For the past decade, Brown and Caldwell’s Compliance News has helped clients, partners, and colleagues stay informed on an evolving regulatory landscape by highlighting what’s new, why it matters, and how it could shape projects and communities.

As the regulatory environment continues to change, so does how we share insights. With this final edition, we are closing this chapter of Compliance News while looking ahead to new ways to connect and share knowledge with our clients.

What is the biggest change in compliance and regulation in the last 10 years?

In the last 10 years, the biggest change in compliance and regulation is the expansion of regulatory complexity in both scope and impact. Through Compliance News, we’ve tracked key shifts that continue to influence how utilities, agencies, and industry plan and operate.

Federal and state agencies have navigated evolving interpretations of foundational laws like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act influencing permitting, jurisdiction, and project delivery.

At the same time, emerging contaminants such as PFAS moved from early concern to a major regulatory priority, and microplastics are in the latest wave of contaminants gaining attention.

Climate policy and energy demands have also reshaped the regulatory landscape. Mechanisms for more streamlined permitting of energy production and energy intensive development, such as data centers, are a major focus of federal and state agencies.

In parallel, agencies have advanced digital reporting and data transparency. The shift toward electronic reporting has changed how facilities track compliance, interact with regulators, and share information with the public. Earlier this year, the EPA rescinded the 2009 Endangerment Finding that underpins federal climate regulation, which may result in climate mitigation work moving from the federal to state level.

Across trends, one theme remained constant: the need to translate regulatory change into clear, actionable insight.

What is the purpose of Compliance News?

The purpose of Compliance News is to help readers connect regulatory updates to real-world decisions by serving as a bridge between policy and practice.

Each issue tracked timely updates and paired them with insights from Brown and Caldwell professionals to explain what those changes could mean in practice. The goal was not only to inform, but to equip readers with context they could use in planning, compliance strategies, and conversations with stakeholders.

Over time, the format evolved to provide more digestible summaries, clearer “why it matters” perspectives, and stronger connections to client challenges and opportunities. What remained unchanged was the focus on delivering relevant, accessible information in a rapidly changing environment.

What comes next?

The next step is to carry forward the purpose behind Compliance News in a way that meets today’s need for clear, timely regulatory perspective.

Brown and Caldwell will continue helping clients translate regulatory change into practical decisions, connecting policy shifts to operations, projects, and long-term planning. Through future insights and conversations with our experts, we’ll bring the same partnership, technical perspective, and future-focused thinking that have shaped this newsletter.

Our goal remains the same: Helping organizations stay proactive, anticipate change, and make confident decisions in a dynamic regulatory landscape.

Thank you

To our readers, contributors, and collaborators: Thank you for being part of this journey.

We appreciate the opportunity to work closely with you over the past decade and look forward to continuing the conversation in new ways.