Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Final Report on Fatal 2024 Explosion at Givaudan Facility in Louisville, Kentucky
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release on May 27, 2026:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Final Report on Fatal 2024 Explosion at Givaudan Facility in Louisville, Kentucky
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today released its final investigation report into the fatal November 12, 2024, explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour caramel coloring manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, that killed two workers, seriously injured three others, and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to the facility and
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WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release on May 27, 2026:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Final Report on Fatal 2024 Explosion at Givaudan Facility in Louisville, Kentucky
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today released its final investigation report into the fatal November 12, 2024, explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour caramel coloring manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, that killed two workers, seriously injured three others, and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to the facility andthe surrounding community.
The CSB determined that the explosion occurred when a 2,500-gallon reactor (Reactor 6) that was producing caramel coloring for a food product experienced a runaway decomposition reaction involving the sugar ingredient being used in the caramel coloring manufacturing process. The resulting rapid pressure increase overwhelmed the reactor's emergency pressure relief system, causing the reactor to rupture violently.
Reactor 6 was constructed in 1978 and was originally operated at a different facility. After that facility closed in 2008, Reactor 6 and another reactor were relocated to the Louisville facility and kept in storage. In 2021, both reactors were modified to meet the Louisville facility's design requirements and were installed in the site's central manufacturing area.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, "This tragic incident was a catastrophe waiting to happen. The reactor's pressure relief system was not designed to release pressure from a reaction like this, and Givaudan did not recognize the potential for a runaway reaction to happen."
The two employees who died in the incident were fatally injured when the blast wave from the explosion damaged the control room where they were working, causing the room to collapse on top of them. The control room was located just 40 feet from Reactor 6 and was not constructed to be blast-resistant. Additionally, the reactor shell, weighing approximately 2,000 pounds, was propelled 245 feet into a nearby residential neighborhood, where it came to rest against a home, and other equipment, materials, and debris from the explosion traveled as far as 400 feet beyond the facility fence line into the surrounding community.
The incident caused approximately $30 million in damage to the facility and an additional $10 million in damage to nearby homes and businesses. Local officials issued a shelter-in-place order covering a one-mile radius around the facility. The facility permanently ceased operations after the incident and recently was demolished.
CSB Supervisory Investigator Lauren Grim said, "The CSB's investigation found that the company did not understand the severe reactive hazards associated with the sugar ingredients used in its caramel coloring process. As a result, critical safeguards, including the emergency relief system, were incapable of preventing this catastrophic reactor rupture."
The CSB found that the reactor's emergency pressure relief system would have needed to be approximately four times larger to safely relieve pressure generated during the runaway decomposition reaction.
CSB Board Member Sylvia Johnson said, "This tragedy demonstrates that companies handling reactive chemical processes must fully understand the hazards of their materials, implement effective safeguards, and ensure that workers and surrounding communities are protected from catastrophic events."
The CSB's final report also emphasizes that companies should conduct facility siting analyses of normally occupied spaces, such as control rooms, and make design changes as appropriate, to protect people and critical equipment from identified process hazards.
The report reiterates earlier recommendations to the EPA and OSHA to strengthen federal oversight of catastrophic reactive chemical hazards. The CSB is recommending again that EPA revise its Accidental Release Prevention Requirements to explicitly address reactive hazards. The CSB also is recommending again that OSHA expand the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard to better address reactive hazards.
The report also issues extensive new recommendations aimed primarily at Givaudan's caramel coloring facilities. These include conducting third-party reactivity testing on sugar ingredients, performing facility hazard analyses, developing comprehensive process safety management systems, improving emergency pressure relief systems, establishing operator alerts, and training on safe operating limits.
Finally, although the CSB is not making a recommendation regarding the siting of a new caramel coloring manufacturing facility elsewhere by Givaudan, the CSB is urging Givaudan to ensure that any new production facility will not be located in close proximity to a residential area in order to help prevent another community from being put at serious risk.
The CSB is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency's core mission activities include conducting incident investigations to identify root cause of releases; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards.
The agency's board members are appointed by the president subject to Senate confirmation. The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.
