Focus
California releases list of more than 4,000 companies required to begin reporting under new climate disclosure laws
ESG Today – September 26
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released a list of more than 4,000 companies that may be required to comply with the state’s new climate reporting laws mandating disclosures on climate-related risks and opportunities and, for some companies, on value chain greenhouse gas emissions as well. The regulations, SB 253 and SB 261, were approved by Governor Newsom in 2023 and signed into law in October 2024. CARB noted that the list is preliminary and may not include all companies covered by the new climate-related reporting laws and that it is a company’s responsibility to report under the regulations even if they are not included on the list. Please see our recent alert for more information on SB 253 and SB 261, including reporting requirements and penalties for noncompliance.
News
EPA moves to relax rules on climate super pollutants
The New York Times - September 30
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this Tuesday announced plans to relax a Biden-era rule that requires grocery stores, air-conditioning companies, semiconductor plants, and others to sharply and rapidly reduce hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, powerful greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment. HFCs, which are commonly referred to as super pollutants, are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming the planet. EPA argues the Biden administration’s plan for cutting the production and consumption of HFCs, which aimed for an 85 percent reduction by 2036, did not give companies enough time to meet the rule’s deadlines. The public will have 45 days to comment on the proposal once it appears in the Federal Register. EPA said there would be a virtual public hearing on the plans before changes are finalized.
Sephora USA lands $775,000 fine over ‘improper hazardous waste management’
Cosmetics Business – October 1
Sephora USA has been hit with a $775,000 fine over “improper hazardous waste management” in Sacramento. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office filed a civil enforcement action following an investigation into the waste generated by the retailer’s operations, alleging that Sephora improperly handled waste that met the definitions of hazardous or medical waste under California law. The waste consisted largely of damaged, returned, or expired items.
Still eyeing Superfund designation, Supervisors request state funds for Tijuana River pollution study
Coronado Times – October 2
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on September 30 voted in favor of seeking $1.4 million from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board to study pollution related to the decades-long Tijuana sewage crisis. The goal of the study is to convince EPA to declare the river valley a Superfund site. In January, the agency declined to investigate the area, saying there was insufficient evidence of its need.
Texas firm proposes major change in California offshore oil project amid mounting troubles
Los Angeles Times – September 30
Facing mounting legal troubles and regulatory hurdles, Sable Offshore Corp., the firm trying to restart offshore oil production along Santa Barbara’s coast, is considering a plan that would keep the project entirely in federal waters — a move that appears designed to avoid further California oversight. The company announced on Monday that it has started to pursue an option that would utilize an “offshore floating and treatment vessel” to treat and transport crude oil, instead of relying on a network of pipelines for which the company still needs some key approvals to operate, marking a shift in Sable's push to bring the pipelines back online.
Trump administration opens more land for coal mining, offers $625M to boost coal-fired power plants
Associated Press – September 29
The Trump administration said on Monday that it will open 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and provide $625 million to recommission or modernize coal-fired power plants. Actions by the Energy and Interior departments and the EPA follow executive orders Trump issued in April to revive coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that has long been shrinking amid environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas. The new law also mandates increased availability for coal mining on federal lands and streamlines federal reviews of coal leases.
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