Claim OwnershipEnvironmental Evolutions
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Description
Environmental Evolutions features hosts Linn Bumpers and Scott Novak along with lawyers and industry guests who explore emerging ideas and recent developments in environmental law and policy.
Long time host Megan Berge has left Baker Botts for an in-house role. We congratulate her and look forward to her becoming a long time listener.
Long time host Megan Berge has left Baker Botts for an in-house role. We congratulate her and look forward to her becoming a long time listener.
51 Episodes
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Scott Novak and Allison Watkins Mallick unpack two of the most consequential potential shifts in U.S. climate regulation: the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposals to repeal the landmark 2009 endangerment finding for greenhouse gases and to rescind or revise greenhouse gas regulations for fossil fuel–fired power plants. They examine the legal basis for these proposals, the implications of these proposals on the vehicle and power sectors, and what companies can do to prepare for shifting regulatory ground.
Linn Bumpers and Martha Thompson discuss the regulatory landscape of PFAS, or Forever Chemicals, under the second Trump administration. They dive into EPA's priorities and recent updates, such as strengthening science, fulfilling statutory obligations, and building partnerships. Key focus areas include changes to reporting requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA) and potential shifts in regulation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The conversation highlights the evolving nature of PFAS regulations and the implications for various industries.
Scott Novak is joined by Tom Jackson as they discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County , which has significant implications for infrastructure project permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The conversation covers the limitations on agency obligations to consider upstream and downstream impacts and the emphasis on judicial deference in NEPA cases.
Scott Novak interviews Georgetown Law professor Vicki Arroyo, the former EPA Associate Administrator for Policy under the Biden administration. They discuss Vicki’s career, EPA’s major accomplishments during her time at the agency, and her thoughts on EPA’s new policy priorities.
This episode was recorded on March 24, 2025.
Linn Bumpers and Scott Novak host a thought-provoking discussion with Shai Sahay and Jeff Wood on the changing dynamics of environmental law and policy under the Trump administration's second term. The episode explores the implications of new executive orders and their potential impact on energy projects, environmental enforcement, and regulatory frameworks.
In this episode, host Megan Berge talks to long time NEPA practitioner Tom Jackson about the D.C. Circuit’s recent decision shaking the foundation of National Environmental Policy Act regulations across federal agencies.
The decision is available here. Please reach out to Tom if you have questions about the decision’s potential impact on current or planned projects or funding requests.
In this fast facts episode, Washington DC partner Sterling Marchand takes over the episode to discuss the SEC’s landmark climate risk disclosure regulations. Given the numerous stories about what did not make it into the final rule, Sterling focuses on what made it in.
A written summary of the rule can be found at bakerbotts.com, and our fast facts podcast discussing the proposed regulations can heard here.
If you have questions about today’s podcast, contact Sterling Marchand.
In today's episode, Megan asks a cross section of Environmental, Safety, and Incident Response lawyers from a variety of offices one important question: what issue or issues is on their mind for 2024?
As a bonus, each lawyer shared one fun fact about themselves so that you can learn a little bit more about the amazing people at Baker Botts. Learn even more about our repeat guests!
For further information on these topics or suggestions for future episodes, please email Megan at megan.berge@bakerbotts.com.
Couldn’t spare three hours to listen to the Supreme Court arguments in Loper Bright and Relentless, but wondering about the fate of Chevron deference? Aaron Streett, Chair of our Supreme Court practice, breaks it down for you.
More information on the cases is available here:
Loper Bright: supremecourt.gov
Relentless: supremecourt.gov
If you have questions about appellate strategy, reach out to Aaron.
In the previous episode “Move over SEC, the California Legislature has Passed Landmark Climate Disclosure Laws” host Megan Berge provided quick hits on Senate Bills 253 (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and 261 (the Climate Related Financial Risk Act). In this episode Megan turns to San Francisco tax partner WIll Gorrod* to break down legislative clues to help answer what it means to be “Doing Business in California.”
*Will Gorrod is no longer practicing with Baker Botts.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, host Megan Berge is joined by managing partner, Danny David for a brief episode sharing what we at Baker Botts are Thankful for this holiday season—spoiler alert, it is all of you! We wish everyone a safe, happy, and email-free holiday. Thank you for being our clients and listeners.
In this episode, host Megan Berge provides quick hits on California Senate Bills 253 (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and 261 (the Climate Related Financial Risk Act). Each bill is focused on greenhouse gas emissions and companies' financial risks from climate change.
Listeners interested in reviewing Senate Bills 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and 261, the Climate Related Financial Risk Act, can find them at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB253 and https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261.
For more information or answers to questions on the bills, please contact Megan Berge.
Does a mix of law, politics, and sticky situations sound intriguing to you? Then join me for the inaugural episode of Lawful influence – a new podcast hosted by Baker Botts Partner Sterling Marchand. Check it out!
Lawful Influence pulls back the curtain on legal issues in the world of campaign finance and lobbying, as there’s no escaping the political influences that impact your bottom line. If this sounds like something you might be interested in – keep listening and subscribe to Lawful Influence on your favorite platform below.
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In today’s episode, Partner Michael Loesch discusses the CFTC’s growing interest in the increasingly crowded but thus far largely unregulated field of voluntary carbon offsets. The stakes associated with climate-related speech have never been higher as government agencies and activists alike are taking a hard look at how to provide existing regulatory and legal tools to carbon markets.
Link to whistleblower alert issued by the CFTC.
On today’s episode, Megan Berge hands the reigns over to Partners, Kent Mayo and Martha Thomsen to discuss the EPA’s proposed legacy rule. A link to the rule is below and the comments close on Monday July 17th. If you have questions about the proposed rule and its implications for your business, please contact Kent or Martha.
Federalregister.gov
On this episode of the Environmental Evolutions Podcast, Megan Berge is joined by Jeff Wood and Tom Jackson to explore the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. They'll dive into the key provisions aimed at approving federal energy and infrastructure permitting procedures, as well as the NEPA reforms included in the new law.
The link to the law is below and if you have questions for Tom or Jeff, please contact them directly.
The final version of Public Law No. 118-5: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr3746/BILLS-118hr3746enr.pdf).
On this episode, Host Megan Berge is joined by Partners Jason Bennett and Tom Holmberg to discuss the importance of data, scrutiny and integrity while creating value in carbon markets. For more information, reach out to Jason or Tom or visit bakerbotts.com.
On this episode, Partner and host Megan Berge is joined by Partner Allison Watkins Mallick and Cryptocurrency Mining and Staking Sustainability Association President Cameron Rafati to discuss the future of sustainable digital currencies. Covering everything from energy sources, grid stability, and permitting this episode dives into the regulations, impacts and innovations of cryptocurrency in today's world.
For more information, reach out to Allison or visit bakerbotts.com
In this episode, host Megan Berge takes the mic to provide a brief overview of the statutory basis for and origin story of EPA’s newly proposed greenhouse gas performance standards for existing coal-fired plants and new and existing gas-fired plants. A fast facts episode covering the guidelines will follow soon.
Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants | US EPA
In this episode, environmental attorney Julie Cress updates host Megan Berge on the California Air Resources Board’s upcoming adoption of the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule. This rule has broad impacts across the medium and heavy duty transportation sector in California and is another part of California’s aggressive push to electrify the transportation sector. More information on the rulemaking and how to get involved is available on the CARB website. Please contact Julie for more information on California’s mobile source regulations.
Links to Julie's past episodes:
Changes are Coming to the California LCFS
New Signals on California’s LCFS Amendments
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