Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
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Amazonian Countries Launch Regional Connectivity Alliance at COP30 With IDB Group, World Bank Group Support
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Amazonian Countries Launch Regional Connectivity Alliance at COP30 with IDB Group, World Bank Group Support
BELEM, Brazil -- At COP30, countries of the Amazon region launched the Alliance for Sustainable, Resilient, and Integrated Transport in the Amazon, an initiative supported by the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) and the World Bank Group to strengthen regional connectivity.
The launch event took place at the IDB Group Pavilion in Belem, where transportation ministers from
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Amazonian Countries Launch Regional Connectivity Alliance at COP30 with IDB Group, World Bank Group Support
BELEM, Brazil -- At COP30, countries of the Amazon region launched the Alliance for Sustainable, Resilient, and Integrated Transport in the Amazon, an initiative supported by the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) and the World Bank Group to strengthen regional connectivity.
The launch event took place at the IDB Group Pavilion in Belem, where transportation ministers fromAmazonian countries and senior representatives of the IDB Group and the World Bank Group signed a declaration to drive deep transformation of transportation in the region under an inclusive, efficient, and resilient approach, in partnership with other stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
The Alliance aims to develop a Regional Action Plan 2026-2030, to serve as a roadmap for promoting connectivity and improving the efficiency of transportation systems in the region.
This initiative aligns with the sustainable infrastructure pillar of the IDB Group's Amazonia Forever program and the connectivity pillar of the South Connection program, as well as with the "livable Amazonia" pillar of the World Bank Group's Amazonia Viva initiative.
During the launch, participants emphasized the urgency of strengthening connectivity and reducing gaps in access to basic services in the Amazon region, where infrastructure limitations, an undiversified energy matrix, and vulnerability to disasters hinder development and regional integration.
The Alliance is based on four strategic pillars:
* Improving connectivity and access to basic services in isolated communities
* Promoting efficient, multimodal logistics to boost the regional bioeconomy
* Developing resilient infrastructure with nature-based solutions
* Strengthening river transport as a key axis for integration and mobility
Through this joint effort, Amazonian countries and their partners seek to advance toward a transportation model that connects communities, increases the efficiency of services, and reinforces the region's resilience.
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The IDB Group at COP30
The IDB Group is hosting more than 80 events at COP30 to showcase solutions for closing gaps in financing for resilient development through partnerships, innovation, and a focus on measurable impact in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journalists on site are invited to visit our venues, with no registration required: IDB Group Pavilion in the Blue Zone, IDB Group Pavilion in the Green Zone, and the AMAZONIA SEMPRE Station at the Goeldi Museum. Follow our COP30 page for all news and event schedules.
The IDB Group is acting as a bridge at the conference - connecting governments and investors, the public and private sectors, people and communities - to mobilize at least $6 billion in announcements to help close gaps in financing and support national priorities.
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About Amazonia Forever
is a regional coordination program that aims to protect biodiversity and accelerate sustainable development in three lines of action: expanding innovative financing, boosting knowledge exchange, and facilitating regional coordination among the eight countries that Amazonia spans. During COP30, it is hosting the AMAZONIA SEMPRE Station at the Goeldi Museum (November 8-21). Full program: www.bit.ly/COP30AMAZONIASEMPREpt.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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About the World Bank Group
The World Bank Group works to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet through a combination of financing, knowledge, and expertise. It includes the World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - IBRD and International Development Association - IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). More information: www.worldbank.org, ida.worldbank.org/en/home, www.miga.org, www.ifc.org, and www.icsid.worldbank.org.
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About Amazonia Viva
Amazonia Viva is the World Bank Group initiative to strengthen efforts and collaboration to safeguard natural assets for a healthy forest biome, foster nature-smart and inclusive economic opportunities, and improve living standards of its population. As a part of the World Bank Global Challenge Program on Forests for Development, Climate, and Biodiversity, Amazonia Viva will promote innovative solutions to deepen and broaden the support from the World Bank Group including the International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, working in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank Group under the umbrella of the Amazonia Forever program.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/amazonian-countries-launch-regional-connectivity-alliance-cop30-idb-group-world-bank-group-support
SBA Relief Still Available to Texas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Heat and Winds
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Texas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Heat and Winds
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Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from serving America's 36 million small businesses.
