Your Guide to Emerging Issues in Environmental Regulation and Litigation.
Less than a month after the Northern District of New York invalidated New York State’s Climate Change Superfund Act (see our prior blog on this decision here), a second federal court has reached the same result. Judge P. Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York on Sept. 23 granted summary judgment declaring the …
The Trump administration on Sept. 28 released new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, easing the fuel economy requirements that were strengthened under President Biden. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the rollback will increase American auto manufacturing, cut unnecessary regulations, and reduce car prices. Proponents, including National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, further stated …
PFAS remains at the forefront of environmental regulation and litigation, with product labeling requirements emerging as the newest battleground. While no federal law currently requires consumer-facing PFAS labels, several states have enacted their own disclosure and labeling requirements, creating a fragmented regulatory landscape for manufacturers. At the federal level, the EPA’s efforts have focused on …
Under Connecticut’s new law — Connecticut General Statutes §22a-903c — manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of certain consumer products containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” are now, as of July 1, subject to new labeling and reporting requirements. The law will be enforced and overseen by Connecticut’s Department of Energy and …
Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a new scientific study with the goal of improving its understanding of what pollutants may be present in drinking water. The research will go beyond traditional testing methods to screen for a broad array of pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and more than 1,000 other potential contaminants. …
This past Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the repeal of rules, established during the prior administration of President Joe Biden that limited greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants. The repeal eliminates virtually all the greenhouse gas standards established in April 2024 under the Clean Air Act. EPA Administration Lee Zeldin …
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) has moved from a policy aspiration to a compliance reality. Over the past several years, a growing number of states have enacted packaging EPR laws that shift the cost and logistics of managing packaging waste onto the producers who put that packaging into the marketplace. Oregon has been at the leading …
Just days before the 25th anniversary of 9/11, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a press conference on Sept. 8, announcing the release of approximately 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed city records regarding post-9/11 air quality. The documents were made available shortly thereafter via a searchable, September 11 public records portal. The release of …
As fall weather arrives and pumpkin spice lattes return, the next U.S. Supreme Court term is also set to begin in October. One key environmental case to watch is Department of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guahan, scheduled for argument on October 7, which concerns the interplay between NEPA and other federal regulations, as well …
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York on Aug. 31 invalidated New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, holding that the law is preempted by federal law. The ruling in West Virginia v. James is a significant win for a coalition of 22 states and fossil fuel industry groups. What the Act Did Enacted …