Between the Lines Blog
Essential Employment Documents and Procedures for Growing Businesses
As your business grows and you begin hiring employees, the excitement of expansion can sometimes overshadow the critical need for proper employment documentation and procedures. Yet the foundation you lay during this stage of growth can make the difference between a thriving workplace and costly…
The Non-Compete Playbook: Everything Arkansas Employers Should Have in their Arsenal
A crucial employee leaves for a competitor. A promising candidate shows up carrying a non-compete from their former employer. Either way, the questions hit quickly: What can we do? What should we avoid? And what paperwork should we have in place to handle this sort of thing? What employers should…
NAIC Discloses Unauthorized Access to PeopleSoft Systems
Cybersecurity Incident at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Overview On June 17, 2026, the NAIC publicly disclosed that it identified unauthorized access to its PeopleSoft systems on or about June 11, 2026. The NAIC activated its incident response procedures and is working…
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…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Data Centers and Groundwater Resources: National Ground Water Association Position Statement
The National Ground Water Association (“NGWA”) issued a position statement titled: Data Centers and Groundwater Resources (“Statement”). The NGWA describes itself as a: … not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. The association’s members…
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act/Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting Regulations: U.S. EPA Publishes Final Rule Aligning with OSHA Hazard Communication Standard Amendments
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published in the June 22nd Federal Register a final rule conforming the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (“EPCRA”) hazardous chemical inventory reporting regulations to the recent Occupational Safety and Health…
Air Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and Heber Springs Tree Service Enter into Consent Administrative Order
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) and Jarvis Tree Service, Inc. (“JTS”) entered into a May 22nd Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of a General Air Permit. See Case #: CAO-25-0076. The CAO provides that JTC…
Clean Air Act Section 309/National Environmental Policy Act: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum Addressing Comment Letter Process
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a June 24th memorandum titled: Clean Air Act Section 309 and National Environmental Policy Act Section 102(2)(C) Implementation (“Memorandum”). The Memorandum was transmitted from EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi to the…
The "Great American Outdoors Act 250": U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Field Hearing - June 12th/Hot Springs, Arkansas
The United States House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee (“Committee”) held a field hearing on the “Great American Outdoors Act 250” (“Act”) in Hot Springs, Arkansas on June 12th. Congressman Bruce Westerman, who serves as Chairman of the Committee and is a Congressman for Arkansas’…