EPA recently finalized the HFC Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Rule, which imposes strict requirements on industries relying on HFC-based refrigeration systems. Prior to the Biden administration leaving office, EPA...more
The Trump administration is expected to take quick and decisive action to weaken the IRA once he takes office.
Trump’s vow to end delays in federal drilling permits and leases for oil and gas production could benefit...more
1/17/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Methane ,
NEPA ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paris Agreement ,
Permits ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Trump Administration
With a renewed focus on domestic energy production and regulatory reform, the incoming administration signals significant shifts in U.S. energy and climate priorities.
The incoming Trump Administration will prioritize...more
12/19/2024
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Costs ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Export Bans ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Grants ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Incentives ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Infrastructure ,
Keystone XL Pipeline ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Minerals ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paris Agreement ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Fuel ,
Solar Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ,
Trump Administration ,
UNFCCC ,
Wind Power
On May 20, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
The listing does not include a designation of critical habitat....more
The rules address the listing process for critical species and habitat designations, as well as protections for threatened species.
In a reversal, the rules also revise the ESA Section 7 interagency consultation process...more
Eight states are currently considering legislation that would require reductions in the carbon intensity of transportation fuel sold in the state, which would substantially increase the demand for renewable fuel and...more
Beginning April 12, 2024, USFWS will offer a general permit application for incidental take of bald and golden eagles for wind energy and power line projects.
The general permit option will provide an alternative to...more
The EPA issued a final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule that announces the biofuel volume targets for 2023 – 2025 and provides a first look into the EPA’s plans for implementing the program moving forward.
The RFS...more
7/14/2023
/ Biofuel ,
Biomass ,
Clean Water Act ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy Act ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Final Rules ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Infrastructure ,
Renewable Fuel ,
USDA
California has tremendous offshore wind resources and ambitious offshore power goals, but the uncertain rules and regimes for development have delayed implementation of projects.
The California Energy Commission (CEC)...more
6/15/2023
/ BOEM ,
Bureau of Safety and Envirnonmental Enforcement ,
California ,
CEQA ,
Clean Energy ,
Coast Guard ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Historic Preservation ,
National Marine Fisheries Service ,
NEPA ,
Offshore Lease ,
Offshore Wind ,
Outer Continental Shelf ,
Renewable Energy ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
US Fish and Wildlife Service ,
Wind Power
Ratification of the Kigali Amendment formally commits the U.S. to a global effort to significantly reduce production and use of HFCs and reinforces the aggressive domestic HFC phasedown begun last year by the AIM...more
EPA proposes new emissions control requirements for new sources and existing sources and aims to reduce methane emissions by 74 percent by 2030.
Regulations would require newly constructed oil and gas production facilities...more
Businesses are encouraged to provide input on EPA’s HFC allowance allocation process during the forthcoming public comment period.
To achieve the objectives of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM), which...more
Industries impacted by the AIM Act’s HFC phasedown must prepare to address the costs and other challenges of complying with a new and emerging regulatory framework.
The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act)...more
EPA existing guidance provides some conceptual anchoring for informing evolving risk management considerations.
- Regulated parties face disruption of their ability to comply with environmental, health & safety laws due...more
Meant to enhance fairness and transparency in federal administrative enforcement, the new presidential EOs will significantly affect the practice of administrative law.
Two recent Executive Orders will curtail use of...more
11/26/2019
/ Administrative Agencies ,
Administrative Procedure Act ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Executive Orders ,
Fairness Standard ,
Guidance Documents ,
Notice and Comment ,
Notice Requirements ,
OMB ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Transparency ,
Trump Administration
EPA incentivizes new owners to conduct compliance audits by offering penalty forgiveness for violations found.
EPA’s newest enforcement proposal offers companies in the oil and gas production sector a valuable opportunity...more
5/25/2018
/ Acquisitions ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Environmental Liability ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Internal Audit Functions ,
Mergers ,
Oil & Gas ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Risk Assessment ,
Storage Tanks
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) required the compiling of a national register of chemicals that were manufactured in or imported into the United States for a non-exempt commercial purpose, and the first TSCA Inventory...more
Trump Administration officials followed up on the President’s June 1 announcement of U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord by announcing that the Administration was reviewing U.S. participation in ICAO’s global...more
6/28/2017
/ Air Pollution ,
Aircraft ,
Aviation Industry ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Air Act ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
ICAO ,
Pollution Control ,
Transportation Industry ,
Trump Administration
A one-page memorandum from Attorney General Jeff Sessions could cause significant changes to how settling defendants can use supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) in settling Department of Justice (DOJ) environmental...more
The 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA or the Act), modified Section 8(b) of the statute to require the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate each chemical substance on the...more
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) released a draft rule in February of this year proposing a new standard for reducing GHG emissions in new and in-production commercial aircraft. In the wake of the proposed...more
The Obama administration took two major steps in implementing its comprehensive climate change strategy this month, setting first-ever methane emissions standards for new, reconstructed and modified sources and simultaneously...more
6/17/2016
/ Clean Air Act ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fracking ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Methane ,
New Regulations ,
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) ,
Obama Administration ,
Oil & Gas ,
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
On June 7, 2016, the Senate passed a revised version of the “Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act” (S. 697), which the House of Representatives had already approved, to enact sweeping amendments to the...more
A quarter mile is a common distance used for horse racing, drag racing, and track and field sprints. It is now also the farthest distance at which U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will consider two emission sources...more
EPA has made reducing the risk of accidental releases of hazardous chemicals at industrial and chemical facilities one of its top enforcement priorities for 2017 to 2019. This increased enforcement focus on industrial...more