The National Environmental Policy Act is continuing to undergo a period of structural recalibration. A combination of judicial decisions, executive policy direction and proposed legislation reflects a sustained effort to shorten permitting timelines for energy and infrastructure projects while preserving NEPA's core function as a procedural environmental review statute.
The Department of Justice has renamed its Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) the Energy and Natural Resources Division. The rename is not just a branding exercise. It aligns DOJ’s environmental and natural resources litigation shop with the Administration’s broader energy program.
Congratulations to the GableGotwals attorneys recently recognized in the 2026 Top Attorneys guide by 405 Magazine. This marks the Firm’s seventh consecutive year to appear in the review.
Chambers rankings are assessed on technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client. Interviews are conducted with peers outside of the firm and clients in order to determine inclusion and rankings.
On December 5, 2025, EPA Assistant Administrator Craig Pritzlaff issued a memorandum directing the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance to adopt a renewed “compliance first” approach across all civil enforcement and compliance programs.
In this edition of GableGotwals’ PFAS Pulse, we track the latest developments in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) regulation and litigation. As the PFAS regulatory landscape tightens in some areas and recalibrates in others, companies across the supply chain should treat PFAS compliance as an ongoing priority.
Environmental issues surface in far too many deals only after the business terms are locked in, diligence windows are closing, lenders start asking hard questions, and after the opportunity to meaningfully and more accurately allocate risk has slipped away.
“Companies with a national footprint could therefore face overlapping claims in multiple and often inconsistent state frameworks, which will invariably lead to forum-shopping and different outcomes in cases across jurisdiction,” said GableGotwals shareholder Timothy Sowecke, who handles energy and environmental matters.
