Climate Deregulation News

December

• EPA cost-benefit rule could undermine Biden climate action (Dec. 15, 2020)

• 'Good cause': EPA moves could obstruct Biden rules (Dec. 11, 2020)

• EPA's internal deadline: 1 week left to complete rollbacks (Dec. 8, 2020)

• GOP looks to safeguard Trump rule rollbacks (Dec. 4, 2020)

• Ford urges support for Calif. emissions deal (Dec. 1, 2020)

• Lawmakers ask court to kill Trump's NEPA overhaul (Dec. 1, 2020)

November

• Early test for Biden: Car emissions rules (Nov. 30, 2020)

• Trump's Environmental Rollbacks Are Racist. Here's How Biden Can Overturn Them Immediately. (Nov. 25, 2020)

• Enviros ask D.C. Circuit to scrutinize disposal rule (Nov. 24, 2020)

• How Trump could obstruct Biden's regulatory plans (Nov. 24, 2020)

• G.M. Drops Its Support for Trump Climate Rollbacks and Aligns With Biden (Nov. 24, 2020)

• Grassroots activist could lead Biden's EPA (Nov. 19, 2020)

• What did Trump's emergency orders do? Not much (Nov. 19, 2020)

• Biden could slash CO2 with DOE rules — report (Nov. 17, 2020)

• Biden 'playbook' in climate, energy feuds echoes Trump's (Nov. 13, 2020)

• 4 Trump rules likely to be early targets for Biden EPA (Nov. 12, 2020)

• Trump eyes midnight energy rules at DOE, Interior (Nov. 10, 2020)

• Trump administration sued for failing to update efficiency standards for 25 appliances (Nov. 9, 2020)

• White House races to wrap up rules before Trump exits (Nov. 9, 2020)

• Trump admin pushes ahead on NEPA changes (Nov. 4, 2020)

October

• Trump admin surrenders on ruling that blocked timber project (Oct. 22, 2020)

• Judge tosses land management plans after ousting Pendley from role (Oct. 20, 2020)

• DOE sued over efficiency rule overhaul (Oct. 19, 2020)

• Judges Hear Arguments in President Trump’s Biggest Climate Rollback (Oct. 8, 2020)

September

• Trump misled viewers on clean cars and gas mileage (Sept. 30, 2020)

• Court halts EPA methane rule rollback (Sept. 17, 2020)

• What Trump’s Environmental Rollbacks Mean for Global Warming (Sept. 17, 2020)

• Green groups sue EPA over methane rollbacks (Sept. 16, 2020)

• Trump admin mounts defense of Obama trailer emissions rules (Sept. 15, 2020)

• Trump admin appeals BLM methane rule loss (Sept. 15, 2020)

• States Challenge Trump Methane Rule in Court (Sept. 14, 2020)

• Trump NEPA rules begin after court denies freeze (Sept. 14, 2020)

• States drop lawsuit over now-defunct enforcement policy (Sept. 11, 2020)

• Trump admin defends Calif. waiver rollback in court (Sept. 10, 2020)

• EPA chief pledges more cleanups, less focus on climate (Sept. 4, 2020)

August

• Trump Loses Bid to Slash Penalties on Gas Guzzlers (Aug. 31, 2020)

• 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law (Aug. 28, 2020)

• Green groups fight EPA rollback limiting states from blocking projects (Aug. 27, 2020)

• Industry groups join NEPA legal fray (Aug. 25, 2020)

• 80-plus lawmakers call on Wheeler to withdraw methane rule (Aug. 25, 2020)

• Trump EPA could undercut future Clean Air Act rules (Aug. 25, 2020)

• 2 lawsuits challenge Trump’s drilling plan in Alaska refuge (Aug. 24, 2020)

• Thousands allowed to bypass environmental rules in pandemic (Aug. 24, 2020)

• Trump's Methane Rollback that Big Oil Doesn't Want (Aug. 13, 2020)

• Lawsuit: NEPA overhaul ignores environmental justice (Aug, 6, 2020)

• 18 attorneys general slam EPA's cost-benefit proposal (Aug. 4, 2020)

July 2020

• EPA looks to other statutes to expand scope of coming 'secret science' rule  (July 29, 2020)

• E.P.A. Inspector General to Investigate Trump’s Biggest Climate Rollback (July 27, 2020)

• E.P.A. Proposes Airplane Emission Standards That Airlines Already Meet (July 22, 2020)

