Between April 7 and 11, 2025, during the 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved a new set of regulatory measures aimed at reducing greenhouse...more
A new tax credit is proposed to calculate a fuel’s emissions factor based on its full carbon life cycle of production. Notices 2025-10 and 2025-11 (Notices), released on January 10, 2025, outline the intention of the...more
California and five major automakers finalize deal on vehicle emissions standards - The New York Times – August 17 - The California Air Resources Board (CARB) this Monday finalized “Settlement Agreements” with five of...more
Multi-state coalition’s lawsuit challenges Trump EPA withdrawal of California Clean Air Act waiver. EPA formally announced its decision to withdraw California’s 2013 Clean Air Act waiver, which allowed the state to set its...more
Activists Have a New Strategy to Block Gas Pipelines: State's Rights - "It already has worked in New York where construction on the Constitution Pipeline has stalled. Now activists are trying the strategy in Oregon." ...more
The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recently released the regulatory framework outlining the proposed design of Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard (Standard), a critical element of Canada’s climate strategy that is...more
Even as the Trump administration is calling into question whether it will remain committed to Obama-era fuel economy and emissions targets, state governments are stepping up to enforce those same targets....more
POET, LLC v. State Air Resources Board (POET II) is the second chapter in the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) troubled history meeting its California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance obligations while also...more
On July 2, 2014, EPA released a signed, pre-published version of its final rule for "Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Pathways II and Modifications to the RFS Program, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Requirements, and E15 Misfueling...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule on March 3, 2014, that establishes stricter standards for motor vehicle exhaust emissions and the sulfur content of gasoline. The new “Tier 3” standards...more
In a unanimous decision issued on March 11, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected, on procedural and substantive grounds, a number of industry challenges to EPA’s new source...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Ninth Circuit debates application of dormant Commerce Clause - CourtHouse News - Jan 22: A Ninth Circuit appellate panel’s rejection of a challenge to the “life-cycle analysis” approach...more
In a mostly-published 95-page opinion filed July 15, 2013, the Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed a trial court’s judgment and directed issuance of a writ of mandate setting aside Resolution 09-31 and two executive...more
In Poet, LLC et al. v. California Air Resources Board et al., the Fifth Appellate District held the Air Resources Board (“ARB”) violated CEQA and the APA with its approval of the Low Carbon Fuel Standards (“LCFS”)...more