On March 10, 2026, Environmental Protection Network submitted testimony opposing EPA’s proposal to roll back key safety protections under the Risk Management Program, warning that weakening these safeguards would increase risks to workers, first responders, and the millions of Americans living near chemical facilities. The testimony urges EPA to maintain the stronger accident prevention requirements adopted in 2024.
- Chemical accidents remain a serious risk. Dozens of major accidents occur at facilities covered by EPA’s Risk Management Program each year, affecting workers and nearby communities. Rolling back safety protections effectively accepts this level of risk as normal.
- The 2024 safety improvements were based on real-world experience. EPA inspectors, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, and GAO identified gaps in accident prevention and recommended stronger safeguards—including requirements for high-risk facilities to evaluate safer technologies that could eliminate the most dangerous hazards.
- The proposed rollback shifts risk from companies to communities. By prioritizing reductions in regulatory burden over prevention, the proposal removes key safeguards and planning requirements—potentially increasing risks to workers, first responders, and the millions of Americans who live near chemical facilities.