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Articles by Jonathan Schaefer
What We Are Reading: Environmental + Energy Series | PFAS, Water Policy, Beavers, Offshore Wind + Legislative Priorities
This week’s environmental and energy stories covered plenty of familiar territory, including PFAS, data centers, critical minerals, offshore wind, chemical regulation, and water policy, along with a few less conventional topics. As the proud host of a beaver on my property, I was particularly interested in new research suggesting that beavers may provide even greater environmental benefits than previously understood.
What We Are Reading: Environmental + Energy Series | Energy Permitting, Critical Minerals, PFAS, Carbon Storage & Air Pollution - Week of October 19
Week of October 19 This week’s environmental and energy stories highlight a familiar challenge: policy goals may move quickly, but permitting, implementation, and compliance often do not. From efforts to advance wind, transmission, pipeline, deep-sea mining, and carbon storage projects to evolving PFAS requirements and new research on air pollution, this week’s developments show how environmental and energy priorities continue to play out in practice.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of October 12 | JD Supra
This week's environmental and energy stories offered an interesting mix of familiar regulatory disputes and emerging questions about how new technologies and infrastructure are being managed. From drone deliveries and nuclear decommissioning to greenhouse gas reporting, regional energy markets, and the potential reuse of data center waste heat, there was no shortage of developments worth watching.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series (October 19, 2026)
Week of October 12 This week’s environmental and energy stories offered an interesting mix of familiar regulatory disputes and emerging questions about how new technologies and infrastructure are being managed. From drone deliveries and nuclear decommissioning to greenhouse gas reporting, regional energy markets, and the potential reuse of data center waste heat, there was no shortage of developments worth watching.
HazCom's November 20 Deadline: What Employers Still Have Time to Fix | JD Supra
Any employer whose workforce handles hazardous chemicals has a hard date on the calendar: November 20, 2026. That is when the employer-facing obligations of OSHA's overhauled Hazard Communication Standard, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200, come due for chemical substances.
HazCom’s November 20 Deadline: What Employers Still Have Time to Fix
Any employer whose workforce handles hazardous chemicals has a hard date on the calendar: November 20, 2026. That is when the employer-facing obligations of OSHA’s overhauled Hazard Communication Standard, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200, come due for chemical substances.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of October 5, 2026
Week of October 5, 2026 From AI-powered permitting and evolving federal permitting reforms to the continued resurgence of nuclear energy and new legal battles over fuel economy standards, this week offered another reminder that energy and environmental policy remain deeply intertwined with technology, infrastructure, and regulatory certainty. Here are a few developments that caught my attention and may be worth watching in the weeks ahead.
Environmental & Energy Series- What We Are Reading
Week of October 5, 2026 From AI-powered permitting and evolving federal permitting reforms to the continued resurgence of nuclear energy and new legal battles over fuel economy standards, this week offered another reminder that energy and environmental policy remain deeply intertwined with technology, infrastructure, and regulatory certainty. Here are a few developments that caught my attention and may be worth watching in the weeks ahead.
