The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held oral argument in what has been described as a landmark Clean Water Act case involving whether a permit violation can create a presumption of irreparable harm sufficient to support an order granting a preliminary injunction.Continue Reading ›

On March 2, EPA’s final ELG Deadline Extensions Rule for the steam electric power generating industry went into effect. Additionally, EPA has indicated its intent to conduct supplemental rulemaking to address the underlying requirements in the 2024 ELG Rule. On March 9, EPA submitted a separate proposal to the Office of Management and Budget specifically…

Over the past two weeks the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has taken notable steps in its larger effort to address and develop a uniform framework for automated vehicles (AVs). Last week NHTSA published a request for public comment on an exemption application which, if granted, would exempt certain AVs from safety requirements and…

The “prior converted cropland” exclusion exempts certain agricultural lands from Clean Water Act regulation. The 2025 “waters of the United States” proposed rule seeks to clarify and update this exclusion, making it easier for farmers to demonstrate that their prior converted cropland is not subject to the Clean Water Act. If finalized, the proposal could…

In recent years, there have been major shifts involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations as a result of statutory amendments, court decisions, and the Trump Administration’s efforts to streamline federal permitting. For decades, NEPA’s sparse statutory language provided few specifics on NEPA implementation, and the regulatory framework was based on…

For the fourth time in the last ten years, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to modify its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations. EPA will hold a public hearing on the proposed modifications on March 10, 2026, and is accepting written public comment on the proposal through April 10, 2026.Continue Reading ›

In 2025, four states—California, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington—proposed fashion accountability bills. These bills would require high-earning entities in the fashion industry to conduct extensive supply chain due diligence, and to monitor and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water use, and chemical management.Continue Reading ›