The EPA received three petitions asking it to delay and reconsider amendments to the RMP rule. First, the “RMP Coalition” submitted a petition dated February 28, 2017. On March 13, 2017, the Chemical Safety Advocacy Group also submitted a petition, followed by a third petition from a group of eleven states. On March 13, 2017, Scott Pruitt, Administrator of the EPA, convened a proceeding for reconsideration of the RMP rule amendments and signed a letter that administratively delayed the effective date of the rule for 90 days.

On April 3, 2017, EPA proposed to further delay the effective date of changes to the rule until February 19, 2019. 82 Fed. Reg. 16146 (Apr 3, 2017). In proposing extra time to conduct the reconsideration, the EPA determined “three months to be insufficient to complete the necessary steps in the reconsideration process.” 82 Fed. Reg. at 16148. The EPA noted that it would take time to “prepare the necessary comment solicitations to help focus commenters on issues of central relevance to [their] decision-making.” Id. Further “a separate Federal Register notice published in the near future will specifically solicit comment on the range of issues under reconsideration.” 82 Fed. Reg. at 16149.

Such a further delay would have the effect of also delaying provisions that don’t kick in until later years. “Compliance with all of the rule provisions is not required as the rule does not become effective.” Id. EPA would later “amend the compliance dates as necessary when considering future regulatory action.” Id.

Comments are due by May 19, 2017 on the proposed delay to February 19, 2019.