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Original text here: https://www.csb.gov/us-chemical-safety-board-releases-final-report-on-fatal-2024-explosion-at-givaudan-facility-in-louisville-kentucky/
National Academy of Medicine Names 10 Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence for 2026
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The National Academy of Medicine issued the following news:
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National Academy of Medicine Names 10 Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence for 2026
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The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has selected 10 individuals for the 2026 class of the NAM Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence program. This collaborative program in partnership with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) offers a one-year, part-time experience for exceptional health professionals to advance their diagnostic skills, make significant contributions to improve clinical diagnosis at the national
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WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The National Academy of Medicine issued the following news:
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National Academy of Medicine Names 10 Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence for 2026
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The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has selected 10 individuals for the 2026 class of the NAM Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence program. This collaborative program in partnership with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) offers a one-year, part-time experience for exceptional health professionals to advance their diagnostic skills, make significant contributions to improve clinical diagnosis at the nationallevel, and accelerate their career development as national leaders in the field.
The scholars were chosen based on their professional qualifications and accomplishments, demonstrated leadership in the field, and potential to advance diagnostic excellence. They were also chosen based on the quality and feasibility of their program proposals to improve diagnosis and reduce diagnostic errors at the national level, building upon the work of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's 2015 consensus report Improving Diagnosis in Health Care.
"Diagnostic excellence is essential to improving the quality, safety, and accessibility of health care," said National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau. "We are proud to welcome this outstanding class of scholars, whose innovative work will help reduce diagnostic errors and improve outcomes for patients and families nationwide."
The 2026 NAM Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence and their program proposals are:
* Dania Daye, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology; vice chair of practice transformation; director, Center of High Value Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wis.
"Multi-Agentic AI System for End-to-End Management of Incidental Findings in Diagnostic Imaging"
* Ahmed Hassoon, MD, MPH, assistant research professor, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore
"The Patient Advocate to Empowering Patients in the Diagnostic Process: A Safety Framework and Modus Operandi for Agentic AI-Mediated Error Interception"
* Shuhan He, MD, emergency physician and clinical informatician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
"Diagnostic Safety by Design: Clinician-Centered Redesign and Multi-Site Deployment of a Digital Uncertainty-Reduction Tool for Emergency Medicine"
* Julius Oatts, MD, MHS, attending physician and associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia / University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
"Improving Retinopathy of Prematurity Diagnostic Verification and Predictive Modeling Using a NovelGrading Score"
* Andrei S. Purysko, MD, FSAR, section head, Abdominal Imaging, Diagnostics Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; associate professor of radiology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
"Improving Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Through Standardized Prostate MRIQuality Assessment"
* Adam Rodman, MD, MPH, director or AI programs, Carl J Shapiro Institute for Research and Education, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
"Laying the Groundwork for an Effective, Evidence-Grounded LLM-Based Second Opinion Trigger System for High-Risk Hospitalized Inpatients"
* Cory Rohlfsen, MD, associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Neb.
"Can Diagnostic Excellence Be Measured?"
* Lucy Schulson, MD, MPH, assistant professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine; attending physician, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center physician, Immigrant and Refugee Health Center, Boston
"Bridging Diagnostic Gaps: Using AI to Identify Missed Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Diagnosis to Improve Diagnostic Equity in Ambulatory Care"
* Kathleen E. Walsh, MD, MSc, director, healthcare quality and safety research program; director, Harvard-wide pediatric health services research fellowship, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston
"Improving Communication of Pediatric Diagnostic Uncertainty with Outpatient Families"
* Yize Zhao, PhD, associate professor, Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Conn.
"Dynamic Diagnostic Surveillance: An Equity-Centered, Uncertainty-Aware Framework for Timely ADRD Diagnosis from EHRs"
"I am excited to work with this exceptional cohort of scholars dedicated to diagnostic excellence across specialties and disciplines," said Helen Burstin, chief executive officer of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. "Through our strategic partnership with the NAM, we're building a powerful network of leaders who are transforming health care through groundbreaking improvements in the use of AI and diagnostic excellence."
The scholars will continue in their primary posts while engaging part time over a one-year period in developing an implementation plan for their proposals, as well as participating in monthly educational sessions, cohort learning activities, and professional networking opportunities through the NAM and CMSS. In addition, each scholar will be matched with a mentor or mentors who can provide professional guidance and subject matter or technical expertise for their work. A flexible research grant will be awarded to every scholar.
Funding for the program is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, with additional support from the Coordinating Center for Diagnostic Excellence (CODEX) at the University of California, San Francisco.
