State Regulation: Ohio Governor Signs Legislation Limiting EV Regulations and Facilitating Funding for Natural Gas Projects
On December 28, 2023, the Governor of Ohio signed into law House Bill 201 (the “Bill”) which places limits on regulations of electric vehicles and provides natural gas companies with capabilities to fund future development projects. The Bill expressly
Extensions to State Project Long-Term Water Supply Contracts Survive Appeal
On January 5, 2024, the Third District Court of Appeal, upheld the Department of Water Resources’ (“DWR’s”) approval of amendments to long-term contracts with local government agencies that receive water through the State Water Project in Planning and Conservation League, et al v. Department of Water Resources, et al, etc. (2024) 98 Cal.App.5th 726.
Appeals Court Strikes Down Federal Dishwasher and Washing Machine Rules
It is unclear that DOE has any statutory authority to regulate water use in dishwashers and clothes washers
The Long-Awaited Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Have Arrived
IntroductionOn November 30, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).[1] With this proposal, EPA aims to simplify and expand upon the 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and the original 1991 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). The proposed LCRI outlines aggressive measures to achieve
UK REACH: Awaited Consultation on Policy Direction for Registration of Chemicals
The most anticipated developments for 2024 in UK chemicals regulation are the long-awaited publication of the UK’s Chemicals Strategy, and a consultation on the UK government’s alternative transitional registration model (ATRm). In November 2023, a policy paper was issued outlining the government’s high-level plans for ATRm, but the questions and details for stakeholders are still
US EPA Finalizes Rulemaking for Methane Emission Reductions
On December 2, 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the pre-publication version of its Final Rule for standards of performance in the Oil and Natural Gas sector. The original proposed rule, published on November 15, 2021, sought to strengthen methane standards for new sources (New Source Performance Standards or NSPS), establish nationwide
Big Money: OSHA and EPA Civil Penalties Increase Again for 2024
By Adam R. Young, James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Benjamin D. Briggs, Mark A. Lies, Jeryl L. Olson, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, Melissa A. Ortega, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. DOL and U.S. EPA have published their 2024 increases to civil
EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive Nearly Final
On December 14, 2023, the European Parliament and the European Council reached a provisional deal on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). Initially proposed by the European Commission in February of 2022, the CS3D requires certain companies to account for and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts throughout their supply chains, including both
Some 2024 Resolutions for Environmental Lawyers
You are reading this column in the first days of 2024. This might be an apt opportunity in the “environmental practice” column to consider what we environmental lawyers ought to resolve to do to elevate our practices in the new year. My observations are no more profound than anyone else’s. But as I begin my
Bankruptcy and Baseball II: What Happens to Shohei Ohtani’s Record Contract if the Los Angeles Dodgers File for Bankruptcy (Again)?
Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani recently agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the headline number came as a shock to even sports business nerds like us, as always, the devil was in the details: $680 million of Ohtani’s contract is deferred until after Ohtani is no longer obligated to