Following up on our previous update, the lawsuit brought by utilities challenging Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCLs”) for PFAS in drinking water is scheduled for oral argument on 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 the format for the oral-argument. Under
The amended rule adds to the growing patchwork of state-level PFAS laws and to compliance burdens.
By Julia A. Hatcher, Tom Lee, and Hunter J. Kendrick
Key Points
On December 5, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance issued a memorandum titled “Reinforcing a ‘Compliance First’ Orientation for Compliance Assurance and Civil Enforcement Activities”(Compliance Memorandum). The Compliance Memorandum, nicknamed the Pritzlaff Memo, directs staff to prioritize efficient compliance over punitive measures, supporting the agency’s “Powering the
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has proposed revisions to the price cap structure in Japan’s balancing market that may materially impact the economics of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Japan.
Under proposals presented to METI’s System Review Working Group in late October 2025 (the METI proposal), from April 2026
On January 8, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized 57 Nationwide Permits first proposed in June of last year. Nationwide Permits (NWPs) are streamlined federal permits for activities that affect waters of the United States, ranging from routine development and infrastructure projects to major projects. In this action, the Corps:
Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious injury or death. OSHA regulations require PPE and respiratory protection where necessitated by the hazards at the workplace. Infectious diseases represent a recognized hazard at many workplaces across the United States (particularly in healthcare) and employers must
Register Now! Educational programming for January:
Jan. 21, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Requirements and Exemptions
Jan. 23, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law (Atty CLE)
Jan. 27, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations & Current Issues (Atty CLE)
Food Policy: USDA, HHS Publish Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 
On January 7,
In a mostly published 43-page opinion filed December 31, 2025, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s judgment in consolidated actions consisting of the Department of Water Resources’ (“DWR”) in rem validation action seeking to validate its authority to issue revenue bonds for the “Delta Program,” and a reverse-validation action brought under CEQA,
After over 12 months of legal uncertainty, the EU has finalised the Omnibus I reforms and there is certainty as to who will need to report under the EU Corporate Sustainability Directive (CSRD) and EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
To recap and in summary, CSRD required around 46,000 companies established in the EU,
PA Impact Fee: Pennsylvania Approves New Grants for Infrastructure, Environmental, and Community Projects 
On December 19, 2025, The Department of Community and Economic Development announced the approval of 135 projects funded by the Pennsylvania Impact Fee, also known as Act 13 of 2012. Through the Impact Fee, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission collects fees