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Original text here: https://nam.edu/news-and-insights/national-academy-of-medicine-names-10-scholars-in-diagnostic-excellence-for-2026/
Jet Propulsion Laboratory: NASA-European Sea Level Mission Homes in on El Nino
PASADENA, California, May 28 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news on May 27, 2026:
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NASA-European Sea Level Mission Homes in on El Nino
Waves of higher, warmer water move eastward across the Pacific Ocean a few months before an El Nino emerges. Several have shown up in 2026 satellite data.
Sea level data from a satellite launched by NASA and European partners shows that a swell of warm water hundreds of miles wide has arrived in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America, a sign that El Nino will likely emerge later in the year. Because water expands
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PASADENA, California, May 28 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news on May 27, 2026:
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NASA-European Sea Level Mission Homes in on El Nino
Waves of higher, warmer water move eastward across the Pacific Ocean a few months before an El Nino emerges. Several have shown up in 2026 satellite data.
Sea level data from a satellite launched by NASA and European partners shows that a swell of warm water hundreds of miles wide has arrived in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America, a sign that El Nino will likely emerge later in the year. Because water expandsas it warms, a rise in elevation of an area of the ocean indicates increasing ocean temperatures.
El Ninos can cause heavy precipitation in some regions and deficits in others, influencing daily life and commerce around the world.
Launched in 2020 by NASA and led by ESA (European Space Agency) for the E.U. Copernicus Programme, the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite measures and maps water height for the entire ocean every 10 days, down to fractions of an inch. In the case of El Nino, the satellite tracks what are called warm Kelvin waves.
These waves typically form after brief periods when winds over the far western equatorial Pacific Ocean shift from prevailing easterlies -- moving from east to west -- to westerlies. That effect, combined with a general weakening of easterly winds along the equator, causes water in the tropics of the western Pacific to get warmer and sea levels to rise. The wave that forms then propagates east for several weeks, eventually reaching South America and causing water off the coast to heat up and rise. An El Nino develops as multiple Kelvin waves appear over the course of several months, and the warm water accumulates off the shores of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
"While this year's event started a bit later than the big El Ninos of 2015 and 1997, it's beginning to catch up," said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and project scientist for Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. "We'll see how big it gets."
Measurements from Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich show a small Kelvin wave forming around Micronesia in late January and dissipating by mid-February. A new wave emerged in early March, then moved east over time. By mid-May, the seas around Peru were more than 5.9 inches (15 centimeters) higher than long-term averages.
"NASA's observation of El Nino uses sea level satellites like Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich to track massive Kelvin waves as they cross the Pacific, capture changes in Earth's ocean thermodynamics, improve forecasts of weather extremes, and help communities prepare for potential coastal hazards," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, lead program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Stay tuned as more ocean stories continue to unfold."
Tracking El Nino
Fishermen in the 1600s coined the name El Nino -- Spanish for "the boy," a reference to the birth of baby Jesus -- because it tended to intensify around Christmastime. Warmer waters meant they would catch fewer fish.
Warmer sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific affect atmospheric circulation patterns worldwide by shifting the jet stream, which impacts storm tracks. This can lead to heavy rain and snow in some areas and unusual heat and dryness in others. How far away those impacts appear depends on the strength of the El Nino.
In more modest events, like the ones that began in 2018 and 2023, impacts such as drought and flooding were mostly seeb in and around the tropical Pacific. Large El Ninos, like the one in 2015-2016, reach much farther, causing drought in Africa and flooding in California.
El Ninos usually peak between November and January, so it will be several months before the largest impacts become clear.
"Every El Nino is different," said JPL sea level researcher Severine Fournier, deputy project scientist for Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. "But they almost always make for a hot year and big changes in rainfall in parts of the globe."
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is the current official reference satellite for global sea level measurements. Launched in 2020, it is continuing a legacy started in 1992 by the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. A series of successors have carried the baton since then, and the latest, Sentinel-6B, which launched November 2025, will take over for its predecessor by the end of 2026.
More about Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, named after former NASA Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich, is one of two satellites that compose the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission.
Sentinel-6/Jason-CS, a part of the European Union's Earth observation programme called Copernicus, was jointly developed by ESA, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support on performance from the French space agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales). Spacecraft monitoring and control, as well as the processing of all the altimeter science data, is carried out by EUMETSAT on behalf of the European Union's Copernicus Programme, with the support of all partner agencies.
