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
Draft Nondisclosures/Federal Agency Employees: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Submits Comments to United States Office of Personnel Management
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (“PEER”) submitted June 16, 2026 comments on the United States Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) Notice with Request to Comment (“Notice”) on what the federal agency describes as: … a draft nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for use by federal…
Metroplan Energy & Environment Innovation Funding: Final Call for Applications Announced
Metroplan announced on June 16th what it described as the “final call” for the organization’s Energy & Environment Innovation funding. Eligible applicants for funding include the following who serve Central Arkansas: Cities Counties Nonprofits State agencies The application process is described…
Trust Fund Eligibility/Storage Tank Enforcement: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Proposed Order/Assessment Addressing Knoxville Facility
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (“TDEC”) issued a May 6th Proposed Order and Assessment (“Order”) to Mapco Express, LLC ( “ME”) addressing alleged violations of the Tennessee Underground Storage Tank (“UST”) regulations. See Case No. FDA26-0025. The Order provides that ME…
Beef Operation/Water Use Challenge: Iowa Appellate Court Addresses Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Issue
The Iowa Cout of Appeals (“App. Court”) addressed in a June 10th Opinion an issue arising out of an Driftless Water Defenders’ (“DWD”) request that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (“IDNR”) investigate a complaint regarding water use. See Driftless Water Defenders v. Iowa Department of…
Transportation/Hazardous Materials: U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Interpretive Letter Addressing Mower/Lithium Battery Requirements
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in an April 29th interpretive letter the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) applicable to the transportation of lithium batteries contained in equipment. See Reference No. 25-0132. PHMSA…