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Environmental Policies Government Agencies

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

GAO WatchBlog Item Looks at Earlier Report on EPA’s New Chemicals Program

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced on August 14, 2025, a WatchBlog item entitled “EPA’s New Chemicals Program Could Improve Safety If Better Managed” that examines GAO’s January 2025 report on the U.S....more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Comprehensive Guide to Trump’s Executive Actions on ESG, DEI & Environmental Policy

The recent wave of executive orders issued under the Trump Administration marks a dramatic shift in the landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy, sustainability initiatives, and DEI (Diversity, Equity,...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Proyecto de Decreto para la implementación del Acuerdo de Escazú en Colombia

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El Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de Colombia publicó para comentarios un Proyecto de Decreto "Por el cual se crea la Comisión Intersectorial para la implementación del Acuerdo Regional sobre el Acceso a la...more

Cozen O'Connor

Democratic AGs Urge Federal Agencies to Halt Rollback of NEPA Regulations

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Eighteen Democratic AGs have submitted formal comment letters to several federal agencies urging them to withdraw recently issued final rules that rescind regulations implementing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)...more

Nossaman LLP

In Washington, DC, Progress Filling Key ESA Slots Continues

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On August 1, 2025, the Senate approved Brian Nesvik, President Trump’s nominee for Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The Service shares responsibility for administering the Endangered Species Act of...more

ArentFox Schiff

Bipartisan SPEED Act Aims to Streamline NEPA Environmental Reviews for Federal Grant and Loan Recipients

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Recently introduced bipartisan legislation aims to significantly streamline the environmental review process for recipients of federal assistance....more

Beveridge & Diamond PC

Federal Agencies Overhaul Longstanding NEPA Regulations

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Key Takeaways - What happened: Over the last few weeks, individual federal agencies have issued interim final rules (IFRs) to largely rescind their existing NEPA regulations. Agencies have replaced those regulations with a...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economy Development Act: Congressman Westerman (Arkansas) Introduces National...

United States Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Arkansas) has introduced legislation into the United States House of Representatives titled: Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (“SPEED Act”)....more

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

The Department of the Interior Establishes New Review Procedures for Wind and Solar Energy Projects

On July 15, 2025, the Office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (the “Department”) issued a memorandum—“Departmental Review Procedures for Decisions, Actions, Consultations, and Other Undertakings Related to...more

Morgan Lewis - Tech & Sourcing

‘America’s AI Action Plan’: Implications for Data Center Expansion

Our Morgan Lewis colleagues recently wrote on the US administration’s new artificial intelligence action plan, specifically as the plan seeks to foster innovation and expedite the development of AI data centers and the...more

Baker Donelson

Seven County Infrastructure Coal. v. Eagle Cnty., Colo. – Supreme Court's "Course Correction" on NEPA Already Steering Decisions...

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The United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, on May 19, 2025, clarifying that the scope of judicial review of federal agency environmental...more

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

EPA’s Office of Research and Development — Villain or Victim?

On July 18, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled out the “reorganization plan” for its Office of Research and Development (ORD). The stated goal of the plan is to reduce budget expenditures, improve...more

Morgan Lewis

New Executive Order Aims to Accelerate Development of Data Centers

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The White House has issued an executive order dated July 23, 2025, aimed at accelerating the federal permitting process for data center infrastructure. This latest directive from the US administration is intended to...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure (Trump EO Tracker)

Accelerates the buildout of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and supporting infrastructure by easing federal permitting, streamlining environmental reviews, and expanding access to federally owned land for...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Another Step Change for USDA’s GE Regs: APHIS Ceases NEPA Review of Petitions for Nonregulated Status

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on July 9, 2025, that it will no longer conduct environmental analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when...more

Goldberg Segalla

EPA Announces Plan to Eliminate its Office of Research and Development

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The Environmental Protection Agency announced July 18 it would continue workforce reductions through the elimination of its Office of Research and Development, which provides the independent scientific research that underpins...more

Perkins Coie

Failure to Explain Selection of Project Alternative Violated NEPA and APA

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The Ninth Circuit held that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to explain in its Record of Decision why it selected a project alternative that did not meet the development...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

What MSHA’s 18 Proposed Rules Signal About the Future of Mine Safety

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On July 1, 2025, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) published 18 Notices of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register, marking a sweeping regulatory initiative by the current administration. The proposals...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Minnesota Extends Its PFAS-in-Products Reporting Deadline After Significant Public Comments

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After evaluating public comments on its proposed PFAS-in-products reporting rules, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has agreed to exercise its authority under section 116.943 of the Minnesota Statutes (Amara’s...more

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

NEPA Reimagined: The Ongoing Overhaul of Federal Environmental Review

Over the past eight months, the legal framework governing environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has undergone significant upheaval—with additional changes still on the way. Here’s what’s...more

Allen Matkins

Project Applicants Can Now Pay for Expedited Federal Environmental Review Under NEPA

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The budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 (also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) adds a new provision to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that allows project sponsors/applicants to pay for...more

Vinson & Elkins LLP

The New NEPA: Federal Agencies Overhaul Procedures for Environmental Reviews

Vinson & Elkins LLP on

On July 3, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Army Corps”), and the Departments of Energy (“DOE”), Interior (“DOI”), Transportation (“DOT”),...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Extreme Makeover – NEPA Edition: Permitting Agencies Strip Their Environmental Review Regulations Down To The Studs

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In the past two weeks, six federal permitting agencies — the U.S. Departments of Interior (USDOI), Agriculture (USDA), Energy (DOE), Commerce (DoC), Defense (DoD), and Transportation (USDOT) — withdrew most of their National...more

Jones Day

CARB Breaks Its Silence on Climate Reporting Rules

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On July 9, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released a set of Frequently Asked Questions related to regulatory development and initial reporting obligations under SB 253 and SB 261. ...more

Tonkon Torp LLP

Oregon Department of State Lands Selects New Director

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The Oregon State Land Board – comprised of the Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer – recently appointed Kaitlin Lovell of Colton, Oregon as the new Director of the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL). Lovell...more

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