On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was designating two common per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,...more
4/22/2024
/ CERCLA ,
Contamination ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
PFAS ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Toxic Chemicals
Applicants for new/renewed licenses must address climate issues -
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is proposing regulatory revisions in response to the effects of a changing climate,...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published in the September 8th Federal Register a final rule to amend the “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule....more
Perhaps settling a debate that has been raging for at least 20 years, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision today in Sackett v. EPA that is intended to settle, once and for all, the scope of federal power over wetlands. ...more
As expected, and as described in our March 15 client alert, EPA today published in the Federal Register its first-ever National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS substances in drinking water....more
A Kingston couple was dealt a significant blow days before Christmas when the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) set aside a jury verdict awarding them $3.5 million in damages for errant golf balls hitting their property. In...more
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to replace existing regulatory requirements for water quality certifications under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)....more
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently handed a victory to a conservation commission seeking to impose an enforcement order on a property owner who bought land containing unauthorized fill placed there by a...more
On July 21, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to designate two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and...more
In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) issued a memorandum ceasing the use of Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) as part of settlements of federal environmental...more
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has scheduled additional online public hearings and extended the comment period on the Draft 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan. Issuance of the final plan is...more
Businesses and others that suspended environmental monitoring and reporting during the Coronavirus pandemic should plan to resume those activities as of September 1, 2020. ...more
In a striking blow, stripping a city of a judgment of nearly $1 million, the Massachusetts Appeals Court recently reversed a superior court summary judgment awarding fines to the City of Haverhill for a developer’s violations...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered many restrictions on travel and personnel, leading many businesses and industry groups to wonder whether companies will face enforcement actions if they fail to comply with environmental...more
In one of its noteworthy zoning decisions of late 2019, the Massachusetts Appeals Court interpreted the “two-year bar” for zoning amendments contained in M.G.L. c. 40A, § 5, sixth par. In Penn v. Town of Barnstable, the...more
There’s no shortage of case law on the issue of standing to maintain a zoning appeal. A case decided by the Appeals Court reminds us why the issue is still being discussed after all these years....more
Resolving an issue not previously decided by Massachusetts appellate courts, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that a landowner is not entitled to a jury trial on a regulatory taking claim....more
The merger doctrine is alive and well in Massachusetts zoning law. In its recent decision in Kneer v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Norfolk, the Appeals Court examined whether the doctrine applies to property owned by a realty...more
Lawsuits to recover cleanup costs and property damages resulting from environmental contamination can be expensive and time-consuming. Plaintiffs should be sure their claims are timely before embarking on the litigation...more
In a decision of interest to municipalities, conservation groups, and land use experts, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently decided that a public playground in the City of Westfield is parkland protected...more
Massachusetts is known for its comprehensive and innovative environmental laws and regulations. One exception has been the administration of the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing two new hazardous waste rules that EPA believes will strengthen environmental protection and reduce regulatory burdens. The first is an update to the hazardous...more
The Pierce Atwood Environmental and Land Use Practice Group is pleased to provide the 2015 Summary of Key Maine Environmental Legislation enacted or carried over in the First Regular Session of Maine's 127th Legislature...more
7/31/2015
/ Community Development ,
Conservation ,
Contamination ,
Department of Environmental Protection ,
Endangered Species ,
Flood Zones ,
Food Labeling ,
GMO ,
Groundwater ,
Landfills ,
Mining ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pesticides ,
Property Owners ,
Recycling ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solid Waste ,
State Budgets ,
Storm Water ,
Timber ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Trees ,
Water ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Safety