A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL contributed three science instruments for each Sentinel-6 satellite: the Advanced Microwave Radiometer, the Global Navigation Satellite System - Radio Occultation, and the Laser Retroreflector Array. NASA also contributed launch services, ground systems supporting operation of the NASA science instruments, the science data processors for two of these instruments, and support for the U.S. members of the international Ocean Surface Topography Science Team.
To learn more about Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/sentinel-6
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-european-sea-level-mission-homes-in-on-el-nino/
GSA Joins Presidential Task Force to Eliminate Fraud
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Joins Presidential Task Force to Eliminate Fraud
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Joins Vice President Vance in Efforts to Eliminate Waste, Fraud and Abuse
WASHINGTON - Today, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced it is joining the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, bringing the full force of its federal procurement, technology, and operational expertise to one of the administration's most aggressive government accountability initiatives to date.
Established under Executive Order 14395 on March 16,
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WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Joins Presidential Task Force to Eliminate Fraud
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Joins Vice President Vance in Efforts to Eliminate Waste, Fraud and Abuse
WASHINGTON - Today, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced it is joining the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, bringing the full force of its federal procurement, technology, and operational expertise to one of the administration's most aggressive government accountability initiatives to date.
Established under Executive Order 14395 on March 16,2026, the Task Force, chaired by Vice President JD Vance, leads the federal government's concerted efforts to uncover and eliminate waste, abuse, and illicit activities across federal benefit programs.
Given the Task Force's great success, it is now leveraging GSA's unmatched reach in acquisition, shared services, technology modernization, and federal real estate. GSA is uniquely positioned to help the Task Force detect irregularities, accelerate investigations, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
As the engine of the federal government, GSA will play a central role in identifying vulnerabilities, strengthening oversight, and helping lead the government-wide effort to root out fraud, waste, and abuse across contracting programs.
"From dead people receiving food stamps, to billions already uncovered in Medicaid fraud, we cannot tolerate the excessive fraud that has plagued our benefits programs," said Anti Fraud Task Force Director, Scott Brady. "We are committed to uncovering and eliminating waste, abuse, and systemic vulnerabilities that undermine these programs and take advantage of American taxpayers. GSA's background will be instrumental in delivering President Trump's promise to protect American taxpayers and ensure resources reach those who truly need them."
"GSA sits at the center of the federal acquisition and contracting ecosystem, making us a critical force in the fight against fraud," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "We are proud to join Vice President Vance and this Task Force to aggressively identify abuse, strengthen oversight, and protect the integrity of federal procurement. GSA will bring advanced analytical capabilities, investigative support, and cross-government coordination to help expose high-risk fraud patterns and stop bad actors from exploiting taxpayer-funded systems."
GSA's participation reinforces a whole-of-government strategy focused on restoring accountability, strengthening operational integrity, and ensuring federal programs deliver results for the American people. By combining the Task Force's investigative mission with GSA's government-wide infrastructure and procurement expertise, the administration is accelerating efforts to increase transparency, improve efficiency, and reinforce public trust in federal operations.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of approximately 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $126 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services to millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver exceptional customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-gsa/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-joins-presidential-task-force-to-eliminate-fraud-05282026
Fannie Mae Announces Sale of Reperforming Loans
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Sale of Reperforming Loans
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today began marketing its most recent sale of reperforming loans.
The sale consists of approximately 2,333 loans, having an unpaid principal balance of approximately $565 million, and is available for purchase by qualified bidders.
This sale of reperforming loans is being marketed in collaboration with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Bids are due on June 23, 2026.
Reperforming loans are loans that have been seriously delinquent
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Sale of Reperforming Loans
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today began marketing its most recent sale of reperforming loans.
The sale consists of approximately 2,333 loans, having an unpaid principal balance of approximately $565 million, and is available for purchase by qualified bidders.
This sale of reperforming loans is being marketed in collaboration with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Bids are due on June 23, 2026.
Reperforming loans are loans that have been seriously delinquentin the past, have reperformed for a period of time, and are current at the time offered for sale. The terms of Fannie Mae's reperforming loan sale require the buyer to offer loss mitigation options to any borrower who may re-default within five years following the closing of the reperforming loan sale. All purchasers are required to honor any approved or in-process loss mitigation efforts at the time of sale, including loan modifications. In addition, purchasers must offer delinquent borrowers a waterfall of loss mitigation options, including loan modifications, which may include principal forgiveness, prior to initiating foreclosure on any loan.
Interested bidders can register for ongoing announcements, training, and other information here. Fannie Mae will also post information about specific pools available for purchase on that page.
