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Clean Water Act Environmental Violations Environmental Litigation

The Clean Water Act is a United States federal statute enacted in 1972 to reduce levels of toxic substances in the nation's water supply and to prevent high levels of new contamination.  The CWA seeks to... more +
The Clean Water Act is a United States federal statute enacted in 1972 to reduce levels of toxic substances in the nation's water supply and to prevent high levels of new contamination.  The CWA seeks to accomplish its stated goals by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, assisting wastewater treatment facilities and maintaining wetlands. less -
Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/Clean Water Act/RCRA: Federal Court Addresses Jurisdictional Issues

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (“Court”) in a March 6th Opinion addressed an issue arising out of a citizen suit action filed under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1389 (“CWA”)...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Enforcement/Clean Water Act: Environmental Organizations Challenge Approval of Western Lake Eerie TMDL

Waterkeeper Alliance, Lake Eerie Waterkeeper, and Food & Water Watch (collectively, “Waterkeeper”) filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (“Court”) against the United States...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Enforcement/Clean Water Act: Trump Tower (Chicago) Enters into Consent Order with Environmental Organizations...

The Illinois Attorney General along with the Sierra Club and Friends of the Chicago River entered into a Consent Order (“CO”) with 401 North Wabash Venture, LLC d/b/a Trump International Hotel & Tower (“Trump Tower”)...more

McGlinchey Stafford

Supreme Court’s Cert Denials Pave Way for Surge in Environmental Citizen Suits

McGlinchey Stafford on

In a significant victory for environmental advocacy groups, the Supreme Court’s refusal on June 30, 2025 to grant certiorari in two pivotal cases (Port of Tacoma, et al. v. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and ExxonMobil Corp., et...more

Holland & Hart LLP

Supreme Court Declines to Limit Environmental Citizen Suits

Holland & Hart LLP on

On June 30, 2025, the Supreme Court denied industry group petitions to review and reverse two cases—one out of the Fifth Circuit and the other out of the Ninth Circuit—that could have significantly restricted the ability of...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/Clean Water Act: Two California Municipalities' Motion Alleges Spoilation of Laboratory Data by Environmental...

The Towns of Sunnyvale and Mountain View, California (collectively, “Cities”) filed a January 17th Pleading against San Francisco Baykeeper (“Baykeeper”) styled: Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions for Spoilation of...more

Allen Matkins

Citizen Suit Enforcement Under the Industrial General Permit: How Businesses Can Avoid Substantial Costs Associated with Notice...

Allen Matkins on

Each year, many California businesses receive letters from private entities, typically environmental nongovernmental organizations (Citizen Groups), alleging that those businesses’ facilities are in violation of applicable...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Air/Wastewater Enforcement/Citizen Suit Action: Conservation Law Foundation and Quincy, Massachusetts Bio-based Chemical...

The Conservation Law Foundation (“CLF”) and Twin Rivers Technologies (“TRT”) entered into a March 30th Consent Decree (“CD”) addressing alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. See No....more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Citizen Suits and Larger Penalties May Be the Future of California Water Quality Protections

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The California legislature continues to advance Senate Bill 601 (SB 601), the “Right to Clean Water Act,” which aims to safeguard protections for California’s streams and wetlands that lost federal protection under the Clean...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Actions/Clean Water Act: Environmental Integrity Project Files Lawsuits Against Two Louisiana Petroleum Coke Plants

The Environmental Integrity Project (“EIP”) filed a Clean Water Act citizen suit action in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against the following: RAIN CII CARBON, LLC. – Sulfur,...more

McGlinchey Stafford

DOJ to Stop “Piling On” and “Overfiling” Under Clean Water Act

McGlinchey Stafford on

Is federalism alive and well? Has the federal government decided to give up “piling on” and “overfiling” in environmental enforcement actions? It seems so. On July 27, 2020, in an effort to promote federalism, U.S. Department...more

Stoel Rives - Environmental Law Blog

Reversing 30-Year Policy, U.S. DOJ Says Settlements Can No Longer Include Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)

The U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) recently issued a memorandum stating that settlements, including consent decrees, entered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies can no longer include...more

Beveridge & Diamond PC

DOJ Clarifies Limits on Third Party Payments in Environmental Settlements

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In a memorandum issued earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified how a policy prohibiting settlement payments to third parties, announced in June 2017, will apply in cases handled by DOJ’s...more

WilmerHale

DOJ Directive Threatens Availability of Penalty Mitigation Approach

WilmerHale on

A June 5, 2017, Department of Justice (DOJ) policy directive threatens the ongoing availability of Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) in civil environmental settlements. SEPs have traditionally provided a means by...more

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