Regulatory Tracker – Environmental and Energy Law Program

Regulating Greenhouse Gases for New and Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants

August 26, 2026

In June 2025 EPA proposed a rule rolling back the 2024 EPA standards for GHG emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and new gas-fired power plants.

Regional Haze Rule

August 21, 2026

Through two state plan approvals, EPA finalized a new policy that eases all states’ Regional Haze planning obligations. Environmental groups are challenging the approvals.

Alaska Roadless Rule

August 20, 2026

In Aug. 2026, USDA proposed to rescind the Roadless Rule.

PFAS and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

August 18, 2026

The Trump administration decided to keep in place a Biden administration rule designating two common PFAS chemical sub-types as hazardous substances under CERCLA.

The Izembek Refuge Road

August 18, 2026

The Department of Interior and King Cove Corp. signed a land swap agreement in Oct. 2025. In Aug. 2026, a district court judge vacated the exchange.

Once In Always In Guidance for Major Sources under the Clean Air Act

August 18, 2026

Congress used the Congressional Review Act to repeal the 2024 rule and reinstated the 2020 rule, which allows a major source to reclassify as an area source if the source reduces HAP emissions.

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

August 13, 2026

EPA rescinded the 2024 mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) for power plants and reinstated the 2012 MATS.

Federal Offshore Wind Deployment

August 10, 2026

President Trump issued a memorandum withdrawing areas for wind energy leasing and ordering agency heads not to issue approvals for wind projects; a court vacated agencies’ implementation of that order in Dec. 2025. In 2026, the administration reached agreements where it pays wind developers to relinquish their offshore wind leases and invest in administration-preferred energy projects.

Federal Onshore Extractive Energy Leasing

August 8, 2026

President Trump directed agencies to review and remove regulations that the administration believes burden domestic energy production. BLM has begun the process of offering expanded areas for leasing and expedited lease reviews.

New Source Review

August 6, 2026

EPA establishes the baseline requirements for new source review (NSR) permits, which are then issued by state and local air pollution agencies. In 2025 and 2026, EPA made changes to the NSR program easing permitting requirements.

Generation Interconnection Rule

July 31, 2026

FERC issued an order revising standard procedures used by utilities and regional transmission organizations for connecting generation projects to the transmission system. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the order on July 31, 2026.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM)

July 17, 2026

The CAA requires EPA to review and set primary and secondary standards for PM NAAQS every 5 years. The Biden EPA strengthened the standard in March 2024.

Coal Ash Rule

July 14, 2026

EPA announced a final rule to delay deadlines for coal ash regulations.

Endangered Species Act Regulations

July 14, 2026

The Trump administration finalized the rule rescinding the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act.

National Monuments

July 13, 2026

The Biden administration designated and expanded national monuments. The Trump DOI has slated these for rollback.

Clean Car Rules — Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards/Greenhouse Gas Standards

July 9, 2026

The EPA rescinded the Endangerment Finding and all GHG vehicle standards.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — Oil and Gas Development

July 8, 2026

In October 2025, BLM reinstituted a Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program which opened the 1.56 million acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas leasing.

NEPA Environmental Review Requirements

June 29, 2026

The Trump administration published a final rule withdrawing all CEQ rules implementing NEPA. Agencies now use their own rules or guidance to implement NEPA.

NEPA — Environmental Protection Agency

June 27, 2026

EPA issued a proposed rule revising its NEPA implementing regulations.

The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)

June 23, 2026

In May 2026, the Army Corps of Engineers granted an easement to Dakota Access, LLC to allow for the pipeline’s crossing beneath Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The easement is subject to additional environmental monitoring conditions.

BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule

June 22, 2026

In 2024, BLM released a final rule to reduce the waste of natural gas from oil and gas operations on federal and Tribal land. In Nov. 2025, BLM announced it will delay enforcement of portions of the rule that had been scheduled to take effect Dec. 2025. Other portions of the rule remain in effect and BLM is considering revisions.

NEPA — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

June 18, 2026

Federal Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program

June 17, 2026

The Department of the Interior proposed a new 5-year program for offshore oil and gas lease sales that will cover 1.3 billion acres. The administration also rolled out a schedule for additional offshore oil and gas lease sales to implement provisions in the OBBBA.

Power Plant Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Rule

June 12, 2026

In June 2026, EPA partially withdrew SSM SIP Call findings of failure to submit, leaving four state agencies with outstanding SSM revision obligations.

Marine National Monuments & Marine Sanctuaries

June 11, 2026

President Trump signed a proclamation opening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing.

Implementation of 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

June 9, 2026

Under the Trump executive order Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, the Biden administration’s final rule setting deadlines for states to submit SIPs for nonattainment areas did not go into effect. EPA announced in June 2025 that it would reconsider the rule and, in June 2026, proposed changes that would eliminate certain SIP requirements for reclassified areas.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone

June 9, 2026

On March 12, 2025, EPA announced a reconsideration of the NAAQS.

EPA VOC and Methane Standards for Oil and Gas Facilities

June 8, 2026

The Biden EPA finalized three rules regulating methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. One of the rules, the Waste Emission Charge, was repealed using the Congressional Review Act. In Sept. 2025, EPA proposed to delay the GHG reporting rules until 2034. In Nov. 2025, EPA finalized the deadline exemptions for certain provisions regulating methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas sources.

Financial Regulation, Climate Change, and Climate-related Risk Disclosure

June 1, 2026

The SEC has proposed to rescind the climate-related risk disclosure rule finalized under the Biden administration.

Hydrofluorocarbons and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

May 26, 2026

In 2022, the U.S. Senate ratified the Kigali Amendment, which committed the U.S. to reducing the use of HFCs. EPA issued multiple rules to implement the mandate. In Oct. 2025, EPA issued a proposed rule to loosen requirements and compliance deadlines for air conditioning, retail food refrigeration, and other sectors.

