"EPA employees responsible for lead dust hazard standards are back at the office this week, despite the government shutdown, to ensure the agency can meet a court-ordered deadline.

But the other deadlines for rulemakings included in settlements with environmental groups could be pushed back as many include language allowing delays in the event of a government shutdown.

During his confirmation hearing yesterday, acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler told senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee that staff have "charted out what the court-ordered deadlines" are to figure out which staff have to work unpaid during the shutdown."

Ariel Wittenberg and Niina Heikkinen report for Greenwire January 17, 2019. [2]