EPA Allows Dirty Burns for Disaster Cleanup Rush
Published Date: 8/26/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA is letting certain commercial and industrial incinerators, including air curtain incinerators, be used temporarily to burn disaster debris without following all usual rules. This helps speed up cleanup after emergencies and affects businesses running these incinerators. The change is immediate but open for public feedback, making disaster recovery faster and smoother without extra costs right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary Disaster Use for CISWI Units
If you operate a commercial or industrial solid waste incinerator (CISWI), EPA now allows temporary use of those incinerators to burn disaster debris without complying with the usual Clean Air Act section 129 requirements. This authorization explicitly includes air curtain incinerators and mirrors the temporary-use provisions already applied to other solid waste incinerators. The change is effective immediately as an interim final rule while EPA accepts public comments.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19072, Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Clean Air Act Section 111
The EPA is proposing to cancel all greenhouse gas rules for fossil fuel power plants, saying the law doesn’t let them regulate these emissions for climate reasons. This change affects power plants across the U.S. and could impact future pollution limits and costs. Comments on this proposal are open until November 2, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
2026-19071, Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units
The EPA is rolling back most of the 2024 rules that limited carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants. This change affects coal and gas plants by easing some strict limits on emissions and carbon capture technology. The new rules kick in on November 16, 2026, potentially saving money for power plants but raising questions about pollution control.
2026-18317, Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”
The purpose of this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking is for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army ("the agencies") to supplement and seek additional comment on certain aspects of an earlier proposal, published on November 20, 2025, to revise the regulations defining the scope of waters federally covered under the Clean Water Act in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. As stated in the agencies' November 20, 2025 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the agencies intend for this rulemaking to provide greater regulatory certainty and increase Clean Water Act program predictability and consistency by clarifying the definition of "waters of the United States." After consideration of the public comments received on the NPRM, the agencies are issuing this notice to supplement the NPRM with additional regulatory options on certain aspects of the proposed rule.
2026-14112, Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions for SCR-Equipped Diesel Engines
Starting with model year 2027, the EPA is updating rules for big truck engines to make sure they last longer and pollute less. They’re also letting engine makers pay penalties if their engines don’t meet standards, and tightening rules for special pollution-control systems on diesel engines. These changes affect truck and engine makers and kick in soon, with public feedback due by August 29, 2026.
2026-13667, Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans
The EPA wants to give states more freedom to decide how much public input is needed when approving small air pollution sources or changes. This means local air agencies can tailor public participation to fit their community’s needs while still protecting air quality. If you’re involved in air permits, watch for comment deadlines and possible virtual hearings this summer!
2026-13263, Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems
The EPA is rolling out the sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) to check for new, sneaky chemicals in public drinking water. Big water systems serving 3,300+ people and some smaller ones will test for 30 different contaminants, including certain PFAS and pesticides, to keep our water safe. Comments and feedback are open until late August 2026, and the EPA will host fun online meetings to chat about the plan!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-16357, Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Review and Renewal of Eligibility for Application-Specific Allowances
The EPA is updating the rules for who gets special permission to make or bring in certain chemicals called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Six groups that currently have this special access will find out if they keep it, with new rules starting in 2026. These changes help control HFC use, support cleaner tech, and could affect businesses’ costs and plans.
Next: 2025-16353, Safety Zone; Patapsco River, Baltimore, MD
The Coast Guard is setting up a safety zone in the Patapsco River near Baltimore to keep boats away from a dangerous submerged hatch cover from the M/V W SAPPHIRE. This zone helps protect rescue teams and keeps everyone safe by stopping unauthorized boats from entering. If you want to enter, you’ll need special permission, and this rule kicks in right away with no extra costs.