Every day that Senate Democrats continue to oppose a clean funding bill, they are stopping an estimated 320 small businesses from accessing
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Texas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Heat and Winds
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Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from serving America's 36 million small businesses.
Every day that Senate Democrats continue to oppose a clean funding bill, they are stopping an estimated 320 small businesses from accessing$170 million in SBA-guaranteed funding.
As a result of the shutdown, we wanted to notify you that many of our services supporting small businesses are currently unavailable. The agency is executing its Lapse Plan and as soon as the shutdown is over, we are prepared to immediately return to the record-breaking services we were providing under the leadership of the Trump Administration.
If you need disaster assistance, please visit sba.gov/disaster.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2025/11/10/sba-relief-still-available-texas-small-businesses-private-nonprofits-affected-heat-winds
SBA Relief Still Available to Arizona and Tribal Nations' Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by the Gila County Flooding Event
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Arizona and Tribal Nations' Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by the Gila County Flooding Event
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Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from serving America's 36 million small businesses.
Every day that Senate Democrats continue to oppose a clean funding bill, they are stopping an
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Arizona and Tribal Nations' Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by the Gila County Flooding Event
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Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from serving America's 36 million small businesses.
Every day that Senate Democrats continue to oppose a clean funding bill, they are stopping anestimated 320 small businesses from accessing $170 million in SBA-guaranteed funding.
As a result of the shutdown, we wanted to notify you that many of our services supporting small businesses are currently unavailable. The agency is executing its Lapse Plan and as soon as the shutdown is over, we are prepared to immediately return to the record-breaking services we were providing under the leadership of the Trump Administration.
If you need disaster assistance, please visit sba.gov/disaster.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2025/11/10/sba-relief-still-available-arizona-tribal-nations-businesses-private-nonprofits-residents-affected
MEDIA ADVISORY: Nov.18 Public Meeting on the Contact of Containership Dali with Francis Scott Key Bridge
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Nov.18 Public Meeting on the Contact of Containership Dali with Francis Scott Key Bridge
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The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public board meeting Nov. 18 to determine the probable cause of the contact of the containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and subsequent bridge collapse.
The Dali was transiting out of Baltimore Harbor on March 26, 2024, when it experienced a loss of electrical power and propulsion and struck the southern pier supporting
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Nov.18 Public Meeting on the Contact of Containership Dali with Francis Scott Key Bridge
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The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public board meeting Nov. 18 to determine the probable cause of the contact of the containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and subsequent bridge collapse.
The Dali was transiting out of Baltimore Harbor on March 26, 2024, when it experienced a loss of electrical power and propulsion and struck the southern pier supportingthe central truss spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which subsequently collapsed. Six construction crewmembers on the bridge at the time of the contact were fatally injured, one construction crewmember was seriously injured and one crewmember on the Dali was injured.
During the meeting, the NTSB's board will vote on the findings, probable cause and safety recommendations as well as any changes to the draft final report.
A synopsis of the board meeting will be available after the meeting concludes. The complete final report will be available in several weeks on NTSB.gov.
Additional factual information is included in the public docket for the investigation. The docket includes reports, interview transcripts and other investigative materials.
WHAT: Board meeting on the March 26, 2024, contact of the containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and subsequent bridge collapse.
WHO: NTSB investigative staff and board members
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time
WHERE: NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC. The street entrance to the NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center is located on 10th Street, SW, running between D Street and Frontage Road, SW, just below the L'Enfant Plaza Promenade. The boardroom is also accessible from L'Enfant Plaza Metro through the food court.
MEDIA: After clearing security, members of the news media should sign in at the media room, just to the left of the entrance to the boardroom. Media planning to attend should RSVP to mediarelations@ntsb.gov.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy will take questions from reporters during a media session scheduled to start 30 minutes after the board meeting ends.
