Will there be flexibility with regard to public meetings as part of the Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) approval process since public meetings are prohibited in a lot of states due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency?

Yes, EPA has issued interim guidance to address this issue. The interim guidance recommends that EPA Regions use virtual alternatives, where feasible, in lieu of in-person public meetings, site visits, and other facility-related face-to-face public interactions. The guidance further recommends that Regions should not hold in-person public interactions, consistent with current federal, state, tribal and local COVID-19 guidance on events and mass gatherings as well as social distancing.

Regulators should check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest federal guidance, and maintain awareness of the most current guidance from state, local, and tribal public health and governmental officials. Read through the interim PCB public involvement guidance here.

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