Companies preparing to comply with California’s SB 253 and submit their first required disclosures in August 2026 received additional guidance this week from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). At a public workshop on March 23, CARB outlined proposed approaches
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.
Latest from Environmental and Energy Brief - Page 4
NHTSA Proposes Amending Federal Crash Avoidance Standards for Autonomous Vehicles
On March 16, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published two proposed rulemakings designed to ease the path for manufacturing autonomous vehicles and deploying them on public roads. Both proposals would amend existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) by…
California’s Textile EPR Law: Key 2026 Milestones and Upcoming Producer Deadlines
California continues to expand its extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework to new product categories, capturing an ever-greater number of “producers” responsible to comply across supply chains. In September 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 707 — the Responsible…
Parent Company Liability Under the Clean Air Act: Federal District Court Applies Bestfoods and Imposes $100 Million Penalty and $20 Million in Mitigation
In a February 17, 2026 decision with significant implications for corporate parents, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan held in United States v. EES Coke Battery, LLC that parent company DTE Energy Company and two affiliates were…
A New Global Milestone for Autonomous Vehicles: What the UN Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems Means for Autonomy in the U.S. and Around the World
In late January, a United Nations regulatory body, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA), approved a Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS). The draft Global Technical Regulation (GTR),…
Walk Like a CSHO: Cal/OSHA Proposes Its Own “Walkaround Rule”
On February 13, 2026, Cal/OSHA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to clarify who can join its onsite inspections. To be codified as Title 8 § 331.8 if implemented, Cal/OSHA’s stated goal is to match federal OSHA’s 2024 updates…
Oregon Federal Court Enjoins EPR Law Enforcement
On February 6, 2026, Sidley prevailed on behalf of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) in securing a preliminary injunction against Oregon’s first-of-its-kind plastic packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) law. Judge Michael H. Simon of the U.S. District Court for…
New York is Latest State to Finalize Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules for 2026
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) finalized its long-awaited Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program (Part 253), which implements GHG reporting requirements for businesses in New York consistent with directives under the 2019 Climate Leadership…
EPA Proposes Changes to Provide More Certainty for Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Review
On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to revise the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 water quality certification regulations (40 C.F.R. Part 121), which proposes several clarifications to enhance certainty for project applications…
California Environmental Law Update: Key Legislative and Regulatory Updates To Track in 2026
California enacted a wide-ranging slate of environmental and climate legislation in 2025 and in prior years, with many of the resulting requirements taking effect in 2026 that will impact companies operating in or doing business with the state. These developments…