On January 20th, President Trump’s Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus issued a Memorandum to the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies imposing a regulatory freeze. There appears to be a lot of confusion among environmental attorneys and consultants as to
Joseph Koncelik
The Ohio Environmental Law Blog is authored by Joseph Koncelik, an attorney at the Cleveland-based law firm Tucker Ellis LLP. The blog focuses on environmental law topics, including renewable energy, climate change, brownfield redevelopment, wetland regulation, hazardous waste management, and state and federal environmental regulatory developments. It provides insight and commentary relevant to legal and business communities, particularly in Ohio. The blog covers practical issues such as grant programs for brownfield remediation, regulatory changes following court decisions, and proposed EPA rules affecting environmental compliance and cleanup. It also discusses state initiatives supporting economic development through environmental and infrastructure funding.
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Thirty EPA Rules Frozen by New Executive Action
On January 20th, Reince Preibus, President Trumps Chief of Staff, issued a broad regulatory freeze memorandum entitled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” halting federal rules that had not yet become effective. All rules covered by the memorandum are suspended…
Ignoring the Need for a Permit Can Lead to Jail Time
U.S. EPA released its December Environmental Crimes Bulletin. One notable case highlighted involved the failure to obtain and industrial pre-treatment permit for discharges to the municipal wastewater system. As set forth in the bulletin, U.S. EPA describes the case…
EPA Enacts Major Overhaul to Hazardous Waste Generator Requirements
Late last year U.S. EPA enacted the “Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule” which constitutes a major overhaul of the federal hazardous waste regulations (RCRA) that apply to any generator of hazardous waste. The new rule impacts thousands of…
How Quickly Can President Trump Unwind Environmental Regulations?
President Elect Trump has vowed to unwind regulations which he believes are dramatically constraining economic growth. The Obama Administration’s environmental regulations are specifically being targeted, including: the Clean Power Plan, the Waters of the U.S. Rule and ozone regulations. His…
Cuyahoga County May End Brownfield Program
After more than ten years of building a brownfield redevelopment program, Cuyahoga County Officials are currently contemplating bringing the program to a close. Over the last few years significant staff cuts have reduced the amount of resources dedicated to the…
Two Trump Administration Environmental Priorities to Help the “Rust Belt”
There is a lot of hyperbole regarding President-Elect Trump’s potential environmental agenda. During the campaign there was also a lot made about issues of employment and opportunity in the “Rust Belt” (a term I personally do no like). Here are…
State of Ohio Pursues Recovery of Incentives
Companies expanding onto brownfield sites need public incentives to make their projects viable. However, the days when cleanup of contamination by itself could attract public incentives are long over. Under the new local and State brownfield programs companies must make…
First 100 Days- Repeal of the Clean Water Rule and Clean Power Plan
In a major upset, Donald Trump wins the Presidency last night. In less than twenty-four hours after the official concession by Secretary Clinton, people are scrambling to figure out what a Trump Presidency really means. Because he was purposefully silent…
Army Corps of Engineers Issues Regulatory Guidance in Response to Hawkes Case
On October 31, the Army Corps of Engineers (“ACOE”) issued new guidance as to the types and prioritization of jurisdictional determinations (JDs). Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) 16-01 “Jurisdictional Determinations” has very little new guidance in reality. However, some key…