Worldwide: Environment

A New York court has annulled the state's new wetlands regulations, finding that the Department of Environmental Conservation failed to conduct the required environmental review under SEQRA. The decision creates significant uncertainty for property owners and developers regarding wetlands regulation, as the court determined the agency did not adequately analyze potential adverse impacts of regulations affecting millions of acres across the state.

March 15, 2026 marked the start of a new five-year cycle for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Nationwide Permits (NWPs). Pursuant to a final rule published on January 8, 2026, the Corps has reissued and modified 56 existing NWPs and created one new NWP.

On April 8, 2026, Judge Richard M. Platkin of the New York State Supreme Court, Albany County, entirely annulled the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s revised Part 664 freshwater wetlands regulations for noncompliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act.