California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed three bills addressing carbon capture, utilization and storage (“CCUS”) and carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”). Collectively, these bills create a pathway for new regulation of CCUS and CDR projects, enabling them to become part of a solution for the State to meet aggressive carbon reduction / neutrality goals in 2030,
New Study Identifies Over 57,000 Sites “Presumptively Contaminated” with PFAS
A new paper from Northeastern University’s PFAS Project Lab and researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reaches the sobering conclusion that over 57,000 sites in the U.S. have “presumptive contamination” from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). Even more sobering is the authors’ assertion that that number is almost certainly a dramatic
Reflections on Sackett
Dave Ross and Anna Wildeman provide high-level reactions to the Supreme Court’s oral arguments in the Sackett v. EPA case, the latest legal battle in a long-running dispute over the meaning of the phrase “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. They discuss the Court’s surprising focus on a little-known parenthetical in the section 404 program, EPA’s potential reactions to the arguments, and whether anyone can reasonably predict the outcome of the case in what may be the most closely watched environmental decision of the current term.
Reflections on Sackett
Dave Ross and Anna Wildeman provide high-level reactions to the Supreme Court’s oral arguments in the Sackett v. EPA case, the latest legal battle in a long-running dispute over the meaning of the phrase “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. They discuss the Court’s surprising focus on a little-known parenthetical in the section 404 program, EPA’s potential reactions to the arguments, and whether anyone can reasonably predict the outcome of the case in what may be the most closely watched environmental decision of the current term.
EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management Commits to Environmental Justice
Federal agencies continue to roll out plans to address environmental justice issues, which has become a focal point in the Biden administration’s agenda. Now that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is in effect, federal agencies are now able to access more funds to address environmental justice concerns. As discussed in a prior blog
Business and Human Rights: further calls from investors for mandatory UK human rights and environmental due diligence legislation
Investors across the globe are increasingly putting pressure on legislators to mandate human rights and environmental due diligence (“HREDD“). The UK Government has not been immune from such pressure.
As highlighted in our earlier blog post, in early September 2022, a group of 47 companies, investors, business associations and initiatives operating in
Singapore Enhances ESG Ecosystem with Launch of the ESG Impact Hub and ESGenome
Singapore recently launched two ESG initiatives to accelerate the growth of a “vibrant and robust” ESG ecosystem in the city state. The ESG Impact Hub (Hub) and ESGenome were launched on 5 October 2022 and 12 September 2022, respectively.
ESG Impact Hub
Located in Singapore’s central business district, the Hub seeks to
Agricultural Law Weekly Review – Week Ending October 7, 2022
Agricultural Labor: Circuit Court Reinstates Tyson Workers’ COVID-19 Claims Against Employer
On October 3, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion reversing orders from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which dismissed and failed to remand back to Texas state court a complaint filed by
US EPA Launches Initiative to Streamline the Review Process for Certain Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Chemicals
On October 5, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intent to streamline the review process of mixed metal oxides (MMOs). MMOs are a key component in lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric vehicles and other clean energy initiatives, including in semi-conductors, and renewable energy generation and storage, such as in solar cells and wind power turbines.
Washington’s COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Expires October 31, 2022 — Employers Must Continue to Follow HELSA Notice & Reporting Requirements
By Hoorya Ahmad and Patrick Joyce
Seyfarth Synopsis: Washington State’s COVID-19 emergency declaration expires October 31, 2022 but the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) administered by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), and codified at WAC 296-62-602 to -609, will remain in place for the time being