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On September 30, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB-553 into law. SB-553 is the nation’s first workplace violence prevention law.  The law adds a new section 6401.9 to the California Labor Code, which will be implemented by Cal/OSHA.  The new law requires that employers an effective plan aimed at preventing workplace violence in place by July 1, 2024.  The plan may be incorporated into an existing Injury, Illness, and Prevention Plan and does not apply to workers teleworking form a location of the employee’s choice or employers already regulated by existing standards for the healthcare industry.

The workplace violence prevention plan must be in writing, be available to employees, and include the following:

  • Names or job titles of the persons responsible for implementing the plan
  • Methods the employer will use to implement the plan
  • Procedures to obtain the active involvement of employees and authorized employee representatives in developing and implementing the plan
  • Methods the employer will use to coordinate implementation of the plan with other employers, when applicable
  • Procedures for the employer to accept and respond to reports of workplace violence, and to prohibit retaliation against an employee who makes such a report
  • Procedures to ensure that supervisory and nonsupervisory employees comply with the plan
  • Procedures to communicate with employees regarding workplace violence matters and how their reported matter will be investigated
  • Means to alert employees of the presence, location, and nature of workplace violence emergencies
  • Evacuation or sheltering plans
  • Procedures for identifying workplace violence hazards
  • Procedures to investigate and correct past incidents

In addition to the workplace violence prevention plan, employers must keep a log of all workplace incidents. The log must include the following:

  • The date, time, and location of the incident
  • The workplace violence type(s) involved in the incident (as defined in the statute)
  • A detailed description of the incident
  • Details regarding who committed the violence, including whether the perpetrator was a client or customer, family or friend of a client or customer, stranger with criminal intent, coworker, supervisor or manager, partner or spouse, parent or relative, or other perpetrator
  • A description of the circumstances at the time of the incident, including, but not limited to, whether the employee was completing usual job duties, working in poorly lit areas, etc.
  • The type of incident, including, but not limited to, whether it involved any of the following:
    • Physical attack without a weapon, including, but not limited to, biting, choking, grabbing, hair pulling, kicking, punching, slapping, pushing, pulling, scratching, or spitting
    • A threat of physical force
    • Sexual assault or threat
    • An animal attack
  • The consequences of the incident, including, but not limited to whether law enforcement was contacted, and actions taken to protect employees from a continued threat.

Employers should ensure that the log does not include personal identifying information for any persons involved. All records including the workplace incident log, training records, workplace violence investigations, and records of workplace violence hazard identification, evaluation, and correction, all must be maintained for 5 years.

Training must be provided to employees, including on the employer’s plan, the rule’s requirements and definitions, how to report incidents, workplace violence hazards specific to jobs and associated corrective measures, the violent incident log, and opportunity for Q&A.

California Code of Civil Procedure section 527.8 was also amended to allow employers to seek restraining orders to prevent workplace violence where necessary.

On August 29, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.  The new WOTUS rule makes major changes to clarify which wetlands are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The new WOTUS rule is a direct response to the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA decision, which held that in order for wetlands to be protected under the CWA there must be a “continuous surface connection” to a WOTUS.  

In January 2023, the Biden administration adopted a definition that mimicked a pre-2015 approach, which considered both the “significant nexus” standard, as well as a “relatively permanent” standard.  The January 2023 Rule aimed to broaden the definition of WOTUS after Trump-era revisions narrowing its scope.  The Sackett holding found that the “significant nexus” test did not comport with the Clean Water Act, forcing EPA to amend the WOTUS rule.  EPA removed the “significant nexus” test and redefined “adjacent” to mean “having a continuous surface connection.”

At first glance, these revisions appear to align with Sackett.  However, opponents continue to assert that even as amended the WOTUS rule is overly broad, unduly burdensome, and insufficiently certain.  Various industry and political groups have indicated another round of litigation is imminent.

EPA has already stated that, “If any part of the 2023 Rule as amended by this rule is stayed or invalidated, the agencies’ intent is to preserve its remaining portions to the fullest possible extent.”

In February, 23 states filed suit and obtained an injunction against the EPA over the Biden Administration’s January 2023 Rule.  In those states, the pre-2015 Rule remains in effect. 

Further, EPA elected to forego a notice and comment period and instead issue a final rule under the “good cause” exception of the Administrative Procedure Act.  In issuing new WOTUS rule as final, EPA stated that there is good cause for it to immediately finalize the rule as EPA determined such notice and opportunity for comment is unnecessary.  This decision is likely to be a subject of the anticipated litigation.

