OSHA Schedules Public Hearings on Deregulatory Proposals
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled several informal public hearings on more than 20 deregulatory rulemaking proposals that OSHA released last summer, along with a recent proposal addressing compliance deadlines under OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standard. Together, these proposals reach standards that touch employers across a wide range of industries. Stakeholders who want to shape the outcome have a narrow window to act. These virtual hearings kick off beginning Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. EST.
The proposals fit under the administration’s Executive Order 14192 on “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” and the U.S. Department of Labor’s related deregulatory initiative. OSHA describes its overarching goal as modernizing workplace safety standards, reducing compliance burdens, and increasing flexibility across industries.
EPA Proposal Could Reduce New Source Review-Related Delays for Major Construction Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed a rule that could allow project developers of data centers, energy projects, and other facilities to begin certain site-development and infrastructure activities before obtaining a Clean Air Act (CAA) New Source Review (NSR) permit. The proposed rule, published on May 11, 2026, would clarify that certain non-emitting activities may occur before an NSR permit is issued, potentially providing greater flexibility for project development without altering the substantive air permitting requirements applicable to pollutant-emitting equipment. (more…)
EPA Proposes Two-Year Delay of Biden-Era Vehicle Emissions Standards
On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is reconsidering the criteria pollutant standards for new light- and medium-duty vehicles. The first phase of EPA’s proposal would push back the phase-in schedule of the “Tier 4” criteria pollutant standards from model year 2027 to model year 2029, giving automakers two additional model years to comply with the existing Tier 3 framework before the more stringent requirements begin to apply—and giving EPA time to conduct a second rulemaking to amend the Tier 4 emissions standards.
NHTSA Proposes Amending Federal Crash Avoidance Standards for Autonomous Vehicles
On March 16, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published two proposed rulemakings designed to ease the path for manufacturing autonomous vehicles and deploying them on public roads. Both proposals would amend existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) by removing requirements for certain safety equipment that may be unnecessary in vehicles without a human driver. These rulemakings represent an incremental step, not a game changer, in paving the way for a driverless future.
EPA Proposes Exemptions to TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule
On November 13, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule that would revise the scope of EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) rule requiring a one-time expansive data submission on per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS Reporting Rule). The proposal introduces several exemptions designed to reduce compliance costs and improve implementation. The revisions aim to make the one-time PFAS reporting requirements more practical, particularly for small manufacturers and importers, while preserving EPA’s access to use and exposure information. EPA will accept public comments until December 29, 2025.
OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Issues New Guidance to Accelerate Deregulatory Actions
On October 21, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum aimed at providing guidance for “Streamlining the Review of Deregulatory Actions” to federal agencies. The guidance follows recent Executive Orders (EOs) and a Presidential Memorandum issued earlier in the Trump Administration that emphasized the Administration’s focus on deregulation as a driver of economic growth and government efficiency.
EPA Proposes Overhaul of Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
On September 16, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule that would fundamentally reshape the federal Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). 90 Fed. Reg. 44591 (Sept. 16, 2025). If finalized, this action would mark a further shift in federal greenhouse gas (GHG) policy and advance the administration’s broader deregulatory agenda.
Trump EPA Releases First Regulatory Agenda of Second Term – Key Takeaways and Timelines
The Trump Administration’s Spring 2025 Unified Agenda underscores the EPA’s central role in reshaping federal regulations. From PFAS standards to greenhouse gas rules and permitting reforms, the agenda highlights rollbacks of climate-related measures while introducing new compliance timelines. Companies should prepare now to engage on rules that will directly impact operations in energy, manufacturing, and beyond.
The Department of Transportation’s Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda: Big Announcements on Autonomous Vehicles and Automatic Emergency Braking
On September 4, 2025 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced several planned rulemakings relating to autonomous driving systems as part of the Trump Administration’s Spring 2025 regulatory agenda. The Secretary of Transportation said: “The rules of the road need to be updated to fit the realities of the 21st century. Our changes will eliminate redundant requirements and bring us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.” The Department of Transportation’s regulatory agenda also has dozens of other items, including two notable actions on automatic emergency braking.
EPA Updates Clean Air Act Standards Applicable to Small Waste Incinerators
On June 30, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized updates to its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines for Other Solid Waste Incineration (OSWI) units under the Clean Air Act (CAA). These units — combustion systems that incinerate solid waste from commercial or institutional sources not otherwise regulated under specific incinerator categories — include very small municipal waste combustors and institutional incinerators. The final rule includes applicability-related and definitional changes expanding the class of incinerators subject to NSPS, revises the OSWI subcategories and tightens emission limits for key pollutants. It also adopts changes to startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM), and expands testing, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements that will affect both existing and new OSWI units.
