Three years after a massive spill at a Los Angeles wastewater facility sent millions of gallons of sewage into Santa Monica Bay, the city has agreed to spend more than $20 million on improvements to remedy the environmental...more
Efforts to regulate warehouses and distribution uses are not isolated to the local development moratoria and zoning code updates. At the state and regional level, the State Attorney General’s Office and regulatory agencies,...more
Less than a month after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published environmental operational standards and greenhouse gas emission regulations for owners and operators of heavy-duty vehicles, including major freight...more
Environmental regulations, including those under the California Air Resources Board’s (“CARB”) jurisdiction, present a complex compliance challenge for vehicle fleet managers and operations departments across the country....more
The State and NGOs seek to defend an emissions rule that trucking and airline trade groups are challenging in federal court. On October 13, 2021, the State of California, on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General...more
BAAQMD to Mandate All-Electric Furnaces and Water Heaters - On October 7, 2021 the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (“BAAQMD”) held a workshop to discuss proposed amendments to two of its rules (Rule 9-4 and Rule...more
South Coast Air Quality Management District Adopts Indirect Source Rule for Warehouses - Earlier this month, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) adopted Rule 2305 or the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule...more
Ninth Circuit Upholds U.S. EPA Waiver to CARB Regarding “Non-Road” Diesel Engine Regulations - On February 10, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection...more
California Air Resources Board Significantly Expands Air Emissions Reporting Requirements - On November 19, 2020, CARB amended its “Regulation for the Reporting of Criteria Air Pollutants and Toxic Air Contaminants” (CTR)...more
CARB Finalizes Amendments to At-Berth Vessel Rules - On August 27, 2020, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted new emission reductions requirements for At-Berth Vessels. These regulations will require...more
CARB to Hold Second Public Workshop on Clean Miles Standard to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Ride-Sharing Services - On July 17, 2020, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold another public...more
CARB to Hold Public Workshop on Clean Miles Standard to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transportation Vehicle Services - Consistent with a recent trend of actions and publicly held workshops aimed at reducing...more
CARB Developing Revisions to Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations - The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is in the process of developing revisions to regulations that are applicable to commercial harbor craft in...more
CARB Reports Continued Declines in Greenhouse Gas Emissions - The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is reporting that in 2017, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the state were 424 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2...more
On June 3, 2019, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a public workshop in preparation for its plans to initiate rulemaking later this year to amend its regulation on indoor air cleaning devices. In advance of...more
In late 2018, the California Air Resources Control Board (CARB) proposed a new statewide reporting program for air quality of both criteria pollutants and toxic air contaminants. ...more
California Targets Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ride-Hailing Companies - At a February 22, 2019 workshop, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) unveiled its planned “Clean Miles Standard” that will require...more
CARB Adopts Blueprint for AB 617 Community Air Protection Program - This fall, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) adopted its first measures under the Community Air Protection Program (“CAPP”), which focuses on...more
California’s New Solar Building Requirements - On May 9, 2018, the California Energy Commission adopted revisions to the State’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (“2019 Standards”). There are two basic options for...more
BAAQMD Developing Rules to Regulate Methane Emission - The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (“BAAQMD”), as part of its Methane Strategy, is pursuing rules to address methane emissions from several source categories....more
As posted in CEQA Chronicles, on July 17, 2017 the California legislature approved an extension of the state’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program from 2020 to 2030. Cap-and-trade is a key program in the state’s efforts to...more
This is the second update on environmental regulatory and legal developments in Los Angeles and adjacent counties, as well as the Southern San Joaquin Valley. We welcome your comments and feedback....more
On March 1, 2015, television news magazine “60 Minutes” aired a report concluding that Chinese-manufactured laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators contained and “off-gassed” formaldehyde at levels exceeding health and...more
New Standards Could be Costly for California’s Public Agencies - The United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule earlier this month strengthening the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for...more
California's drought is now in its fourth year, and state leaders are faced with making unprecedented decisions further restricting water use. The brown lawns and dying trees are all too obvious and painful examples of the...more