Our team will continue to track WOTUS related news and will provide updates as needed.

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What is “ESG”?

“ESG” is perhaps the most divisive acronym of this year’s legislative session. But what does it mean?
“Environmental, Social, Governance” is a framework used to evaluate investments and business decision’s impacts on the environment and society. ESG criteria considers things like a company’s carbon footprint and employee wellbeing. ESG practices are being adopted by many companies and investors, but as they continue to grow, so does the opposition.

The SEC’s Pending Climate-Related Disclosure Rules

In March 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published its “Proposed Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors.” The rules would mandate the disclosure of Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 emissions (indirect), and in certain cases Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions from both upstream and downstream activities). Additionally, companies would need to disclose climate-related risks faced by their business, processes for evaluating those risks, as well as how the company intends to meet its climate goals where they have been openly disclosed. All required disclosures will be made in a company’s annual Form 10-K reports. The rules are expected to be finalized by the end of 2023, but no updates have been announced since the close of the comment period in June 2022.  However, even once final, businesses can expect challenges and a strong likelihood of a Supreme Court stay of implementation of the new rules pending judicial review.

Recently Introduced Anti-ESG Federal Legislation

At the end of July, House Republicans introduced a slew of anti-ESG legislation to combat ESG-friendly legislation and the anticipated SEC rules. The following bills were introduced:

  • H.R. 4790 – The Guiding Uniform and Responsible Disclosure Requirements and Information Limits Act
    • This bill would amend the federal securities laws to create a Public Company Advisory Committee within the SEC to protect investors and market fairness. Additionally, the bill would limit mandated disclosures requirement, such as those in the proposed SEC rules.
  • H.R. 4655 – The Businesses Over Activists Act
    • This bill seeks to amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit the SEC from compelling the inclusion or discussion of shareholder proposals or proxy.
  • H.R. 4767 – The Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings from Politics Act
    • This bill seeks to amend shareholder and proxy voting processes in a way that prioritizes growth over political issues while allowing for the exclusion of ESG proposals. 

State ESG Legislation

Instead of passively waiting for new federal rules, many state legislatures have taken ESG matters into their own hands. As of August 2023, 22 states have adopted some form of ESG legislation. 18 of these states have adopted anti-ESG laws, while only 4 have adopted pro-ESG laws.

  1. Anti-ESG Legislation

Notable anti-ESG states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

A key theme in anti-ESG legislation from these states is the ban on the use of ESG criteria when managing public retirement systems or public funds. ESG opponents feel that the use of ESG criteria greatly harms beneficiaries, as it has the potential to lead to lower returns. Typical anti-ESG legislation includes a ban on the use of ESG criteria when making investment decisions that involve public funds. This may include an emphasis on fiduciary duties or a prohibition on divestment from certain industries.  

Indiana took this concept one step further in House Enrolled Act No. 1008, by prohibiting public retirement systems from contracting with service providers who make any “ESG commitments.” The legislation was passed in hopes to protect investment decisions to ensure that they are made with the sole purpose of maximizing the target rate of return. The public retirement system must replace service providers who have made ESG commitments where there is a comparable service provider who has not. This law went into effect July 1, 2023.

Idaho passed a similar law, House Bill 190, which bans banks and credit unions that hold state funds from boycotting an individual or company because of its affiliated industry. Listed industries include fossil-fuel based energy, timber, minerals, agriculture, and firearm sales, manufacturing or distribution. The law became effective July 1, 2023.

The most comprehensive anti-ESG legislation to date is Florida’s House Bill 3. ESG criteria may not be used when making public pension investment decisions, local government investment decisions, or awarding state or local contracts to vendors. Additionally, the issuance of ESG bonds are prohibited. Florida will likely influence future anti-ESG legislation throughout the country.

  1. Pro-ESG Legislation

Left-leaning states such as California, Colorado, Illinois, and Vermont have implemented ESG criteria mandates or taken general protective measures that allow investors to continue the use of ESG criteria where they see fit.

Typical pro-ESG legislation includes divestment from certain industries, mandated disclosures and the adoption of more sustainable investment policies.

Colorado’s S.B. 23-016 was signed into law May 11, 2023 and requires the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association to disclose financial risks stemming from climate change on an annual basis. The law takes effect January 1, 2025. 

The California Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) has the potential to be the most impactful pro-ESG law. California is home to one of the world’s largest economies. If passed, the bill would mimic the proposed SEC rules by mandating the disclosure of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for companies doing business in the state and earning at least $1 billion in annual revenue. Additionally, beginning in 2027, companies would have to disclose Scope 3 emissions. We will continue to monitor its progress as it moves through the state legislature.

