The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken final action to revoke California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards that are more climate-protective than federal requirements.  The EPA’s mandate to set emission standards for new motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act generally preempts states’ ability to establish such standards.  However, California can seek… read more

EPA has submitted proposed revisions to its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for controlling methane and other emissions from the oil and natural gas sector that would remove regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed amending regulations on coal ash, the residue left after burning coal, which would remove restrictions on use of the ash exceeding 12,400 tons per site without an “environmental demonstration” showing there would be no added environmental risk.

EPA issued the final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which repeals the Clean Power Plan and replaces it with significantly less stringent emission standards for existing power plants.

EPA is proposing to increase the CO2 emission standard for new coal-fired power plants from 1,400 lbs per MWh to 1,900 lbs per MWh.

EPA proposed to postpone the deadline for state plans issued pursuant to the GHG emission guidelines for MSW landfills from May 30, 2017 to August 29, 2019.

EPA published proposed revisions to its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for controlling methane and other emissions from the oil and natural gas sector, which include significant changes to the leak detection and repair requirements for sources in this sector.

EPA issued a proposed rule to rescind the refrigerant leak repair provisions to HFCs, and requesting public comment on whether to rescind those provisions for other substitute refrigerants.

EPA published a proposed rule to regulate CO2 from power plants which is far less stringent than the Clean Power Plan.

EPA and NHTSA issued a proposal to weaken the greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles MY 2021-2026.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed update to Renewable Fuel Standard Program for the years 2019 and 2020.

EPA issued an advance notice of a proposed rulemaking to “clarify” the agency’s approach to cost-benefit analysis. The proposed rulemaking has implications for how EPA will weigh costs and benefits in future climate regulations.

EPA issued a proposal which would restrict EPA, when issuing regulations, to relying only on scientific research for which the underlying data has been made available to the general public. Comments are due May 30, 2018.

EPA issued a Final Determination for its Mid-term Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Model Year 2022-2025 Light-duty Vehicles in which it announced plans to revise the standards to make them less stringent.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice announcing that it will not enforce a 2015 rule prohibiting the use of HFCs with high GWP as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (which had been partially vacated by the D.C. Circuit) and announcing plans to initiate a new notice-and-comment rulemaking process to address the remand of the rule.

EPA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in which it announced that it is considering proposing a rule to replace the Clean Power Plan. Comments must be received on or before February 26, 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a federal register notice announcing that it is extending the comment deadline for the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan by 32 days to January 16, 2018.

EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in which it proposed to repeal the Clean Power Plan.

The Fall 2017 update to the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions lists a variety of planned actions to rescind or revise regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA and NHTSA opened a public comment period on the reconsideration of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years (MY) 2022-2025. EPA is also taking comment on whether the MY 2021 standards are appropriate. Public comments will be accepted for 45 days after this announcement is published in the Federal Register.

EPA issued a proposal to stay for two years certain core requirements of the NSPS for the Oil and Gas Sector (which covers methane as well as VOCs). Comments on the proposed stay are due on July 17, 2017.

EPA decided not to proceed with the development of methane emission guidelines for existing oil and gas sources.

EPA issued a notice stating that it is granting reconsideration of certain requirements in the in the New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Gas Sector (which covers emission standards for methane as well as VOCs), specifically the well site pneumatic pumps standards and the requirements for certification by professional engineer.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 90-day administrative stay of two rules that established methane emission standards for new and existing landfills, pending its reconsideration of the rules pursuant to EO 13783: Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth.

In a letter dated April 18, 2017, EPA announced that it would convene a process for reconsidering the fugitive emission requirements at well sites and compressor station sites in the NSPS for the Oil and Gas Sector.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice seeking public input on regulations that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification. This input is intended to help inform EPA’s response to President Trump’s Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth. Comments will be accepted through May 15, 2017.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that it is reviewing and, if appropriate, will initiate proceedings to suspend, revise or rescind the Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Electric Generating Units

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that it is reviewing and, if appropriate, will initiate proceedings to suspend, revise or rescind the methane emission standards for new and modified oil and gas facilities.

EPA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that it is reviewing and, if appropriate will initiate proceedings to suspend, revise or rescind the Clean Power Plan.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew two proposed rules that would have supplemented the Clean Power Plan final rule and provided support for the development of state plans: (i) a rule establishing federal plans and model rules for implementing the GHG emission guidelines for existing power plants, and (ii) a rule concerning details of the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP).

Thirty-six house democrats introduced a bill to overturn President Trump’s “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth” order. The “Congressional Leadership in Mitigating Administration Threats to the Earth (CLIMATE) Act” (H.R. 1812) declares the president’s document null and void and would prohibit federal funds for implementing, administering or enforcing it. Democratic senators have also introduced companion legislation.

President Trump issued an executive order aimed at dismantling many of the key actions undertaken at the federal level to address climate change. The order directs EPA to review and potentially rescind or re-write important regulations such as the Clean Power Plan (CO2 emission standards for existing power plants), CO2 emission standards for new power plants, and methane emission standards for the oil and gas sector. It also revokes a number of executive orders and actions, including: guidance on calculating the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions, an imposing a moratorium on federal coal leasing, and guidance on how to account for climate change in environmental reviews.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced their intention to reconsider the greenhouse gas emission standards for light duty vehicles model years 2022-2025. The decision reverses course from EPA’s January 2017 determination that no change in the standards was warranted.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has withdrawn a 2016 Information Collection Request (ICR) which directed existing oil and gas facilities and operators to provide data needed to help the agency determine how to best reduce methane and other harmful emissions from existing sources in the large and complex oil and natural gas industry.

Rep. Johnson (R-TX-3) introduced a bill (H.R.958) “to eliminate certain programs of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.”

Rep. Gaetz (R-FL-1) introduced a bill (H.R. 861) to terminate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A joint resolution was introduced in the Senate (S.J.Res. 21) to overturn the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) update to the 2008 Ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) using the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

Two bills were introduced in the Senate (S.263) and House (H.R.806) to delay implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s 2015 Ozone Standards.

A bill (H.R. 776) was introduced in the house to require that until a comprehensive study is completed, the volume of cellulosic biofuel mandated under the renewable fuel program be limited to what is commercially available.

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL-6) introduced a bill entitled “Stopping EPA Overreach Act of 2017” (H.R. 637). The purpose of the bill is to prevent EPA and other agencies from using their existing statutory authority federal to regulate greenhouse gases.

The Trump Administration issued a Presidential Memorandum entitled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” which directs all agencies to postpone the publication of new and pending regulations to give the administration time to review those regulations. The freeze affects the latest renewable fuel standards from EPA as well as energy efficiency standards recently finalized by DOE.