Nearing the end of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, on June 11, 2025, the Louisiana Legislature passed Senate Bill No. 244 (“SB 244”), which brings significant changes to Louisiana’s oilfield site remediation statute, commonly known as “Act 312” (found at La. R.S. § 30:29). Act 312 applies to cases where environmental damage is alleged from historical
Supreme Court Allows the IRS Seizure of Unrelated Refunds to Cut Off a Taxpayer’s Right to Tax Court
A new Supreme Court decision creates potential traps for the unwary and gives the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) nationwide power to leave a taxpayer without a remedy to contest certain collection actions. Importantly, while a Collection Due Process (“CDP”) action is pending, taxpayers should ensure to the extent possible that no refunds are generated for
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—June 17, 2025
This week: An Overview of State Grain Dealer Statutes in the United States, Wed. June 18 at noon. Center Director Ross Pifer presents with the National Agricultural Law Center.
Next week: Understanding Pennsylvania’s Clean & Green Program: County-Level Administration, Fri. June 27 at noon. Attorney CLE available.
Technology: Federal Court Allows Deere Antitrust
I’ll Be Back: Oregon OSHA’s “For-Cause” Inspection Program May Result in an Unlawful Return Visit
Seyfarth Synopsis: Oregon OSHA institutes program for comprehensive follow-up inspections based on an employer’s violation history, which necessitates employer care during inspections and negotiation of settlements.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed Senate Bill 592 into law in 2023, requiring Oregon OSHA to increase penalties and implement a program for follow-up inspections for significant citations. In
Senate Bill 607 and Potential Sweeping Changes to CEQA
This year, over fifty bills were introduced in the Legislature that directly addressed a CEQA issue. Many died in committee, or failed to make it out of their respective houses. The vast majority of those that advanced sought project-specific exemptions. For instance, there were multiple bills to exempt wildfire fuel reduction projects from CEQA review.
Scaffolds Down, Drones Up: Modernizing Tank Inspections in Louisiana
On May 21, 2025, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ” or “the Department”) officially approved the use of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), or drones, for visual inspections of aboveground storage tanks under LAC 33:III.2103.D.2.e.[1]
LDEQ estimated a potential $4 million in annual savings for the Louisiana aboveground storage tank community by reducing the
EPA Proposes Rescission of Power Plant GHG Standards Under Clean Air Act Section 111
On June 11, 2025, EPA issued a proposed rule that repeals carbon pollution standards for new and reconstructed gas turbines and existing and modified coal and oil/gas-fired units.
Minnesota Will Continue to Receive Public Comments on Proposed New Rules on PFAS in Products Reporting
Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) held a public hearing on May 22, 2025 concerning its proposed rules that would implement PFAS-in-products reporting requirements and associated fees on entities covered by Amara’s Law (which we have previously discussed here and here). The Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings, which presided over the May hearing, has announced
First District Affirms Judgment Dismissing CEQA Action Based On Petitioner’s Failure To Join Indispensable Real Party Developer Within Statute of Limitations Period
In an opinion filed May 14, and later ordered published on June 11, 2025, the First District Court of Appeal (Div. 3) affirmed a judgment dismissing a CEQA action challenging an approval for a City parking lot redevelopment/affordable housing project due to the Petitioner’s failure to timely join the necessary and indispensable real party developer of the project’s housing component. Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka (Wiyot Tribe, Real Party in Interest) (2025) 111 Cal.App.5th 1114.
Navigating OSHA’s Updated Inspection Strategy
In May 2025, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) released an updated Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Inspection Program directive. The SST Inspection Program is OSHA’s main site-specific programmed inspection initiative for non-construction workplaces that have 20 or more employees. The SST Inspection Program uses employer-submitted injury and illness information (i.e., Form 300A data) to