Search Results | Environmental Law Reporter®

What's Happening With Management of Natural Resources?

Since passage of the early natural resource protection laws and regulations in the United States decades ago, legal, technical, and economic practitioners have been challenged with understanding the ever-changing and ever-evolving environmental law and policy landscape. Riveting changes have advanced the position of natural resources and related matters of conservation and biodiversity across domestic and international agendas, in corporate, government, and public interest agendas, and in the lives of everyday citizens.

Climate Corps: Skills-Based Training to Combat the Climate Crisis

Last September, the Biden Administration announced the American Climate Corps, a workforce training and service initiative with the goal of giving young people skills-based training for careers in the clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience sectors. The initiative will offer 20,000 Americans paid training in a variety of environmental fields, specifically prioritize equity and environmental justice, and collaborate with federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and tribal, state, and local governments.

Washington: Wildlife

The Department of Fish and Wildlife proposed to reclassify the gray wolf from endangered to sensitive. Hearings will be held March 15 and 16, 2024. Comments are due May 6, 2024. See https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2024/04/24-04-094.htm.

Rhode Island: Energy

The Infrastructure Bank adopted a new rule governing the Clean Energy Fund. The rule establishes the policies and procedures governing the provision of financial assistance from the fund to applicants for clean energy related infrastructure projects. See https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/830-10-05-3.

Rhode Island: Energy

The Department of Environmental Management adopted amendments to regulations governing petroleum liquids marketing and storage. The amendments remove outdated Stage I and Stage II vapor recovery system requirements and update definitions and terms related to Stage I vapor controls for clarification. See https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/250-120-05-11.

New York: Climate Change

The Department of Environmental Conservation proposed amendments to regulations governing science-based state sea-level rise projections. The amendments would provide up to date science-based projections of future sea-level rise. A hearing will be held April 22, 2024. Comments are due April 29, 2024. See https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/02/022124.pdf (pp. 8-12).

Maine: Water

The Department of Environmental Protection adopted a new rule governing cooling water intake structures.

Louisiana: Water

The Department of Energy and Natural Resources proposed to adopt a fee schedule for Class VI injection wells. The rule would adopt provisions governing the oversight of the Class VI carbon sequestration application fee standards within the Underground Injection Control Program. Comments are due March 22, 2024. See https://www.doa.la.gov/media/baxaqsie/2402.pdf (pp. 298-300).

Kansas: Waste

The Department of Health and Environment proposed to amend regulations governing underground hydrocarbon storage wells and underground crude oil storage wells. The proposed amendments would, among other things, update defined terms, specify permit requirements, clarify requirements for reentry and conversion of a storage well, clarify compliance requirements for storage well and cavern monitoring and testing, and specify requirements for groundwater monitoring. A hearing will be held May 16, 2024. Comments are due April 22, 2024.

Indiana: Land Use

The Natural Resources Commission adopted amendments to regulations governing public use of natural and recreational areas. The amendments add a definition for "class 1 electric bicycle," clarify the definition for "motorized cart," allow operation of motorized carts within campgrounds, and allow for Class 1 electric bicycles to be operated on department trails designated as a mountain bike trail.