What We Are Reading - Environmental & Energy Series | 5 October, 2026
The environmental and energy world finished September much the same way it spent most of 2026: debating how to balance environmental protection and economic growth. This week’s stories spanned climate litigation, PFAS regulation, electric grid modernization, workplace safety, and federal efforts to reevaluate environmental review and transportation policies.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of September 21
As September winds down, a familiar theme continues to emerge across the environmental and energy landscape: the challenge of balancing growing energy demand with reliability, affordability, and environmental protection. This week’s developments focused heavily on data centers, duck curves (grid impacts), PFAS, renewable energy policy, and the increasingly important role courts are being asked to play in shaping federal energy and environmental programs.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series September 2026
Week of September 21 As September winds down, a familiar theme continues to emerge across the environmental and energy landscape: the challenge of balancing growing energy demand with reliability, affordability, and environmental protection. This week’s developments focused heavily on data centers, duck curves (grid impacts), PFAS, renewable energy policy, and the increasingly important role courts are being asked to play in shaping federal energy and environmental programs.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series: 28 September, 2026
As September winds down, a familiar theme continues to emerge across the environmental and energy landscape: the challenge of balancing growing energy demand with reliability, affordability, and environmental protection. This week’s developments focused heavily on data centers, duck curves (grid impacts), PFAS, renewable energy policy, and the increasingly important role courts are being asked to play in shaping federal energy and environmental programs.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of September 14
As summer officially gives way to fall, this week’s environmental and energy headlines reflected several themes that have dominated much of 2026: data centers, grid reliability, critical minerals, PFAS, artificial intelligence, and the continued reshaping of federal environmental policy. Courts, Congress, regulators, and industry all remained busy as debates continued over who will power the future economy, who will pay for it, and how environmental protections will evolve along the way.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series: 21 September, 2026
As summer officially gives way to fall, this week’s environmental and energy headlines reflected several themes that have dominated much of 2026: data centers, grid reliability, critical minerals, PFAS, artificial intelligence, and the continued reshaping of federal environmental policy. Courts, Congress, regulators, and industry all remained busy as debates continued over who will power the future economy, who will pay for it, and how environmental protections will evolve along the way.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of September 7 | JD Supra
As the calendar turns toward fall, last week's environmental and energy headlines reflected both familiar trends and a few surprises. Data centers, grid infrastructure, nuclear energy, permitting disputes, and environmental regulation all remained in the spotlight. At the same time, I came across a particularly intriguing research project involving discarded oyster shells and rare earth metals.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of August 31, 2026
Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but environmental and energy regulators, courts, and policymakers show no signs of slowing down. Last week’s developments focused on several familiar themes, including federal permitting reform, the ongoing evolution of Clean Water Act jurisdiction, state climate initiatives, the impact of Congressional action, and the continued expansion of producer responsibility laws.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of August 24, 2026 | JD Supra
This week's developments highlight the increasingly close relationship among energy security, emerging technologies, and environmental constraints. Nuclear deployment, grid resilience, data center growth, water demand, and chemical regulation are all creating new opportunities and new legal and operational risks.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of August 17, 2026
As August winds down and many people squeeze in one last summer getaway, the environmental and energy world continues to generate headlines. This week’s developments focused on several recurring themes we’ve been watching throughout 2026: PFAS, data centers, grid growth, and the continuing evolution of Superfund policy.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of August 10, 2026 | JD Supra
Even during the dog days of summer, the environmental and energy world rarely stays quiet for long. This week's headlines featured multibillion-dollar PFAS settlements, new restrictions on critical mineral exports, renewed scrutiny of offshore wind projects, and continued debate over the scope of federal agency authority.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of August 3, 2026 | JD Supra
This was another week where the courts were as active as the regulators. Decisions involving EPA authority, climate liability, renewable energy development, and grid modernization continued to shape the legal and regulatory landscape, while states and regulators wrestled with the growing demand that AI and data centers are placing on the electric grid.
Environmental and Energy Updates for Week of July 27, 2026
Week of July 27 From restricting exports of critical minerals, nuclear waste lifecycle plans, climate change liability, OSHA’s structure, and clean energy tax credits to leaf blowers and politically motivated grant cancellations, regulators and courts spent another busy week reshaping the environmental and energy landscape. Reach out to connect with me or to discuss these or any other environmental or energy topics of interest to you.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - week of July 20, 2026
Week of July 20 This week’s stories highlight how regulators, courts, industry groups, and policymakers are grappling with grid reliability, environmental compliance, workplace safety, and emerging technologies.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series
Week of July 13, 2026 As most of us were distracted by wildfire smoke, the World Cup, and avoiding lettuce, there were still a few interesting environmental and energy stories that caught our attention last week. New York Pauses Permitting for New Large Data Centers New York became the first state to impose a moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, with Governor Kathy Hochul announcing a pause of up to one year on environmental permits for large facilities using 50 megawatts or more of power.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Series - Week of July 6, 2026 | JD Supra
As summer moves into full swing, federal and state regulators continue to reshape key areas of energy infrastructure, environmental compliance, and climate policy. Below are several developments that caught my attention this week.
