On April 21, 2021, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive package of measures to help improve the flow of money toward sustainable activities across the European Union.
The measures adopted include:
The EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act, which aims to support sustainable investment by making it clearer which economic activities most contribute to meeting the EU’s environmental objectives. The College of Commissioners today reached a political agreement on the text. The delegated act will be formally adopted…
On April 16, 2021, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) issued a consultation paper (the “Consultation“) seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the SEHK’s Corporate Governance Code and Listing Rules intended to promote good corporate governance practices among listed companies and IPO applicants. Amidst the global surge in interest around ESG principles, the SEHK recognizes in the Consultation that “[g]overnance and oversight of ESG matters, and management of material ESG risks (including…
Briefing for certiorari has recently completed in Volkswagen v. Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. The challenged Ninth Circuit decision, if permitted to stand, could have significant effects on federal administration of motor vehicle emissions regulations, and enforcement actions against auto manufacturers.…
The Appellate Division’s recent unpublished decision in Meyer v. Constantinou (April 16, 2021; Dkt. No. A-1793-18) affirmed the exclusion of an environmental expert report as a net opinion for ignoring key facts without sufficient reason. The decision also affirmed the trial court’s finding that dry cleaners are not abnormally dangerous and therefore not subject to strict liability.
The case involved a disputed source of solvent contamination. Specifically, a gas station/auto repair shop discovered PCE contamination…
FERC recently took two actions regarding its transmission rate incentives policies. FERC proposed to scale back an earlier proposed increase in the return on equity (ROE) premium allowed in the rates of transmission owners that join Transmission Organizations such as RTOs/ISOs and proposed to clamp limits on its term. The Commission also scheduled a workshop to address performance-based incentives for transmission technology deployment. Both actions were taken in the context of a March 2020 Notice…
By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA yesterday issued an additional guidance addressing whether employers need to record adverse vaccine reactions on their 300 Logs.
Consistent with the OSHA regulations, OSHA’s guidance explains that an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is recordable if the reaction is: (1) work-related, (2) a new case, and (3) meets one or…
Falling more into the category of “spring cleaning” than “breaking news,” readers should note that a Second District decision, published last spring and covered in this blog, was ordered depublished by the California Supreme Court late last summer.…
COVID-19: Farmer to Families Food Box Program Ends; Fresh Produce Box Purchases and Dairy Donation Program PlannedAccording to statements made by Secretary Vilsack posted to USDA’s website on April 14, 2021, the Farmer to Families Food Box Program will be terminated at the close of April 2021 when the current funded vendor contracts end. On April 14. 2021, Reuters reported that USDA Communications Director Matt Herrick stated USDA is focused on different hunger initiatives, including…
by Fred Breedlove
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s April 24-Month Study, published this week, as expected, signals a significant likelihood of reduced water deliveries in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River to Arizona, California, and Nevada. Not only does it suggest a high likelihood of Tier 1 reductions for 2022 and 2023, but it also suggests that the Lower Basin is at higher risk of confronting Tier 2 conditions.
As I have discussed…
By Patrick J. Paul
On April 19, 2021, America’s civil space program – the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made history when its Mars Ingenuity helicopter made the first ever powered, controlled flight on another planet. With it, the once comical world of the Jetsons becomes increasingly real.
The solar-powered helicopter first became airborne at 3:34 a.m. EDT – 12:33 Local Mean Solar Time (Mars time) – when NASA’s Ingenuity team determined it would…