Clean Air – Environmental and Energy Law Program

Regulatory Tracker

EPA VOC and Methane Standards for Oil and Gas Facilities

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 One of the rules, the Waste Emission Charge, was repealed using the Congressional Review Act.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.

October 14, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

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

The EPA rescinded the Endangerment Finding and all GHG vehicle standards.

September 28, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

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

In September 2026, EPA rescinded most GHG emissions standards from fossil fuel-fired power plants. EPA also proposed a rule that would prevent it from issuing such standards.

September 17, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

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

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.

September 16, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

Regional Haze Rule

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

September 9, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

Power Plant Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Rule

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

September 1, 2026

CleanLaw Podcast

CleanLaw — DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Past and Present

Erika, Andy, and Sommer talk about their time at ENRD and how recent changes are reshaping the work of “the government’s lawyers.”

August 20, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

EPA rescinded the 2024 mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) for power plants and reinstated the 2012 MATS.

August 13, 2026

Regulatory Tracker

New Source Review

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.

August 6, 2026