Water Quality
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—December 18, 2025
Next Week: Tues. Dec. 23 at Noon—AgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces $12 Billion in ‘Bridge Payments’🌾
On December 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the agency will distribute $12 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding for “one time bridge payments” to U.S. farmers “in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.” According to the announcement, $11 billion is allocated for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which will provide payments to row crop farmers who produce barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 21, 2025
Next Week:
Tues. Oct. 28: AgWorks: Legal Authority to Work in the U.S. and Other Pre-Employment Screening Processes
Fri. Oct. 31: Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids (FREE Attorney CLE!)
Water Quality: Maryland Announces Conowingo Dam Settlement Agreement 🌾
On October 2, 2025, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, and Constellation Energy announced a settlement agreement with Constellation Energy to “fund and implement operational improvements and environmental projects at the Conowingo Dam.” The settlement agreement is part of a revised Water Quality Certification, also issued by MDE. […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 25, 2025
Tomorrow: Sept. 26, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes
Next Week: Sept. 30, AgWorks: Foundations of the Employer–Employee Relationship (No Atty CLE available)
Regulatory Policy: Federal Court Issues Summary Judgment in Favor of Terminated Federal Employees 🌾
On September 12, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order granting in part summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff federal employees in a case challenging the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) action in “early 2025 . . . direct[ing] agencies across the federal government to terminate their probationary employees en masse.” Am. Federation […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 16, 2025
This Week! 2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, Pa., 6 CLE credits available!
Next Week: Webinar—Sept. 26, 2025, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes
Agricultural Labor: Federal Court Permanently Enjoins 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Calculation Rule, DOL to Publish New Rule 🌾
On August 26, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a final judgement permanently vacating the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2023 final rule, which amended the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) calculation for H-2A workers to draw upon data from […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—August 19, 2025
Webinar Friday, Aug. 22: Understanding the Basics of Foreign Agricultural Land Ownership Laws
Agribusiness: Texas Foreign Land Ownership Bill Effective September 1, 2025 🌾
On September 1, 2025, Texas Senate Bill 17 (PDF), which prohibits land purchases in the state by certain foreign individuals and entities, becomes effective. The bill, passed into law on June 20, 2025, defines “designated country” as a country identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence “that poses a risk to the national security of the United States” or a country as designated by the governor, and prohibits governments, companies, and individuals domiciled in such […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 31, 2025
Water Quality: Bucks County Attorney General’s Office Announces Investigation into Sunoco Pipeline Leak ⚡
On March 11, 2025, the Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka announced during a town meeting that the Attorney General’s office would be investigating leaks from a Sunoco pipeline in Upper Makefield, PA. The pipeline leak was confirmed by a Pennsylvania announcement in January 2025, which stated that the pipeline leak had contaminated six wells within Upper Makefield. Since the leak was announced, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had been involved with water testing within the wells for contamination, with potential contaminants […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 11, 2025
Water Quality: Supreme Court Holds ‘Generic Prohibitions’ Unauthorized by Clean Water Act 🌾
On March 4, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion holding that the Clean Water Act (CWA) does not authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose “generic prohibitions,” otherwise known as “end-result” provisions, in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. San Franscisco v. EPA, No. 21-7082. The majority reasoned that the plain meaning of the terms used in §1311(b)(1) of the CWA (“limitation,” “implement,” and “meet”) “suggest EPA must set specific rules permittees must follow to achieve water quality […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 3, 2025
Water Quality: EPA Approves Class VI Primacy Application for West Virginia ⚡
On February 18, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their approval of West Virginia’s Class VI primacy application for injecting CO2 into “deep rock formations.” The EPA approved the application under the Safe Drinking Water Act, finding that West Virginia is “best positioned to protect underground sources of drinking water while bolstering energy independence and dominance.” According to the announcement, West Virginia is the fourth state to receive Class VI primacy since 2018. Additionally, the announcement stated that the EPA Administrator will begin “fast-track[ing]” Class VI primacy […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of December 23, 2024
Public Health: Department of Energy Releases Three Action Plans for Transportation Emissions ⚡
On December 12, 2024, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced three action plans regarding transportation emissions. In 2023, the DOE, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) partnered to create the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. Stemming from this plan, the DOE, DOT, EPA, and HUD worked together to develop the three action plans – An Action Plan for Maritime Energy and Emissions Innovation, An Action Plan for Rail Energy and […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—November 21, 2024
Avian Influenza: USDA Confirms first HPAI in Swine 🌾
On October 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that the agency had confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI/H5NI) in swine in the United States, located in an Oregon non-commercial backyard farming operation. According to the announcement, the premises included “a mix of poultry and livestock, including swine” that “shared water sources, housing, and equipment,” which the department states “has enabled transmission between species [in other states].” APHIS states that “the animals were not intended for the commercial […]
