As we kick off the new decade, we wanted to share the top five most-read articles of 2019 from Gravel2Gavel. The most-read blog posts covered 2019 real estate and construction industry trends ranging from affordable housing to the new State Bill 35 (SB 35) to sustainability in modern real estate.…
Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
EPA Will Soon Issue the Latest Revision to the Risk Management Program (RMP) Chemical Release Rules
On November 21, 2019, EPA released a pre-publication copy of its Reconsideration of the revised Risk Management Program (RMP) Rules. In an accompanying statement, the agency noted that it has taken steps to “modify and improve” the existing rule to remove burdensome, costly and unnecessary requirements while maintaining appropriate protection…
The Small Business Runway Act Takes Off in January
On December 5, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a final rule to implement the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018. In “Small Business Runway Act to Become Effective January 6, 2020,” colleagues Richard B. Oliver, David B. Dixon and Robert Starling break down exactly what this means for…
Two Executive Orders Take Aim at Use of Guidance Documents
Not to be lost in the holiday hustle and bustle, two Executive Orders from October could, if fully implemented, significantly affect federal administrative law. In “Trump Issues Executive Orders to Rein In Use of Guidance Documents in Enforcement Proceedings,” colleagues Matthew W. Morrison, Mark E. Elliott and Anthony B. Cavender take a…
A Changing Climate for State Policy-Making Regarding Climate Change
Issued by 13 federal agencies, the 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment presented a stark warning on the consequences of climate change for the United States. The report predicts that if significant steps are not taken to rein in global warming, the damage will reduce the U.S. economy by as much…
2019 Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act Gains Steam with Bipartisan Support
As 2019 winds down, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019 is gaining momentum in Congress. The Act, which is aimed at expanding and strengthening the low-income housing tax credit, was originally introduced in 2016. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 adopted two key provisions of the original bill—a…
U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Maritime Charters and the Specter of a New Permitting Regime
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two important environmental cases—one that could change the approach to routine maritime charters and another that could introduce a potentially punishing permitting regime via a CWA citizen suit. Cleaning the Delaware: CITGO Asphalt Refining Company v. Frescati Shipping Company The…
The State of the Energy Marketplace in the United States
Colleague Robert A. James has authored the United State chapter of Global Legal Group’s Energy 2020 in which he provides an overview of the current U.S. energy marketplace. In the chapter, Rob discusses the progress as well as the clashes on policies and projects in a wide variety of arenas,…
Court Holds Salary Costs Associated with Lobbying Activities Are “Expressly Unallowable”
A recent decision by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit could have lasting ramifications for government contractors. In Raytheon Co. v. Sec. of Def., the court held that salary costs associated with lobbying activities are expressly unallowable, and therefore subject to penalties. In “Federal Circuit Decision Addressing Salary…
Rent Caps, Carveouts and “Just Cause” Evictions: Breaking Down the Tenant Protection Act of 2019
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, legislation that caps annual rent increases in California for the next decade. Prior to the Tenant Protection Act, the only state-level protections against rent increases were price-gouging limits that apply only after natural disasters. (See Cal. Penal Code Section…