The Biden administration has been announcing a new series of actions to address climate change, relying on executive power due to insufficient support in Congress. On July 27, 2022, however, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY)...more
Over the past few years, several state and local governments have filed lawsuits against fossil fuel companies, seeking money damages for the effects of climate change on their jurisdictions. These lawsuits serve multiple...more
3/17/2022
/ Clean Air Act ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Design Defects ,
Due Process ,
Energy Sector ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Negligent Design ,
Oil & Gas ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Popular ,
Public Nuisance ,
Strict Liability
A November 2021 leak of 14,000 gallons of jet fuel at the US Navy’s Red Hill underground fuel storage facility, at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, contaminated a well providing drinking water, displacing...more
Since our last article discussing the way in which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or "the Commission") considers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate impacts in the pipeline certification process, the...more
7/31/2019
/ Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Review ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas Act ,
NEPA ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Sierra Club
As in previous postings, we discuss recent state regulatory initiatives aimed at addressing groundwater and drinking water contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS"). PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals...more
6/12/2019
/ CERCLA ,
Comment Period ,
Contaminated Properties ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Groundwater ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Toxic Chemicals
Among other responsibilities, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or "the Commission") approves and issues construction certificates for interstate gas pipelines and related infrastructure under section 7 of the...more
1/15/2019
/ Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Review ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas Act ,
NEPA ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Sierra Club
Over a year has elapsed since Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, which, in addition to claiming thousands of lives, destroyed Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure. As discussed in prior postings, a...more
In October 2017, Hurricane Maria swept through the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico decimating the island, taking hundreds of lives and demolishing infrastructure on an enormous scale. In the hurricane’s immediate aftermath,...more
2/14/2018
/ Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Economic Development ,
Energy Sector ,
Governor Rossello ,
Natural Disasters ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Grid ,
PREPA ,
Puerto Rico ,
Renewable Energy ,
Severe Weather ,
Storm Damage ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Utilities Sector