Environmental Regulatory Update: State Action, Federal Exemptions, Spill Reporting, Superfund Cleanup

This CLE course will provide information on the federal and state guidelines related to continued environmental regulation, remediation, and enforcement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

EPA has released public guidance on ongoing or new site cleanups and/or site investigations, and the determination as to whether work should continue or be paused is a site-specific determination. States, counties, and municipalities have also issued guidance and/or executive orders that have direct impacts continuing environmental investigations and compliance. EPA and many states also have issued guidance on their approaches to enforcement and enforcement relief during the COVID-19 emergencies. All contain various conditions and expectations for entities that seek relief under their terms.

As companies are faced with having to make critical decision on the fly, environmental attorneys need to understand these federal and state guidance and policies in order to be able to counsel clients on how best to comply with environmental rules and regulations in these challenging times. How do companies comply with regulatory reporting obligations in situations where a company is dealing with a limited work-force? Can site remediation work continue, and if so, how does one deal with limitations in supplies and labor. Do the governing consent decrees, administrative order, or other agreements with state and federal environmental agencies and private parties contain force majeure and other clauses that address work delays.

Listen as our expert panel provides guidance on compliance with state and federal environmental investigations and regulations and how to create best practices during the COVID-19 outbreak to comply with environmental statutes in conjunction with workforce depletion and supply chain issues.