Perhaps the biggest EPR news to date is the February 6, 2026 decision by the US District Court for the District of Oregon granting the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors Inc. (NAW) a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) pending a decision on the merits.[1] The Oregon
UK Government Launches First PFAS Plan to Address and Mitigate Harmful Impacts
The use of PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals”, is widespread, but certain compounds have been linked to environmental harm and human health impacts.
By Michael D. Green, Julia A. Hatcher, Tom Lee, Hunter J. Kendrick, James Bee, and Toon Dictus
Key Points:
- The UK government’s PFAS Plan is
OSHA Online Reporting Due by March 1st
The March 1st deadline for OSHA online reporting is approaching. Many employers are required to submit workplace injury and illness information electronically. Now is a great time to confirm whether your business needs to report.
Which Employers Are Required to Report?
You are required to complete OSHA online reporting if any of the following apply
Ringing in 2026 with a Look at Newly Effective State Regulation of PFAS in Products
January 1, 2026 was the effective date for a number of state law provisions relating to intentionally added PFAS in certain categories of products. July 1, 2026 will be the effective date for several more. As we have discussed in this blog, many states have restrictions that went into effect before 2026, and several have
NHTSA Automated Vehicle Safety Public Meeting and Comment Period: March 2026
On February 9, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a notice of a public meeting to provide updates on and insights into ongoing activities regarding vehicle automation across NHTSA. The meeting will be held in person and is scheduled to take place all day on March 10, 2026.Continue Reading ›
Third District Denies Rehearing, Modifies Opinion in “Delta Program” DWR Bond Validation Case
In a 7-page Order filed January 28, 2026, the Third District Court of Appeal denied Appellant DWR’s request for rehearing and modified its partially published opinion in Department of Water Resources v. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California et al. / Sierra Club et al. v. Department of Water Resources (previously published at 117 Cal.App.5th 751, and which I previously posted on here), with no change in the judgment. The Order, which can be viewed here, makes mostly minor revisions, such as adding supporting citations, correcting punctuation and typographical errors, and making clarifying corrections in the technical descriptions of certain proposals and Feather River Project components. (Order, at pp. 2-6.) The Order’s most substantive change is its elimination and narrowing of certain dicta in language near the Opinion’s end, regarding hypothetical “problematic” results that may have resulted from a contrary judgment validating DWR’s Bond Resolutions.
When an Agency’s Rationale Isn’t the Real Reason
All environmental practitioners have encountered situations in which they have been convinced that an executive agency is making a decision—a rulemaking, a permit grant or denial, a remedy selection—based on an expressed rationale that does not seem like the real reason.
EPA Proposes to Narrow Scope of Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications – Comment Deadline Looming
- Comment Deadline: February 17, 2026, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, email ([email protected]), or mail. Comments must be submitted in writing and identified with Docket ID No. EPA‑HQ‑OW‑2025‑2929.
- Adoption: Expected in Spring 2026 (subject to comments received).
On January 13, 2026, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule,
Outlook 2026: Mexico Environmental
1. New General Water Law and Reform of the National Water Law — Recent changes in water legislation will give rise to potential impacts on the investment landscape and opportunities for infrastructure and water efficiency initiatives. However, regulatory challenges may also arise, potentially affecting operating costs, increasing investment risks, or even impacting the viability of
What to Watch For in 2026: A New Wave of PFAS Product Restrictions and Reporting Requirements Go Into Effect, with Many More Expected in 2027 and Beyond
Chemical manufacturers, product makers, and product retailers are gearing up for new state-level restrictions on products sold in stores and online that contain per- and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A total of 18 states have PFAS product restrictions ranging from bans to reporting to labeling requirements. The laws target primarily food packaging, cosmetics, cookware, and textiles, but