Hazardous Materials Transportation/COVID-19: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Enforcement Policy Regarding Training
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) issued a March 25th document titled: Notice of Enforcement Policy Regarding Training Requirements (“Policy”) The Policy acknowledges that hazardous materials employers may be: . . . experiencing difficulty in either obtaining…
MARCH 31, 2020 UPDATE: Survey of State Insurance Department COVID-19 Regulatory Actions
State insurance regulators continue to respond to issues surrounding COVID-19. States are addressing a wide variety of issues, including (1) the treatment of "insurance" as an "essential business" in light of "Stay at Home" orders; (2) encouraging continued flexibility when dealing with insureds…
IRS Temporarily Allows Use of Electronic Signatures and Email Document Transmission in Response to COVID-19
In an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) interim guidance memorandum authored by Sunita Lough, Deputy Commissioner, Services and Enforcement, the IRS has temporarily approved the acceptance of “signature images” and “digital signatures” on certain IRS documents, and to send documents to and receive…
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Issues Environmental Enforcement Guidance
On March 30, the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E) issued an enforcement guidance document in response to COVID-19 related disruptions faced by regulated businesses. Per the guidance, the E&E has created an e-mail address for regulated entities to report “unavoidable compliance…
Air Permit/Clean Air Act: Minnesota Appellate Court Addresses Challenge to Use of Synthetic Minor
Co-Author: Austin Reed The Minnesota Court of Appeals (“Court”) addressed in a March 23rd Order the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (“MPCA”) grant of an air emissions permit to PolyMet Mining, Inc. (“PolyMet”). See In re Issuance of Air Emissions Permit No. 13700345-101 for PolyMet Mining…