Environmental

  • April 01, 2025

    Trump Admin Layoffs 'Probably Broke Laws,' Judge Says

    A Maryland federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration "probably broke the laws that regulate en masse terminations of government employees," ordering the federal government to reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were abruptly fired from their jobs in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

  • April 01, 2025

    PacifiCorp Owes Another $36M After Latest Wildfire Trial

    An Oregon jury awarded over $36 million Monday to seven property owners affected by fires that started during a 2020 windstorm in which PacifiCorp chose not to de-energize its power lines, bringing the reported total in such trials to over $300 million.

  • April 01, 2025

    Norfolk Southern Asks Jury To Spread Blame For Ohio Crash

    Attorneys for Norfolk Southern Corp. told an Ohio federal jury Tuesday that railcar company GATX Corp. and chemical shipper OxyVinyls should share the blame for the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, along with paying part of the $600 million settlement the railroad reached with businesses and residents within 20 miles of the fiery crash.

  • April 01, 2025

    FDA Beats Challenge To Approval Of Elanco's Cattle Gas Drug

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has defeated an administrative challenge to its approval of Elanco Health's drug meant to reduce ammonia gas emissions from beef cattle and their waste, with a California federal judge ruling Tuesday that the agency reasonably evaluated its safety based on a wide array of studies.

  • April 01, 2025

    Gov't Says Climate Webpage Takedowns Reflect New Priorities

    Environmental groups have failed to show that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must restore certain climate change-focused webpages to its sites, government attorneys have argued, telling a Manhattan federal judge Monday that it's in the public's interest to have government websites that reflect the current presidential administration's priorities.

  • April 01, 2025

    Trump Admin Fights Wash.'s Bid To Expand Layoff Injunction

    The Trump administration has urged a California federal judge to reject the state of Washington's request to expand an injunction blocking federal agencies from firing probationary employees, saying the bid to broaden the order to other agencies is unnecessary and based on unfounded speculation of harm. 

  • April 01, 2025

    Wireless Industry Asks FCC To Loosen NEPA Rules

    A major wireless trade association is urging the Federal Communications Commission to drop National Environmental Policy Act requirements on certain wireless infrastructure deployments, saying that the "burdensome" "red tape" is hindering future wireless expansion, rather than facilitating it.

  • April 01, 2025

    Ga., Army Corps Beat Ala. Challenge To Water Use Plan

    A D.C. federal judge ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not need congressional approval to increase Georgia's water allocations from a metro Atlanta lake, handing a win to the Army Corps and the Peach State in a decadelong fight with the state of Alabama.

  • April 01, 2025

    Green Groups Sue NY To Spur Climate Regulations

    A coalition of environmental groups have asked a New York judge to order the state to issue overdue regulations needed to meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.

  • April 01, 2025

    Atlanta Settles Enviro Group's Suit Over 'Cop City' Site

    The city of Atlanta has agreed to settle an environmental group's legal challenge to the construction of its controversial police training center complex, reaching a deal Monday that includes $70,000 in attorney fees for the group and future water quality monitoring.

  • April 01, 2025

    EPA, Citibank Fight States' Bid To Restart Grant Funding

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank on Monday said four state infrastructure financing entities that accuse them of illegally withholding federal grant funding have no grounds to support an effort to get the money flowing again.

  • April 01, 2025

    House Sends Disaster Tax Relief, Other Tax Bills To Senate

    The U.S. House wrapped up two days of work on bipartisan tax relief measures Tuesday, clearing the last of six bills to allow taxpayers affected by natural disasters to qualify for extended deadlines for refund claims and collection notices.

  • April 01, 2025

    Judges Say Hurricanes May Justify FERC Pipeline Inaction

    Judges on the D.C. Circuit told environmental groups challenging the construction of a liquefied natural gas pipeline and terminal in Puerto Rico Tuesday that the project was likely necessary to keep the island powered through hurricane season even without a full authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

  • April 01, 2025

    King & Spalding Hires Mayer Brown PFAS Expert In NY

    King & Spalding LLP is expanding its mass torts team, bringing in a Mayer Brown LLP product liability and "forever chemicals" specialist as a partner in its New York office.

  • April 01, 2025

    Oil & Gas Dealmakers Undaunted Despite Industry Worries

    The pace of overall mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. market has slowed this year amid uncertainty over tariffs and export policy, but dealmaking in the oil and gas industry is remaining steady thanks to increasing gas demand and relatively stable oil prices.

  • April 01, 2025

    Co. Suggests Chemical For IRS' Taxable Substances List

    The Internal Revenue Service is seeking comments on a proposal by TPC Group Inc. to add a chemical to the Internal Revenue Code's list of taxable substances, the agency said Tuesday.

  • March 31, 2025

    DuPont Must Face NC Residents' PFAS Claims

    A North Carolina federal judge partially granted homeowners' motions for judgment on their claims that a factory operated by DuPont contaminated their land with PFAS, but said Monday that determining damages would be up to a jury.

  • March 31, 2025

    Ex-Blood Bank Atty Goes Back To Ballard Spahr In Phoenix

    Ballard Spahr LLP has picked up a former in-house intellectual property lawyer from nonprofit blood bank Vitalant who had worked at the law firm a little over a decade ago.

