Allison Rumsey Quoted in Law360 on State-Level Environmental Enforcement Amid Federal Rollbacks

Allison Rumsey, co-chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group, was quoted in the Law360 story, “Clients Rely On Enviro Attys' Know-How On Rocky Reg Turf.” The article examines how the Trump administration’s rapid deregulatory actions and staff cuts at federal agencies are creating uncertainty for industries that rely on stable environmental oversight, and how experienced legal advisors are helping clients navigate the shifting landscape.

During her discussion of these regulatory shifts, Rumsey noted that the EPA’s stated intention to revisit a key scientific finding that established the foundation for greenhouse gas regulation has raised concerns about an enforcement vacuum under a more hands-off federal approach.

She also highlighted recent state-level responses, such as a bill in Washington that would increase criminal penalties for environmental violations to match stricter federal standards. “It is an interesting push and pull,” she said, “because on one hand, the administration endorses states’ rights, but then when the states pick up the mantle of environmental enforcement, the administration seems to be arguing that that is preempted.”

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