General Counsel Role and Business Advice in Light of Above

Navigating a company’s role in society is one of the great management challenges of our time. In the face of the ESG backlash, companies’ reactions vary. Some are going quiet about their initiatives and accomplishments; this has been referred to as “greenhushing.” However, others are doubling down on their commitments to sustainability.  Whichever path chosen, legal departments are being looked to to help steer their company forward, 

To best prepare your company, consider the following actions:

  • Legal should consider both sides of the ESG debate and stay informed of all nuances.
  • Certain environmental, social and governance issues may impact a company’s ability to be successful in both the near and long term; others might not. At its core, ESG is about companies recognizing emerging risks as well growth opportunities to their businesses and their boards’ oversight of all of it.
  • More robust ESG data, not less, could lead to companies making more informed decisions and to better governance.
  • To that end, understand your climate goals, if any.
    • Be mindful of communicating any emission reduction goals, as this could lead to mandatory disclosures of Scope 3 emissions in the future.
  • Consider adopting a system to track emissions.
    • This may be an environmental management system certified under ISO 140001 or another method of tracking data.
  • Know the communities your company conducts business in and understand their values.
    • Gaining a deeper understanding of your customer base can best guide your ESG or non-ESG related goals.
  • Consider creating an ESG committee.
    • Fostering internal dialogue around this controversial topic will best prepare you for ESG related changes.
  • Understand your company’s climate-related risks in both the long and short term.
    • Be mindful of potential impacts or supply chain shortages your company may face if climate disaster strikes.

As we previously covered in our blog last week, both the Federal and certain State governments are proposing legislation to subsidize or otherwise enhance the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from selected “hard to abate” industrial sectors such as heavy industry, transportation and marine shipping.  Last week’s blog focused on federal legislation. This week, we focus on California legislation.

In an effort to lead on the transition to low carbon energy by supporting the use of hydrogen, the California Legislature is considering two bills that require commissions to establish assessment goals for hydrogen use in certain applications and prioritize the use of clean hydrogen statewide.

First, SB-414 would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and the Public Utilities Commission, to complete an assessment of the use of hydrogen in certain applications, including light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, including long-distance trucks and trains, household and commercial appliances, and electricity generation. The assessment must evaluate the potential for reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases using hydrogen, the cost associated with replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen, the energy efficiency of using hydrogen, and the climate risk associated with the transportation, storage, and use of hydrogen for the application. The bill would then require these findings be used when considering the “planning, implementation, or regulation of hydrogen production, distribution, storage, or usage in the state.” After passing the Senate Floor on May 24, 2023, and the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on June 19, 2023, the bill was re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations on June 20, 2023.

Second, though not a bill per se, Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 21 acknowledges the importance of hydrogen in the clean energy transition and urges the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (aka ARCHES, a public-private partnership organization) to prioritize the use of renewable, clean hydrogen for California in its effort to create “Hydrogen Hubs.” These hubs are a part of President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in which Congress has allocated $8 billion toward establishing a network of hydrogen hubs. ARCHES is leading California’s regional application of the project. Existing California law already defines the different types of hydrogen, including green electrolytic, clean hydrogen, and renewable hydrogen. The definitions of these terms can be found in the Senate Floor Analysis of the resolution from March 22, 2023. This resolution specifically is intended to further support the use of hydrogen derived from eligible renewable energy resources, including wind, solar thermal, and biomass. The resolution passed the Senate Floor on April 27, 2023, and was adopted and ordered to the Assembly Consent Calendar by the Assembly Committee on Transportation on July 5, 2023.

The above legislation reflects California’s continued attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use and assessment of hydrogen. Other states are watching closely and are considering similar measures as well. We will continue to closely monitor the status of hydrogen bills throughout the legislative process at both the federal and state level.

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Federico Beccari, Unsplash

As economies pivot away from reliance on petroleum, the use of hydrogen is increasingly considered as a key component in a portfolio of alternative fuels and developing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is the first of a multi-part blog series on federal and state legislation being considered to stimulate “energy transition.”  This blog post addresses selected U.S. federal legislation.

To help stimulate critical end-use demand in particularly “hard to abate” industrial sectors (e.g., heavy industry, transport and marine shipping), Senators Chris Coons (D) and John Cornyn (R), along with a group of bipartisan cosponsors have introduced the Hydrogen Infrastructure Initiative. This package combines four pieces of legislation that will have potentially industry-wide implications by supporting both the adoption of hydrogen and the creation of infrastructure needed to transport, store, and deliver hydrogen.

