On December 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) announced that it was taking action against Atlantic Union Bank over practices the CFPB says misled consumers into enrolling in overdraft services without the proper disclosures. The end result of the action is a $1.2 million penalty owed by Atlantic Union […]
Publications
Federal Court Holds Counties May Not Impose “Safety Standards” on Carbon Pipelines
Under the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa’s decisions, counties may not regulate carbon pipelines’ setbacks, decommissioning or emergency-response requirements. Under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes and regulations preempt any incompatible local law.[1] Preemption can occur either expressly or by implication, such as […]
EPA Seeks Input on What Constitutes The “Functional Equivalent” Of A Direct Pollutant Discharge
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, the EPA plans to regulate some indirect pollutant discharges like direct discharges. On November 27, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a request for public comments on how EPA should implement the U.S. Supreme Court’s […]
EPA Publishes Permitting Tracker For Carbon Capture And Storage Projects
EPA’s tracker provides federal guidelines and updates for carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) projects but no guarantee of a timely Class VI permit approval. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) recently published a new tracker (available at this link) that details the EPA’s progress in reviewing Class VI permit applications. […]
U.S. Department of Energy Issues Additional NEPA Exemptions for Solar Energy Projects
These exemptions would help certain solar energy projects avoid significant public disclosure and delay. On November 16, 2023, the U.S Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for regulations related to solar energy generation facilities. The Notice seeks comment on updated exceptions from National Environmental Policy Act […]