PFAS in Drinking Water

May 18, 2026

Under the SDWA, the Biden EPA set strict standards and requirements for certain PFAS chemicals in public drinking water supplies. The Trump EPA is delaying compliance deadlines for two of those Biden-era SDWA rules and is proposing to rescind four others.

Power Plant Effluent Limits

May 18, 2026

The Biden EPA strengthened final effluent limits for wastewater discharges from steam power plants in May 2024. In Oct. 2025, EPA proposed a rule to extend deadlines of the 2024 rule while the agency works on a more comprehensive proposal for revision.

Oil and Gas Development in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve

May 15, 2026

The Bureau of Land Management replaced the 2024 rule regulating management of the NPR-A with the prior rule, promulgated in 1977, and approved a new Integrated Activity Plan, reopening almost 82% of the reserve to oil and gas leasing.

Keystone XL Pipeline

April 30, 2026

The project has been cancelled and all domestic litigation dismissed.

Air Transport Rules: Cross-State Air Pollution Rule/Good Neighbor Plan Rule

April 27, 2026

The Clean Air Act’s Good Neighbor provision requires upwind states to ensure that their instate sources do not contribute to downwind states’ attainment of the NAAQS. On Mar. 12, 2025, EPA announced its plan to roll back the Biden administration’s Good Neighbor Plan, which the Supreme Court stayed in June 2024.

Bristol Bay and the Pebble Mine

April 22, 2026

The Biden EPA issued a Clean Water Act determination that blocked the Pebble Mine, finding the project would significantly impact the Bristol Bay watershed. A court granted the Trump DOJ’s request to stay litigation challenging that determination.

Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding

April 15, 2026

EPA rescinded its 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions contribute to air pollution that endangers human health or welfare. Legal challenges to the rescission are pending.

NEPA — Department of the Interior

April 6, 2026

DOI last updated its NEPA rules in 2008. In April, DOI released “alternative arrangements for NEPA compliance,” outlining a novel process for certain energy projects to circumvent existing environmental review procedures.

NEPA — Forest Service

April 3, 2026

The Forest Service last updated its NEPA rules in 2008. It finalized additional categorical exclusions in 2013 and 2020.

NEPA — Department of Homeland Security

March 27, 2026

DHS does not have rules implementing NEPA. The agency last updated its NEPA guidance in 2014, with minor corrections in 2017.

Deep Sea Mining

March 18, 2026

Following the April 2025 executive order Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have taken steps to facilitate commercial deep sea critical minerals mining.

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions Standards for Commercial Sterilizers

March 17, 2026

In March 2026, EPA proposed rolling back many of the 2024 rule’s more stringent emissions limits.

BSEE Blowout Preventer and Well Control Rule

February 22, 2026

Following the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, DOI altered its regulatory scheme and consolidated blowout prevention and well control requirements in the Well Control Rule. The Trump administration is now proposing to roll back portions of the rule.

The Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide)

January 30, 2026

President Trump disbanded the interagency working group on the social cost of greenhouse gases, withdrew the working group’s guidance documents, and ordered agencies to use emissions estimates from the 2003 version of OMB’s Circular A-4. He also directed EPA to review how and whether the social cost of carbon should be used.

Paris Climate Agreement

January 27, 2026

On Jan. 27, 2026, the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement became effective after a year-long process.

Section 401 Water Quality Certification

January 15, 2026

CWA section 401 governs certification of water quality and provides significant latitude to states to decide how to issue certifications. The Trump EPA proposed a rule to update Section 401 which would limit states’ ability to regulate activities subject to 401 certification.

Defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS)

November 17, 2025

Following a 2023 Supreme Court decision, the Biden administration revised the definition of WOTUS. In November 2025, EPA and the Army Corps proposed a rule to update and narrow the definition of WOTUS.

Chemical Risk Evaluations

September 23, 2025

The Trump EPA published a proposed rule changing its chemical risk evaluation procedures under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Air Pollution Emission Standards for Methane and Other Pollutants

September 16, 2025

MSW landfills are currently subject to EPA’s 2016 New Source Performance Standards and Environmental Guidelines. In Sept. 2025, EPA proposed to delay the GHG reporting rules until 2034.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

July 29, 2025

The Trump administration has taken steps to withdraw Biden-era guidance and regulations that protected migratory birds.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Penalties

July 4, 2025

In July 2025, Congress eliminated the Corporate Average Fuel Economy civil penalties, resetting penalties to $0.00.

NEPA — Department of Energy

June 30, 2025

DOE last updated its NEPA rules in April 2024.

Liquid Natural Gas by Rail Rule

June 23, 2025

Transportation of LNG by rail is allowed only when authorized by a special permit, but the Trump administration is seeking feedback on this rule.

Regional Transmission Planning Rule

April 11, 2025

FERC approved Order No. 1920, directing utilities and RTOs to produce long-term regional transmission plans. The Fourth Circuit will review the rule.

Petroleum Refinery Sector Rule (NESHAPs / NSPS)

April 10, 2025

The Biden EPA amended the 2015 standards for refineries. On Mar. 12, the Trump administration slated these standards for rollback.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Review

March 12, 2025

EPA sets NAAQS for six common and harmful pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, PM, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.

Single-Use Plastics Phase Out on Public Lands

December 26, 2023

The Department of the Interior announced a phase out single-use plastic on public lands in 2023.

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA)

September 6, 2023

We are not currently updating this rule.

Greater Sage-Grouse Protection

May 28, 2021

We are not currently updating this rule.

BLM Land Use Planning 2.0

March 28, 2017

We are not currently updating this rule.