As leaders around the world gathered at the 28th meeting of Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the Federal Government released details for a number of policy...more
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (“NRECA”) submitted June 23rd comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in its docket addressing Proposed National Emission Standards for...more
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced that proposed amendments to the state’s Clean Energy Standard (CES) were finalized...more
In June 2022, the Supreme Court issued its decision in West Virginia v. EPA, which held that, under the “major questions doctrine,” the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to devise emissions caps based on the...more
Build Back Better No More – Welcome to the Inflation Reduction Act - Starting as a $3.5 trillion legislative proposal to tackle climate change and shore up the social safety net, the Build Back Better Act was eventually...more
The United States Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) issued a May 13th report titled: U.S. Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Rose 6% in 2021 - EIA states that carbon dioxide (“CO2”) emissions increased by 296...more
Find out why knowing the difference between renewable diesel and biodiesel can go a long way in understanding the benefits of each....more
Find out what challenges the natural gas industry faces to construct new pipelines and how these challenges have impacted gas supplies, particularly in the Northeast....more
President Biden’s first move on energy internationally likely will be one of his most unfortunate actions - rejoining the Paris Climate Accords. Unfortunately, he will have no choice, since he has consistently pledged to do...more
Yesterday President Trump announced on Twitter that the U.S. was revoking California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act (CAA) which allowed it to impose stricter tailpipe emission standards than the federal ones. California’s...more
A federal district court has ruled that the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) failed to adequately consider climate change when approving a set of oil and gas leases on public lands in Wyoming. The ruling should be of broader...more
On December 27, EPA proposed to revise the cost finding associated with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) along with the risk and technology review required by the Clean Air Act. (EPA Announcement)....more
Oilfield operators of every size have been busy implementing the Obama Administration’s labor-intensive requirements to detect and repair vapor leaks from well site equipment, often called the Quad Oa requirements, in...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
The DOJ has charged former VW chief exec Martin Winterkorn (and 5 others) with conspiring to defraud the US government in Volkswagen’s “yearslong effort to rig its diesel vehicles to feign compliance with federal emissions...more
U.S. Agencies Agree to Slash Approval Times for Infrastructure Projects - "More than a dozen federal agencies agreed to slash the time needed for environmental reviews and permitting on major infrastructure projects, a...more
Prompted by regulatory changes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding emission standards for locomotives, several railroads and locomotive manufacturers have been working for several years to develop...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in a March 12 Federal Register notice promulgated a final rule which encompassed revisions to the Clean Air Act New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) for the oil...more
A policy memorandum issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) during December 2017 clarifies how the agency will apply and enforce certain facets of the New Source Review regulations following a pair of...more
With complaint piling up, Fannie Mae has decided to stop selling REO properties to Vision Property, the rent-to-own home business that’s been the subject of predatory-lending investigations of late....more
In the initial week of the Trump Administration, a lot has happened and more changes are planned. Here are the highlights from Week One: Confirmation Hearings - Confirmation hearings were conducted for Scott Pruitt...more
NEW REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS - Federal - - Program Requirement Revisions Related to the Public Water System Supervision Programs for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont - EPA is giving notice that...more
California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law last week two controversial anti-climate change bills that will tighten greenhouse gas (GHG) limits by 40% and increase legislative supervision of the California Air Resources...more
Natural Gas - Natural Gas Outlook: U.S. On Track to be Net Exporter Q2 2017: Natural gas production and consumption are expected to rise this year due to increases in natural gas prices and LNG exports, as well as...more
Alabama has joined several other states in a petition filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit seeking to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule regulating emissions standards for certain...more