A San Jerardo cooperative in the Salinas area, together with environmental organizations, have sued the state, demanding stricter rules to govern the amount of fertilizer farmers can use. They allege that nitrate...more
After releasing the final environmental report (EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project on December 8, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) certified it on December 21, 2023. The certification of the final EIR is a...more
What You Need to Know- • The NJDEP recently announced anticipated updates to New Jersey’s Surface Water Quality Standards, which are expected to have impacts on properties with NJPDES permits, laboratories, and remediation...more
On February 23, 2023, California EPA (Cal EPA) finally released a “final draft” version of the much-awaited vapor intrusion guidance, Final Draft Supplemental Guidance: Screening and Evaluating Vapor Intrusion (VI Guidance)...more
State Water Project will deliver no water to most communities next year - The Mercury News – December 1 - In a stark indicator of California’s worsening drought, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration announced this...more
U.S. to resume enforcement of unlawful bird deaths by industry - Associated Press – September 29 - The Biden administration said Wednesday that it will draft rules under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act over the next...more
Biden picks North Carolina environmental chief to lead EPA - Associated Press – December 17 - President-elect Joe Biden this Thursday selected Michael S. Regan to serve as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental...more
U.S. formally exits Paris Climate Agreement - Bullet Associated Press – November 4 - The United States this Wednesday formally left the Paris Climate Agreement, a global pact it helped forge five years ago during the...more
Federal court blocks Interior Department’s relaxation of migratory bird safeguards - U.S. News & World Report – August 12 - The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York this Tuesday struck down a U.S....more
In February, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, the State Water Resources Control Board, or SWRCB, and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board released a much-anticipated draft...more
The State of California recently sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior and concurrently filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California...more
This Corner Briefing highlights new Environmental Screening Levels (ESLs) established by the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board on Jan. 24, 2019. The new ESLs have the potential for making sites that cleared...more
In Cities v. Fossil Fuels, Exxon's Allies Want the Accusers Investigated - "Now two industry-friendly groups are turning the tables and asking the SEC to investigate the cities and counties for possible fraud." Why this...more
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) announced that the Arkansas Nutrient Water Quality Trading Advisory Panel (“Panel”) will hold a telephone conference at 1:30 p.m. on December 14th. ADEQ states the...more
On March 8, 2017, the State Water Quality Control Board (“SWRCB”) released a draft emergency regulation that would impose new fees on some groundwater extractors. Written comments are due by Friday, April 7, 2017. The...more
This is the first update on environmental regulatory and legal developments in Los Angeles and adjacent counties, as well as the Southern San Joaquin l Valley. Let us know what you think. Your comments on this Update will...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Proposed ballot initiative would shift funding from high speed rail to new water projects - Los Angeles Times - Feb 15 - The state’s powerful agriculture industry and its...more
On August 13, 2014, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board approved a two-part settlement with the City of San Diego for violations of the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System ("MS4") permits. Most of the...more
Last week, the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and other NGOs obtained summary judgment that Alex Energy had violated both its NPDES permit and its Surface Mining Permits due to exceedances of the West Virginia water...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California drought: plan would reverse aqueduct flow to send water back to farms: San Jose Mercury News - May 8: Water has flowed from Northern California's snow-capped peaks to the...more
On January 16, 2014, Gov. Christie signed legislation (A-4531) that provides additional time for county planning agencies to submit regional water quality management (WQM) plans to the New Jersey Department of Environmental...more
The regulatory action (i) updates current remediation levels and sampling and analysis methods; (ii) improves reporting and notification requirements; (iii) clarifies eligibility, application, registration fee, and...more