Category: Regulatory Developments

Trucks, truck drivers, trucking industry

FMCSA Proposal Would End Driver Violation Report Requirement

On December 14, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed rescinding the requirement that commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers annually prepare and submit a list of their convictions for traffic violations to their employers. The requirement duplicates a separate requirement that motor carriers obtain the motor vehicle record (MVR) for each driver they employ […]

Wildfire smoke in Washington state

Wildfire Smoke Rule in Development in Washington State

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is developing a wildfire smoke standard. The department acknowledged receiving a petition to initiate a rulemaking for wildfire smoke exposures.

Superfund site

EPA Rule Says Industry Insurance Not Required for Pollution Cleanups

On November 25, 2020, the EPA finalized rulemaking that determined that the electric power generation; transmission and distribution; petroleum and coal products manufacturing; and chemical manufacturing industries will not be required to have additional insurance to cover accidents and major spills.

California and COVID-19

California Health and Safety Board Approves COVID-19 Rule

California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board unanimously approved five emergency temporary standards for workplace coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposures: COVID-19 prevention, multiple COVID-19 infections and COVID-19 outbreaks, major COVID-19 outbreaks, COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided housing, and COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided transportation to and from work.

EPA sign

EPA Rule Signals Changes Ahead for Agency Guidance Documents

On October 19, 2020, the EPA published a final rule titled EPA Guidance; Administrative Procedures for Issuance and Public Petitions. The Agency typically utilizes guidance documents “to provide direction to agency staff, other governmental agencies, the regulated community, and interested stakeholders on a wide variety of technical and regulatory matters under its purview,” according to […]

Oregon state flag facemask

Oregon Releases Assistance Documents for COVID-19 Rule

Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) released several documents to assist employers that must comply with the state’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposures. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

California and COVID-19

California to Consider Emergency COVID-19 Rule as Cases Rise

On November 19, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board will consider an emergency standard for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, which would require employers to provide face coverings and COVID-19 testing at no cost to their employees. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Electronic recordkeeping

Final Rule Issued on NPDES Electronic Reporting

On November 2, 2020, a final rule addressing the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule (eRule) was published by the EPA in the Federal Register.

Final Rule Issued for NSR Permitting Process

On October 22, 2020, the EPA finalized a rule to streamline and improve the Clean Air New Source Review (NSR) permitting process. It specifically clarifies the process to evaluate when an NSR preconstruction permit is required when an existing major emitter facility makes changes.