On July 9, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to its efforts to implement California’s landmark climate disclosure laws, SB 253 (requiring reporting of GHG emissions) and SB 261 (requiring disclosure of climate-related financial risks). Although draft implementing regulations are not anticipated before December 2025, public and private companies subject to the laws’ requirements face their first compliance deadlines beginning January 1, 2026.

On June 23, 2025 the Council of the EU, which represents the 27 EU Member States, agreed on its negotiating mandate for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD”) omnibus simplification.

This follows the European Commission’s omnibus proposal from February and is the next step in the EU’s legislative

On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed AB 130 and SB 131 into immediately effective law as budget trailer bills, marking a historic effort to accelerate housing production and to reform the CEQA review process that has been stifling housing and other essential projects across California. These landmark laws effect substantial changes intended to streamline the approval process for infill housing and essential infrastructure projects by establishing clearer timelines, reducing procedural hurdles, and expanding CEQA exemptions tailored to support sustainable development. While AB 130 largely focuses on improving and clarifying the entitlement process for housing projects, SB 131 adds CEQA exemptions and streamlining for a diverse set of projects and actions.

National Energy Policy: Department of Energy Revises NEPA Regulations
On June 30, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) published an interim rule removing its current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and issuing new guidelines. NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare environmental impact statements before approving major projects. This rule would remove NEPA obligations for

On July 3, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a final rule revising its regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to remove references to the recently rescinded regulations implementing NEPA originally promulgated in 1978 by the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). On the same day, FERC issued an order adopting two categorical exclusions under NEPA for certain hydropower-related activities.

When a responsible party agrees to clean up a contaminated site under many programs, the government often demands that it provide financial assurance for the completion of the work. When hazardous substances will remain on the site, the site may require response in perpetuity. Can one specify an amount of financial assurance to secure the forever cleanup? Earlier this spring, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court considered that question in a case involving cleanup of a site in Ford City. See PennEnvironment v. Department of Environmental Protection, No. 566 C.D. 2024 (Pa. Commw. Ct. Mar. 11, 2025).