  • March 31, 2025

    Federal Worker Union Challenges Trump Order Gutting CBAs

    The National Treasury Employees Union sued on Monday to block portions of President Donald Trump's recent executive order ending collective bargaining at a number of federal agencies where its members work, saying the directive amounts to unlawful "political retribution" for the union's legal advocacy against Trump's agenda.

  • March 31, 2025

    House Passes Bill Easing Up Tax Relief For Disasters

    The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation Monday to allow victims of state-declared emergencies more time to file federal returns and debated a second measure to allow affected taxpayers to qualify for extended deadlines for refund claims and collection notices.

  • March 31, 2025

    Ford Escapes Calif. Driver's Cooling Pump Warranty Claims

    A California federal judge said Ford can evade a proposed class action alleging it violated state law by keeping its cooling system pump out of California's emission control system warranty, saying a state regulator agreed the pump is not an emissions-related part.

  • March 31, 2025

    Local, State Officials Cautious On Rollback Of Enviro Rules

    Several national groups representing local regulatory officials responsible for overseeing infrastructure projects told the White House they're concerned about a rule rolling back regulations for complying with environmental review requirements.

  • March 31, 2025

    DC Nonprofit Says EPA Climate Fund Freeze Is Unlawful

    Justice Climate Fund has asked a D.C. federal judge to declare that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank NA broke the law by blocking its access to $940 million awarded by the agency for climate investments in low-income communities.

  • March 31, 2025

    Agencies Shouldn't Hear PFAS Class Claims, Conn. Court Told

    A Connecticut state judge should not dismiss most of a putative class action alleging that Aquarion Water Co. knowingly sold water contaminated with "forever chemicals" because the Eversource Energy unit is wrong that the claims should go before state regulators first, according to the plaintiffs.

  • March 31, 2025

    Class Says Sunoco Pipeline Leaked Jet Fuel Into Groundwater

    Sunoco has been hit with a proposed class action alleging that it allowed its Twin Oaks Pipeline in Pennsylvania to spring a "massive and still unquantified leak of jet fuel and petroleum products" that have seeped into groundwater in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Expert Analysis

  • EPA's New Lead Pipe Rule Leaves Key Questions Unanswered

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    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recently released update to its Lead and Copper Rule is a major step forward in the elimination of lead from drinking water systems, but it lacks meaningful guidance on alternative materials, jurisdictional concerns, cost allocation and other topics, say attorneys at Foley Hoag.

  • What To Expect From State AGs As Federal Control Changes

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    Under the next Trump administration, Democratic attorneys general are poised to strengthen enforcement in certain areas as Republican attorneys general continue their efforts with stronger federal support — resulting in a confusing patchwork of policies that create unintended liabilities for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • In SF Water Case, Justices Signal How Loper May Be Applied

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    Skeptical questions from U.S. Supreme Court justices during oral argument in San Francisco v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offer hints of how the court intends to apply limits on agency regulatory autonomy established last term in Loper Bright, says Karen Cullinane at Goldberg Segalla.

  • Trump Rollback Of Biden Enviro Policies: What To Expect

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    Donald Trump's upcoming second presidential term will usher significant shifts in U.S. environmental and natural resource law and policy — and while the Biden administration is racing to secure its legacy, the incoming Trump administration is making plans to dramatically roll back most, if not all, of Biden's environmental initiatives, say attorneys at Beveridge & Diamond.

  • Why K-Cup Claims Landed Keurig In Hot Water With SEC

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement with Keurig Dr. Pepper for making incomplete statements regarding the recyclability of K-cup pods highlights the importance of comprehensive corporate disclosures, particularly with respect to ESG matters, say attorneys at BCLP.

  • Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session

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    As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron. 

  • Dissecting New Circuit Split Over SEC's Proxy Adviser Rule

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    The Sixth Circuit recently upheld the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's partial rescission of enhanced conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements for proxy voting advice businesses, creating a circuit split over broader questions concerning the standard for assessing the legality of agency actions in general, say attorneys at Cahill Gordon.

  • The Unfolding Potential of Green Hydrogen In Brazil

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    A new federal law in Brazil establishing a legal framework for hydrogen development is the country's latest step toward creating a favorable environment for green hydrogen production, but significant challenges — including high production costs, technological hurdles and a lack of infrastructure — remain, says David Andrew Taylor at Almeida Advogados.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata

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    Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • A Shift In Control Of Congress May Doom These Enviro Regs

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    If the election leads to a change in control of Congress, lawmakers will likely use the lookback provision of the Congressional Review Act to challenge the Biden administration's late-term regulatory efforts — including recent initiatives on air pollutant source classification, lead pipe removal and hydrofluorocarbon emissions, say attorneys at Jones Walker.

  • Election Could Bring Change In Weather For Offshore Wind

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    Under another Trump administration, the offshore wind sector would encounter substantial headwinds, as Trump's policy track record emphasizes fossil fuel dominance and environmental rollbacks, while a Harris victory would likely further entrench the pro-renewable energy stance taken by the Biden administration, say attorneys at Jones Walker.

  • Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being

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    As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.

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