United States: Environment

As we previously reported, on July 14, 2026, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively, Services) published a final rule to rescind the definition of “harm” from their Endangered Species Act (ESA) implementing regulations (Final Rule).

On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule limiting Title V review of NSR preconstruction permitting decisions and clarifying that the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112(r)(1) is not an “applicable requirement” under Title V.

A federal court in New Mexico has issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the state's PFAS labeling law, finding that while the disclosure requirement is factual and noncontroversial, it fails to reasonably relate to the state's claimed interests in protecting consumer health and the environment. The ruling examines the constitutional limits on government-compelled commercial speech and provides significant relief to consumer...

The EPA has finalized a partial repeal of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for power plants, removing existing-source emission guidelines and certain carbon capture requirements while leaving broader questions about regulatory authority unresolved. A simultaneous supplemental proposal goes further by targeting the foundational legal basis for regulating power plant greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, potentially creating more durable constraints on future climate regulation.

Verra has launched Version 1.0 of its Scope 3 Standard Program, introducing a new framework for quantifying, verifying, and certifying greenhouse gas emission reductions within corporate value chains. The program adapts existing Verified Carbon Standard methodologies to enable companies to measure and report value-chain decarbonization investments with greater certainty. As corporate accounting frameworks evolve and the GHG Protocol develops new guidance, this initiative could reshape how companies approach

Explore the latest regulatory developments, litigation updates, and transactional shifts shaping climate law across multiple jurisdictions. From Australia's environmental protection reforms...

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has released new testing results showing that manufacturers have successfully transitioned away from PFAS-containing products in key consumer categories. The data reveals a dramatic improvement in compliance rates since Minnesota's PFAS prohibitions took effect, with over 92 percent of tested products now meeting state requirements for dental floss, menstrual products, and food packaging.

A federal district court has preliminarily enjoined the EPA from reclassifying California's Clean Air Act preemption waiver orders as "rules" subject to the Congressional Review Act. The court found that EPA's reclassification likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeded the agency's authority, though the order does not prevent Congress from proceeding with pending disapproval resolutions.

The New Jersey Supreme Court will review key provisions of the state's Environmental Justice Rules, including their application to facilities in unpopulated areas adjacent to overburdened communities, the classification of existing facilities as "new," and the validity of stricter air pollution control standards. The case could reshape environmental permitting requirements and determine whether long-operating businesses face permit denial or merely additional conditions.

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A federal judge in Oregon has upheld the state's packaging extended producer responsibility law against constitutional challenges, marking the first packaging EPR case to reach a decision on the merits. The ruling rejected claims that Oregon's program violates the dormant Commerce Clause and Due Process Clause, establishing important precedents that may influence similar litigation in other states. With the preliminary injunction now dissolved, producers covered by Oregon's EPR law face immediate compliance

California Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 501, significantly expanding the state's Responsible Battery Recycling Act to include medium-format batteries used in e-bikes, portable generators, and electric lawn equipment. The new law modifies collection obligations for retailers and clarifies when batteries qualify as easily removable, while maintaining core producer responsibilities for battery stewardship programs.