Plans to build the largest new reservoir in California in 50 years have taken a significant step forward following a judge’s decision last Friday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by environmental groups challenging the adequacy of...more
On February 21, 2024, State Sen. Nancy Skinner introduced SB 903 – the “Ending Forever Chemicals Act.” SB 903 follows in the footsteps of similar laws already passed in Maine and Minnesota, and, if passed, will prevent the...more
In American Chemistry Council v. Dept. of Toxic Substances Control (Nov. 18, 2022, F082604) __Cal.App.4th__ [2022 Cal. App. LEXIS 1004], the Fifth District Court of Appeal found a CEQA challenge to the regulatory decision of...more
In July 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 158 into law, which established the Board of Environmental Safety (BES)—an agency charged with overseeing the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) hazardous waste...more
California federal judge rejects Trump-era changes that weakened Endangered Species Act Bullet CNBC - July 5 A California federal judge on Tuesday rejected Trump-era changes to the Endangered Species Act that made it harder...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
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has completed the relaunch of an emergency rulemaking to refine the process by which metal shredding facilities determine when hazardous waste management...more
California appellate court overturns Monterey County fracking ban - Courthouse News Service – October 12 - A California appeals court on Tuesday set aside a Monterey County measure banning hydraulic fracturing, or...more
EPA to propose first-ever PFAS discharge limits - The Hill – September 8 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday that it will propose a rule to set the first-ever limits on the...more
The California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) recently launched an emergency rulemaking amending California’s definition of scrap metal to align it with federal requirements and clarifying the process by which...more
U.S. EPA recommends testing wastewater for PFAS - Bullet Chemical & Engineering News – December 1 - Certain facilities may have to test for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their...more
Trade groups sue California to stop threatened species listing for Western Joshua Tree - Bullet Desert Sun – October 27 - Several trade groups and a high desert town sued in Fresno County Superior Court on October 21 over...more
Redwood City salt ponds subject to environmental protections, federal judge rules - San Francisco Chronicle – October 5 - A federal court ruled this Monday that an area containing salt ponds in Redwood City are waters...more
Contaminated groundwater plume in north Orange County placed on federal Superfund list - Orange County Register – September 1 - A five-square-mile plume of contaminated groundwater in north Orange County has been...more
While some have been enjoying the return of baseball, albeit without fans in the stands, the Oakland A’s are moving forward with their game plan for a new stadium in the Port of Oakland. However, relations with their...more
On February 14, 2020, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued a public notice regarding the release of Draft Supplemental Guidance: Screening and...more
Guidance Increases Uncertainty for Restoring Brownfields - The long-awaited CalEPA guidance for screening and evaluating vapor intrusion has been issued as a draft for public comment. This state-wide guidance, jointly...more
The West Coast Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc., and several scrap facilities (collectively “Scrap Facilities”) filed a November 26th Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”)...more
Focus - Environmental groups sue BLM over California drilling plan - Reuters – October 30 - The Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity this Wednesday sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over...more
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC“) is proposing to include photovoltaic modules (“PV”) on the list of hazardous wastes eligible to be managed as universal waste. PV modules are commonly...more
What chemical law is flying under the radar but has the potential to drastically change a variety of products and entire industries, and potentially cost a bundle in compliance costs? California’s Safer Consumer Products...more
Despite its focus on packaging manufacturers, a law to reduce package toxicity may impact retailers as well. The Toxics in Packaging Act Can Impact Retailers Prevention Act (TPPA), passed by the California Legislature in...more
California’s Green Chemistry Initiative has taken another step towards regulating a widely available consumer product. On February 15, 2018, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released a discussion...more
On October 6, 2017, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced it is seeking public comment on its new 2018-2020 Priority Product Work Plan (Work Plan) under its Safer Consumer Products (SCP)...more
Senate Bill 774 (“SB 774”) was amended in July 2017 to delete a section of the bill that would have allowed the new California Toxic Substances Board (“CTS Board”) to adopt or amend relevant regulations. Under the revised...more