Last week’s major administrative law milestones are not over, but this post is a little different: plaudits and pans for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory process. EPA released its pre-publication, long awaited, much debated, and massive Control of Air Pollution From Motor Vehicles: Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards proposed rule on… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: March 2013
More Alien Worker Wage Rules Vacated under APA: What H-2B Rules Apply?
Posted in Agency Authority, Judicial Review & Remedies, Regulatory ProcessWhile much attention in the immigration arena has focused on a new employment verification document, the potentially rapid filling of the professional employees (H-1B) temporary visa quota, and the apparent conflict over determining wage rates for foreign workers that may be stalling Senate negotiators, wage methodology for the unskilled workers temporary visa category (H-2B) is… Continue Reading
Letters to a Senator: 8th Cir. says EPA violated APA Requirements
Posted in Judicial Review & Remedies, Regulatory ProcessOccasionally, an opinion begs to be quoted, and so no further introduction is needed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit’s March 25, 2013, opinion in Iowa League of Cities v. EPA: The Iowa League of Cities (“League”) seeks direct appellate review of two letters sent by the Environmental Protection Agency… Continue Reading
Monday Morning Regulatory Review – 3/25/13
Posted in Executive - OMB Review, Judicial Review & Remedies, Regulatory ProcessThe interplay of regulations and litigation came to the fore in a very busy last week, not just in the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS)’s recent Decker logging road culverts pollution permit decision and the for-profit colleges litigation, but five other matters: The Department of Justice (DOJ) called it quits in defending the Department of… Continue Reading
Administration’s Failing Grades 3: Educational Race to the Bottom?
Posted in Judicial Process, Judicial Review & RemediesThe Department of Education (ED) took one step last week in its attempt to better regulate the “for profit” colleges, universities, and other schools: ED published a revision of a preamble to rules that the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit remanded because the prior explanation was inadequate. Amending a… Continue Reading
SCOTUS Reverses 9th Circuit on Logging Road Culverts – New Rule Irrelevant
Posted in Judicial Review & Remedies, Regulatory ProcessThe Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) today vacated the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision in Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center, holding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s original interpretation of its original regulations warranted Auer deference, that a new EPA rule on the subject did not moot… Continue Reading
Monday Morning Regulatory Review – 3/18/13
Posted in Constitutional Issues in Regulations, Executive - OMB Review, Judicial Review & RemediesThe regulatory process thawed last week in the Executive and Judicial Branches. Among the highlights, the simmering Recess Appointments Clause issue facing the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will head to the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) while many enforcement cases are being held in abeyance and uncertainty surrounds many rules. The United States Court… Continue Reading
APA Circuit Split – Notice and Comment Good Cause Bypass in SORNA Retroactivity Regulations
Posted in Judicial Review & Remedies, Regulatory ProcessThe United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, on remand from the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in United States v. Reynolds, summarized and joined the complex circuit split on three Administrative Procedure Act (APA) questions applied to the retroactivity of the Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act’s (SORNA) registration requirements. The first… Continue Reading
Monday Morning Regulatory Review – 3/11/13
Posted in Agency Authority, Regulatory ProcessForgive the absence – surprisingly little to report over the past two weeks. The Office of Management and Budget maintained a relatively stable docket with no truly significant rules being submitted or completed. One might attribute this lull to sequestration – fears and realities – but it remains a question. Congress may be tied up… Continue Reading