• States sue EPA over rule limiting permit oversight (July 21, 2020)

• Democrats Eye Trump’s Game Plan to Reverse Late Rule Changes (July 17, 2020)

• Trump rewrite of longstanding environmental law pushes climate change aside (July 17, 2020)

• Trump Rollbacks Weakened Defenses to Pandemic (July 14, 2020)

• Congressional Dems Demand Administration Fix Car Rollback Flaws (July 14, 2020)

• Green Group Sues Over Executive Order Expediting Energy Projects During Pandemic (July 10, 2020)

• House Democrats target EPA 'secret science' rule (July 10, 2020)

• 2 oil states split on methane as EPA halts rule (July 6, 2020)

• White House Finishes Review of NEPA Rule Overhaul Overhaul (July 1, 2020)

June 2020

• EPA Ends Contentious Enforcement Policy (June 30, 2020)

• Soot Rule Thrusts EPA Into Spotlight on Race (June 12, 2020)

• Green Group Plans to Sue Trump Over Permit Order (June 9, 2020)

• EPA's New Water Rule Won't Speed Up New Oil, Gas Pipeline Projects (June 9, 2020)

• Advisers Warn EPA on Health Impacts of Cost-Benefit Analysis Overhaul (June 8, 2020)

• CWA Rule Could Backfire on "Energy Independence" (June 8, 2020)

• What Trump's Permit Order Means for NEPA, Energy, and Race (June 5, 2020)

• NEPA Rollback Could Fall Hardest on Communities of Color (June 5, 2020)

• EPA Proposes Changes to How Clean Air Act Rules Are Written (June 4, 2020)

• NEPA Overhaul Advances Towards Release (June 2, 2020)

• EPA CWA Permit Rule Faces Vulnerabilities in Court, Congress (June 2, 2020)

• EPA Sends Methane Rollback to White House For Speedy Review (June 2, 2020)

• EPA Limits States' Authority to Block Pipelines and Other Energy Projects (June 1, 2020)

• States Oppose Lawsuit for Looser Auto Standards (June 1, 2020)

May 2020

• Fuel Efficiency Rollbacks Ignite a Legal Mess (May 29, 2020)

• Environmental Rollbacks Continue During Pandemic. Opponents Cry Foul (May 29, 2020)

• States Challenge Vehicle Standard Rollback in Court (May 27, 2020)

• Electric Sector Already Met Clean Power Plan (May 27, 2020)

• States Lead Court Fight Against Trump. They're Winning (May 26, 2020)

• DOE Weighs Regulation Rollback After Trump Order (May 21, 2020)

• EPA's "Secret Science" Proposal Receives 76K Comments, Many Critical (May 19, 2020)

• EPA Heeds Executive Order, Proposes Curbs on Guidance (May 19, 2020)

• White House Warned EPA About Legal Concerns With Auto Rollbacks (May 19, 2020)

• Trump Admin Slaps Renewables With Retroactive Rents (May 18, 2020)

• How a Revised Calculation Could Hurt Future Climate Rules (May 14, 2020)

• State Sue EPA Over Pandemic Nonenforcement Policy (May 13, 2020)

• PHMSA Drops New Crude-By-Rail Rules, Blocks Washing State Regulations (May 11, 2020)

• Greens Sue Over Superpollutant Rollback (May 11, 2020)

• Green Group Threatens to Sue EPA Over Car Rule Documents (May 8, 2020)

• Agency leans on 1870s 'housekeeping' law to block science (May 8, 2020)

• The Trump Administration Is Reversing Nearly 100 Environmental
  Rules (May 5, 2020)

April 2020

• Conservative Group Challenges SAFE Rule As Too Strict (April 30, 2020)

• EPA Delays Rollback of CO2 Rule for New Coal Plants (April 27, 2020)

• States, Green Groups Challenge Power Plan Rollback in Court (April 17, 2020)

• Judge Reluctantly Upholds Pipeline Inspection Rules (April 17, 2020)

• DOJ Lets Companies Skip Paying Penalties During Pandemic (April 17, 2020)

• NRDC Sues EPA Over Enforcement Policy (April 16, 2020)

• States, Green Groups Challenge DOE Process Rule in Court (April 15, 2020)

• Senator Slams NEPA Rewrite Process (April 13, 2020)

• Rollback of Clean Car Standards Faces Legal Challenges (April 7, 2020)