The first bill in the package is S-646, known as the Hydrogen for Industry Act of 2023. This bill would amend the Energy Policy Act to establish a Hydrogen Technologies for Heavy Industry Demonstration Program. This program would support “commercial-scale” demonstration projects for industrial applications of hydrogen, including in the production of steel, cement, glass, and chemicals. Such processes have specific technical requirements that limit the options for substituting heat sources. The use of hydrogen would ensure that the necessary temperatures would still be supplied to the industrial sector, but with reduced emission rates. Hydrogen could also serve as a feedstock for the production of ammonia, methanol, or other bulk chemicals. $1.2 billion was authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program for each fiscal year from 2024 through 2028. On March 2, 2023, the bill was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The second bill in the package is S-647, known as the Hydrogen for Ports Act of 2023. Sponsors highlight that, “ports are well-suited to be early adopters of hydrogen fuel, with multi-modal transportation applications converging on a single location that can share hydrogen infrastructure at scale.” The bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to support the use of hydrogen- or ammonia-fueled equipment at U.S. ports and in other shipping applications. The bill would also require that a study be conducted regarding the “feasibility and safety of using hydrogen and ammonia as fuels in maritime applications.” $100 million was authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program for each fiscal year from 2024 through 2028. On March 2, 2023, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Third, S-648, aka the Hydrogen for Trucks Act of 2023, would require the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to establish a grant program to “demonstrate the performance and reliability of heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel source.” This program would incentivize private investment support the overall development of hydrogen trucking infrastructure while collecting critical data to inform future investments in hydrogen trucking infrastructure. $200 million was authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program for each fiscal year from 2024 through 2028. On March 2, 2023, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Finally, S-649, aka the Hydrogen Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (HIFIA), would require the Secretary of Energy to create a grant program that provides loans for hydrogen infrastructure projects. The bill would also require a study be conducted to address questions related to transporting and storing hydrogen. $100 million was authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the HIFIA pilot program for each fiscal year from 2024 through 2028. On March 2, 2023, the bill was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Collectively, this package represents an important step in the adoption of hydrogen infrastructure across various important industries. We will continue to closely monitor the status of these bills throughout the legislative processand the topic of hydrogen across the United States.

Next week, look for an analogous blog we are drafting regarding hydrogen legislation in California.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) issued a proposed rule updating process safety management (PSM) standards for petroleum refineries. Washington’s current PSM rule is identical to the federal standard issued by OSHA in 1992 – over 30 years ago. More recently, in late 2017, California revised their regulations on PSM for petroleum refineries, increasing requirements for refiners beyond those of general industry and federal OSHA regulations. L&I aimed for consistency with California’s regulations when drafting the proposal due to the large percentage of refiners who operate in both states; 80% of Washington’s refiners also operate in California. L&I indicated they believe having similar regulations to California will improve safety outcomes for employees and contractors who work at petroleum refineries in both states.

The New Requirements

Given that the proposed regulation is largely aligned with California’s PSM, the following Washington PSM requirements (while new to the state of Washington) are similar to the deviations from the federal requirements that were introduced in California in 2017:

  • Process Hazard Analyses (PHA): L&I’s proposed regulation increases the scope of PHAs by adding requirements to (1) perform a safeguard protection analysis, (2) address damage mechanism reviews during the PHA, and (3) require a Hierarchy of Hazard Controls Analysis (HCA) for PHA recommendations. All initial PHAs for processes not previously covered by federal PSM regulations must be completed within three years of the rule’s effective date.
  • Management of Organizational Changes (MOOCs): A team must be designated by the employer to perform MOOC assessments.  Written MOOCs with findings and recommendations are needed for changes with a duration longer than 90 days which will affect operations, engineering, maintenance, health and safety, or emergency response, including staffing levels, shift duration, or employee responsibilities.
  • Human Factors: Within 18 months of the effective date of the final rule, refiners must develop and maintain a written human factors program. Employers must include a human factors analysis as part of major changes examinations (i.e., Management of Change (MOC)), incident investigations, PHAs, MOOCs, and HCAs. Examples of human factors to be considered include staffing levels and turnover, training, fatigue, and task complexity.
  • Root Cause Analyses (RCA): Employers must conduct RCAs after significant accidents. Further, refiners must establish effective methods for conducting an RCA in written procedures for both investigating and reporting incidents. The RCA must include causes of the incident as well as information to prevent the recurrence of the specific incident, or incidents of a similar nature.
  • Workplace Safety Culture: Employers are required to perform an effective process safety culture assessment and produce a written report within 18 months of the proposed PSM’s effective date, and at least every five years thereafter. The proposed rule includes language that promotes the inclusion of employee collaboration when performing these assessments.
  • Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP): Washington has adopted a definition for RAGAGEP, which deviates from federal guidance, in that it points solely to codes, standards, technical reports or recommended practices published by recognized industry organizations.  It specifically excludes employers’ internal guidelines and procedures, which federal OSHA has often interpreted as binding RAGAGEP.

