As the objectives gain traction, they are meeting state resistance in court.
By Robin M. Hulshizer and Malorie R. Medellin
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) strategic plan for 2022–26, released in March 2022, added a new foundational principle to the agency’s mission: the advancement of environmental justice and equity. Since unveiling its strategic plan,
The 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature wrapped on June 8, 2023. During this session, the Louisiana Legislature enacted a number of bills in the energy and environmental sector of the law. Below is a brief summary of all new relevant adopted provisions:
Energy
Act 150 (SB 103) changes the name of the Department
By Adam R. Young, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Matthew A. Sloan, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has announced new rules requiring a broad range of employers to electronically submit additional injury and illness information in 2024.
Despite many delays and lawsuits from affected stakeholders, OSHA announced today
National Energy Policy: DOE Announces $90 Million Intended to Update State and Local Building Energy Codes 
On July 12, 2023, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) posted a press release announcing $90 million to help municipalities, states, tribes, and other partnering organizations implement updated building energy codes. The funding has been awarded to 27
Yesterday, Climatewire (subscription required) released a peer review letter on EPA’s Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (SC-GHG), which got a fair bit of press last year, because EPA’s metric was $190/ton, even though the Biden administration was using the $51/ton figure originally developed by the Obama administration. The peer reviewers’ views can be distilled down
As part of the PFAS Strategic Science Vision for the U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) and consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which identified activities related to PFAS where USGS could provide support, the USGS undertook a study of PFAS in tap water from private and public supply wells across the
PFAS-related litigation continues to climb and to diversify as to claims and parties. See the attached graphics, updated through the second quarter of 2023. We will continue to update these graphics on a quarterly basis.
Conservation Programs: USDA Announces $300 Million, Draft Federal Strategy to Improve Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Carbon Sequestration
On July 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a notice in the Federal Register (88 FR 44251) requesting public comment on an interagency draft report: Federal Strategy to Advance Measurement and Monitoring Greenhouse
New law creating a fertile environment to support investment in wind turbines as a component of the move to a decarbonized economy
On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law a number of bills aimed at streamlining and accelerating the construction of critical infrastructure projects needed to achieve California’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals. Among the many bills was SB No. 149, CEQA legislation that amended Public Resources Code §§ 21167.6, 21181, 21183, 21189.1, and 21189.3;