• EPA's "Secret Science" Rule Could Hamstring COVID-19 Research (April 7, 2020)

• Facing Criticism, EPA Extends Comment Period for "Secret Science" Rule (April 3, 2020)

• Congressional Dems Urge Extension of Comment Periods (April 2, 2020)

• Green Groups Consider Legal Challenge to None-Enforcement Policy (April 1, 2020)

March 2020

• Greens, States Prepared to Sue Over Trump Clean Cars Rollback (March 31, 2020)

• Lax Environmental Enforcement May Further Stress Hospitals During Pandemic (March 30, 2020)

• Leaked Cars Rule Fails Cost-Benefit Analysis (March 30, 2020)

• Court Upholds Fracking Rule Rollback (March 27, 2020)

• EPA Relaxes Environmental Rules During Pandemic (March 26, 2020)

• Senator Calls on EPA to Withdraw "Secret Science" Rule (March 26, 2020)

• Advocates to Hold Own Hearing on EPA "Secret Science" Rule (March 25, 2020)

• Regulatory Rollbacks Continue Amid Pandemic (March 25, 2020)

• Researchers, Green Groups Protest Fast-Tracking of "Secret Science" Rule (March 24, 2020)

• States ask EPA to Halt "Secret Science" Rulemaking Amid Pandemic (March 20, 2020)

• Pandemic's Impact on Deregulatory Agenda (March 19, 2020)

• State AGs Tell CEQ NEPA Proposals Will Lead to More Litigation (March 12, 2020)

• EPA Expands "Secret Science" Proposal (March 4, 2020)

• EPA Rushes to Finish Rules, Wary of Democratic Victory (March 4, 2020)

• Science Advisors Slam Vehicle Rollback in Final Report (March 2, 2020)

• EPA IG Asked to Probe Whether Appointees Silenced Career Staffers' Rulemaking Concerns (March 2, 2020)

February 2020

• Groups, States Sue DOE Over Lightbulb Rules (February 26, 2020)

• Study Finds Motor Vehicle Rollback Would Increase Emissions (February 18, 2020)

• SEC Proposal Could Limit Climate Resolutions (February 7, 2020)

• Congressional Dems Criticize DOE for Withholding Energy Efficiency Funds (February 6, 2020)

January 2020

• Over 300 Groups Request Extension to Comment on NEPA Regulations (January 27, 2020)

• Five States Raise Concerns About Coal Ash Regulations (January 23, 2020)

• BP Lobbied for Revisions to NEPA Regulations (January 23, 2020)

• House Proposal Includes Coal Ash Rules (January 22, 2020)

• Congressional Dems Ask Trump Administration to Extend Comment Period for NEPA Regulations (January 21, 2020)

• Vehicle Standards Rollback Sent to White House for Final Review (January 15, 2020)

• Interior Department Ignores Public Comments on Rulemaking - Analysis (January 14, 2020)

• Federal Safety Agency Warns of "Catastrophic" Blasts from LNG Rule (January 14, 2020)

• Key Committee Considers HFC Bill (January 13, 2020)

• FEMA's Threat Report Ignores Climate Change (January 7, 2020)

December 2019

• EPA's Independent Science Board Critiques Proposed Rules (December 31, 2019)

• EPA Proposes "Efficient" Federal Coal Ash Permitting Program (December 23, 2019)

• Congress Instructs EPA to Consult Science Advisory Board on "Secret Science Rule" (December 20, 2019)

• EPA Approves Georgia's Coal Ash Regulation Plan (December 19, 2019) 

November 2019

• Department of Energy Advances Plan That Could Weaken Energy Efficiency Standards for Dishwashers (November 20, 2019)

• EPA Proposes Streamlining Permits by Limiting Appeals Board's Authority (November 5, 2019)

October 2019

•  Trump Signs Executive Orders on Guidance Documents (October 9, 2019)

•  Trump Terminates Smart Grid Advisory Committee (October 9, 2019)

August 2019

• States and Cities Sue EPA Over Rollback of Climate Regulations Aimed at Coal Plants (August 13, 2019)

June 2019

• Trump’s EPA Just Replaced Obama’s Signature Climate Policy with a Much Weaker Rule (June 19, 2019)

May 2019

• BLM Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for Lifting Coal Leasing Moratorium (May 24, 2019)

April 2019

• Judge Delivers Major Setback to Trump Policy to Increase Coal Mining on Federal Land (April 19, 2019)

