Proposed or New Rules, Policies, and Guidance Affecting Agriculture

Related Information

Rules, Policies, and Guidance of Interest to the Agricultural Community:

Below are rules, policies, and documents that EPA is proposing and has opened for public comment; for which the comment period has closed; or that have been published as final. Comments are solicited from the public before EPA issues final versions.

Initiated Rulemaking

  • Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”; Comment period closes October 9, 2026
    The purpose of this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking is for the 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.

Public Comment Period Open

  • There are no additional open comment periods at this time.

Public Comment Period Closed

  • Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Biosolids; Comment period closed September 4, 2026
    EPA is making available a draft memorandum that would, if finalized, provide guidance to operators of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and related facilities, landowners and farmers, State and Tribal water agencies, and the public on ways to reduce potential risks posed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in biosolids, as well as seeking feedback on potential next steps. The EPA is soliciting public comments on the draft memorandum and next steps for 60 days. This draft guidance memorandum does not have the force and effect of law, nor does it bind the public in any way. This draft guidance memorandum cannot be relied on by any person in litigation against the United States. The intent of draft guidance memorandum is to provide non-binding or voluntary recommendations for how to mitigate risks from PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge and biosolids based on information currently available to the EPA.
  • Isoxaflutole FDMS Posting Memo; Extended comment period closed August 11, 2026
    The EPA received an application from BASF Corporation (BASF), for the registration of the herbicide, isoxaflutole for a new use on isoxaflutole-resistant cotton, and for a geographic expansion of the current registration for use on isoxaflutole-resistant soybean. Isoxaflutole is an HPPD inhibitor that controls broadleaf and grass weed species. The document “Memorandum Supporting Proposed Decision to Approve Registration for the Cotton New Use and Geographic Expansion of Soybean Use of Isoxaflutole” and its supporting documents will be open for public comment from 06/26/2026 to 07/27/2026.
  • Florpyrauxifen-benzyl First Residential Use Posting Memo for Public Participation; Comment period extended to close August 10, 2026
    The Agency received applications from Corteva Agriscience, LLC. for registration of new products containing the herbicide florpyrauxifen-benzyl, for new uses on residential turf, commercial sports/athletic turf, golf courses (tee boxes, fairways, aprons, roughs, and native area), sod farms, ornamental turfgrass, and turfgrass areas in public and private facilities. The document Memorandum Supporting Proposed Decision to Approve Registration for the First Residential Use of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl and its supporting documents will be open for public comment from 06/26/2026 to 08/10/2026.
  • Topramezone Posting Memo for Public Participation; Comment period closed July 27, 2026
    The EPA received an application from BASF Corporation (BASF), for the registration of the herbicide, topramezone, for a new use on genetically modified (GMO) Axant™ Flex topramezone-resistant cotton. Topramezone is a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor that controls broadleaf weeds, including Palmer amaranth and other pigweeds. The document “Memorandum Supporting Proposed Decision to Approve Registration for the Cotton New Use of Topramezone” and its supporting documents will be open for public comment from 06/26/2026 to 07/27/2026.
  • Draft Fungicide Strategy to Reduce Exposure of Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Species and Designated Critical Habitats from the Use of Conventional Agricultural Fungicides; Comment period closed June 29, 2026
    The draft Fungicide Strategy (FS) describes the analyses conducted to estimate exposure and assess 1) the potential impacts, both directly and indirectly, of a fungicide to listed species groups and 2) the extent of mitigations needed to reduce population-level impacts on the listed species groups. The draft FS is informed by a mitigation support document that includes various measures in a menu to reduce exposure to listed species from spray drift, runoff, and erosion. These mitigation measures apply to conventional agricultural pesticides covered by both the Insecticide Strategy and Herbicide Strategy. Finally, the draft FS provides information on identifying the geographic extent of mitigation and describes the implementation plan for the Strategy.
  • Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum for Formaldehyde; Comment period closed February 2, 2026 
    In December 2025, EPA released an Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum for Formaldehyde for public comment. This Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum does not change EPA’s January 2025 determination that formaldehyde presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health, specifically to workers and consumers, under its conditions of use (COUs) but further supports the scientific rigor of the underlying information used to support the determination. For additional information visit EPA’s Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde page.
  • Pesticide Tolerance; Exemptions, Petitions, Revocations, etc.: Chlorpyrifos; Comment period closed March 24, 2025
    In the Federal Register of December 10, 2024, EPA issued a proposed rule to revoke all tolerances for residues of chlorpyrifos, except for those associated with the use of chlorpyrifos on the following crops: alfalfa, apple, asparagus, tart cherry, citrus, cotton, peach, soybean, strawberry, sugar beet, and spring and winter wheat. The proposal also addresses the request to revoke all chlorpyrifos tolerances contained in the September 12, 2007, petition submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA).

Final Rule Published

  • Pesticides; Agricultural Worker Protection Standard; Reconsideration of the Application Exclusion Zone Amendments; Final Rule published October 4, 2024; Effective December 3, 2024
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is finalizing revisions to the application exclusion zone (AEZ) requirements in the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). EPA has determined that several aspects of the AEZ provisions, such as those regarding the applicability of the AEZ and distance determination criteria, should be revised to reinstate previous requirements that better protect public health and limit exposure for those who may be near ongoing pesticide applications. To restore these protections, EPA is finalizing the AEZ rule proposed on March 13, 2023, as proposed without change.

Notice Published

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Last updated on September 17, 2026