On July 7, 2026, the Department of Transportation released its 2026 unified rulemaking agenda. Many of the items on it relate to autonomous driving systems. They signal that the Trump Administration is accelerating its efforts to promote the development
Environmental and Energy Brief
Environmental and Energy Brief, published by Sidley Austin LLP, covers legal developments and regulatory changes affecting environmental law, energy policy, and related compliance issues. The blog addresses topics such as federal and state regulatory proposals, enforcement actions, and litigation trends involving agencies like the EPA, Department of Transportation, and FERC. It also discusses impacts on sectors including automotive fuel economy standards, endangered species protections, water resource regulation, and energy infrastructure. The blog provides analysis of rulemakings, court decisions, and administrative actions that influence environmental and energy law practice and policy.
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SB 253 Update: CARB Delays Reporting Deadline to November 2026 and Proposes to Clarify Requirements
Companies preparing to comply with California’s Senate Bill (SB) 253 and submit their first required disclosures in August 2026 have received an update this week from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that will delay reporting deadlines. On June 24…
NHTSA Proposes Amending Federal Brake Standards for Autonomous Vehicles
On June 26, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published another proposed rulemaking designed to promote the deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads. The proposal would amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, “Light vehicle brake systems,”…
OSHA Schedules Public Hearings on Deregulatory Proposals
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled several informal public hearings on more than 20 deregulatory rulemaking proposals that OSHA released last summer, along with a recent proposal addressing compliance deadlines under OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standard. Together, these…
EPA Proposal Could Reduce New Source Review-Related Delays for Major Construction Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed a rule that could allow project developers of data centers, energy projects, and other facilities to begin certain site-development and infrastructure activities before obtaining a Clean Air Act (CAA) New Source Review…
The BUILD America 250 Act: Creating a Federal Framework for Autonomous Commercial Vehicles
On May 22, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the BUILD America 250 Act, a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill intended to replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which expires on September 30, 2026. In addition…
EPA Proposes Two-Year Delay of Biden-Era Vehicle Emissions Standards
On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is reconsidering the criteria pollutant standards for new light- and medium-duty vehicles. The first phase of EPA’s proposal would push back the phase-in schedule of the “Tier…
D.C. Council Proposes a Costly Path for Autonomous Vehicles in the Nation’s Capital
On May 1, three members of the D.C. Council introduced a new bill, titled the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026, that would create a pathway for the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the District of…
NHTSA Issues the First Defect Recall Order in Decades
On April 29, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) took a rare step: It issued a final decision ordering a recall of vehicle equipment—in this case, air bag inflators manufactured in China that allegedly caused numerous deaths and…
California Finalizes a New Regulatory Regime for Testing and Deploying Autonomous Vehicles
On April 28, the California Department of Motor Vehicles released the finalized version of the state’s new autonomous vehicle regulations. More than a year in development and shaped by extensive public debate, these rules carry significant implications for companies that…