Plastic
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EPA Declines to Add Microplastics to Proposed UCMR 6
On July 1, 2026, the EPA issued its long-awaited proposed Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (“UCMR 6”). Despite two petitions urging their inclusion, the agency decided not to add microplastics to the list of contaminants that public water systems will be required to monitor during the 2028–2030 sample collection period. The Petitions The EPA’s proposal… Continue reading
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Beyond Microbeads: States Target Plastic Glitter in Personal Care Products
On October 21, 2025, a bill was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives (HB 4175) that would prohibit the sale of personal care products containing “nonbiodegradable plastic glitter” after December 31, 2029. The bill defines “nonbiodegradable plastic glitter” as “a decorative material, consisting of reflective particles of one or more colors that are less… Continue reading
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Inclusion of Microplastics in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule?
According to a Law360 article, U.S. EPA said in a statement to Law360 that it’s reviewing a November 2024 petition from 175 environmental groups to include microplastics in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The SDWA requires the EPA to create a list of up to… Continue reading