The Biden administration issued a final rule this Wednesday aimed at curbing methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands. Adoption of the rule is its latest action to crack down on emissions of...more
4/1/2024
/ Air Pollution ,
California ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Cross-Border ,
Department of the Interior ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Methane ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) ,
Well Drilling
In response to critics who said that proposed new statewide water conservation rules — aimed at cutting urban water use even in years when California is not in a drought — were too complicated and costly, the State Water...more
3/18/2024
/ Biden Administration ,
California ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Landfills ,
Methane ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pollution Control ,
Rivers ,
Texas ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Pollution ,
Well Drilling
In a new study, researchers from NYU, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Defend Our Health have estimated the costs of plastic exposure on the U.S. healthcare system. In 2018, several common endocrine disruptors, a...more
1/22/2024
/ California ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Methane ,
Oil & Gas ,
State and Local Government ,
Waste ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Supplies
The power to enforce a rule intended to slash air pollution associated with warehouses could one day rest in the hands of citizens who are willing to go to federal court. Several Inland members of Congress recently signed a...more
12/11/2023
/ Air Pollution ,
Air Quality Standards ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Methane ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
Pipelines ,
Reclaimed Water ,
Tribal Lands ,
Water Rights
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to announce new regulations governing soot — the particles that trucks, farms, factories, wildfires, power plants, and dusty roads generate. By law, the agency isn’t...more
The Biden administration is restoring significant state and tribal authority over water resources and expanding their leverage on infrastructure permitting decisions, including for pipelines. With a final rule announced this...more
9/21/2023
/ California ,
Clean Water Act ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Gas Leaks ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Kaiser Permanente ,
Oil & Gas ,
State and Local Government ,
Tribal Lands
Monterey County's voter-approved ban on new oil and gas wells is invalid because state law authorizes and promotes oil and gas production, the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously last Thursday. Next year, California voters...more
The Biden administration on Wednesday proposed strengthening requirements for the removal of lead-based paint dust in homes and child care facilities built before 1978. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates...more
7/17/2023
/ California ,
CEQA ,
Conservation ,
Contamination ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Governor Newsom ,
Lead ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Wells ,
State Department of Fish and Wildlife
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association said on Thursday that they had reached an agreement, referred to as the "Clean Truck Partnership," that gives new flexibility for...more
7/10/2023
/ Automotive Industry ,
California ,
CARB ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Contamination ,
Disclosure ,
Drinking Water ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Landfills ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pension Funds ,
PFAS ,
State and Local Government ,
Trucking Industry
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday narrowed the scope of the 1972 Clean Water Act by ruling that an Idaho couple's property does not include wetlands subject to federal oversight under the law. The decision in Sackett v. EPA...more
5/31/2023
/ CARB ,
Clean Energy ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hydropower ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
Sackett v EPA ,
SCOTUS ,
Well Drilling ,
Wetlands
The Biden administration proposed new regulations this Thursday that, if enacted, would aggressively limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The move stands to force major changes in the energy sector and is likely...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering expanding the number of per- and polyfluoroalklyl substances (PFAS) compounds classified as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,...more
4/24/2023
/ California ,
CERCLA ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Groundwater ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
State and Local Government ,
State Bans ,
Storm Water ,
Wetlands
Attorney General Bonta asks plastic bag producers to prove that bags are recyclable - San Francisco Chronicle – November 2 - On Wednesday, Attorney General Rob Bonta sent letters to seven plastic bag producers that supply the...more
Modesto wins $4 million in suit to clean up PCE-contaminated site - The Modesto Bee – October 27 - After 24 years in litigation, the Superior Court of San Francisco awarded the City of Modesto $4 million in damages against...more
U.S. Supreme Court leans toward limiting scope of Clean Water Act - U.S. News & World Report – October 3 - U.S. Supreme Court justices on October 3 appeared open to limiting the reach of the U.S. Environmental Protection...more
Governor Newsom signs SB 1137, creating a safety buffer between homes and oil wells in California Bullet Los Angeles Daily News – September 16 Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16 signed a package of environmental bills into...more
California approves a wave of aggressive new climate measures - Bullet The New York Times – September 1 - California lawmakers passed a flurry of new climate bills on Wednesday, including a record $54 billion in climate...more
Governor Newsom calls for boosting water supply projects to curb California drought and climate change - The Vacaville Reporter – August 11 Governor Gavin Newsom released a broad plan on August 11 seeking to expand...more
Sonoma County vintner to pay $925,000 in environmental damage settlement Bullet The Press Democrat – July 31 The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office last Friday announced that a $925,000 settlement had been reached with...more
Senators strike deal on proposed $369B climate bill - E&E News – July 28 - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin on Wednesday announced proposed legislation that includes...more
Ninth Circuit blocks permits for hydraulic fracturing off California coast Bullet Los Angeles Times - June 3 The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last Friday blocked hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, off...more
6/13/2022
/ CEQA ,
Climate Change ,
Coastal Real Estate ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Review ,
Fracking ,
NAAQS ,
Oil & Gas ,
Water Resources Control Board
City of San Diego sues 20-plus companies to force cleanup of PFAS contamination Bullet Times of San Diego - May 11 The San Diego City Attorney’s Office filed suit last Wednesday against more than 20 chemical companies for...more
Southland air regulators threaten to sue EPA for failure to control federally-regulated emissions sources Bullet - Los Angeles Times - May 10 - The South Coast Air Quality Management District (District), which oversees a...more
5/16/2022
/ Air Pollution ,
Biden Administration ,
California Coastal Commission ,
CARB ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Air Act ,
Department of Toxic Substances Control ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Governor Newsom ,
Oil & Gas ,
Public Comment
Biden to crack down on polluters in poor and minority communities Bullet Associated Press - May 5 The Biden administration on Thursday announced a wide-ranging enforcement strategy aimed at holding industrial polluters...more
California attorney general subpoenas ExxonMobil, opens major investigation into plastic pollution -
The Mercury News - April 28 -
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday announced a major investigation into...more
5/2/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Bureau of Land Management ,
California Air Resources Board ,
California Coastal Commission ,
Drought ,
Endangered Species ,
Environmental Policies ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pollution Control ,
Popular ,
State Attorneys General ,
Water Supplies