EPA’s Two Final NSPS Rules Considered Win for Oil and Gas Industry
On August 13, 2020, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced two final rules related to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and natural gas industry.
Category: Special Topics in Environmental Management
A Look at Title V Permits for MSW Landfills Under the Clean Air Act
The EPA must improve oversight of how states implement air emissions regulations for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, according to a report published by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) on July 30, 2020. The OIG serves as the EPA’s watchdog.
What Is the Environmental Justice for All Act?
The Environmental Justice for All Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 30, 2020.
First GHG Emissions Standards for Commercial Aircraft Proposed by EPA
On July 22, 2020, the EPA proposed the first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for new commercial aircraft that will apply to all large passenger jets.
The Latest on PFAS and Drinking Water
As we move into the last month of the summer, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water are a hot topic for many states and the EPA.
EPA’s Particulate Matter Decision Will Likely Result in Litigation
The EPA recently announced it would not be making any changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM).
In Its 50th Year, EPA Reports Nation Experiencing Cleaner Air
The EPA recently released its annual air quality report, which concluded that air quality nationwide continues to improve. Our nation’s air quality is 77% cleaner today than it was in 1970, according to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
Ambitious Climate Change Plan Announced by House Democrats
House Democrats revealed a 547-page climate crisis action plan in mid-June that is being billed as “the most ambitious climate change plane to date,” according to Politico.
EPA Releases Final Changes to Clean Water Act’s Water Qualifications Rule
On July 13, 2020, the EPA published its final rule “to update and clarify the substantive and procedural requirements for water quality certification under Clean Water Act (CWA or the Act) section 401.”
What’s Going to Happen to the Affirmative Defense Within SIPs?
Affirmative defense provisions within state implementation plans (SIPs) have long been a controversial topic and the subject of litigation against the EPA.