As Americans are becoming increasingly aware, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS have...more
In last year’s update, we provided an overview of federal and California regulatory actions designed to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These actions...more
In last year’s update, we provided an overview of federal and California regulatory actions designed to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These actions...more
5/2/2023
/ California ,
CEQA ,
CERCLA ,
Clean Water Act ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Site Assessment ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Housing Developers ,
Office Space ,
Offshore Wind ,
PFAS ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Safe Drinking Water Act ,
State and Local Government
EPA’s power to curb greenhouse gases faces Supreme Court scrutiny -
Courthouse News Service – October 29 -
The Supreme Court announced last Friday that it will hear challenges brought by the states of West Virginia...more
Federal court rejects continued application of Trump-era water quality review rule pending adoption of alternative regulation -
Courthouse News Service – October 22 -
Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for...more
EPA unveils strategy to regulate PFAS -
Associated Press – October 18 -
Michael Regan, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced on Monday that the agency is launching a broad strategy to...more
California appellate court overturns Monterey County fracking ban -
Courthouse News Service – October 12 -
A California appeals court on Tuesday set aside a Monterey County measure banning hydraulic fracturing, or...more
Biden administration to restore climate criteria to NEPA -
The New York Times – October 6 -
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced that it would restore climate change protections to the nation’s bedrock...more
10/11/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Governor Newsom ,
Monsanto ,
NEPA ,
Offshore Drilling ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
Regulatory Agenda
EPA rescinds previous administration’s guidance on Clean Water Act permit requirements -
Water & Wastes Digest – September 21 -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is rescinding its guidance document: “Applying...more
9/24/2021
/ Air Pollution ,
Air Quality Standards ,
Clean Water Act ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Governor Newsom ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hawaii Wildlife Fund v County of Maui ,
Hazardous Waste ,
NPDES ,
Nuclear Power ,
Petroleum
EPA to propose first-ever PFAS discharge limits -
The Hill – September 8 -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday that it will propose a rule to set the first-ever limits on the...more
9/10/2021
/ Clean Water Act ,
Department of Toxic Substances Control ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
PFAS ,
Recycling ,
Scrap Metal ,
State Water Boards ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Supplies
Federal judge strikes down Trump rule governing water pollution -
The New York Times – August 23 -
In the latest episode of a long-running battle concerning the reach of federal jurisdiction over surface waters, Judge...more
9/3/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Water Act ,
Contaminated Properties ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Groundwater ,
Oil & Gas ,
Water Pollution ,
Water Supplies ,
Waters of the United States
Southern California counties reach most intense drought category -
Los Angeles Times – August 23 -
As drought conditions continue to worsen throughout California, Ventura and other Southern California counties have...more
8/27/2021
/ Air Pollution ,
Air Quality Standards ,
Airports ,
Clean Water Act ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Infrastructure ,
Oil & Gas ,
Water Supplies
In a first, U.S. declares shortage on Colorado River, forcing water cuts - The New York Times – August 16 - With climate change and long-term drought continuing to take a toll on the Colorado River, the federal Bureau of...more
8/20/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Bureau of Reclamation ,
Clean Water Act ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of the Interior ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pesticides ,
Water Supplies
As drought worsens, regulators impose unprecedented water restrictions on California farms -
Los Angeles Times – August 3 -
Amid intensifying drought, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) voted on Tuesday...more
8/6/2021
/ Airports ,
Biden Administration ,
Clean Water Act ,
Drought ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Endangered Species ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Executive Orders ,
Forest Service ,
Governor Newsom ,
Lead Poisoning ,
Motor Vehicles ,
National Marine Fisheries Service ,
State Attorneys General ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Supplies
California drafts safe limits for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water -
Chemical & Engineering News – July 23 -
A July 22 draft report from the California Environmental Protection Agency would set a science-based safe...more
EPA considers placing limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water -
The Guardian – July 14 -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that it is proposing to include the entire class of...more
7/19/2021
/ California Air Resources Board ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fracking ,
NPDES ,
PFAS ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Water Quality ,
Wildfires
Biden moves to restore safeguards under Clean Water Act -
Associated Press – June 9 -
The Biden administration began legal action this Wednesday to set aside a regulation known as the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS)...more
BAAQMD delays vote on new pollution controls for refineries -
East Bay Times – June 4 -
After hearing five and a half hours of public commentary on Wednesday night, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District...more
On April 20, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its long-anticipated opinion in Atlantic Richfield Company v. Christian (No. 17-1498), holding that landowners whose properties are contaminated by neighboring Superfund sites...more
5/5/2020
/ Approval Requirements ,
Atlantic Richfield Co v Christian ,
CERCLA ,
Clean-Up Costs ,
Contaminated Properties ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Jurisdiction ,
Land Owners ,
MT Supreme Court ,
Nuisance ,
Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
Site Remediation ,
State Law Claims ,
Strict Liability ,
Trespass
..Within the month, the State Board will issue orders requiring investigation of potential PFAS contamination, a widely used class of chemicals, at more than a thousand California facilities.
..Phase I targets airports and...more
EPA and Army Corps of Engineers imposition of federal Clean Water Act requirements can now be challenged in court without waiting for the agencies to bring an enforcement action, at least in the Eighth Circuit. On April 10,...more
On January 9, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 9, announced that it will require oil and gas operators engaged in hydraulic fracturing off the southern California coast to disclose any chemicals...more