United States: Environmental Law

During the 2026 legislative session, Virginia's General Assembly passed an avalanche of new environmental legislation. The Assembly introduced over 200 bills related to the environment, with data centers...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the first public list of Confidential Business Information (CBI) claims scheduled to expire under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The patchwork of carbon pricing regimes across the U.S. and globally has become one of the most consequential – and least discussed – variables in AI data center siting decisions.

A federal district court has issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of several Trump administration policies that restricted renewable energy development on federal lands and waters. The ruling addresses Interior Department review procedures, database access restrictions, capacity density requirements, and permit prioritization directives that created barriers for wind and solar projects.

In 2022, New York expanded its wetlands law, but recent court rulings have annulled DEC’s regulations, leaving landowners without guidance and shifting the burden to prove wetlands are regulated

The deep sea mining sector experienced significant developments in Q1 2026, with the International Seabed Authority failing to approve exploitation activities while investigating potential contractor non-compliance. Meanwhile, the Trump administration advanced U.S. mining interests through streamlined licensing processes and domestic processing initiatives, as Japan accelerated its rare earth extraction efforts and strengthened cooperation with the United States on critical mineral supply chains.

At its February 12, 2026 meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission (the Commission) unanimously voted to list mountain lion (Puma concolor) populations in parts of central and southern California as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).

California's SB 343, the "Truth in Recycling" law, establishes stringent requirements for recyclability claims on product packaging sold in the state, mandating proof of collection access, processing capability, and end-market demand. Companies face significant litigation exposure from private plaintiffs if their packaging displays noncompliant recyclability indicators after the October 2026 enforcement deadline.

Wiley's Environmental and FDA Regulatory practices launch a new joint podcast examining the intersection of environmental policy, scientific innovation, and FDA-regulated industries.