By Jeryl L. OlsonRebecca A. Davis, and Patrick D. Joyce

Seyfarth Synopsis: As the potential for a Presidential administration change moves closer to reality, another dramatic agenda swing is possible in the environmental regulatory world, from an anti-regulation Trump administration to a pro-enforcement Biden administration. While the past four years have been about easing restrictions on
Continue Reading What Now? Post-Election Environmental Outlook

By Andrew H. Perellis, Kay R. Bonza, and Patrick D. Joyce

Seyfarth Synopsis: With a dramatic change from a progressive democratic to a conservative republican administration, we anticipate that EPA is not only likely to pivot away from an enforcement heavy to a more business friendly agenda, it is also likely to abandon many of the previous
Continue Reading What Now? U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Post-Election Outlook

By Robert S. Winner

In this edition of Seyfarth Shaw’s Energy Insights Newsletter, our Energy and Clean Technologies team covers important developments in Q4 2015 for the energy industry including 1) collateral tax benefits granted to YieldCos, 2) the finalization of the EPA’s renewable fuel targets, and 3) climate change initiatives in the wake of the Paris Agreement in some
Continue Reading Energy Insights: An Update from the Fourth Quarter of 2015

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

By Patrick D. Joyce and Craig B. Simonsen

pumpjack, West Texas, cottonwood treeThe U.S. EPA announced earlier this week a proposed rule to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the oil and natural gas industry. The proposal is nearly 600 pages long. Proposed rule (August 18, 2015).

The proposed rule will add methane to the list of gasses
Continue Reading Proposed Rule for Methane and VOC Controls in Oil and Gas Industry

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 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 and Craig B. Simonsen

In a letter this week to Administrator Gina McCarthy, the Partnership for a Better Energy Future, a coalition of business organizations provides initial feedback to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on its proposed carbon emissions regulations for existing electric generating units.

The National Association of Manufacturers serves as co-chair of the
Continue Reading Energy Industry Group Notifies EPA Proposed Rules for Existing Electric Generating Units Fail to Make the Grade

By Robert J. Carty, Jr., Dennis A. Clifford, Philip L. Comella, A. Donald Lepore III, Esteban Shardonofsky, Clark Smith

We have just published Seyfarth Shaw’s Energy Insights Newsletter, prepared by the Energy and Clean Technologies team. It covers important developments in the second quarter of 2014 for the energy industry, including: 1) the Department of
Continue Reading Energy Insights: An Update from the Second Quarter of 2014

By Craig B. Simonsen

Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, discussed yesterday’s Supreme Court opinion, and other topics, while speaking before the Air and Waste Management’s Association’s Annual Conference today.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled, in-part, that “EPA lacked authority to ‘tailor’ the Clean Air Act’s unambiguous numerical thresholds of 100 or 250
Continue Reading McCabe Addresses Supreme Court Decision and Other Topics – EPA is “Very Pleased”