• States pick up Trump’s coal mantle (April 15, 2019)

• Federal court dismisses Trump administration’s repeal of coal, oil valuation rule (April 15, 2019)

March 2019

• Report – Climate and Health Showdown in the Courts: State Attorneys General Prepare to Fight (March 2019)

• Trump Administration Loosens Sage Grouse Protections, Benefiting Oil Companies (March 18, 2019)

• Trump Climate Deregulation Could Boost CO2 Emissions by 200 Million Tonnes a Year: Study (March 5, 2019)

February 2019

• Federal court rebukes DOE efforts to freeze regs (February 28, 2019)
  • Decision (February 22, 2019)

• Bill aims to protect Obama standards from Trump (February 6, 2019)

January 2019

• EPA highlights decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and deregulation in annual review (January 29, 2019)

• Temporarily Postponed: Public Hearing on Proposed NSPS for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed EGUs (January 24, 2019)

• Study sees CO2 ‘rebound’ under proposed carbon rule (January 16, 2019)

December 2018

• Interior advances ANWR drilling plan (December 20, 2018)

• EPA science adviser allowed industry group to edit journal article (December 10, 2018)

• Trump to roll back carbon rule on new coal plants (December 6, 2018)

• Trump Plans Major Rollback of Sage Grouse Protections to Spur Oil Exploration (December 6, 2018)

• The “Trump effect” threatens the future of the Paris climate agreement (December 4, 2018)

• EPA: Revamped carbon rule for new power plants could come soon (December 4, 2018)

November 2018

• White House clears EPA wood stove proposals (November 19, 2018)

• Trump Says He’ll Nominate Andrew Wheeler to Head the EPA (November 16, 2018)

• The EPA Updated its Fracking Pages With Oil and Gas Industry Talking Points (November 16, 2018)

• Trump Backs Wood Power Scientists Call Dirtier Than Coal (November 1, 2018)

• ‘It’s a ghost page’: EPA site’s climate change section may be gone for good (November 1, 2018)

September 2018

• Trump administration sees a 7-degree rise in global temperatures by 2100 (September 28, 2018)

• E.P.A. to Eliminate Office That Advises Agency Chief on Science (September 27, 2018)

• White House cut climate warnings from rule on power plants (September 5, 2018)

August 2018

• Clean Power Plan: Document details Trump’s plan to scale back Obama rule (August 20, 2018)

• Exclusive: Draft details Trump’s plan for reversing Obama climate rule (August 14, 2018)

• Fuel Efficiency: Trump plans to keep GHG standards at 2018 levels — source (August 1, 2018)

July 2018

• 5 things to know about leaked draft of clean-car rules (July 30, 2018)

• EPA walks back climate recommendations for FERC (July 26, 2018)

• U.S. to stop taking payments from drillers, miners for damage to public land (July 24, 2018)

• E.P.A. Drafts Rule on Coal Plants to Replace Clean Power Plan (July 5, 2018)

June 2018

• NOAA: Draft plan drops ‘climate’ from strategic mission (June 25, 2018)

• Senate panel approves bill with climate amendment (June 21, 2018)

• EPA: Pruitt’s cost-crunching plan could affect new climate regs (June 9, 2018)

• EPA: Emails show to-do list for tearing down climate rules (June 4, 2018)

• Trump Orders a Lifeline for Struggling Coal and Nuclear Plants (June 1, 2018)

• In Rebuke to Pruitt, EPA Science Board Votes to Review Climate Policy Changes (June 1, 2018)

May 2018

• EPA: Pruitt quietly advances planned regulatory overhaul (May 16, 2018)

• How Pruitt’s science plans might help industry fight rules (May 1, 2018)

April 2018

• U.S. EPA grants biofuels waiver to billionaire Icahn’s oil refinery – sources (April 30, 2018)

• EPA Readies Plan to Weaken Rules That Require Cars to Be Cleaner (April 27, 2018)

• Trump climate plan would mean ‘lives lost,’ Democrats say (April 27, 2018)

• EPA issues policy statement clarifying that in future regulatory actions biomass from managed forests will be treated as carbon neutral when used for energy production at stationary sources (April 23, 2018)

• Court tosses Trump rule delaying higher fines for automakers (April 23, 2018)

• FERC Initiates Review of 1999 Policy Governing Certifications of Pipelines (April 20, 2018)

• DOI Issues Notice of Environmental Review for Oil and Gas Leasing in the Arctic (April 19, 2018)

