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At Jones Walker, we look beyond today’s challenges and focus on the opportunities of the future. Since our founding in May 1937 by Joseph Merrick Jones, Sr., and Tulane Law School graduates William B. Dreux and A.J. Waechter, we have consistently asked ourselves a simple question: What can we do to help our clients succeed, today and tomorrow?
The chart below illustrates the growth of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations — the section devoted entirely to EPA regulations. Since EPA’s creation by President Nixon on December 2, 1970, the volume of environmental regulations has expanded dramatically.
United States
Environment
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The chart below illustrates the growth of Title 40 of the Code
of Federal Regulations — the section devoted entirely to EPA
regulations. Since EPA’s creation by President Nixon on
December 2, 1970, the volume of environmental regulations has
expanded dramatically. By 2025, Title 40 contains nearly 32,000
pages, representing an average increase of about 592 pages per year
since 1972.
In an effort to slow this expansion, President Trump issued
Executive Order 13771 in 2017, directing agencies to repeal two
existing regulations for every new one. In 2025, he went further
with Executive Order 14192, requiring the repeal of ten old
regulations for every new regulation adopted. A quick look at the
chart suggests these policies may be having an effect.
Yet even with efforts to streamline, the reality for the
regulated community remains daunting. Environmental compliance
today requires navigating tens of thousands of pages of EPA rules,
additional federal and state regulations, underlying statutes, and
the specific requirements of applicable permits. Understanding what
is required is no small task.
For now, the most practical answer is that effective
environmental compliance demands dedicated teams —
professionals who can interpret, track, and manage the evolving
regulatory landscape. Until a more efficient regulatory framework
emerges, organizations must invest in the expertise needed to keep
pace.
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