This week, a federal judge in Wyoming stayed implementation of an Obama-era methane emissions rule. The Obama methane rule south to limit methane emissions from oil and gas projects by reducing leaking, flaring, and venting of natural gas in drilling operations. The Trump administration has moved to roll back the Obama methane rule, and in […]
International Energy Agency (“IEA”) is an intergovernmental organization that aims to support decisions by governments and the private sector to ensure reliable, affordable, and clean energy. On March 23, 2018, the IEA issued its first “Global Energy and CO2 Status Report.” Some recent reports claim that the IEA has been guiding governments toward energy decisions […]
January 8, 2018 | Category:
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In a case certified for partial publication, the Second District Court of Appeal addressed the Public Resources Code section 21168.9 mandate that a court’s order overturning the CEQA decision of a public agency shall be limited to the scope necessary to bring the agency’s decision into compliance with CEQA. The case, Center for Biological Diversity […]
The U.S. Senate on Thursday narrowly confirmed Bill Wehrum to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s air and radiation office, on a party-line vote.
October 31, 2017 | Category:
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In an unpublished decision filed on October 24, 2017, the Third District Court of Appeal upheld a trial court’s denial of a CEQA challenge to a freeway interchange and arterial roadway project. The case, Eureka Village Homeowners Association v. City of Rancho Cordova (C082276) considers whether the EIR prepared by the city analyzed a reasonable […]
Earlier this week, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that he will sign a proposed administrative rule that will withdraw from the Clean Power Plan, a set of administrative regulations targeting coal and natural-gas power plant emissions. A longtime target of President Trump and Mr. Pruitt in his former capacity as Oklahoma Attorney General, the Clean […]
The U.S. District Court for Montana and U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia have both issued decisions suggesting that the “social cost” of greenhouse gas emissions must still be considered under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) – despite President Trump’s desire otherwise. In 2009, President Obama instructed federal agencies to create […]
Governor Jerry Brown announced yesterday that a global climate action conference will be held in San Francisco in 2018, as he continues his quest to be a leader in the global warming movement. Governor Brown previously criticized President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement—an agreement which was never ratified by the U.S. Congress. […]
A California judge has allowed oil companies and agricultural groups to proceed with a lawsuit challenging California’s low carbon fuel standard. Last week, U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill agreed to let the two groups of plaintiffs bring a dormant Commerce Clause claim, because they have successfully shown that the fuel scheme could have a discriminatory […]
May 24, 2017 | Category:
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would put a stop to two Obama-era rules for new and existing dumps meant to cut methane emissions at landfills. The EPA will reconsider the rules after industry groups protested the Obama Administration’s final rules for both rules: “Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills” and Emission Guidelines […]