• Trump to roll back landmark climate rules on cars (April 2, 2018)

March 2018

• FEMA Drops ‘Climate Change’ From Its Strategic Plan (March 15, 2018)

• EPA publishes report summarizing regulatory rollbacks in past year (March 5, 2018)

• Clean Power Plan: Court extends hold on litigation (March 1, 2018)

February 2018

• OMB, 2017 Draft Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulations and Agency Compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act  (February 26, 2018)

• In shift, Trump admin plans to pay climate dues (February 16, 2018)

• Trump Administration Plan Would Roll back Environmental Reviews Covering Use of Public Lands (February 8, 2018)

• Trump to Withdraw Nomination of Climate Skeptic as Top Environmental Adviser (February 4, 2018)

January 2018

• White House to propose 72 percent cut to clean energy research: report (January 31, 2018)

• Trump’s Solar Tariffs Are Clouding the Industry’s Future (January 23, 2018)

• Administration Scraps Plan to Pause EPA Landfill Rules Amid Legal Doubts (January 12, 2018)

• Rick Perry’s Plan to Rescue Struggling Coal and Nuclear Plants Is Rejected (January 8, 2018)

• Trump administration aims to open nearly all U.S. offshore waters to drilling (January 4, 2018)

• Trump admin misses deadline for emissions report (January 3, 2018)

December 2017

• Attorney General Becerra Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration For Suspending Rule That Prevents Dangerous Waste of Natural Gas (December 19, 2017)

• Group sues over secrecy of Trump’s rule cutting (December 15, 2017)

• Trump updates agenda, boasts killing hundreds of rules (December 14, 2017)

• New air boss outlines next steps for doomed climate rule (December 13, 2017)

• First step to replace climate rule coming this month – EPA (December 11, 2017)

November 2017

• Crunching new numbers for a potent greenhouse gas (November 20, 2017)

• 4 big climate rules still alive under Trump (November 16, 2017)

• Court again stays litigation over Obama climate rule (November 10, 2017)

• No need for broad coal leasing review – Interior lawyers (November 8, 2017)

• EPA seeks more comments on plan to delay standards (November 7, 2017)

• EPA Floats Extended Methane NSPS ‘Phase-In’ As Alternative to Rule Stay (November 3, 2017)

• EPA Slashes Social Cost of Methane in Bid to Delay Oil and Gas Limits (November 3, 2017)

• BLM Takes Steps To Undo Gas Venting and Flaring Rule (November 2, 2017)

October 2017

• Legal war looms as EPA targets climate rule (October 10, 2017)

• Draft: Trump’s EPA set to repeal Obama’s big climate rule (October 6, 2017)
  • Full text of draft proposal to repeal the Clean Power Plan

• 48 Environmental Rules on the Way Out Under Trump (October 5, 2017)

• Court nixes Trump admin’s ‘unlawful’ delay of BLM rule (October 4, 2017)

• EPA Releases Draft FY 2018-2022 EPA Strategic Plan (October 4, 2017)

• Trump EPA to propose repealing Obama’s climate regulation: document (October 3, 2017)

September 2017

• Clean Power Plan: Coming soon, Trump’s new rule might have ‘fuzzy math’ (September 25, 2017)

• Trump Administration to reconsider coal plant wastewater rule (September 14, 2017)

• Trump CEQ rolls out plans for swift NEPA reviews (September 14, 2017)
  • CEQ Notice
  • Fact sheet

• House OKs amendments against methane rule, carbon metric (September 13, 2017)

• Greens plan suit over EPA failure to curb methane emissions (September 13, 2017)

• NRDC, Others Sue DOT Over Fuel Efficiency Penalty Delay (September 7, 2017)

• Interior: Order limits most NEPA studies to a year, 150 pages (September 6, 2017)

August 2017

• Proposed rule pushes BLM requirements to July 2019 (August 23, 2017)

• U.S. Government Disbands Climate-Science Advisory Committee (August 21, 2017)

• Removals​ ​of​ ​Climate​ ​Change​ ​Mentions​ ​and​ ​Links​ ​from​ ​the National​ ​Institute​ ​of​ ​Environmental​ ​Health​ ​Sciences​ ​Website (August 20, 2017)

• Trump orders faster permitting on infrastructure projects (August 15, 2017)

• Feds to expand review of emissions standards for cars (August 10, 2017)

• D.C. Circuit Extends Pause in Litigation on Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants (August 10, 2017)

• DC Circuit extends delay on Clean Power Plan litigation (August 9, 2017)

• U.S. submits formal notice of withdrawal from Paris climate pact (August 4, 2017)
  • Climate Law Blog: The U.S. Communication Regarding Intent to Withdraw from the Paris Agreement: What Does it Mean?

