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
Natural Resource Damages/CERCLA: United States/State of Georgia and Poultry Processing Facility Enter into Consent Decree
The United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) on behalf of the United States of America and the State of Georgia entered into a Consent Decree (“CD”) with Gold Creek Foods, LLC (“Gold Creek”) addressing the recovery of alleged natural resource damages pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental…
Transportation/Hazardous Materials: U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Interpretive Letter Addressing Hazardous Materials Installed in Equipment
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 hazardous materials installed in equipment. See Reference No. 26-0014. PHMSA was responding to a…
Arkansas Department of Agriculture/Arkansas State Plant Board: June 9th Meeting Scheduled
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced that the Arkansas State Plant Board will meet on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR. The Bureau of Standards’ primary mission is described as the Arkansas…
US Army Corp of Engineers Operation of Mississippi River Spillway/Fifth Amendment Taking: US Federal Appellate Court Addresses Oyster Farmers Claim
The United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit (“Federal Circuit”) addressed in a May 21 Opinion an issue arising out of the operation of the Bonnet Carre Spillway (“Spillway”). See Robert L. Campo, et al v. United States, 2026 WL 142579. The question addressed was whether oyster farmers…
Inside the House's FY27 Agriculture Spending Bill: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Report
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (“NSAC”) issued a May 15th report titled: Inside the House’s FY27 Agriculture Spending Bill (“Report”). NSAC describes itself as: … an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of…