In the Headlines
July 8, 2025
Environmental Regulations to Watch in 2025: Midyear Report
Law360
Environment attorney Rafe Petersen was quoted in a Law360 article about key environmental regulatory changes to watch in 2025, including potential revisions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas endangerment finding, evolving regulations for "forever chemicals" (PFAS) and updates to the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Mr. Petersen highlighted the importance of clarifying terms such as "relatively permanent" waters and "continuous surface connection" in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, which would provide more certainty for jurisdictional determinations. He also weighed in on recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process.
"The permit process should happen faster, which would be a good thing. And the underlying laws that regulate air pollution and water pollution and endangered species, those all remain, and those were what [NEPA] was intended to ensure that those are properly considered, so it goes back to being more of a procedural statute than a substantive statute," he said.
READ: Environmental Regulations to Watch in 2025: Midyear Report (Subscription required)
"The permit process should happen faster, which would be a good thing. And the underlying laws that regulate air pollution and water pollution and endangered species, those all remain, and those were what [NEPA] was intended to ensure that those are properly considered, so it goes back to being more of a procedural statute than a substantive statute," he said.
READ: Environmental Regulations to Watch in 2025: Midyear Report (Subscription required)