• Enviros renew push for action on litigation (August 3, 2017)

• Court lets states intervene in ozone fight in setback for EPA (August 2, 2017)

• Industry to EPA: We want rule ‘fixed, not just gone’ (August 1, 2017)

July 2017

• Bills would make it easier to kill rules (July 31, 2017)

• Enviros, industry wrestle over fate of standards in court (July 28, 2017)

• In surprise move, NHTSA to reconsider 2021 standards (July 25, 2017)

• Make America Wait Again: Trump Tries to Delay Regulations out of Existence (July 24, 2017)

• Trump admin unveils fracking rule rollback plan (July 24, 2017)

• Trump outlines deregulation agenda (July 20, 2017)

• Trump picks climate change doubter for USDA science job (July 20, 2017)

• Panel approves cuts to global enviro programs, worker safety (July 20, 2017)

• Committee approves Interior-EPA bill (July 19, 2017)

• House panel taking up EPA, Interior Spending Bill (July 17, 2017)

• Companies comply with EPA rules amid legal pingpong (July 17, 2017)

• Court lets EPA delay methane rule for limited period (July 13, 2017)

• Groups sue EPA over ozone implementation delay (July 12, 2017)

• House bill would bar contributions to U.N. climate fund (July 12, 2017)

• Senate Dems push back against Trump rule delays (July 12, 2017)

• Appropriators aim to bar carbon metric in rulemaking (July 11, 2017)

• Enviros, tribes sue over delayed BLM methane rule (July 10, 2017)

• OMB releases guidance for more cuts, ‘bold reform’ (July 10, 2017)

• D.C. Circuit rejects EPA methane rule delay (July 3, 2017)

June 2017

• Pruitt: Courts didn’t give EPA ‘tools’ for carbon (June 28, 2017)

• Juliana v. United States Climate Trial Set for February 5, 2018 (June 28, 2017)

• Energy CEOs Tell EPA Chief They Want Carbon Regulation (June 22, 2017)

• Yellowstone Grizzly Bear to Lose Endangered Species Protection (June 22, 2017)

• EPA announces research to assess how the EPA estimates methane emissions from the oil and natural gas production sector (June 21, 2017)

• Lawsuit Seeks Documents on Trump Administration’s Ties to Coal Industry (June 20, 2017)

• Energy Department Closes Office Working on Climate Change Abroad (June 15, 2017)

• Interior halts restrictions on methane emissions (June 14, 2017)

• Interior Secretary Zinke submits an interim report on his review of National Monuments pursuant to Trump directive (June 10, 2017)
  • See our Climate Law Blog for further analysis

• Trump’s proposed climate rule reconsideration nears public release (June 9, 2017)

• The U.S. Cities And States Challenging Trump’s Paris Withdrawal (June 6, 2017)

 May 2017

• Trump EPA Gives Landfills a Pass on Climate-Warming Methane (May 24, 2017)

• President Trump Releases Proposed Budget for FY 2018 (May 23, 2017)
  • Appendix available here.

• Clean Power Plan: Supreme Court Stay Factors Into Litigation’s Future (May 15, 2017)
  • All case briefs available here.

• Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signs declaration acknowledging the risks of global climate change in the Arctic and need for GHG reductions (May 12, 2017)
  • Fairbanks Declaration of 2017

• Trump Administration Delays Decision on Leaving Climate Pact (May 9, 2017)

• States sue over Trump decision to restart coal lease program (May 9, 2017)

• E.P.A. Dismisses Members of Major Scientific Review Board (May 7, 2017)

• Pruitt recuses himself from Clean Power Plan litigation (May 4, 2017)

• Environmental groups file lawsuit challenging Trump’s executive order on offshore drilling (May 3, 2017)
  • Complaint

April 2017

• EPA takes down climate change website, archived version available here (Apr. 28, 2017)

• D.C. Circuit issues order to hold Clean Power Plan litigation in abeyance for 60 days, requests briefings on whether case should be remanded to agency (Apr. 28, 2017)

