The Legal and Practical Challenges of California's Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation
Nota Bene Episode 101: Catching up with Global Climate Regulation with Nico van Aelstyn
Schoenbrod: SCOTUS Ruling Helps EPA Deal With a "Stupid Statute"
On April 25, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") finalized four rules to regulate pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants. EPA's stated goal was to provide a framework on which power plants can rely for...more
On April 25, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed four final rules representing multi-media regulation (air, water, waste, climate) for the utility sector. Individually, each rule would have been notable for...more
A coalition of 20 Democratic AGs filed a motion to intervene in defense of the EPA’s Oil and Gas Methane Rule in a lawsuit filed by 25 Republican AGs who challenge the rule. In their motion, the Democratic AGs assert that the...more
On July 25, 2023, Representative Ted Lieu and 19 other Democratic lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting that the Department of Justice...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to update, strengthen, and expand the standards proposed on November 15, 2021, which require reduced emissions...more
Although ethanol is one of the earliest biotechnologies, it wasn’t until the energy crisis of the 1970s that ethanol was widely used as an additive to gasoline. Back then, concerns about the price of fuel and the impact of...more
On March 29, 2022, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, supported by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tabled Canada’s new 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan describes the existing and new measures...more
On March 29, 2022, the Government of Canada released the first of a series of emissions reduction plans, entitled "2030 Emissions Reduction Plan – Canada's Next Steps for Clean Air and a Strong Economy" (the ERP) under the...more
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a proposed rule under the Clean Act intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollutants from crude oil and natural gas operations...more
After years of attempts with varying success to regulate methane emissions from new oil and gas wells, the Biden administration has shifted strategy in proposing a regulatory program covering both new and existing oil and...more
The California Air Resources Board ("CARB") is conducting public workshops during the fall of 2021 as part of its planning for the next Climate Change Scoping Plan, which will lay out strategies for achieving California's...more
Over April 22nd and 23rd, the Biden administration hosted 40 world leaders in a climate summit coinciding with Earth Day. The leaders announced a variety of pledges and ambitions relating to curbing greenhouse gas emissions...more
On his first day in office on January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order titled, “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” (the Order). The Order...more
EPA chief challenges California effort to mandate zero emission vehicles in 2035 - Bullet Reuters – September 28 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Monday questioned...more
CARB Finalizes Amendments to At-Berth Vessel Rules - On August 27, 2020, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted new emission reductions requirements for At-Berth Vessels. These regulations will require...more
U.S. Government’s Continued Focus on Large Ship Air Emissions - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the U.S. Coast Guard (“USCG”) continue to signal interest in addressing air pollution from large ships...more
CARB Continuing Roll-Out of Revised Regulations to Reduce Emissions from Ocean-Going Vessels in California Ports - On December 5, 2019, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a public hearing in Oakland,...more
This is the first in a series of posts to provide the latest on environmental and legal developments affecting oil and gas operations and development and other industries in Los Angeles and adjacent counties, as well as the...more
February 22, 2019 marked the deadline by which bills could be introduced for the first half of the 2019-2020 California Legislative Session. More than 1,800 Assembly Bills and nearly 800 Senate bills were introduced; among...more
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Proposes Amendments to its Cap-and-Trade Program - On September 4, 2018, CARB proposed amendments to its greenhouse gas (“GHG”) cap-and-trade program to implement the changes required...more
Irony abounds as the new Acting Administrator at EPA last Tuesday announced historic progress under the Clean Air Act even while the Administration works to roll back a number of Clean Air Act rules. ...more
California Air Districts Begin Task of Implementing the AB 617 Best Available Retrofit Control Technology Requirements - AB 617, a bill adopted by the California Legislature in 2017 to address criteria air pollutants and...more
Earlier this week, on April 30, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quietly modified its source determination test that is used to determine whether emissions from nearby and closely related sources should be...more
BAAQMD Developing Rules to Regulate Methane Emission - The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (“BAAQMD”), as part of its Methane Strategy, is pursuing rules to address methane emissions from several source categories....more
Trump Delivers a Mixed Message on His National Security Approach - "In another shift from his predecessor, Mr. Trump's strategy does not recognize the changing climate as a threat to national security. The document instead...more