Recent Updates to Federal Environmental and Natural Resource Regulations
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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association said on Thursday that they had reached an agreement, referred to as the "Clean Truck Partnership," that gives new flexibility for...more
Biden administration prioritizes environmental justice funding without mentioning race, hoping to fend off legal challenge - CNN – February 18 - The Biden administration announced today that 40% of federal funds for climate...more
This Client Alert—Part 2 of an ongoing series—provides an overview of one of EPA’s key objectives in its draft Strategic Plan: Developing resilience and adaptation to climate change impacts. Other alerts in the series can be...more
Right out of the box, the Biden Administration took a decisive stance on the importance of climate costs in agency decision making, returning to Obama-era metrics and values. On his first day in office, President Biden issued...more
Biden orders review and reversal of over 100 Trump administration environmental regulations - The New York Times – January 20 - President Joe Biden this Wednesday recommitted the United States to the Paris climate...more
Each new presidential administration brings with it its own set of policy goals and priorities. While the text of the environmental laws does not change without an act of Congress, agencies within the executive branch have a...more
Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s inauguration on January 20, 2021 as the forty-sixth President of the United States could usher in a sweeping period of environmental regulatory changes vastly eclipsing those of his immediate predecessor...more
Biden picks North Carolina environmental chief to lead EPA - Associated Press – December 17 - President-elect Joe Biden this Thursday selected Michael S. Regan to serve as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental...more
Overview of the current energy mix, and the place in the market of different energy sources - Due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. total energy consumption in 2020 is on pace to decline for a second straight...more
California plans to ban sales of new gas-powered cars in 15 years - The New York Times – September 23 - California plans to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars statewide by 2035, Governor Gavin Newsom announced...more
Air Resources Board mandates big increase in zero-emission trucks - Bullet Los Angeles Times – June 25 - The California Air Resources Board (CARB) last week approved the nation’s toughest clean-air mandate on trucks,...more
Federal court rejects attempt to toss endangered species lawsuit - Bullet The Hill – May 19 - On Monday, Judge Jon Tigar, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, denied the federal...more
California approves ambitious new plan to deal with climate change and sea-level rise - San Francisco Chronicle – February 26 - The state's Ocean Protection Council, the cabinet-level policy body within the California...more
Former PG&E lawyer named new regional EPA chief in California - Los Angeles Times – February 11 - Days after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed its top official in California, Mike Stoker, the agency...more
Climate Change Regulatory Issues & Updates - EPA Releases 2018 Edition of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory - A new version of EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory shows a decline in U.S. total net greenhouse...more
President Donald Trump's Executive Order (EO) entitled "Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth" is a broad directive accomplishing a number of the Trump Administration's energy-related priorities....more
Predictions and Outlook for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) 2017 - 2016 was full of surprises, two of which will drive much of the agenda for OCSPP during 2017. First, Congress...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: With a dramatic change from a progressive democratic to a conservative republican administration, we anticipate that EPA is not only likely to pivot away from an enforcement heavy to a more business...more
EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance recently proposed changes to its National Program Manager (NMP) Guidance that, in part, would revise EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives (“NEIs”) for federal fiscal...more
On June 15, 2015, Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, sent a...more
Mexican Federal Congress Approves Important Constitutional Energy Reform Bill - Energy Legal Blog, December 13, 2013 - As we previously reported, on August 12, 2013, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto...more
In This Issue: Energy & Climate Debate; Congress; Administration; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Interior; Department of Defense; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Federal Energy...more
In This Issue: Environmental and Policy Focus - A conversation with outgoing EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson; A Challenge To Obama's Climate Change Pledge; BLM pulls proposed fracking rules, works on new version; Six Top...more