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Original text here: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/sale-reperforming-loans-may-2026
EPA Withdraws Biden-era 2023 Affirmative Defense Rule, Restoring Protections for Energy and Manufacturing Facilities
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Withdraws Biden-era 2023 Affirmative Defense Rule, Restoring Protections for Energy and Manufacturing Facilities
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WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today withdrew the 2023 Biden EPA Affirmative Defense Rule to comply with a federal court mandate and restore longstanding protections for manufacturers, energy producers, and other facilities that exceed emissions limits due to unavoidable events such as equipment malfunctions or natural disasters.
The withdrawal reinstates
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WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Withdraws Biden-era 2023 Affirmative Defense Rule, Restoring Protections for Energy and Manufacturing Facilities
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WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today withdrew the 2023 Biden EPA Affirmative Defense Rule to comply with a federal court mandate and restore longstanding protections for manufacturers, energy producers, and other facilities that exceed emissions limits due to unavoidable events such as equipment malfunctions or natural disasters.
The withdrawal reinstatesa framework that distinguishes between liability for noncompliance, and situations where noncompliance occurs as a result of circumstances beyond a facility's control. The Trump EPA will continue to hold bad actors accountable for enforcement violations but will no longer unjustly punish good faith operators for emissions caused by sudden, unavoidable events.
"For decades, EPA regulations acknowledged that even well-run facilities can experience unavoidable events," said EPA Assistant Administrator Aaron Szabo. "As part of the Biden Administration's war on energy, manufacturing, and cost of living, they reversed course and attacked industry for emissions that weren't their fault. Today's action restores a balanced, commonsense framework that protects both the environment and the continued viability of American manufacturing and energy production."
In 2023, the Biden Administration removed the "affirmative defense" provisions from federal air permitting regulations, for stationary sources, known as title V permits. This exposed facilities to liability even when operators took all reasonable steps to prevent and mitigate emissions during events they could not have reasonably prevented. These liabilities had the ability to increase operating costs which could then be passed onto American families through high energy and household good prices.
In 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in the SSM Litigation Group v. EPA decisions, reversed the Biden EPA's 2023 Affirmative Defense Rule. Therefore, the Trump EPA's withdrawal, today, is necessary to carry out the court's mandate and restore EPA's longstanding regulations to how they existed before the 2023 Affirmative Defense Rule.
Under the restored regulations:
* Facilities may demonstrate that excess emissions are caused by unavoidable emergencies or malfunctions;
* Facilities that act in good faith and follow proposed response procedures will not be unjustly punished;
* State, local, and Tribal permitting agencies will no longer be required to revise title V operating permit programs or existing operating permits to comply with the Biden-era rule; and
* American manufacturing and energy will be promoted, allowing them to continue providing high-paying jobs and essential items without fear of penalties.
EPA still encourages all facilities to invest in maintenance, prevention, and rapid-response systems to prevent and/or minimize emissions during unforeseen, emergency events.
Today's action does not create new regulatory requirements - it restores federal regulations as they were prior to the 2023 Affirmative Defense Rule. To comply with the federal court's mandates, the withdrawal will be effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. The Trump EPA is committed to providing regulatory certainty for American industry while maintaining environmental protections and following the rule of law. Of note, the Trump EPA has accomplished some of the strongest enforcement and compliance achievements in years, including hundreds more civil enforcement cases concluded than the previous year.
The withdrawal can be found on EPA's website.
Background
Title V of the Clean Air Act requires major sources and certain other sources to obtain an operating permit and operate in compliance with their operating permit. Sources with these title V permits are required to certify compliance with the applicable requirements of their permits at least annually. First promulgated in 1992, emergency-related affirmative defense provisions allow for stationary sources to avoid civil penalties for emissions violations caused by sudden, unavoidable malfunctions or emergencies. On July 21, 2023, the Biden EPA issued a final rule that rescinded emergency-related affirmative defense provisions previously codified in EPA's operating permit program regulations at 40 C.F.R. 70.6(g) and 71.6(g).
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-withdraws-biden-era-2023-affirmative-defense-rule-restoring-protections-energy-and
Amtrak Celebrates Upgrades at Iowa Stations
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Amtrak Celebrates Upgrades at Iowa Stations
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Customers benefit from $20 million in federal investments
MT. PLEASANT and OTTUMWA, Iowa - Amtrak passengers have a more welcoming experience at two Iowa stations following about $20 million in upgrades celebrated today. Amtrak California Zephyr trains stop twice daily at Mt. Pleasant, Ottumwa and three other Iowa stations.
