Environmental Protection

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US EPA Proposed Clean Air Act Endangerment Finding Targets Aviation Fuel

Lead was once a common additive in fuels, paints, glasses, batteries, pipes, ceramics, and more.  As the health effects of lead exposure came to be better known, Congress and EPA began targeting lead pollution under a variety of laws and regulations governing air and water pollution, including the Toxic Substances Control Act, Residential Lead-Based Paint … Continue Reading

UK Government Proposes 1,000 Fold Increase in Fines for Water Companies

The number of pollution incidents allegedly perpetrated by water companies in the UK has risen sharply in the last few years. On 3 October 2022, the UK Government shared proposals to raise the maximum cap on civil penalties for pollution incidents to unprecedented levels – from £250,000 up to £250 million per violation. If retained … Continue Reading

US EPA’s Submission of Reconsidered Fugitive Emissions Rule Signals Movement Forward on Agency Air Permitting Initiatives

While the US has begun considering the implications of the US Supreme Court’s monumental June 28, 2022 opinion addressing air emissions from power plants, without much fanfare US EPA sent a proposed rulemaking to the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) for pre-publication interagency review that could be significant for “major source” air … Continue Reading

China’s New Pollutant Control Action Plan: A Focused Plan that Could Impact the Chemical Industry Outside of China

It is no secret that China has long struggled with implementing measures for pollution control and regulating hazardous chemicals. We have watched this issue closely and published about it in years past here. However, on May 24, 2022, the China State Council issued its most focused plan yet, known as the “New Pollutant Control Action … Continue Reading

Heavy Duty Regulatory Update: CARB & US EPA Proposed Rulemaking for NOx Heavy-Duty Offroad and Onroad Truck Standards

Our team at Squire Patton Boggs continues to track recent regulatory developments for the heavy-duty vehicle and engine sector. In our last blog post on this topic, we covered US EPA’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative, the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) heavy-duty engine and vehicle omnibus regulation, and CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation. US EPA Heavy-Duty … Continue Reading

Environmental Justice Consideration in Affordable Housing

Environmental justice has a natural connection to affordable housing programs.  It remains, however, a broad and somewhat elusive term.  There is no formal definition of environmental justice in US federal law.  However, relevant agencies have developed working descriptions for the term.  US EPA generally defines it as “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people … Continue Reading

February 2022 Update: EU Sustainability Outlook: Key Developments In EU Sustainability Law and Policy

Our European Public Policy team is pleased to share with you our monthly newsletter, Sustainability Outlook – European Union which looks at key developments in EU sustainability law and policy. This month’s edition includes the following:… Continue Reading

Consultation is opened on the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) draft strategy and enforcement policy (UK)

The consultation seeks views on the new regulator’s plans, which set out how it will protect and improve the environment by holding public authorities to account. The draft strategy defines what the OEP considers to be a “public authority” and this includes the government, government agencies, local authorities and similar organisations, and private companies carrying … Continue Reading

UK Regulator Increases Action Against Greenwashing

Colleagues in our Intellectual Property & Technology team recently published an article focusing on the Competition and Market Authority’s (“CMA”) greenwashing investigation. Greenwashing is the use of disingenuous environmental or eco-friendly claims (for example, “natural”, “recyclable”, “organic”) by businesses to market products to consumers. This may be done via “statements, symbols, emblems, logos, graphics, colours … Continue Reading

January 2022 Update: EU Sustainability Outlook: Key Developments In EU Sustainability Law and Policy

Our European Public Policy team is pleased to share with you our monthly newsletter, which looks at key developments in EU sustainability law and policy. This month’s edition includes the following:… Continue Reading

Update on Environmental Justice Initiatives Under the Biden Administration

During his campaign and with several Executive Orders issued during his first week in office, President Biden made clear that environmental justice (EJ) reforms are a priority of his Administration.  So, where are we one year into his Presidency?  This post provides a brief update on federal programs, initiatives and policies aimed at environmental justice … Continue Reading

January 2022 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment Safety and Health Law Procedure and Policy

Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. The updates covered in this month’s edition include (among … Continue Reading

France Takes Over Presidency of EU Institution, Vows to Implement European Green Deal

With the turn of the year, France took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), following Slovenia. The Council consists of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level and is the EU co-legislator together with the European Parliament. While it is the European Commission, EU executive, that has the … Continue Reading

December 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment Safety and Health Law Procedure and Policy

Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. The updates covered in this month’s edition include (among … Continue Reading

Clearing the Air: US EPA Looks to Revamp Pyrolysis and Gasification Regulations

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  In this case, one man’s solid waste, commercial and industrial waste, biomass, plastics, tires, and organic contaminants are another man’s energy, fuel, and commodity chemicals thanks to waste conversion technologies generally known as pyrolysis and gasification.  For years, these waste conversion technologies have been regulated under a patchwork … Continue Reading

Record £90 Million Fine for a “Flagrant Disregard” of UK Environmental Law Calls for Boards of Directors to Take Note

On 19 August, the sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Johnson were published in relation to the recent £90 million fine issued to Southern Water for sewage pollution.  The remarks provide a full breakdown and description of how this record fine was calculated, and provide comments and conclusions on a number of issues that are likely … Continue Reading

European Commission Proposes a Landmark “Fit for 55” Package of Climate and Energy Legislation (1 in 4-Part Series)

Delivering a key component of the European Green Deal umbrella policy that it adopted in December 2019, the European Commission issued 15 legislative proposals, accompanied by three non-legislative communications in July 2021. With the supporting documents, e.g. impact assessments, the package adds up to around 4,200 pages. It includes the following initiatives:… Continue Reading

July 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy

Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. The updates covered in this month’s edition include (among … Continue Reading

US EPA Takes AIM at HFCs

It’s déjà vu all over again.  Over the course of more than thirty years, EPA and industry partners successfully wound down usage of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) in Title VI of the Clean Air Act, enacted following the 1987 Montreal Protocol.  Under SNAP, HCFCs and CFCs … Continue Reading

2021 Women in Energy & Environment Webinar Series

In January, our four-part 2021 Women in Energy & Environment Webinar Series reached an industry-leading, global audience of more than 450 professionals. The series covered the following key and emerging issues facing the global regulated community today: Embedding Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Into the New Normal – Returning From the Pandemic Key Regulatory Issues in … Continue Reading

January 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy

Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. This month’s edition includes the following: New regulator for … Continue Reading

Looking Ahead to 2021: Implications of a Change in US Administration on Environmental Policy

The tumultuous presidential election is working its way to a close and, while the vote counting and litigation continue, one thing is certain:  the environmental policy agenda to be advanced by a Biden Administration will be a marked contrast to that of the current Trump Administration. The Biden environmental policy agenda includes, at front and … Continue Reading

Chemical Strategy for Sustainability Heralds Most Significant Changes to EU Chemicals Regulation in 15 Years

In publishing the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), the European Commission has announced the Most Significant Changes to EU Chemicals Regulation in 15 Years. The Commission stated that the CSS is the first step towards a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment. While the CSS fully recognises the fundamental role of chemicals for human … Continue Reading

September Update: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy

We are pleased to share with you the latest edition of “frESH Law Horizons – Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy”. In our September edition, we summarise 40 developments in the environmental, safety and health sector. Some of the top stories this month include:… Continue Reading
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