John Habib

On March 23, 2026, in a decision consequential to regulated Maricopa County businesses and those looking to relocate or expand, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declined to reclassify the Phoenix-Mesa ozone nonattainment area, including Maricopa County, from “moderate” to “serious” under the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). As a result, businesses avoid a meaningful step-up in regulatory burden, and the current compliance framework remains intact.

On November 17, 2025, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule that would significantly narrow its regulatory authority over Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Under the new proposed WOTUS rule, EPA would effectively have jurisdiction only over relatively permanent waters and a smaller subset of directly connected wetlands.

On September 5, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched Feed It Onward — a new national initiative designed to reduce food waste, strengthen food security, and support communities across the country — demonstrating EPA’s growing recognition that food waste is not just an environmental issue but an economic and social challenge with far-reaching consequences. The Scale of the Problem Food waste in the United States is staggering.