The Greater Houston Partnership’s new Energy Transition Strategy report makes an economic case that the Houston region is poised to lead the energy transition, articulating an industry-driven vision that builds on the City of...more
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, federal and local governments have adopted varying moratoria on evictions, enacted as emergency legislative protections for tenants facing eviction. The federal moratorium on eviction,...more
In a closely watched 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sided against the challengers to the eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping a stay in place that leaves the...more
Late last week a federal district court judge for the District of Columbia held that the nationwide eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) went beyond the agency’s statutory...more
A federal judge in Texas has declared the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium unconstitutional, holding that Article I’s power to regulate interstate commerce and enact laws necessary and...more
Be proactive in considering and protecting potentially applicable attorney-client and work product privileges.
Communications during and following crisis should always be examined through a lens of compassion....more
Last week, President Biden released a fact sheet summarizing a proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package, which promises to have a broad reaching impact on U.S. businesses.
The proposal includes a $15 billion grant...more
1/21/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Budget Reconciliation ,
Clean Energy ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Economic Stimulus ,
Educational Institutions ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Popular ,
Public Utility ,
Relief Measures ,
Sick Leave ,
Small Business ,
Small Business Loans ,
Technology Sector ,
Tenants ,
Vaccinations ,
Venture Capital
The incoming Biden Administration promises a more nationalized approach to combatting the COVID-19 public health crisis, plus a large economic stimulus response focused on unemployment, paid leave, state and local government...more
11/12/2020
/ Biden Administration ,
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Economic Stimulus ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Masks ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
Paid Leave ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Popular ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Public Schools ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
Telemedicine ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Virus Testing ,
World Health Organization
The major policy differences between President Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden on regulations governing energy and the environment could have major impacts on the energy transition.
Former Vice President Biden, if...more
10/22/2020
/ Automotive Industry ,
Biofuel ,
Bureau of Land Management ,
Donald Trump ,
Economic Growth ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
FERC ,
Joe Biden ,
Net Zero ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paris Agreement ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Fuel Standard
From mask-wearing to physical separation to staggered schedules and crowding-related transit incentives, implementing these guidelines may reshape office life.
Updated CDC guidelines provide information for minimizing the...more
The rapid spread of the coronavirus has generated new interest in the regulation of medical waste.
The COVID-19 crisis is generating a significant amount of regulated medical waste....more
Only a week after introducing his plan to reopen the Texas economy, Governor Abbott announced two more waves of business reopenings to begin on May 8 and May 18.
Hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tanning salons, and...more
Texas charges forward with phased reopening plan commencing May 1, 2020.
Retail, restaurants, and movie theaters are now permitted to operate at limited capacity, with plans to expand operating capacity and add another...more
5/4/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Golf Courses ,
Governor Abbott ,
Libraries ,
Movie Theaters ,
Museums ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Retailers ,
Shopping Malls ,
Texas ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
Pandemic-related work stoppages and delays are affecting both field and non-field work at Superfund sites.
COVID-19 is impacting Superfund site investigations and response activities.
...more
In landmark Arco decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that state courts have jurisdiction to hear state law claims that involve sites with ongoing federal cleanup actions.
CERCLA does not strip state courts of...more
The latest iteration of the federal Critical Infrastructure Guidance expands the scope of critical workers a second time in less than a month, evidencing the continued fluidity of the rules that govern essential critical...more
The CDC sets higher safety standards for essential businesses, while guiding the strategy for all employers as businesses look to their future.
New CDC guidance allows essential workers to remain on the front lines even if...more
4/16/2020
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Construction Project ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare ,
Masks ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Social Distancing ,
Workplace Safety
Governor Edwards extends his stay-at-home order through April 30, 2020.
Now extended through April 30, Louisiana’s stay-at-home order directs everyone in Louisiana to stay at home unless performing an “essential activity.”...more
Governor Kemp orders Georgia residents and visitors to shelter in place and limit social interaction for 10 days.
By executive order, Georgia Governor Kemp issued a statewide 10-day shelter-in-place order, from April 3,...more
4/8/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Car Rentals ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Court Closures ,
Essential Functions ,
Eviction ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreclosure ,
GA Supreme Court ,
Governor Kemp ,
Mayors ,
Moratorium ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Public Health Emergency ,
School Closures ,
Shelter-In-Place ,
State and Local Government ,
State of Emergency
Gov. Whitmer strengthens her “stay home, stay safe” order and prohibits discharge, discipline, and retaliation against workers who stay home.
Gov. Whitmer defines quarantine periods and prohibits discharge, discipline, and...more
Aiming to protect public health within a large and diverse geography and an independent-minded culture, Texas responds to the COVID-19 pandemic with an evolving patchwork of state and local social distancing orders.
To date,...more
4/8/2020
/ Banks ,
Business Closures ,
Business Interruption ,
CARES Act ,
Compliance ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Loans ,
Federal Reserve ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Fines ,
Health Care Providers ,
Lenders ,
Nonprofits ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Payroll Taxes ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Small Business ,
Social Distancing ,
Tax Relief ,
Texas
The April 3 State Health Officer order combines the state’s definition of essential activities with the federal definition of essential workforce.
Alabama mandates residents stay home except for defined “essential...more
Environmental agencies are responding with updated compliance and enforcement policies.
Temporary environmental enforcement discretion and forbearance policies can provide relief for companies and individuals unable to...more
EPA existing guidance provides some conceptual anchoring for informing evolving risk management considerations.
- Regulated parties face disruption of their ability to comply with environmental, health & safety laws due...more
The Coronavirus response is testing the limits of overlapping jurisdiction in the public health arena.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local governments with sometimes overlapping jurisdiction are overlaying a quilt of...more