Between the Lines Blog
The Future of FOIA is Here: New Requirements under Acts 505 and 922 of 2025
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has long been a cornerstone of transparency, ensuring that the public has access to government records and meetings. Acts 505 and 922 of 2025, which took effect on August 5, 2025, significantly amend FOIA to modernize public meeting rules, clarify…
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Summer 2025 Meeting Summary
The Mitchell Williams Insurance Regulatory team of lawyers recently attended the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Summer 2025 National Meeting which was held in Minneapolis, MN. We have prepared a summary of the open sessions conducted over the course of the meeting…
What Agricultural Landowners Need to Know Now About Leases to Minimize Future Risk
June 20, 2025
by John P. Talbot
According to the USDA – Economic Research Service, there are approximately 911 million acres of farmland in the lower 48 states, with roughly 60% of this farmland owner-operated and 40% of it leased. For tillable cropland acres specifically, the percentage of rented ground is higher, approximately…
2025 Arkansas Insurance Legislation Summary: Life
This is the fourth and final article in a series of summaries of Insurance legislation from the 95th Arkansas General Assembly. The 95th Arkansas General Assembly convened on January 13, 2025, and entered into an extended recess on April 16, 2025. The resolution authorizing the extended recess…
State Air Trends & Successes: Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies Issues 2025 Report
May 28, 2025
The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies ("AAPCA") issued the 2025 edition of its annual report titled: State Air Trends & Successes ("Report"). AAPCA describes itself as a: ...National Small Land, non-profit consensus-driven organization focused on assisting state and local air…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Regional Haze/Arkansas: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Public Notices Approval of State Implementation Plan Revisions
September 11, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published in the September 5th Federal Register a proposed rule approving an Arkansas State Implementation Plan (“SIP”) revision. See 90 Fed. Reg. 43030. The revision submitted by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division…
Alliance to Enhance Worker Safety in Waste/Recycling Industry: OSHA/SWANA/NWRA Renew Agreement
September 11, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced on August 26th that it renewed its alliance with the National Waste & Recycling Association (“NWRA”) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (“SWANA”) with the shared goal of improving…
Air Enforcement: Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Leeds Brick Manufacturing Facility Enter into Consent Order
September 11, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) and Acme Brick Company (“ABC”) entered into a July 28th Consent Order (“CO”) addressing alleged violations of an Air Permit. See Consent Order No. XXXXXXX. The CO provides that ABC operates a brick manufacturing facility in Leeds, Alabama…
New Source Review/Clean Air Act: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Guidance Addressing "Begin Actual Construction"
September 10, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a September 2nd interpretive letter addressing the definition of “Begin Actual Construction” in the Clean Air Act New Source Review (“NSR”) regulations. The interpretive letter is transmitted from Aaron Szabo, EPA Assistant…
Common Law Action/PCBs: Federal Court Addresses Lakefront Property Owners Damage Claim
September 10, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
Co-Author Claire Heffley A federal court in South Carolina addressed in an August 6th Opinion issues arising out of a putative class action filed by lakefront property owners alleging contamination due to the dissemination of motor and transformer oil into the lake. See Jones v. Duke Energy Corp…