Important Dates

L&I intends to have the updated PSM rule in place before the end of the year. The public comment period is now open with comments due no later than August 24. L&I has scheduled hearings for August 10 and 17 in Bellingham, near most Washington refineries, with a virtual hearing to be held on August 15.

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On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision ending a nearly 16-year battle over the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) applicability to certain wetlands. In a five-justice majority opinion, the Court found that the CWA applies only to wetlands that are “as a practical matter indistinguishable” from “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water” which are more traditionally considered navigable waters. The decision rejected the longstanding “significant nexus” test applied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) since 2006 when it was announced by Justice Anthony Kennedy in a concurring opinion in Rapanos v. United States. While it is not clear how many acres of wetlands are no longer subject to CWA applicability, many believe the decision will provide greater clarity to project proponents in determining which wetlands are subject to federal regulation.   

In 2007, Michael and Chantell Sackett (the Sacketts) began backfilling their Idaho property in preparation for building a new home. Their backfilling was interrupted when the Sacketts received a notice from the EPA stating that their property contained wetlands covered by the CWA. The CWA prohibits the discharge of pollutants, including backfilling, into navigable waters, which are considered “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). EPA took the position that the wetlands on the Sacketts’ property were “adjacent to” an unnamed tributary to Priest Lake, an interstate body of water, and therefore subject to the CWA prohibition. The wetlands were on the other side of a 30-foot road from the unnamed tributary. Both the district court and the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of EPA, applying the “significant nexus” test. 

Ruling in favor of the Sacketts, the Supreme Court majority relied heavily upon the volume of wetlands subject to CWA restrictions, the use of “open-ended” factors in the application of the “significant nexus” test, the CWA’s statement that it intended to preserve the states as the primary regulators of water resources, and the possibility of criminal liability for violating the CWA. A four-justice concurring opinion found the majority’s position too narrow, stating they would preserve CWA applicability for wetlands “adjacent” to traditionally navigable waters, “whether touching or not” if separated only by a barrier, such as a dike or a dune. 

Supporters of the decision believe that it properly checks EPA’s authority under the CWA and curtails government power over property rights. However, environmentalists, including President Biden, fear that by limiting the CWA’s scope and the definition of WOTUS, waterways are now at additional at risk of pollution. The ruling will require the Biden administration to revise its WOTUS rule, which became effective in March of this year, though it had been enjoined in roughly half of the country.

Exactly how EPA and USACE will proceed with respect to adoption of a new WOTUS rule and in permitting regimes that rely upon the WOTUS rule is unclear at this time. The regulated community should continue to keep a close eye on WOTUS developments and anticipate potential delays as EPA and USACE respond to the decision. 

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When the UK finally left the EU on 31 January 2020, it kept virtually all EU laws on the UK statute book. This was not straightforward and a detailed set of provisions was fought over in the withdrawal agreement with the EU and in the UK’s domestic withdrawal legislation. This left a great deal of EU regulation still part of UK law (as Retained EU law) unless and until amended by the UK legislature in the usual way.  

Given that the UK had been an EU member since 1972, the vast bulk of the UK’s modern environmental legislation consists of Retained EU law. However, a group of Conservative Brexiteer MPs keen to eradicate EU rules that may restrict the UK’s new found ‘freedom’ to act alone, proposed that all remaining Retained EU Law should be examined and if not saved by a ‘sunset’ date (the end of 2023) should fall away and cease to apply. This would be the case even if Parliament simply ran out of time to give them each due consideration. A bill was introduced by Government to Parliament to that effect and has reached its final stages.

Given that over 1800 instruments are environmental in nature, environmental groups are alarmed at the prospect of important environmental protections being lost. We previously reported on a recent change to the proposals by the Government, to now identify approximately 161 EU-derived environmental instruments to be axed initially (out of a total of 600), whilst retaining a power for Government ministers to make decisions on the remainder after the end of the year. Read our analysis here.