What We Are Reading: Environmental & Energy Stories
This post kicks off a new series that we hope to put out every Monday. The goal is to highlight a few notable environmental and energy stories from the past week that we found interesting and that you may have missed. As you will see below, this is truly meant to highlight the story with a high-level summary, while providing you with a link to source material.
EPA Issues “Compliance First” Memo: Key Takeaways for Regulated Entities | JD Supra
On December 5, 2025, Craig J. Pritzlaff, Acting Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), issued an internal memorandum instituting a “Compliance First” approach, immediately effective for all civil enforcement and compliance activities. This memo claims to introduce a policy shift: prioritizing timely and effective compliance over punitive enforcement and expansive regulatory interpretations.
Environmental Protection Agency Institutes Compliance First Appro
On December 5, 2025, Craig J. Pritzlaff, Acting Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), issued an internal memorandum instituting a “Compliance First” approach, immediately effective for all civil enforcement and compliance activities. This memo claims to introduce a policy shift: prioritizing timely and effective compliance over punitive enforcement and expansive regulatory interpretations.
Navigating OSHA’s Updated Inspection Strategy | JD Supra
In May 2025, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) released an updated Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Inspection Program directive. The SST Inspection Program is OSHA’s main site-specific programmed inspection initiative for non-construction workplaces that have 20 or more employees. The SST Inspection Program uses employer-submitted injury and illness information (i.e., Form 300A data) to determine workplaces that will receive comprehensive (e.g., site-wide) inspections.
FDA Releases New NDIN Educational Resources for Supplement Indust
Skip to main content June 16, 2025 Volume XV, Number 167 Legal Analysis. Expertly Written. Quickly Found.
OSHA Updates SST Inspection Program to Target High-Risk Workplace
In May 2025, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) released an updated Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Inspection Program directive. The SST Inspection Program is OSHA’s main site-specific programmed inspection initiative for non-construction workplaces that have 20 or more employees. The SST Inspection Program uses employer-submitted injury and illness information (i.e., Form 300A data) to determine workplaces that will receive comprehensive (e.g., site-wide) inspections.
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Assumption University Student Charged in Major Cyber Extortion
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has charged a student at Assumption University with hacking into two U.S.-based companies’ systems and demanding a ransom. Matthew D. Lane, 19, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of cyber extortion conspiracy, one count of cyber extortion, one count of unauthorized access to protected computers, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Bipartisan Take It Down Act Becomes Law
On Monday, May 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “Take It Down Act” into law. The Act, which unanimously passed the Senate and cleared the House in a 409-2 vote, criminalizes the distribution of intimate images of someone without their consent. Lawmakers from both parties have commented that the law is long overdue to protect individuals from online abuse. It is disheartening that a law must be passed (almost unanimously) to require people and social media companies to do the right thing.
EPA Delays PFAS Reporting Deadlines, Again: Implications for Manufacturers and Importers | JD Supra
On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an amendment delaying the data submission period for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) PFAS reporting rule, which will now begin on April 13, 2026, and end on October 13, 2026. Small manufacturers who report solely as article importers will have until April 13, 2027, to complete their submissions. The EPA stated that this delay is necessary to allow additional time for the development of the reporting software.
EPA Delays PFAS Reporting Deadlines, Again: Implications for Manufacturers and Importers
On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an amendment delaying the data submission period for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) PFAS reporting rule, which will now begin on April 13, 2026, and end on October 13, 2026. Small manufacturers who report solely as article importers will have until April 13, 2027, to complete their submissions. The EPA stated that this delay is necessary to allow additional time for the development of the reporting software.
