Inflation Reduction Act
Federal Contractors Beware: New Hiring Restrictions Proposed on Companies Doing Business With the Federal Government
Earlier this week, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council proposed a new rule that would amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to impose new restrictions on federal contractors and subcontractors, including: (1) prohibiting, seeking or considering an applicant’s compensation history; (2)...
TCEQ Accepting Comments on Proposed Changes to Penalty Policy
Join Whit Swift to discuss the proposed changes in greater detail and provide some real-world examples of how the proposed changes might increase administrative penalties for members of the regulated community in Texas. We will also discuss the changes that...
Pandemic-Related OSHA Complaints: Return to Workplaces Only Escalates the Risks
Employees coping with health-related anxieties as workplaces reopen are commonly turning to OSHA for help. Resulting legal risks for employers can take several forms. This webinar will succinctly explain those OSHA-related legal concerns and how to avoid potential claims and...
Keeping Your Plant Safe From COVID-19
If you’re a plant owner, you should be concerned about the health and safety not only of your employers but of your contractors’ workers. Bob Nichols, a partner in Bracewell’s labor and employment team, discusses why you need to be...
EHS Self-Auditing: Effectively Utilizing Privileges to Protect Your Findings
Assessing compliance with EHS-related requirements is fundamental for industry, not only to validate compliance assurance efforts, but to help prevent, or at least minimize, enforcement exposure. At the same time, however, candid evaluations give rise to other risks in the...
Engaging Environmental Specialists and Preserving Privileges
The lines between legal, technical, and strategic communications often get blurry in the context of site investigations, incident response, and other environmental projects. Many company personnel equate "cc-ing" in-house counsel with preserving confidentiality. As a result, the parameters of the...
Vanessa Allen Sutherland Stepping Down as Chair of U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Vanessa Allen Sutherland just announced that she is resigning from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). President Barack Obama nominated Sutherland to be Chairperson, and she was confirmed in August 2015. Ms. Sutherland's resignation will be effective...
Process Safety Culture and Environmental Management Systems
The presentation provided guidance on developing a corporate culture attuned to process safety and on continuing to assess and adjust over time. It also discussed the legal issues that can arise from adopting an environmental management system, particularly with regard to how...