"Making stations accessible to all customers is a priority we're actively pursuing with construction, renovation, repair and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 28 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Amtrak Celebrates Upgrades at Iowa Stations
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Customers benefit from $20 million in federal investments
MT. PLEASANT and OTTUMWA, Iowa - Amtrak passengers have a more welcoming experience at two Iowa stations following about $20 million in upgrades celebrated today. Amtrak California Zephyr trains stop twice daily at Mt. Pleasant, Ottumwa and three other Iowa stations.
"Making stations accessible to all customers is a priority we're actively pursuing with construction, renovation, repair andupgrade projects at stations across our National Network," said Amtrak Vice President of Accessibility Dr. David Handera. "We want all of our stations to provide a welcoming environment for every passenger."
Amtrak and civic leaders held ribbon-cutting celebrations in both cities and promoted improvements nationwide to enhance the passenger experience by providing a level surface for wheeled mobility device, stroller and rolling luggage users. Nineteen stations were brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the 12 months ending Sept. 30 and another 50 stations are targeted for completion in the next year at a forecasted investment of $310 million.
These improvements focus on supporting Amtrak's goals to enhance the customer experience and bring greater integrated and comprehensive accessibility to stations across the country.
Mt. Pleasant (MTP) $5.5 million
* The Mt. Pleasant depot was built of pressed brick by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1912. The station now features 480- and 600 foot-long concrete platforms and accessible paths of travel to and from the station building. Complete are sloped accessible walkways and safety barriers, energy efficient LED light fixtures that provide full coverage lighting at the platform, detectable warning systems, and new signage.
* The designer of record for the project is GFT, an internationally recognized architecture and engineering firm that specializes in infrastructure and transportation. George Allen Construction provided General Contractor services for the project. Iowa subcontractors are DC Concrete (Douds), ESCO Electric (Marion), Ken-Way (Walford), and Pierce Fence Company (Ottumwa).
Ottumwa (OTM) $14.5 million
* The original Ottumwa depot was built in 1889 by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The railroad had this structure razed and rebuilt in 1950. The station now features a 1000-foot long, concrete boarding platform with a restored canopy and accessible paths of travel to and from the station building. Complete are sloped accessible walkways and safety barriers, energy efficient LED light fixtures that provide full coverage lighting at the platform, detectable warning systems, and new signage.
* The designer of record for the project is JacobsWyper Architects, an award-winning architectural, planning and interior design firm. George Allen Construction provided General Contractor services. Iowa subcontractors are DC Concrete (Douds), Ken-Way Excavating (Walford), Pierce Fence Company (Ottumwa), Dave Bessine Electric (Burlington), T and K Roofing and Sheet Metal (Iowa City), Falvey Lumber (Eddyville), and A1 Mobile Storage (Manchester).
Amtrak has invested more than $1 billion since 2011 in accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 159 stations across the national network to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers. The ADA Stations Program is advancing 126 station designs and 89 station construction projects as part of Amtrak's ongoing commitment to providing accessibility by working toward 100% completion by 2029.
These Amtrak projects receive specific Congressional funding directed by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Reactions:
"Southeast Iowa families, veterans, seniors, and travelers with disabilities deserve rail stations that are safe, accessible, and modern. These upgrades at Mount Pleasant Amtrak Station are a real, tangible investment in our community and in the people who depend on this service every day. $19 million going directly into Iowa's rail infrastructure means better connections, greater accessibility, and a stronger future for southeast Iowa. I'm proud to celebrate this milestone with Mount Pleasant and look forward to seeing the difference it makes for years to come," said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa1).
"The Mount Pleasant Amtrak station serves as an important transportation connection for our community and the surrounding region. These accessibility improvements will help ensure that all passengers can safely and comfortably access rail service for years to come. We appreciate Amtrak's investment in Mount Pleasant and their commitment to improving the experience for residents and visitors alike," said Mayor Steve Brimhall.
"Amtrak continues to be an essential partner with the City of Ottumwa and it is great to see the official opening of the new, fully accessible platform as another improvement to an Historic Landmark in Ottumwa and the outstanding service provided by Amtrak," said Mayor Benjamin Foote.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/05/amtrak-celebrates-upgrades-at-iowa-stations/
