Baker McKenzie’s North America Energy response team recently surveyed a number of key oil and gas producing jurisdictions across the United States — representing approximately 90% of domestic oil production — to assess how these jurisdictions are responding to the recent collapse in the oil price from a regulatory perspective. No two jurisdictions are identical in their response, and our analysis reveals a range of approaches. Texas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota are responding pro-actively,…
On March 30, 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), on behalf of the Department of Transportation, finalized the long-signaled rule establishing new carbon dioxide and fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles. Per the final rule, carbon dioxide (“CO2”) emission standards and corporate average fuel economy (“CAFE”) standards for light-duty vehicles will now increase in stringency at 1.5 percent per year over the course of model…
Companies around the country are continuing to assess the operating status of their businesses as the COVID-19 crisis evolves and changes on a daily basis. Amidst the flurry of state Shelter-in-Place (“SIP”) orders over the past week, industrial enterprises across a wide range of sectors – chemicals, energy, mining, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and steel – along with manufacturers providing equipment and supplies to these industries, have been positioning themselves as ”essential businesses” required to keep their…
Earlier this week, we provided guidance on the development of an “Environmental Action Plan” to address potential environmental regulatory and compliance challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis. Our recommendations included – in the context of limited or unavailable EHS staff or resources and in response to plant shutdown orders – (i) a prioritized assessment of potential risks to human health and the environment and compliance concerns with permits or cleanup order obligations, (ii) effective communication…
Operational Disruptions The ever-evolving COVID-19 crisis continues to pose significant challenges for industrial enterprises across the United States. Until very recently, the engines of industry continued to hum while the broader world wrestled with this unprecedented public health crisis. However, with growing constituencies across the public and private sector calling for more aggressive action on social distancing and with states now beginning to issue strict shelter-in-place orders, more and more manufacturing facilities are closing their…