Greenhouse Gas
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Trump Administration Releases Fall 2018 Regulatory Agenda
The Trump Administration has released its Fall 2018 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The EPA-specific regulatory agenda lists 148 regulatory actions in either the proposed rule stage or final rule stage. Continue reading
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EPA Finalizes Unprecedented NPL Listing
On September 13, 2018, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) took the final, unprecedented step of adding a contaminated site to the Superfund National Priorities List (“NPL”) based solely on the risk to human health posed by indoor air vapor intrusion at the site. The newly designated site, which consists of the former Rockwell… Continue reading
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United Airlines Steps Up to Cut Greenhouse Gases
By Steven M. Siros United Airlines became the first U.S. airline to publicly commit to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 50% by 2050. In a press release issued on September 13, 2018, United Airlines explained that it would achieve that reduction by expanding its use of more sustainable biofuels and by relying on more fuel-efficient aircraft… Continue reading
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Environmental Groups Set Stage for Likely Legal Challenge to FERC GHG NEPA Review Policy
On May 18, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order denying a rehearing request on FERC’s issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a natural gas pipeline project for Dominion Transmission. An environmental group had challenged the certificate, arguing in part that FERC failed to adequately consider the upstream… Continue reading
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White House Cites National Security Concerns as Administration Moves to Save Coal and Nuclear Power Plants
A combination of stagnant power consumption growth and the rise of natural gas and renewable power sources has resulted in the displacement and potential closure of many older coal and nuclear power plants in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, since 2008, coal and nuclear energy have seen a continuous decline… Continue reading
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Can Blockchain Technology Disrupt Renewable Energy Finance?
In 2016, the world underwent its largest ever annual increase in renewable power by adding an estimated 161 gigawatts of capacity in renewable power generation. The increased stemmed from a world-wide investment of USD $240 billion in renewable energy, marking the seventh straight year that the world’s investment in renewable power sources topped $200 billion… Continue reading
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In the Absence of Any Federal Movement, States Continue to Attempt to Legislate Carbon Rules or Taxes
As reported in Salon and Law360 (sub. req.), states, the “laboratories of democracy,” continue to attempt to experiment with legislation carbon rules or taxes. Washington and Oregon are the latest examples, although such efforts have so far failed. Washington’s proposal would have taxed carbon emissions, whereas Oregon’s proposal would have established a cap-and-trade program. Continue reading
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Who Wants to Buy a Superfund Site?
On July 25, 2017, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) administrator Scott Pruitt’s “Superfund Task Force” issued a final report revealing the Task Force’s recommendations for streamlining the remediation process of over 1,300 Superfund sites currently overseen by the EPA. Continue reading
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EPA “Year in Review”
On Monday, March 5, 2018, EPA issued a report titled EPA Year in Review 2017-2018. Continue reading
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OSHA Makes a Statement on Hex Chrome Enforcement
On January 19, 2018, OSHA issued a citation to Spirit Aerosystems, Inc. alleging one willful and five serious violations of the OSHA hexavalent chromium standard (29 CFR 1910.1026) and assessing $194,006 in penalties. Continue reading