, prompting calls for targeted, risk-based regulation.
Source basis: https://documents.nam.org/regs/NAM_Executive_Order_14219_Regulatory_Recommendations_04-17-25.pdf
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has formally requested the rollback of multiple environmental and chemical regulations introduced under the Biden Administration. The recommendations follow President Trump’s Executive Order 14219, aimed at cutting red tape and bolstering domestic industry. Submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 17 April 2025, the letter highlights several rules that NAM claims threaten manufacturing competitiveness, innovation, and compliance capacity across the chemicals ecosystem.
Regulatory Costs And Industry Burdens
Citing over $350 billion in annual compliance costs, NAM’s submission targets a wide array of EPA actions, including revisions to particulate matter and ozone standards, greenhouse gas limits on power plants, and expanded reporting duties under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Many of these, NAM argues, impose unattainable benchmarks or are based on questionable scientific assumptions.
Of particular concern is the TSCA Section 8(a)(7) rule on PFAS reporting, which mandates retrospective data collection without a de minimis threshold. According to NAM, the EPA lacks the capacity to process the flood of data this rule will generate, creating legal and operational risks for thousands of manufacturers.
PFAS, Formaldehyde And 1,3-Butadiene Among Targeted Substances
The association also called for the reconsideration of specific chemical assessments. These include the 2024 draft risk evaluation for 1,3-butadiene (CAS 106-99-0), widely used in rubber and plastics, and the final assessment of formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0), a key input in resins and adhesives. NAM questioned the scientific rigour of the EPA’s methods, particularly the reliance on non-peer-reviewed data and flawed exposure assumptions.
Similarly, NAM opposes the recent designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous under CERCLA and the final drinking water limits of 4 parts per trillion for these and related PFAS. It argues these levels are below reliable detection limits and pose significant liability risks for sectors ranging from manufacturing to agriculture and water treatment.
Broad Impacts Across The Chemical Value Chain
While spearheaded by manufacturers, the recommended changes would affect a wide range of stakeholders, including local governments, utility providers, healthcare suppliers, and downstream users of regulated substances. The call for a “commonsense” approach to risk assessment and regulation reflects broader concerns about regulatory fragmentation and the economic impacts of sweeping environmental rules.
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