HOW TO WATCH: If the government is still shut down, NTSB will not be able to livestream and instead will post a recording of the board meeting on NTSB.gov for those who cannot attend in person.
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/nr-20251110.aspx
EXIM Signs "Buy American, Build the Future" Agreement with Uzbekistan to Boost U.S. Exports and Support American Jobs
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
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EXIM Signs "Buy American, Build the Future" Agreement with Uzbekistan to Boost U.S. Exports and Support American Jobs
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan have signed a "Buy American, Build the Future" Agreement, an ambitious new framework that deepens bilateral economic cooperation and advances President Trump's America First economic agenda.
This strategic framework positions the United States
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
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EXIM Signs "Buy American, Build the Future" Agreement with Uzbekistan to Boost U.S. Exports and Support American Jobs
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan have signed a "Buy American, Build the Future" Agreement, an ambitious new framework that deepens bilateral economic cooperation and advances President Trump's America First economic agenda.
This strategic framework positions the United Statesas Uzbekistan's preferred partner across critical sectors including infrastructure, energy, aviation, minerals, and advanced technologies. It also represents a bold commitment by Uzbekistan to prioritize American equipment and technology that will drive job creation, strengthen supply chains, and promote industrial modernization in both nations.
Projects supported under the framework will align with key EXIM initiatives, including the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) and the Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative (SCRI), reinforcing efforts to enhance supply chain security and reliable access to critical mineral resources, while expanding U.S. manufacturing leadership.
"This new Agreement establishes EXIM's 'Buy American First' as the guiding principle of Uzbekistan's economic transformation under President Mirziyoyev," said EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic. "From aircraft and pipeline equipment to precision agriculture and telecom systems, Uzbekistan's committing to prioritizing U.S. technology and EXIM is committed to making those purchases financially viable and strategically impactful."
The priorities in this framework are designed to expand U.S. exports, reinforce supply-chain resilience, and deliver high-quality American jobs, while supporting Uzbekistan's modernization and regional leadership.
ABOUT EXIM:
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation's official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-signs-buy-american-build-future-agreement-uzbekistan-boost-exports-and-support-american
EPA Selects Cleanup Plan for Portion of Lower Neponset River Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Selects Cleanup Plan for Portion of Lower Neponset River Superfund Site
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BOSTON (November 10, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected a cleanup plan for the first mile of the Lower Neponset River Superfund Site, located in Boston and Milton, Massachusetts. This covers the area of the Neponset River from where it merges with the Mother Brook near the Dana Avenue Bridge, to the Tileston and Hollingsworth Dam.
"This represents another great milestone for the Lower
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Selects Cleanup Plan for Portion of Lower Neponset River Superfund Site
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BOSTON (November 10, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected a cleanup plan for the first mile of the Lower Neponset River Superfund Site, located in Boston and Milton, Massachusetts. This covers the area of the Neponset River from where it merges with the Mother Brook near the Dana Avenue Bridge, to the Tileston and Hollingsworth Dam.
"This represents another great milestone for the LowerNeponset River Superfund Site and is a reflection of this administration's priorities to move cleanup activities along swiftly, efficiently and fulfill the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn.
In June 2025, EPA completed an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA). This analysis evaluated cleanup alternatives and presented EPA's recommended cleanup plan to address contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous substances. EPA held a public comment period from June 13 through August 1, 2025, which included a virtual public hearing on July 9, 2025. All public comments were considered before selecting the cleanup plan.
The cleanup plan includes:
* Dredging and excavating contaminated sediment and floodplain soil with total PCB levels exceeding 1 part per million;
* Constructing a permanent cap in the first mile of the river to stabilize and restore the riverbed, minimizing surface water elevation changes, providing habitats, and isolating any remaining contamination in deeper sediment;
* Transporting and disposing of contaminated sediment and soil off-site; and
* Removing the Tileston and Hollingsworth Dam.
Cleanup design will begin in 2026, and construction is anticipated to begin in 2027. The removal action is estimated to take approximately four years to complete.