Administrators May Change, But PFAS Is Forever: EPA Announces PFAS Plan | JD Supra
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Lee Zeldin, has unveiled its anticipated strategy for addressing the pervasive issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals.” While the announcement provides a broad framework, specific details (particularly regarding potential changes to previous rulemakings under CERCLA and the Safe Drinking Water Act) remain unclear.
Administrators May Change, But PFAS Is Forever: EPA Announces PFAS Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Lee Zeldin, has unveiled its anticipated strategy for addressing the pervasive issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals.” While the announcement provides a broad framework, specific details (particularly regarding potential changes to previous rulemakings under CERCLA and the Safe Drinking Water Act) remain unclear.
Cuts, Closures, and Confusion: A Quick Update on U.S. EPA | JD Supra
It has been 50 days since the Trump administration took office, and there remains a tsunami of activity surrounding executive actions and announcements across the federal government. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not been spared from deep cuts, office and grant program closures, and a fair amount of confusion. On March 11, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin directed the agency to eliminate all offices focusing on environmental justice.
Cuts, Closures, and Confusion: A Quick Update on U.S. EPA
It has been 50 days since the Trump administration took office, and there remains a tsunami of activity surrounding executive actions and announcements across the federal government. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not been spared from deep cuts, office and grant program closures, and a fair amount of confusion. On March 11, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin directed the agency to eliminate all offices focusing on environmental justice.
New EPA Administrator, Same Freeze on EPA Activity | JD Supra
On January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin was confirmed as the 17th Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. After a week on the job, Zeldin continued to maintain several policies that had been put in place immediately after the Trump administration took office. Some of these policies are summarized below. While these actions are generally expected when a new administration begins, there is a sense that additional, significant changes are around the corner.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Implements Policy Freeze and Staffin
On January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin was confirmed as the 17th Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. After a week on the job, Zeldin continued to maintain several policies that had been put in place immediately after the Trump administration took office. Some of these policies are summarized below. While these actions are generally expected when a new administration begins, there is a sense that additional, significant changes are around the corner.
New Wave of Executive Orders Seek to Redirect EPA’s Focus | JD Supra
Within hours of taking office, President Trump issued a flurry of Executive Orders (EO), including several that will undoubtedly affect a wide range of environmental policies nationwide. While the full implications of these EOs, as well as potential additional actions, are far from clear at this early stage, there are several takeaways for those who are in the environmental-regulated community to consider.
New Wave of Executive Orders Seek to Redirect EPA’s Focus
Within hours of taking office, President Trump issued a flurry of Executive Orders (EO), including several that will undoubtedly affect a wide range of environmental policies nationwide. While the full implications of these EOs, as well as potential additional actions, are far from clear at this early stage, there are several takeaways for those who are in the environmental-regulated community to consider.
OSHA Finalizes PPE Fitting Requirement for Construction Workers | JD Supra
On December 11, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it finalized a revision to the personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for the construction industry. The final rule adds specific language to the existing standard requiring employers to provide properly fitting PPE for construction industry workers. This change aligns the construction industry with the standards in place for the general industry.
EPA Notice of Violation Letters Phishing Scam | JD Supra
On July 30, 2024, the U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General issued a fraud alert to bring attention to an increasing number of companies reporting that they have received fraudulent EPA Notice of Violation letters demanding payment. Businesses have received these fraudulent letters through email and U.S. Postal Service mail. The letters allege that the target business violated an environmental regulation, such as the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act.
Columbus, Ohio Systems Offline After Ransomware Attack
The city of Columbus, Ohio, announced on May 29, 2024, that it was forced to take its systems offline due to a ransomware attack. According to its notice, the attack was perpetrated by “an established, sophisticated threat actor operating overseas,” and that it was working with law enforcement to investigate the incident. According to Security Week, the Rhysida ransomware group has claimed responsibility. In November 2023, CISA, FBI and MS-ISAC released an advisory on Rhysida.
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