Topics discussed this week include:

Federal judicial interpretation of the Clean Water Act remains split
Federal court holds states violated Clean Water Act for dam decommissioning
Suit challenging President Trump’s 2-for-1 executive order survives motion to dismiss
Fiat Chrysler enters Clean Air Act consent decree
Audi engineers face mobile source “defeat device” criminal indictment
Federal court vacates New York regulator’s denial of water quality certificate for natural gas pipeline
Green New Deal nonbinding resolution proposed in Congress

General

Save the Date: 2019 Spring Energy & Commodities Conference

Feb 05 2019

Environmental Trends Contributors

Thursday, April 25, 2019
Sidley Austin | 1501 K Street N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20005
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration
12:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Lunch, Program and Networking Reception

Government shut-down, climate change, inverse condemnation, energy & commodity regulation and enforcement – 2019 looks to be a pretty tumultuous year with lots of change.

We will host an in-depth discussion on evolving regulatory, transactional and business issues facing U.S. and international energy and commodities market participants.

As our industry continues adapting to regulatory, credit, and market challenges, we will host notable industry leaders, distinguished government officials, and Sidley attorneys offering timely insights on pressing issues and trends.

This complimentary half-day program in Sidley’s Washington, D.C. office, will feature informative presentations and panel discussions followed by a networking reception.

For more information or questions, please contact dcevents@sidley.com.

Conference

Energy Enforcement Update

Jan 24 2019

Kenneth Irvin, Terence Healey, Christopher Polito and Sharon Rose

In our first enforcement update for 2019, we cover a range of issues (including some news from the end of 2018):

FERC opens investigations into rates charged by three interstate natural gas companies;
Powhatan and Chen file opening appellate brief;
Judge suspends CFTC case against Kraft because of the partial government shutdown;
FERC increases maximum civil penalties for violations;
FERC approves settlement between FERC Enforcement and Algonquin;
Judge rules that FERC action against Silkman/CES is not time-barred by statute of limitations; and
Judge finds CFTC fails to meet burden on manipulation claims against DRW and Wilson.

CFTC, FERC, NGA

Sidley Environmental Trends

Jan 23 2019

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

NRDC sues EPA over New Source Review permitting program.
District court stays National Marine Fisheries Service case due to government shutdown.
Environmental group sues to force EPA to ban methylene chloride under TSCA.

General

2019: Top Five Things to Watch in the FERC-Regulated Pipeline Space

Jan 17 2019

Emily P. Mallen

1 – Make-up of FERC Commissioners – FERC’s leadership already was uncertain heading into 2019 before the tragic passing of Commissioner and former Chairman Kevin McIntyre on January 3, 2019. Prior to his passing, the Commission achieved a full complement of five commissioners in December 2018, following the confirmation of Bernard McNamee who filled a spot made vacant by the August 2018 resignation of former Commissioner Robert Powelson. Commissioner McNamee is facing calls to recuse himself from certain FERC electric generation proceedings given positions he took on grid resiliency in his prior position at the Department of Energy, and he is certain to be scrutinized by environmental groups for positions he is anticipated to take on pipeline matters as a FERC commissioner.

Federal Power Act (FPA), FERC, NGA, Petitions for Declaratory Order (PDO), Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA)

Implementation of Amended Section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act

Jan 16 2019

Kenneth Irvin, Terence Healey and Christopher Polito

On November 15, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a rulemaking to revise its regulations relating to mergers or consolidations by a public utility. See Implementation of Amended Section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act, 165 FERC ¶ 61,091 (2018). These regulations would implement a law signed on September 28, 2018 establishing a $10 million threshold on transactions that will be subject to FERC’s review and authorization under section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act (FPA). Previously, there was no dollar value threshold for FERC review of public utility “merge or consolidate” transactions under FPA section 203(a)(1)(B). See 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(1)(B).

Federal Power Act (FPA), FERC, Public Utility

Sidley Environmental Trends

Jan 07 2019

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

EPA and Corps propose new definition of Waters of the United States.
EPA proposes to eliminate carbon capture requirements for coal plants.
EPA releases draft rule rescinding power plant mercury rule.
EPA issues final pharmaceutical waste rule.
Senate confirms key environmental posts.
Shutdown slows EPA and Justice Department.
Northeastern states unveil “cap and invest” greenhouse gas program.
New York proposes fluorinated chemical drinking water standards.
California splits with Interior over Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

General

Sidley Environmental Trends

Save the Date: 2019 Spring Energy & Commodities Conference

Energy Enforcement Update

Sidley Environmental Trends

2019: Top Five Things to Watch in the FERC-Regulated Pipeline Space

Implementation of Amended Section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act

Sidley Environmental Trends

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