In a departure from past jurisprudence, a recent DC Circuit decision questioned whether the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) had the legal authority to issue key regulations under the National Environmental...more
Clients regulated by, or who have contracts with government agencies regulated by, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) should be aware of a major, recent court decision. On November 12, 2024, the D.C. Circuit Court...more
In a surprise monumental decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has no authority to issue regulations implementing NEPA and that CEQ’s NEPA...more
D.C. Circuit majority opinion that CEQ regulations constitute ultra vires action should be considered dicta if the decision is allowed to stand. On November 12, 2024, the D.C. Circuit, in a split 2-1 decision in Marin...more
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) lacks statutory authority to issue binding regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). While the decision does not invalidate any actions...more
The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and Animal Legal Defense Fund (collectively “CBD”) filed an October 17th Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”) challenging the issuance of...more