On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its rule requiring reporting of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to EPA’s press release, the rule is intended to “provide...more
10/12/2023
/ Contamination ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
PFAS ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
On March 14, 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including...more
On January 6, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its Final Rule, listed at 88 FR 986, updating the maximum civil monetary penalties that may be assessed for violations of environmental statutes....more
2/10/2023
/ CERCLA ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Clean Water Act ,
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Violations ,
Final Rules ,
Inflation Adjustments ,
New Guidance ,
RCRA ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Safe Drinking Water Act ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
On January 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his 2023-2024 budget proposal, totaling $297 billion and leading to a $22.5 billion budget deficit. This deficit represents a significant change from last year’s nearly...more
On January 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his $297 billion budget proposal for 2023-2024, which includes a $22.5 billion budget deficit. Despite environmental/climate change programs facing $6 billion in cuts,...more
1/12/2023
/ California ,
Climate Change ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Flood Management ,
Infrastructure ,
PFAS ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Water ,
Water Rights ,
Water Supplies ,
Watershed
On December 19, 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps), Sacramento District released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Delta Conveyance Project. The Army Corps is the federal agency tasked...more
On December 6, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a bipartisan vote of 350-80. The NDAA includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which includes...more
On December 6, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a bipartisan vote of 350-80. The NDAA includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which includes...more
12/16/2022
/ Drinking Water ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Funding ,
Flood Control ,
Infrastructure ,
NDAA ,
Pending Legislation ,
PFAS ,
Pollution Control ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Water Resources Development Act ,
Water Supplies
On November 10, 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he had filed a lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and sixteen other companies for their roles in manufacturing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)....more
11/15/2022
/ 3M Company ,
Contamination ,
Drinking Water ,
DuPont ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Infrastructure ,
Manufacturers ,
PFAS ,
Public Health ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure
On September 12, 2022, the Court of Appeal for the Sixth District issued its opinion in the California Water Curtailment Cases, No. 1-15-CV285182 (2022). The court held that the State Water Resources Control Board (State...more
On September 7, 2022, California became the first government in the world to require microplastics testing for drinking water, an emerging contaminant that is found throughout the environment. The State Water Resources...more
9/15/2022
/ California ,
Contamination ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Plastics ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Water Quality ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Supplies
On August 26, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the pre-publication of a proposed rule that would designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances...more
On August 11, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom released California’s Water Supply Strategy – Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future. The 19-page plan is designed to help the state adapt to the impacts of climate change on its water...more
A key priority of the Newsom Administration – the Delta Conveyance Project – has officially entered its next chapter. On July 22, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released its draft environmental impact report (Draft...more
On July 1, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit took the unusual step of reversing its previous decision in California River Watch v. City of Vacaville, No. 20-16605, 2022 WL 2381056 (9th Cir. July...more
On June 15, 2022, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new health advisories for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The health advisories significantly lowered the level considered safe to...more
6/16/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Contamination ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Drinking Water ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Funding ,
Hazardous Substances ,
PFAS ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure
On May 24, 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced emergency drought restrictions resulting from Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-7-22. The regulations are the latest in a series of attempts by...more
5/31/2022
/ Agribusiness ,
Agricultural Sector ,
California ,
Drought ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Executive Orders ,
Groundwater Management Plan ,
Property Owners ,
Water ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Supplies
On May 12, 2022, at the conclusion of a ten-hour hearing, the California Coastal Commission voted to deny Poseidon Water’s application to site and operate a desalination plant in Huntington Beach, in what could be a fatal...more
At a board meeting on April 26, 2022, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (“the Met”) announced it would be requiring reductions in water usage from retail water suppliers that are dependent on water from...more
As part of a busy few weeks that revealed the severity of the drought California is currently facing, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22. The executive order is the latest in a series of orders aimed at...more
The past few weeks have been active ones for California in assessing the severity of its current drought and how it plans to manage its water during the third year of that drought. On top of other, more localized action,...more
Last week, the Ocean Protection Council adopted California’s Statewide Microplastics Strategy. The strategy is the first of its kind in the nation, focusing on outlining steps to address microplastic pollution, an emerging...more
3/3/2022
/ California ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
Plastics ,
Pollution Control ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Waste Management ,
Water ,
Water Pollution ,
Water Quality