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28 results

February 25, 2025

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3 min read

EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, Announces Five Pillars to Guide the EPA’s Work

On January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin, former New York Congressman and President Trump’s new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
was confirmed.  Administrator Zeldin announced the EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which is aiming to “achieve the agency’s
mission while energizing the greatness of the American economy.” 
...Read more

February 13, 2025

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2 min read

President Trump Signs Executive Order Withdrawing the United States From Paris Agreement

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (the EO), “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements....Read more

October 17, 2024

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4 min read

California’s First-in-the-Nation Climate Disclosure Laws Will Move Forward with Limited Delay Under Recent Amendment

On September 27, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law amendments to California’s first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas emissions
disclosure and climate-related financial risk reporting bills. The amendments did not delay the reporting deadlines applicable to reporting entities, and
companies should take action now to ensure they will be ready to report on 2025 emissions and risks starting in 2026.
...Read more

September 18, 2024

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3 min read

Microplastics Policy: Is Federal Preemption a Viable Defense?

There are myriad examples of lawsuits ensuing after a regulatory body or other agency issues a statement or report on a particular substance. As things
currently stand, however, statements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may offer a defense to claims involving microplastics.  
...Read more

April 20, 2023

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9 min read

EPA Announces Series of New Actions to Address Ethylene Oxide Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed three key actions to further regulate ethylene oxide (EtO) under the Clean Air Act and the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA’s latest proposals include (1) stricter national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants
(NESHAP) for commercial sterilization facilities, (2) new Clean Air Act rules for plants that make synthetic organic chemicals and plants that make...Read more
...Read more

January 26, 2023

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3 min read

It’s Official: EPA Approves Phase I Standard ASTM E1527-21 as Meeting All Appropriate Inquiry, Effective February 13, 2023

As of February 13, 2023, ASTM 1527-21 will meet the AAI requirement, and thus will become the relevant standard for conducting Phase Is. Phase Is
conducted using the 2013 Standard will no longer be compliant with the AAI requirement after December 15, 2023. Users of Phase Is should update internal
guidance or scopes of work with environmental professionals to confirm (1) reports are completed to the new standard beginning in February 20...Read more
...Read more

January 24, 2023

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3 min read

Environmental Enforcement To Focus On Climate Change and PFAS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its proposed National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs) for fiscal years 2024–2027.
EPA is proposing to add two new areas of enforcement focus: mitigating climate change and addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
contamination. Those operating in the oil and gas industry, and those involved with refrigerants, should take note. Interested parties have until M...Read more
...Read more

January 19, 2023

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6 min read

Comment Deadlines Loom on High-Profile Climate and Environmental Actions

The Biden Administration has started 2023 with a jammed pipeline of major regulatory actions relating to climate and other major environmental matters.
For those interested in participating in the public comment processes, the clock is ticking. Here is a rundown of impending deadlines for public comment for
some of the most significant rulemakings from the EPA and other federal agencies.
...Read more

January 9, 2023

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7 min read

A “Durable” Definition? EPA Issues Final Rule Revising Definition of WOTUS

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers (the Agencies) closed out 2022 by announcing a final rule that establishes a
new definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) for implementation of the Clean Water Act.[1]  The Agencies, which previously indicated there would
be a two-step regulatory process to defining WOTUS, appear to be proclaiming this to be its “durable” revision for the long term.  But will this def...Read more
...Read more

December 6, 2022

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4 min read

Prioritizing PFAS: The Latest EPA, State, and Global Efforts To Regulate PFAS in Drinking Water

On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new drinking water Health Advisories Levels (HALs) for certain per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of its PFAS Strategic Roadmap.
...Read more

August 31, 2022

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6 min read

What Does EPA Designating PFOA and PFOS as “Hazardous Substances” Mean for Your Business?

On August 26, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal to designate two of the most widely known per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS)—PFOA and PFOS[i]—as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA, also known as the Superfund law). Listing PFOA and PFOS (along with their salts and structural isomers) as hazardous substances unde...Read more
...Read more

August 17, 2022

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3 min read

The Inflation Reduction Act Boosts EPA Funding to Enforce Climate-Related ESG Disclosure

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). The IRA reconciliation package includes $369 billion in funding and
subsidies to support the transition to renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector.
...Read more

July 5, 2022

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6 min read

West Virginia v. EPA: What Comes Next?

The Supreme Court held the Environmental Protection Agency cannot establish a standard of performance for existing electric generating sources under
Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act based on a system of generation shifting like that developed for the Clean Power Plan. As a result, EPA’s Affordable Clean
Energy Rule of 2019 could come back in effect…for now.
...Read more

June 9, 2022

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3 min read

The Phase I Standard Used for CERCLA Defenses Will Stay the Same – For Now

On May 2, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency withdrew its direct final rule that would have amended 40 C.F.R. Part 312 to recognize ASTM’s
updated E1527-21 standard as satisfactory to fulfill the “all appropriate inquiries” requirement of certain defenses to liability under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
...Read more

March 22, 2022

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5 min read

EPA Proposes Expansive New Clean Air Act Regulation of Wide Array of Industrial Facilities

EPA is proposing to impose stringent new “Good Neighbor” regulations under the Clean Air Act. These changes are proposed to help downwind states meet
the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”). These strengthened controls on nitrogen oxide (“NOx”) emissions will apply to power
plants as well as other large industrial facilities located in 26 states. Beyond fossil fuel-fired power plants, EPA is proposing NOx emissions limitati...Read more
...Read more

November 18, 2021

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4 min read

EPA to Affirmatively Enforce Title VI

The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is “taking a fresh look” at its authority to prioritize environmental justice.  This includes the EPA’s “affirmative
authority” to use Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to address disparate impacts.  This has significant implications for entities seeking federal environmental
permits or funding.  Questions exist, however, regarding whether the EPA’s—or any federal agency’s—statutory authority under Title VI is so broad. 
...Read more

October 13, 2021

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8 min read

An EJ Roundup: EPA Implementation of Environmental Justice Is Taking Shape

The concept of environmental justice (EJ) is often talked about. But tracking the tangible steps the Biden administration is taking to advance EJ can be difficult.
In its early days, the Biden administration issued the (Executive Order 14008).
...Read more

October 5, 2021

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4 min read

EPA Approval of Pesticide Paraquat Now Under Attack

On September 23, 2021, several farmworker groups, green groups, and health organizations challenged EPA’s reapproval of paraquat dichloride. Paraquat
dichloride, known simply as paraquat, is a weed killer. It has been widely used in the United States since the 1960s. Petitioners seek to set aside EPA’s interim
registration review decision. They allege links to Parkinson’s disease and other adverse health effects. Numerous lawsuits are already pending ag...Read more
...Read more

August 11, 2021

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8 min read

Will “Significant Nexus” Again Define Waters of the United States?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers (the Agencies) recently announced they will take another
run at defining “waters of the United States” (WOTUS).
...Read more

July 26, 2021

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13 min read

Are the Chemicals Your Business Needs in EPA’s Regulatory Sights?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working under aggressive statutory deadlines to assess chemicals commonly used by
manufacturers across a range of industries. EPA will then enact new regulations to manage risks to public health and the environment.
...Read more
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About This Blog

Winston’s Environmental Law Update focuses on environmental legal, regulatory, and policy issues facing manufacturers, energy, retailers, real estate, and financial institutions. As the political, corporate, and regulatory responses to recent environmental initiatives evolve, it is our goal to help our clients understand the risks and opportunities these initiatives present and develop strategic responses that cut across multiple legal disciplines. The blog provides an avenue to bridge the gap between law and policy, compliance, and execution.

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