Category: Regulatory Developments

Environmental law and regulation

An Environmental Regulatory Roundup from Midnight Watch

As the United States prepares for President-Elect Joe Biden to take office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021, the Trump administration continues to take numerous administrative actions on climate, energy, and environmental issues.  The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at the New York University School of Law created a “Midnight Watch” website to track […]

Trucks, truck drivers, trucking industry

FMCSA Proposal Would End Driver Violation Report Requirement

On December 14, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed rescinding the requirement that commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers annually prepare and submit a list of their convictions for traffic violations to their employers. The requirement duplicates a separate requirement that motor carriers obtain the motor vehicle record (MVR) for each driver they employ […]

Wildfire smoke in Washington state

Wildfire Smoke Rule in Development in Washington State

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is developing a wildfire smoke standard. The department acknowledged receiving a petition to initiate a rulemaking for wildfire smoke exposures.

Superfund site

EPA Rule Says Industry Insurance Not Required for Pollution Cleanups

On November 25, 2020, the EPA finalized rulemaking that determined that the electric power generation; transmission and distribution; petroleum and coal products manufacturing; and chemical manufacturing industries will not be required to have additional insurance to cover accidents and major spills.

California and COVID-19

California Health and Safety Board Approves COVID-19 Rule

California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board unanimously approved five emergency temporary standards for workplace coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposures: COVID-19 prevention, multiple COVID-19 infections and COVID-19 outbreaks, major COVID-19 outbreaks, COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided housing, and COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided transportation to and from work.

EPA sign

EPA Rule Signals Changes Ahead for Agency Guidance Documents

On October 19, 2020, the EPA published a final rule titled EPA Guidance; Administrative Procedures for Issuance and Public Petitions. The Agency typically utilizes guidance documents “to provide direction to agency staff, other governmental agencies, the regulated community, and interested stakeholders on a wide variety of technical and regulatory matters under its purview,” according to […]

Oregon state flag facemask

Oregon Releases Assistance Documents for COVID-19 Rule

Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) released several documents to assist employers that must comply with the state’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposures. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

California and COVID-19

California to Consider Emergency COVID-19 Rule as Cases Rise

On November 19, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board will consider an emergency standard for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, which would require employers to provide face coverings and COVID-19 testing at no cost to their employees. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.