Administrative Law

EPA on February 28 released a web portal containing links to “all of EPA’s active guidance documents,” as required by last year’s Executive Order 13891, “Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents.” In total, EPA’s portal contains over 9,100 guidance documents, from EPA’s various Headquarters offices and each of its 10 Regions. EPA also notes that it withdrew a number of guidance documents “that were determined to be no longer relevant,” but has not provided a listing of such documents.
Continue Reading EPA Releases Comprehensive Guidance Database, With Significant Ramifications for Auer Deference

The Supreme Court’s much-awaited decision in Kisor v. Wilkie will have significant ramifications for the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and environmental law.  While the decision upheld the concept of Auer deference, which instructs courts to defer to agencies’ interpretations of their own regulations, it also imposed a number of limitations and restrictions on when Auer deference applies.  The decision leaves open many questions about what EPA guidance will qualify for Auer deference, and whether any statements that do qualify for deference are subject to immediate challenge as final agency action.  The decision thus presents opportunities for regulated parties to challenge EPA interpretations, but also challenges in that regulated parties may not necessarily rely on EPA’s interpretations as controlling.
Continue Reading Kisor v. Wilkie Creates Significant Uncertainties Regarding Deference to EPA