Focus:
Supreme Court upholds EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources – but scolds EPA for overreaching in its regulatory approach -
Allen Matkins - Jun 24:
On...more
7/3/2014
/ BACT ,
Clean Air Act ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Permits ,
Power Plants ,
SCOTUS ,
Title V ,
Utilities Sector ,
Utility Air Regulatory Group v EPA
On Monday, June 23, in a long-awaited decision, the U.S. Supreme Court in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency partially invalidated and partially upheld U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA")...more
6/26/2014
/ BACT ,
Clean Air Act ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Permits ,
Power Plants ,
SCOTUS ,
Title V ,
Utilities Sector ,
Utility Air Regulatory Group v EPA
Environmental and Policy Focus: Long-term money a big boost for California's high-speed rail - Contra Costa Times - Jun 17:
Gov. Jerry Brown scored a win for California's $68 billion high-speed rail project by...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Kings County lawsuit challenges Fresno-Bakersfield high-speed rail: Fresno Bee - Jun 5:
The Kings County Board of Supervisors, the Farm Bureau, and a group of county residents filed...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: U.S. officials cut estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% - Los Angeles Times - May 23:
Federal energy authorities have slashed by 96 percent the estimated amount of...more
5/28/2014
/ California Air Resources Board ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Air Act ,
Diesel Fuel ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Review ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Monterey Shale ,
NRDC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Refineries ,
Surface Transportation ,
Trucking Industry ,
Water
Environmental and Policy Focus: Expanding the definition of "waters of the United States" – EPA's proposed new rule -- Allen Matkins - Apr 23:
On April 21, 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...more
5/19/2014
/ Chromium-6 ,
Clean Water Act ,
Diesel Fuel ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Groundwater ,
Jurisdiction ,
Trucking Industry ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Water ,
Waters of the United States
Environmental and Policy Focus - California drought: plan would reverse aqueduct flow to send water back to farms: San Jose Mercury News - May 8:
Water has flowed from Northern California's snow-capped peaks to the...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Federal agencies release proposed rule on Clean Water Act jurisdiction: Los Angeles Times - Mar 25 --
On Tuesday, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - DWR must acquire properties before testing tunnel for diversion of water to Southern California -
CourtHouse News - Mar 17:
A California appellate court ruled last week that, before...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -- Court of Appeals upholds determination: Reuters - Mar 14 -
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday rejected a challenge to a determination by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California lawmakers pass $687 billion drought plan -- San Francisco CBS Local - Feb 27:
California lawmakers have passed a $687 million plan to provide immediate relief to...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - White House proposes new fuel efficiency rules to reduce emissions from heavy trucks: Los Angeles Times - Feb 18 -
President Obama moved ahead Tuesday with plans to further tighten...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Sens. Feinstein, Boxer propose emergency drought legislation: SFGate - Feb 13:
Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer proposed emergency drought legislation Tuesday ahead of President...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Ninth Circuit debates application of dormant Commerce Clause - CourtHouse News - Jan 22:
A Ninth Circuit appellate panel’s rejection of a challenge to the “life-cycle analysis” approach...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Judge recommends approval of California natural gas plant -- UT San Diego - Jan 7 -
An administrative law judge has urged the California Public Utilities Commission to authorize...more
Gov. Brown wants to use cap-and-trade fees to fund high speed rail project - Insurance For Less - Jan 8:
Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans to provide new funding for California’s high speed rail project from corporate...more
1/14/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
Cap-and-Trade ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Environmental Policies ,
Fracking ,
Funding ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
High-Speed Rail ,
Oil & Gas ,
Plastic Bag Bans ,
Public Projects
On December 30, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) Rule, codified in 40 CFR Part 312, to include a specific reference to the updated ASTM International Standard...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California Court Upholds State's Authority to Sell Carbon Allowances at Auction: Reuter's - Nov 14 --
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) can sell carbon emission allowances at...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: California's New Hydraulic Fracturing Law Cited In Pending CEQA Lawsuit: EnergyWire - Oct 30 --
Earlier this year, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthworks and...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Proposition 65 Reform Passes Legislature, Heads to Governor's Desk: Sacramento Business Journal - Sep 12 --
At least one effort to reform the state of California’s requirements for...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -- Lawmakers approve bill to aid Sacramento NBA arena: Modesto Bee - Sep 12 --
On the last day of the legislative session, and only after last-minute negotiations and bill revisions,...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Superior Court upholds California Air -- Sacramento Business Journal - Sep 3:
A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled the state’s 2006 climate change law, Assembly Bill 32, gives...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Groups concerned over California Environmental Quality Act revisions - Sacramento CBS Local - Jul 29 --
A coalition of business, housing and local government leaders is warning...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Interior Chief defends federal hydraulic fracturing regulations -- Bloomberg - Jul 18:
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell drew on her experience as a former oil-industry engineer to defend...more
7/26/2013
/ Chemicals ,
Contaminated Properties ,
Contamination ,
Environmental Claims ,
Environmental Policies ,
Fracking ,
Mining ,
Natural Gas ,
Natural Resources ,
Oil & Gas ,
Resource Extraction ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Trade Secrets
Environmental and Policy Focus - Pumping water underground could trigger major earthquake, say scientists: The Guardian - Jul 12
- Pumping water underground at geothermal power plants can lead to dangerous earthquakes...more