The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court limiting the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate emissions from power plants has many concerned about the effects the decision will have on efforts to address climate change and other environmental concerns. The majority opinion of the Court deems that the EPA does not have the authority for a broad cap on carbon dioxide emissions, but rather that only the U.S. Congress itself has such authority. (For more on the specifics of the Supreme Court ruling, see Ref. 1)
While the case before the Supreme Court was specifically about regulating power plants, concerns are that the ruling may be setting the groundwork as a precedent for how much authority the EPA or other federal agencies have over a spectrum of environmental regulations. For example, this fall in Sackett v. EPA the Court is scheduled to hear arguments involving how to determine if wetlands are part of the “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act.
Impact on environmental progress
Regulations have played an important role in driving certain industrial practices to meet regulatory requirements. However, the level of impact that limiting the regulatory authority of federal agencies will have on climate-change and other environmental initiatives is uncertain, as there are other forces driving environmental progress.
A strong driving force toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability goals is the increased importance placed on these goals by investors. A recent report by McKinsey & Company [2] says that leading investors consider ESG and sustainability to be integral parts of their portfolio strategies, and that they have become top priorities for executives in oil-and-gas and chemical companies. McKinsey’s research shows that “90% of the top 20 global chemical companies have public commitments to reach net-zero emissions, near-zero emissions or carbon neutrality by 2050.”
An example of this commitment is a recent announcement by Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk, a subsidiary of Shell plc (www.shell.com). The company plans to invest “billions” in its chemical complex over the next ten years to reach net-zero emissions and produce more sustainable chemicals. In the announcement, the company cites that it is addressing the changing needs of its customers who want more low-carbon products and products made using recycled materials. The driving force is growing customer demand.
Numerous examples like this appear in Chemical Engineering’s latest business and technology news, showing an increased focus on decarbonization, plastics recycling, storage solutions to better implement renewable energy resources and many more sustainable practices.
Investment management companies are also focused on ESG and sustainability. For example, BlackRock’s (www.blackrock.com) chairman and CEO, Larry Fink, addressed these topics in his letter to CEOs this year [3], and wrote, “I believe the decarbonizing of the global economy is going to create the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. It will also leave behind the companies that don’t adapt, regardless of what industry they are in.” ■
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
1. Supreme Court Limits EPA Authority to Regulate Power Plant Emissions, www.powermag.com, June 30, 2022.
2. Sustainability value in chemicals: Market tailwinds versus ESG scores, www.mckinsey.com, July 11, 2022.
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Driving environmental progress
| By Dorothy Lozowski
The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court limiting the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate emissions from power plants has many concerned about the effects the decision will have on efforts to address climate change and other environmental concerns. The majority opinion of the Court deems that the EPA does not have the authority for a broad cap on carbon dioxide emissions, but rather that only the U.S. Congress itself has such authority. (For more on the specifics of the Supreme Court ruling, see Ref. 1)
While the case before the Supreme Court was specifically about regulating power plants, concerns are that the ruling may be setting the groundwork as a precedent for how much authority the EPA or other federal agencies have over a spectrum of environmental regulations. For example, this fall in Sackett v. EPA the Court is scheduled to hear arguments involving how to determine if wetlands are part of the “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act.
Impact on environmental progress
Regulations have played an important role in driving certain industrial practices to meet regulatory requirements. However, the level of impact that limiting the regulatory authority of federal agencies will have on climate-change and other environmental initiatives is uncertain, as there are other forces driving environmental progress.
A strong driving force toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability goals is the increased importance placed on these goals by investors. A recent report by McKinsey & Company [2] says that leading investors consider ESG and sustainability to be integral parts of their portfolio strategies, and that they have become top priorities for executives in oil-and-gas and chemical companies. McKinsey’s research shows that “90% of the top 20 global chemical companies have public commitments to reach net-zero emissions, near-zero emissions or carbon neutrality by 2050.”
An example of this commitment is a recent announcement by Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk, a subsidiary of Shell plc (www.shell.com). The company plans to invest “billions” in its chemical complex over the next ten years to reach net-zero emissions and produce more sustainable chemicals. In the announcement, the company cites that it is addressing the changing needs of its customers who want more low-carbon products and products made using recycled materials. The driving force is growing customer demand.
Numerous examples like this appear in Chemical Engineering’s latest business and technology news, showing an increased focus on decarbonization, plastics recycling, storage solutions to better implement renewable energy resources and many more sustainable practices.
Investment management companies are also focused on ESG and sustainability. For example, BlackRock’s (www.blackrock.com) chairman and CEO, Larry Fink, addressed these topics in his letter to CEOs this year [3], and wrote, “I believe the decarbonizing of the global economy is going to create the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. It will also leave behind the companies that don’t adapt, regardless of what industry they are in.” ■
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.