New Wiley Rein Publication Addresses Obama Administration's Environment and Energy Initiatives

January 20, 2010

In the third of a series of publications addressing environmental issues high on the Obama Administration’s agenda, Wiley Rein’s Environment & Safety Practice has released a compilation of articles, “Obama Year Two:  Environment and Energy Initiatives Accelerate.”

The timely new analysis covers a range of topics that are of particular concern to companies concerned about the regulatory environment.  Topics include:

• The fate of cap-and trade legislation;
• The aggressive expansion of Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs to encourage and, increasingly, enforce tighter energy efficiency standards;
• EPA’s significantly expanded list of enforcement targets;
• The complexities arising from attention to controlling exports of used electronic products; and
• The unfolding and, perhaps, coming resolution of the pesticide/Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulatory morass

David B. Weinberg, chair of the group, commented, “While yesterday’s result in Massachusetts may force reconsideration of some of the Administration’s high-profile initiatives, it is unlikely to affect ongoing regulatory activity.  With policy appointees almost completely in place, 2010 is going to be a very active year.”

Wiley Rein represents a broad range of clients whose interests are likely to be impacted by the acceleration of President Obama’s vision for environmental and energy reform.  Its lawyers are national experts on the actual operation of climate change-oriented regulatory programs and have expertise in rulemakings and enforcement actions in such areas as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and the ESA.  Wiley Rein attorneys are also involved daily in Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls and policy matters and are leading industry's response to proposed new U.S. air transportation safety regulations that could adversely impact electronic product importation and distribution.