• EPA announces intent to postpone effective date of emission standards for oil and gas sector (Apr. 19, 2017)

• Leaked BLM document lists oil, gas, and coal leasing among agency priorities (Apr. 10, 2017)

• EPA Shutting Down Climate Adaptation Program (The Hill, Apr. 7, 2017)

• Senators request information on how EPA intends to address power sector greenhouse gas emissions if Clean Power Plan is rescinded (Apr. 7, 2017)

• We knew Trump wanted to gut the EPA. A leaked plan shows how it would be done. (Vox, Apr. 4, 2017)

March 2017

• White House: Background Briefing on the President’s Energy Independence Executive Order (Mar. 27, 2017)

• Press Secretary says White House is reviewing Paris Agreement, will reach a decision in late May, possibly sooner (Mar. 30, 2017)

• Trump Lays Plans to Reverse Obama’s Climate Change Legacy (New York Times, Mar. 21, 2017)

• Flood Management, Energy Efficiency Standards Among “Ghost Rules” Quietly Withdrawn by Trump Administration (Climate Law Blog, Mar. 21, 2017)

• Trump administration not considering a carbon tax: White House official (Reuters, Mar. 21, 2017)

• Massive Cuts for EPA in Trump Budget (Politico, Mar. 16, 2017)

• Trump’s plan to roll back Obama’s fuel economy rules for cars, explained (Vox, Mar. 15, 2017)

• Sierra Club submits complaint alleging Pruitt’s denial of human influence on climate violates EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy (Mar. 14, 2017)

• Trump is poised to issue a sweeping order dismantling Obama’s climate plan this week (Washington Post, Mar. 14, 2017)

• Senator Cantwell submits letter to Department of Interior asserting that it unlawfully suspended the oil, gas and coal valuation rule (Mar. 7, 2017)

• EPA expected to reopen vehicle emissions decision (Reuters, Mar. 3, 2017)

• State Attorneys General ask Scott Pruitt to suspend and withdraw EPA information collection request for oil and gas companies to submit data on control measures for methane and other harmful emissions (Mar. 1, 2017)

February 2017

• Insiders report that Trump has proposed to cut EPA budget by 24% (The Hill, Feb. 27, 2017)

• National Governors Association (NGA) publishes recommendations on federal environmental policy, suggests that Endangered Species Act should not be used to address climate-related threats to species (Feb. 27, 2017)

• Interior Department postpones effective date of 2016 rule on coal, oil and gas lease valuations (Washington Post, Feb. 26, 2017)
  • Letter from Interior Department explaining decision (Feb. 22, 2017)

• Oklahoma AG releases Pruitt emails on oil industry ties (Feb, 22, 2017)

• Pruitt questions EPA’s authority to regulate carbon (ThinkProgress, Feb. 20, 2017)

  • Wall Street Journal interview w/ Pruitt (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 17, 2017) (behind paywall)

• Scott Pruitt Confirmed as EPA Administrator (CNN, Feb. 17, 2017)

• Environmental, Consumer and Labor Groups File Lawsuit Challenging President Trump’s Executive Order on Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs (Climate Law Blog, Feb. 8, 2017)

January 2017

• Trump appoints climate denier Kenneth Haapala to serve on the administration team handling appointments for the U.S. Department of Commerce / NOAA (Jan. 31, 2017)

• Transcript of Scott Pruitt’s responses to Senate questions during confirmation hearings (Jan. 30, 2017)

• Trump Tells EPA to Cut Climate Page from Website (Reuters, Jan. 25, 2017)
  • Update: EPA Staff Told to “Stand Down” on Axing Climate Page

• Trump signs executive orders to expedite infrastructure, manufacturing approvals (Jan. 24, 2017)
  • Executive Order Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals For High Priority Infrastructure Projects
  • Presidential Memorandum Streamlining Permitting and Reducing Regulatory Burdens for Domestic Manufacturing

• Trump Administration Restricts News from Federal Scientists at USDA, EPA (Scientific American, Jan. 24, 2017)

• Trump Imposes Freeze On EPA Grants and Contracts (ProPublica, Jan. 23, 2017)
  • Update: Trump Lifts Freeze on EPA Grants and Contracts (Jan. 27, 2017)

• Trump replaces White House climate change page with an “America First Energy Plan” stating that he is “committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan.” (Vox, Jan. 20, 2017)

• Congress revises budget rules to make it easier to sell off federal lands (Business Insider, Jan. 20, 2017)