On April 13, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule further delaying the start of the one-time data submission period for reporting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The rule postpones the opening of the reporting window until EPA completes a separate,
Latest from California Environmental Law
EPA RMP & EPCRA Inspections: What to Do If You Receive Notice
EPA is actively conducting on-site inspections focused on RMP and EPCRA compliance, and facilities receiving a Notice of On-Site Compliance Inspection (NOCI) must act smartly. Recent notices show that EPA is pairing short lead times with broad document requests, planning multi-day inspections, and undertaking close review of Program 3 accident prevention requirements.For facilities with regulated
Begin the Begin: EPA Proposes Revisions to “Begin Actual Construction”
R.E.M. track “Begin the Begin” starts A birdie and a hand for life’s rich demand. Well, regulated entities demanded, and the birdie delivered EPA’s proposed rule to revise the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction permitting regulations and expand the scope of activities allowed prior to issuance of a NSR permit. The rule proposal redefines “begin actual construction”
EPA Issues Guidance to Streamline Title V Permit Reviews
On May 11, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance intended to streamline the review and issuance of Title V operating permits under the Clean Air Act. This guidance may effectively reduce Title V permitting timelines, particularly where public opposition is limited. EPA’s guidance promotes parallel EPA and public comment reviews, earlier permit
Oregon Court of Appeals Confirms Removal of Receiving Water Limits Is Not Backsliding
The scope of what Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits may lawfully require continues to narrow. On April 29, 2026, in Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA) v. DEQ, the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to renew an NPDES permit without a narrative “cause
EPA Proposes to Narrow Scope of Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications – Comment Deadline Looming
- Comment Deadline: February 17, 2026, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, email ([email protected]), or mail. Comments must be submitted in writing and identified with Docket ID No. EPA‑HQ‑OW‑2025‑2929.
- Adoption: Expected in Spring 2026 (subject to comments received).
On January 13, 2026, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule, to be
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
EPA’s New “Compliance First” Policy
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 Need for Speed: Expediting Permitting for Mining and Infrastructure—Safely
Imagine you’re running late for a flight. You get into the TSA line, which snakes longer than expected. People fumble with their countless carry-ons, one person argues about the “new” twenty-year-old liquid restriction, and you worry you’ll miss your departure—yet you wouldn’t skip the safety checks. That’s what permitting often feels like: urgent projects—mines, transmission
When EPA Comes Knocking: Guidance on Environmental Enforcement
Originally published in The Advocate, the magazine of the Idaho State Bar (October 2025).
EPA enforcement activity remains an ongoing concern for regulated entities, even amid shifting political priorities. In this article, Stoel Rives attorneys outline how the EPA exercises its inspection and enforcement authority and what businesses can do to prepare.
They discuss key