2019 Archives

Aug 21, 2019

SGR Partner Andy Thompson Speaks at Engineering Law and Ethics Seminar

SGR Partner Andy Thompson will speak on September 25, 2019 at a legal seminar for engineers and others involved in the engineering field. The seminar is entitled Engineering Law and Ethics and will occur at the Hyatt House-Cobb Galleria, 3595 Cumberland Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30339. Andy will provide an update on Developments in Federal and Georgia Environmental Law including discharges to groundwater, the repeal and replacement of the Waters of the United States Rule, U.S. EPA’s National Compliance Initiatives, Repeal and Replacement of the Clean Power Plan, and PFAS Regulation and Litigation. Some of the learning objectives include: explain… Read more

Feb 20, 2019

New York Delays New Cleaning Product Labeling Enforcement Until October

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYS DEC”) has announced that it will not enforce the first required disclosure milestone under the Household Cleansing Product Information Disclosure Program (the “Program”) until October 2, 2019. The Program requires manufacturers of covered cleansing products to identify all ingredients and impurities in their products and their content by weight and to post this information on their websites in accordance with several disclosure deadlines. Manufacturers employing more than 100 people were to disclose the following ingredients by July 1, 2019: intentionally added ingredients other than fragrance ingredients; and nonfunctional ingredients present above… Read more

Jan 9, 2019

LLCs, Partnerships and the Tax Time Machine

Many LLCs and partnerships amended their governing documents in 2018 because of the various new tax rules that came into effect last year. For example, many pass-throughs converted so-called “guaranteed payment” arrangements. Under new IRC Section 199A, certain types of income qualify for a lower income tax rate – depending on the facts, the federal tax on such income can be reduced by as much as 20%. However, this tax benefit does not apply to income received under guaranteed payment clauses. By eliminating these arrangements, recipients may be able to qualify for the new tax benefit. What about partnerships or… Read more

Dec 19, 2018

SGR Sponsors Environmental Law Conference

The Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law will celebrate its 20th anniversary with an environmental law seminar and conference on Friday, January 18, 2019, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at Emory School of Law. SGR is a sponsor of the conference and SGR partner Andrew Thompson serves on the advisory board of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic. The conference will focus on the future of environmental law with speakers from around the country. The seminar is open to the public—for more information about the seminar, click here.

Nov 28, 2018

California Moves to Tighten Truck Exhaust Standards Ahead of EPA

On November 13, the EPA announced that it will reopen existing federal standards for smog-forming pollution limits for heavy trucks. California, which has some of the worst smog in the country, has announced that it cannot wait for the federal rulemaking process and is proceeding with setting its own, potentially more stringent standards. California is completing its testing of heavy duty truck engines that have the potential to emit far fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) – an ozone precursor – than those currently in use. If successful, the new engines’ technology could become the new standard for truck engines in the… Read more