The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently released for public comment a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would, if adopted, comprehensively update its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) renewable energy...more
Key Takeaways -
• What Happened: The Biden Administration took a significant step toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from mobile sources by issuing a non-binding “Executive Order on Strengthening American...more
Key Takeaways What Happened:
Earlier this year, the European Commission adopted a series of amendments that expanded the scope of anti-circumvention provisions to ecodesign regulations for a number of product categories....more
On February 8, 2021, the D.C. Circuit issued an order granting the Biden administration’s motion to stay litigation over Part 1 of the Trump-era Safer Affordable Fuel Efficient Vehicles (SAFE) Rule. The order was issued in...more
On November 23, 2020, EPA issued a prepublication notice regarding (i) the availability of EPA’s revised enforcement policy for vehicle and engine tampering and aftermarket defeat devices and (ii) EPA’s request for comment on...more
Key Takeaways:
What Happened: EPA settled with Electrolux for nearly $7 million in connection with the import of household appliances with antimicrobial-treated air filters that were not registered under the federal...more
Key Takeaways -
• What Happened: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a “Dear Manufacturer” letter encouraging vehicle and engine manufacturers to voluntarily self-disclose regulatory violations in a variety of...more
Five major automobile manufacturers – BMW of North America, Ford, Honda, Volkswagen Group of America, and Volvo – and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently entered into voluntary framework agreements to reduce...more
15 states and the District of Columbia announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this week to support sales of electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, such as delivery trucks, school buses, long-haul trucks, and...more
Key Takeaways -
• Regulatory Action: Vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards will increase in stringency by 1.5 percent per year from Model Years (MY) 2021-2026, as compared to MY 2020 levels. But this...more
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the hosts of the Discovery Channel’s Diesel Brothers show must pay more than $850,000 for violating the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) tampering and defeat device prohibitions. While U.S....more
On September 18, 2019, President Trump announced on Twitter that his administration was “revoking California’s Federal Waiver on emissions in order to produce far less expensive cars for the consumer, while at the same time...more
In advance of the Trump Administration’s plans to move forward with less-restrictive standards for light duty vehicles, four major automakers have negotiated an agreement–in-principle with the California Air Resources Board...more
EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) Susan Bodine recently issued a new policy document titled “Enhancing Effective Partnerships Between the EPA and the States in Civil...more
On June 7, 2019, the U.S. EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) finalized its National Compliance Initiatives (NCIs) for FY2020-FY2023. The NCIs represent EPA’s enforcement and compliance priorities. ...more
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Division recently issued updated guidance for white-collar prosecutors regarding the “Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs” (the “Guidance”). The Guidance is intended to...more
U.S. EPA Clean Air Act mobile source enforcement is on the upswing. Following a recent settlement with an aftermarket automotive parts manufacturer, Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and...more
On August 2, 2018, the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) and the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued two related, proposed rulemakings, which together comprise...more
EPA’s Office of Transportation Air Quality recently issued a report titled “EPA and Port Everglades Partnership: Emission Inventories and Reduction Strategies” (“the Port Everglades Report”). The Port Everglades Report comes...more
DC High Court Adopts Daubert Approach to Expert Testimony -
In a direct victory for mobile phone manufacturers and service providers, and with implications for any other case involving expert testimony in the District of...more
12/12/2016
/ Admissibility ,
Contamination ,
Daubert Standards ,
Drinking Water ,
Evidence ,
Expert Testimony ,
Manufacturers ,
Mobile Devices ,
Preemption ,
Take-Home Exposure ,
Toxic Exposure
On September 22, 2016, EPA issued a report titled “National Port Strategy Assessment: Reducing Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases at U.S. Ports” (the “Assessment”).[1] According to EPA, the Assessment supports the goal of...more
A little over a year ago, on January 1, 2015, China’s amended Environmental Protection Law (“EPL”) went into effect, representing a significant aspect of China’s concerted effort to place greater emphasis on environmental...more
3/10/2016
/ Attorney's Fees ,
China ,
Chinese Environmental Protection Laws ,
Citizen Suits ,
Corporate Liability ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Damages ,
Environmental Assessments ,
Environmental Remediation Costs ,
Jurisdiction ,
NGOs ,
Public Interest
This month’s tracker reflects key initiatives from December 15, 2015 – January 15, 2016.
Happy New Year! Although activity typically slows down over the holidays, the New Year is off to a fast start, signaling what will...more
After a fall busy with climate change initiatives in advance of the Paris negotiations, recent proposals reflect a resurgence of waste and product take-back initiatives. Key among these are the repeal and revision of Peru’s...more
On December 9, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register Notice announcing the launch of the eDisclosure portal, a centralized web-based system for receiving and automatically...more