California, a leader in strong environmental policy, has introduced a bill that would restore reporting requirements for toxic chemicals to pre-U.S. EPA rollback threshold levels. As the federal government weakens toxic waste regulation, states are taking charge of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and prioritizing the protection of their residents. The California Toxic Release Inventory Program Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill 833) maintains the previous level of reporting and prevents the federal changes from impacting the state program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently called for further study of a substance found in rocket fuel before regulation of the contaminant can occur. A Senate champion of environmental protections criticized the decision, which is the latest delay in a regulatory policy EPA has been developing since 1998.

On April 4, President George W. Bush used a recess appointment to make Susan Dudley the head of the White House's regulatory policy office. Dudley's new position will afford her great power over the federal regulatory process. The appointment comes despite strident opposition from public interest groups concerned about her views on regulation. The recess appointment of Dudley, along with that of other controversial officials, has also provoked anger in the Senate and raised questions about the constitutionality of the method.