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Sean Sullivan, an Environmental and Natural Resources Partner in Raleigh, NC, was part of the presenting faculty for the 2016 North Carolina Chamber’s 2016 Environmental Compliance Conference in Durham, NC on January 28th, 2016. Sean discussed Environmental Health and Safety Programs, including covering the EPA’s and the Department of Justice’s expectations for effective compliance programs, how an effective compliance program can help avoid criminal enforcement, and the renewed focus on holding individual wrongdoers accountable.

In a significant win affirming the ongoing validity of long-issued permits, United States District Judge Sam A. Lindsay of the Northern District of Texas dismissed all of the claims brought by two groups challenging the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to Georgia-Pacific LLC’s Crossett, Arkansas, paper mill. The Court’s opinion dismissing the case in full was issued January 19, 2016, and is available here.

The basis of an effective Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) program remains the strength of its management system and how thoroughly it is integrated into business practices. This year, Troutman Sanders is thrilled to be the presenting sponsor at the North Carolina Chamber Environmental Compliance Conference, which takes place next Thursday, January 28th in Durham, North Carolina. This conference is designed to provide employers with an in-depth understanding of current critical issues and practices related to the effective implementation of EHS programs as well as tools to navigate the regulatory landscape. Attendees will join expert panelists and top North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) officials in proactive discussions on pressing regulatory issues, legislation, policy decisions, and other initiatives on water, waste, air and natural resources that affect business. This conference provides NC DEQ officials with valuable feedback from the regulated community while providing businesses with an excellent forum on emerging environmental trends and issues.

Washington, D.C. Environmental and Natural Resources Partner Peter Glaser was quoted in the Friday, October 23 ClimateWire article, “Opening day for EPA’s Clean Power Plan Rule and for litigation”. October 23 marked the EPA’s publishing of its Clean Power Plan rule in the Federal Register. The EPA’s Clean Power Plan rule is designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants through a series of regulations by 32% from 2005 levels by 2030. These regulations are a key part of the Obama administration’s agenda to mandate efforts to address climate change.

Environmental and Natural Resources Partner Peter Glaser co-authored an opinion piece in the August 2 edition of the Wall Street Journal titled, “States Should Shun the EPA’s New Power Mandate.” Glaser and co-author Hal Quinn, president and chief executive of the National Mining Association, say that the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan will not significantly reduce climate change but will impose significant costs on all electricity rate payers for decades to come.

Partner Mack McGuffey offered his perspective on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan at the Southern Legislative Conference last week, as reported in the Monday, July 20 issue of E&E News. The lawmakers signed a resolution urging state attorneys general to sue the EPA over its latest Clean Power Plan rule, which calls for a reorganization of the nation’s electric power supply with the intent of reducing carbon emission by 30 percent, as compared to 2005 levels, by the year 2030.