The Norwegian National Contact Point (“NCP”) issued its Final Statement on 11 December 2025 regarding a complaint filed by SOMO on behalf of 474 Myanmar-based civil society organisations (“CSO”) against Telenor ASA (“Telenor”) concerning Telenor’s operations and exit from Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup. The NCP concluded that Telenor did not conduct ongoing human rights due diligence commensurate with
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 20, 2026
Register Now! Educational programming for January:
Wed. Jan. 21, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Requirements and Exemptions
Fri. Jan. 23, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law (Atty CLE)
Tues. Jan. 27, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations & Current Issues (Atty CLE)
Pesticides/Herbicides: U.S. Supreme Court Grants Certiorari to FIFRA Preemption Case
EPA’s Proposed CWA 401 Rule Narrows Scope of State Reviews, Reins in Timelines
On January 15, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the long-awaited proposed rule Updating the Water Quality Certification Regulations (Proposed Rule), which, if adopted, would largely reinstate the previous Trump administration’s 2020 Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule (2020 Rule). EPA’s proposal seeks to limit the scope of state-issued water quality certifications (WQCs)
As the Wind Turbine Turns: When Can a Federal Agency Change Its Mind?
Since its inauguration in January 2025, this federal administration has been engaged in a broad effort to change course on many fronts, including environmental and energy policy. Two district court decisions and a decision by the Secretary of the Interior involving development of offshore wind energy provide an opportunity to consider whether any law constrains
Federal Courts Unswayed by Administration Stop Work Orders
Echoing recent rulings from the District Court for the District of Columbia, on January 16, 2026, the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted Dominion Energy’s request for a preliminary injunction, lifting the Trump administration’s suspension of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Earlier that same week, two other judges in same district
Clash of the “Super Statutes”: First District Construes HAA’s Statutory Provisions Aimed at Disincentivizing CEQA Challenges to Housing Projects By Curbing Fee Awards
The laudable efforts of the Legislature in adopting “super statutes” such as the Housing Accountability Act (“HAA”; Gov. Code, § 65589.5) notwithstanding, housing in California remains a scarce and precious commodity. The interplay of the HAA with another “super statute” – CEQA (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) – also continues to be the
State and Federal PFAS Litigation – 2019 to Q4 2025
PFAS-related litigation continues to climb and to diversify as to claims and parties. See the attached graphics, updated through the fourth quarter of 2025. We will continue to update these graphics on a quarterly basis
What Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act Means for Project Developers
Governor Pritzker signed the Illinois Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act into law on January 8, 2026 (Public Act 104-0458). The act has far reaching energy supply, grid regulation and infrastructure development provisions, which will accelerate the state’s clean energy transition, improve grid stability and help manage rising electricity demands.
Oral Argument Scheduled in Hazardous Substance Designation Litigation
Following the completion of briefing in the challenge to EPA’s rule designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), oral argument has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted Respondent-Intervenors’ unopposed motion setting
Stoel Rives Welcomes Environmental Attorney in Seattle
Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that Ankur Tohan has joined the firm’s Seattle office as a Partner in the Environment, Land Use and Natural Resources practice group.
Ankur brings extensive experience in environmental and energy law, with a practice focused on renewable energy development, carbon capture and sequestration, energy infrastructure, and complex regulatory