By Jeryl L. Olson, Andrew H. Perellis, and Patrick D. Joyce

Power Lines and Pulp Mill PollutionLong awaited proposed regulations were published for notice and comment on March 14, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 13638) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen its Risk Management Program (RMP), 40 C.F.R. Part 68.

Though EPA has been considering changes to the RMP rules
Continue Reading U.S. EPA To Require Stronger Chemical Safety Regulation

By Joshua L. Ditelberg and Robert S. Winner

In this edition of Seyfarth Shaw’s Energy Insights Newsletter our Energy and Clean Technologies team covers important developments in Q3 2015 for the energy industry including 1) the latest initiatives from the Environmental Protection Agency on clean power, climate and chemical regulation, 2) the National Labor Relations Board’s major shift on joint-employer
Continue Reading Energy Insights: An Update from the Third Quarter of 2015

Ecology Earth concept word collagePhilip Comella, in a recently published article, writes about how everyone in the landfill gas industry knows how contracts are a necessary evil.

The parties understandably focus on the engineering aspects of the design; how many wells and engines to install; how to increase or extend gas production; how the gas production translates into revenue; the status of carbon
Continue Reading Avoiding Disputes Down the Road: The Top Ten Problems With Landfill Gas Contracts

By Andrew H. Perellis and Patrick D. Joyce

Supreme CourtIn a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the EPA acted unreasonably when it refused to consider the cost of implementing its Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS).

The MATS rule, issued in 2012, established emissions limits from power plants for mercury, filterable particulate matter, and hydrogen chloride. 

Continue Reading Supreme Court: EPA Must Consider Cost Of Implementing Regulations

By Patrick D. Joyce and Craig B. Simonsen

Blog - Fracking WaterThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft assessment study last week showing that hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) activities in the U.S. may have potential impacts on the water lifecycle, affecting drinking water resources. 80 Fed. Reg. 32111 (June 5, 2015).

The report, Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil
Continue Reading EPA Finds Low Potential Impacts on Drinking Water from Hydraulic Fracturing

By Jeryl L. Olson, Meagan Newman and Craig B. Simonsen

112rEnforcementThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just released an Enforcement Alert on accidental releases of chemicals, including anhydrous ammonia at refrigeration facilities, under the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) Chemical Accident Prevention Program.

This Enforcement Alert comes in seeming coordination with the EPA’s recent news release about several anhydrous
Continue Reading EPA Enforcement Alert that Refrigeration Facilities are Under Scrutiny

By Philip L. Comella and Craig B. Simonsen

In another move to implement the President’s Climate Action Plan, the Obama Administration today announced a new goal to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025.

According to EPA, methane emissions accounted for nearly ten percent of U.S. greenhouse
Continue Reading EPA Plan for Methane Controls In Oil and Gas Industry

By Jeryl L. Olson

Following pressure from Environmental Groups and Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced two rule changes affecting users of refrigerants containing ozone depleting substances (ODS) (chlorofluorocarbons or “CFCs” and hydrochlorofluoro-carbons or “HCFCs”). 

On October 20, 2014, EPA announced the phase out of the production, import, and export of certain HCFCs between 2015 and 2019, and
Continue Reading Retail Grocers and Related Industries To Feel Impact of Phase Out of HCFCs

By Wan Li and Craig B. Simonsen

The State Council recently announced new Guidelines for pilot programs for trading emissions permits to reduce air and water pollution.

Key pollutants to be traded under the pilot programs include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air, and chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen in wastewater. Speaking of these pollutants, Huang Xiaozeng,
Continue Reading Business Interests in China? State Council Issues Guidelines for Pilot Emissions Trading Program

By Jeryl L. Olson and Craig B. Simonsen

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in response to Executive Order 13650, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security (EO), is publically, through a Federal Register notice, requesting public comments on “potential revisions” to its Risk Management Program. 79 Fed. Reg. 44604 (July 31, 2014).

This request is part of an effort highlighted in
Continue Reading EPA Request for Information on Clean Air Act Accidental Release Prevention Program