EPA recently issued its long-awaited rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability...more
PFAS — perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — have been on the scene for years now, but we expect to see exponential growth in all things PFAS in 2024....more
The State of California has always been a leader in regulating chemical ingredients contained in products sold in the state (think Prop 65), and it has turned its sights towards per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)....more
11/10/2022
/ California ,
Cosmetics ,
Environmental Policies ,
Fashion Industry ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
New Legislation ,
PFAS ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Retail Market ,
Textiles ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure
Earlier this month, EPA set new lifetime health advisories for four per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – in some instances at levels lower than those that can be detected through laboratory testing. The new health...more
6/23/2022
/ Contamination ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
New Guidance ,
PFAS ,
Public Health ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure
Earlier this year, we wrote about EPA’s PFAS Action Plan, the agency’s blueprint for addressing contamination and protecting public health from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). ...more
12/6/2019
/ Comment Period ,
Compliance Monitoring ,
Contamination ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Groundwater ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Health and Safety ,
Manufacturers ,
Manufacturing Facilities ,
National Action Plan ,
PFAS ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Right To Know ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Toxic Chemicals
My partner Bob Melvin and I recently gave a presentation on environmental, health, and safety considerations in mergers and acquisitions. While it would be impossible to cover our entire presentation in a blog post, I thought...more
On Valentine’s Day, EPA showed a little love for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), announcing a sweeping plan to address PFAS contamination and protect public health. ...more
2/15/2019
/ Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
National Action Plan ,
Pollution Control ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Research Reports ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Water Supplies
Last week, EPA added two sites to the National Priorities List (NPL), a list of sites of national priority for known or threatened releases of hazardous substances, solely for the risks posed by vapor intrusion. ...more
As we previously reported, the current administration set out to make Superfund reform a priority. Shortly after taking over as EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt convened a task force to provide recommendations for...more
Since taking over as EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt has made it clear that he intends to focus on—and overhaul—the Superfund program. Calling the program “at the center of the Agency’s core mission”, Pruitt has put in place...more
Last week, a federal court dismissed claims brought by three California cities against Monsanto that were aimed at forcing Monsanto to pay for polychlorinated biphenyl (“PCB”) contamination in San Francisco Bay.
The...more
9/2/2016
/ Biotechnology ,
City of San Jose ,
Contamination ,
Dismissals ,
Environmental Liability ,
Environmental Violations ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
Monsanto ,
PCBs ,
Public Nuisance ,
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan ,
Stormwater Discharge Permits ,
Water Pollution
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”) imposes fairly broad liability on potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) to pay for the investigation and...more
On July 15, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule significantly expanding its program for underground storage tank (UST) systems that store petroleum or hazardous substances....more