New Office Name for EPA’s OSWER

Tuesday’s Federal Register, 80FR/77577, contained a notice that EPA has issued a final rule to change the name of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to the Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM).  This action is being taken to more accurately reflect the nature of the work that this office does to protect human health and the environment.  This rule change was effective on December 15, 2015.
In addition, this action amends 40 CFR 1.47 to provide a more complete list of the various land protection and pollution emergency laws that fall under the Office’s authority, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA); the Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA); the Oil Pollution Act (OPA); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); section 311 of the Clean Water Act; and the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act.  This listing merely restates the existing responsibilities of the Office, and does not add to or subtract from those responsibilities.