In January, we reported on the issuance of an executive order on environmental justice (EJ) by the administration of outgoing Massachusetts Governor Patrick, provided a survey of the EJ framework in Massachusetts, and...more
U.S. EPA issued a new Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Industrial Activities on June 4, 2015, replacing the 2008 general permit, which expired in September 2013 and had been administratively...more
As we reported last year, the U.S. EPA has stepped up its enforcement activity under the risk management provisions of the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), Section 112(r), focusing on both the Risk Management Plan (“RMP”) program rules...more
8/7/2015
/ Administrative Fines ,
Chemicals ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Clean Air Act ,
Compliance ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
General Duty Clause ,
Guilty Pleas ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Hazardous Waste ,
RCRA ,
Risk Management ,
Toxic Chemicals
Just how much discretion will the courts give to the MassDEP to interpret legislative intent when it implements legislative directives such as a requirement to develop rules under the Global Warming Solutions Act? The...more
As we reported in our last issue, shortly after incoming Governor Charlie Baker was sworn in earlier this year, his Secretary of Administration and Finance issued a memo imposing a temporary three-month freeze on new state...more
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is accepting public comments on its proposed draft Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency Policy...more
Over the past several months, there has been a flurry of activity on environmental justice in Massachusetts, and more developments are expected shortly. ...more
The Commercial Organics Ban, which took effect on October 1, 2014, is the latest effort by MassDEP to achieve the state’s solid waste management goal of reducing waste disposal by 30% by 2020. MassDEP estimates that organics...more
MassDEP’s 2014 reforms to the solid waste regulations include new requirements for third-party inspections of solid waste facilities. These changes reflect an effort by MassDEP to privatize the inspection and policing...more
Boston Colleges Take Brownfields Tax Credit Fight to Court -
Three Boston-area colleges sued the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in August claiming that “clarifying” changes made to the Massachusetts Brownfields Tax...more
6/20/2014
/ Brownfield Properties ,
Cleanup Doctrine ,
Combustible Dust ,
Department of Environmental Protection ,
Endangered Species ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Mixed-Use Zoning ,
NEPA ,
OSHA ,
Permits ,
Tax Credits ,
Variances ,
Water Resources Development Act