William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building In Washington DC

EPA’s electronic mailbox is open for requests from stationary sources until March 31.

By Karl A. Karg, Stacey L. VanBelleghem, and Bruce M. Johnson

In March 2025, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has set up an electronic mailbox to allow stationary sources to request a presidential exemption from certain standards under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Section 112 requires EPA to establish emission standards for certain stationary sources of hazardous air pollutants. Section 112 also includes a provision that enables the president to exempt stationary sources from compliance with any standard or limitation under Section 112 for up to two years if “the President determines that the technology to implement such standard is not available and that it is in the national security interests of the United States to do so.” 42 U.S.C. § 7412(i)(4). Section 112(i)(4) also provides that such an exemption may be extended “for 1 or more additional periods, each period not to exceed 2 years.”

2to1 - ueberform-_QVzpeNMaQw-unsplash.jpg_0

The order aims to coordinate government efforts to fast-track permitting and accelerate funding to enhance critical minerals value chains from the mine to finished products.

By Nikki Buffa, Devin M. O’Connor, and Austin J. Pierce

On March 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” (the Order). The Order, which we noted in our blog post Week 9 in Review, represents another step by the Trump administration to expand…

California Aqueduct

Stakeholders should stay informed as state and federal officials advance plans and policies for water conservation, water quality, and climate resilience in California.

By Mike Romey, Lucas Quass, Nolan Fargo, Cody Kermanian, and Samantha Yeager

Following consecutive years of heavy rainfall, California experienced record heat and dry conditions during the summer of 2024, which led parts of the state back into drought. Despite late 2024 storms in Northern California, January 2025 saw statewide precipitation fall below…

Los Angeles Day.jpg_0

Affected landowners may be able to avail themselves of certain protections under state and federal environmental laws.

By Aron Potash and Cody M. Kermanian

In the aftermath of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025, a cleanup effort is underway to facilitate the safe return of residents to their homes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The federal government is leading the effort in coordination with various state and local agencies, and the government has reported significant progress…

USA, California, Golden Gate Bridge in the evening

The landmark decision alters the NPDES permit landscape, shifting the focus to specific actions over general outcomes.

By Michael G. Romey, Benjamin D. Gibson, Lucas I. Quass, Phil Goldberg, and Cody M. Kermanian

On March 4, 2025, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, 145 S.Ct. 704 (2025), which held that while the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorizes the inclusion of narrative (non-numeric) criteria…

EU-Flag_185165281

The Commission’s proposal seeks to reshape EU Sustainability requirements by amending CSRD, CSDDD, EU Taxonomy, and CBAM.

By José María Alonso, Paul A. Davies, Fabrice Fages, Michael D. Green, Nicola Higgs, David Little, Cesare Milani, Axel Schiemann, James Bee, and Toon Dictus

On 26 February 2025, the European Commission (Commission) published its much-anticipated first Omnibus Package. This first Omnibus package regarding sustainability contains a set of legislative proposals designed to…

William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building In Washington DC

This grant of authority could accelerate the permitting process for carbon capture and storage projects in the state.

By Joshua T. Bledsoe, Nikki Buffa, Jennifer Roy, and Samantha Yeager

On February 18, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a final rule granting West Virginia primary enforcement authority, or “primacy,” for permitting Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act, marking a step forward for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects…