Between the Lines Blog
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Spring 2026 Meeting Summary
The Mitchell Williams Insurance Regulatory team of lawyers recently attended the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Spring National Meeting which was held in San Diego, California. This summary highlights issues that various NAIC groups addressed. What You Need to Know: The…
Air Enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Reeves County, Texas Saltwater Disposal Facility Operator Enter into Consent Agreement
May 28, 2026
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and WES Water Holdings, LLC (“WES”) entered into a May 14th Consent Agreement (“CA”) alleging violations of Clean Air Act regulations. See Docket NO. CAA-06-2026-3303. The CA provides that WES owns and/or operates a saltwater disposal…
ANRC Unanimously Adopts New Financial Assistance Rules Following Public Comment
On May 12, 2026, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission unanimously adopted the proposed amendments to its Financial Assistance rules, completing a key step in implementing the state's new Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program. The rules will now advance through the legislative…
2026 State of the Water Industry: American Water Works Association Report
May 27, 2026
The American Water Works Association (“AWWA”) has issued a document titled: 2026 State of the Water Industry (“Report”). AWWA describes the Report as providing: … key insights into the priorities for water utilities and challenges they currently face. The Report is the latest of an annual…
Air Enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Livermore, California Landfill Operator Enter into Consent Agreement
May 27, 2026
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (“WMAC”) entered into an April 28th Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) addressing alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. See Docket No. CAA-09-2026-0053. The CAFO provides that WMAC owns…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Arkansas Water Plan Update: Arkansas Department of Agriculture Announces July 8th Virtual Stakeholder Meeting
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (“ADA”) announced it will hold a virtual stakeholder meeting for the revised Arkansas Water Plan (“AWP”) on July 8, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 11 AM. The ADA states that representatives from that state agency and contractors with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers…
Environmental Criminal Enforcement/Clean Water Act: Georgia Wastewater Operator Indicted for Alleged Violations
Christopher Samuel Jones (“Jones”) was the subject of a criminal indictment in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act. See Criminal No. 4:26-CR-8(CDL). Jones is described as having created a business (Jones Water and…
Disposable Vapes/Lithium-Ion Batteries: Maine Legislation Creates a Stewardship Program for Electronic Smoking Devices
The Maine House of Representatives has passed legislation titled: An Act to Create a Stewardship Program for Electronic Smoking Devices and Related Products (“Act”). The (LD 1519) Act addresses disposable vapes which contain lithium-ion batteries. It establishes a stewardship program which means…
Scrap Tires Combusted in Cement Kilns/Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials Regulations: Environmental Protection Network Comments Addressing U.S. EPA Proposed Designation as Non-Waste Fuel
The Environmental Protection Network (“EPN”) submitted May 20th comments addressing the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is proposal of a rule designating scrap tires (including previously abandoned scrap tires) that are combusted in cement kilns as non-waste fuel. See 91 Fed…
Citizen Suit Action/Clean Water Act: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Inc. Files Judicial Action Against Columbus, Georgia Construction Company
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Inc. (“CRI”) filed a May 22nd Complaint and Petition for Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”) pursuant to the Clean Water Act citizen suit provisions against Aspire at Old Guard, LLC (“Aspire”) and SCorUSA, LLC (“SC”) for alleged violations. The Complaint states that the…