Partner Meghan Greenfield was recently quoted in a Law360 article, where she shared insights on how federal agencies with environmental responsibilities are using AI tools. The use of AI in agency work is facing uncertainty as attorneys say information about exactly why, how, and when AI tools are being used has been hard to obtain, leaving attorneys to question the tools effectiveness and shortcomings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy have said they may use AI tools in areas of their work, most notably in speeding up permitting and rulemaking processes.
“AI is promising, but it requires a lot of oversight. There are real questions about agencies’ ability to provide that, given how many staff have left. Even with new tools, these areas are really complex.”
The varied disclosure of AI use in federal agencies, combined with staff cuts across those agencies, has created significant concerns. Meghan noted that staff reductions are having “profound” impacts at every step of the rulemaking process, on both the technical and legal sides—raising questions about agencies' capacity to properly oversee AI implementation in these complex areas.
Meghan is a strategic environmental litigator and regulatory counselor, leveraging her extensive government background at the EPA and the US Department of Justice to guide clients through the rapidly evolving environmental legal landscape. She counsel’s corporations on environmental justice and ESG strategies, helping businesses navigate sustainability initiatives, regulatory obligations, and litigation risks to ensure compliance with evolving legal and policy expectations.
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