A copy of the Action Memorandum, which includes EPA's responses to public comments on the EE/CA, can be found here: https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/01/697312 (pdf) (28.7 MB).
Background
The Lower Neponset River Superfund Site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) on March 16, 2022, and is currently identified by EPA as a 3.7-mile stretch of the Neponset River. The Site begins at the point where it merges with the Mother Brook (a tributary to the Neponset River located upstream of Dana Avenue in Hyde Park), extends downstream through City of Boston neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Mattapan, Dorchester, and the Town of Milton, and ends at the Walter Baker Chocolate Dam (located upstream of Adams Street in Dorchester/Milton).
Industrialization and subsequent urbanization began in the Neponset River Basin as early as the 1630s. Recognized as the second watershed to be industrialized in the United States, the Neponset River has a complex history of contamination from both point and non-point sources. Used historically for hydro-powered factories, the Neponset River has been home to countless industrial land use ventures, most, if not all, of which likely had outflow and discharge pipes pumping industrial waste directly into the river.
To learn more about EPA's work at the Lower Neponset River Superfund Site, visit: https://www.epa.gov/neponsetriver
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-selects-cleanup-plan-portion-lower-neponset-river-superfund-site
EPA Proposes Changes to Make PFAS Reporting Requirements More Practical and Implementable, Reducing Regulatory Burden
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Proposes Changes to Make PFAS Reporting Requirements More Practical and Implementable, Reducing Regulatory Burden
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal to improve the scope of its p erfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to make them more practical and implementable and reduce unnecessary, or potentially duplicative, reporting requirements for businesses while maintaining
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Proposes Changes to Make PFAS Reporting Requirements More Practical and Implementable, Reducing Regulatory Burden
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal to improve the scope of its p erfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to make them more practical and implementable and reduce unnecessary, or potentially duplicative, reporting requirements for businesses while maintainingthe ability to obtain important use and safety information on PFAS.
In October 2023, the Biden Administration EPA finalized a one-time PFAS reporting and recordkeeping regulation under TSCA section 8(a)(7) that requires manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS in any year between 2011-2022 to report data to EPA related to exposure and any existing environmental and health effects. The rule exemplifies regulatory overreach by imposing a nearly billion-dollar compliance burden on industry without establishing any clear framework for utilizing the collected data or demonstrating how it advances environmental protection goals. The rule's lack of practical implementation standards, evidenced by significant IT system failures and administrative delays, represents poor regulatory design that unnecessarily burdens small businesses and importers while failing to achieve meaningful environmental outcomes.
The proposed changes to improve reporting regulations will support Administrator Zeldin's "Powering the Great American Comeback" initiative by reducing regulatory reporting burdens and providing greater regulatory certainty to industry, resulting in a net reduction in cost while ensuring that EPA receives the PFAS data that are most relevant to the agency. These proposed changes will also deliver on Administrator Zeldin's April 28, 2025, commitment to "implement [TSCA] section 8(a)7 to smartly collect necessary information, as Congress envisioned and consistent with TSCA, without overburdening small businesses and article importers."
"This Biden-era rule would have imposed crushing regulatory burdens and nearly $1 billion in implementation costs on American businesses," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "Today's proposal is grounded in commonsense and the law, allowing us to collect the information we need to help combat PFAS contamination without placing ridiculous requirements on manufacturers, especially the small businesses that drive our country's economy."
The exemptions and modifications that EPA is proposing would maintain important reporting requirements on PFAS while exempting reporting on activities that manufacturers are least likely to know or reasonably determine. The proposed exemptions are:
* PFAS manufactured (including imported) in mixtures or products at concentrations 0.1% or lower;
* Imported articles;
* Certain byproducts;
* Impurities;
* Research and development chemicals; and
* Non-isolated intermediates.
The agency is also proposing technical corrections to clarify what must be reported in certain data fields and to adjust the data submission period.
Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, EPA will accept comments on the proposed changes for 45 days in docket #EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0549 on www.regulations.gov Exit EPA's website. View a prepublication version of this proposal here.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-changes-make-pfas-reporting-requirements-more-practical-and-0
