United States: Clean Air / Pollution

The EPA has released new guidance allowing developers more flexibility in securing emissions offsets for major facilities in areas with persistent air quality problems. Meanwhile, California's Air Resources Board delays mandatory emissions disclosure deadlines, and federal agencies propose new rules addressing PFAS contamination in biosolids and unregulated chemicals in drinking water systems.

On June 29, EPA issued a draft guidance memorandum, “Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Biosolids.” The Draft Guidance reaffirms EPA’s...

On June 24, 2026, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that it intends to extend the initial reporting deadline under California’s...

On May 1, 2026, the Office of Administrative Law approved and filed regulations accompanying California’s Senate Bill 54 (SB 54). The regulations were effective as of the May 1 filing date.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is seeking stakeholder input on the upcoming renewal of its Stormwater Construction General Permit, which governs discharge from construction activities across the state. With the current permit set to expire in March 2028, TCEQ is engaging stakeholders early in the drafting process to gather feedback that could significantly impact design requirements, compliance obligations, and operational costs for construction projects disturbing one or more acres of land.

California's SB 54 imposes complex extended producer responsibility requirements on single-use packaging and food service ware, with initial registration deadlines set for June 1, 2026.

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.

Although the New York State Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget was due on April 1, 2026, the government is continuing to evaluate numerous components, including potential reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review...