Companies are facing increased federal, state, and public scrutiny regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Amidst this momentum, it is important for companies operating in all sectors to address ESG...more
In last year’s update, we provided an overview of federal and California regulatory actions designed to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These actions...more
5/2/2023
/ California ,
CEQA ,
CERCLA ,
Clean Water Act ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Site Assessment ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Housing Developers ,
Office Space ,
Offshore Wind ,
PFAS ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Safe Drinking Water Act ,
State and Local Government
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering expanding the number of per- and polyfluoroalklyl substances (PFAS) compounds classified as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,...more
4/24/2023
/ California ,
CERCLA ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Groundwater ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
PFAS ,
State and Local Government ,
State Bans ,
Storm Water ,
Wetlands
A federal judge in North Dakota on Wednesday temporarily blocked implementation of a Biden administration rule establishing protections under the federal Clean Water Act for seasonal streams and wetlands in 24 states....more
A Kentucky federal district court judge last Friday denied the state’s request to block the Biden administration’s new regulation redefining federally regulated “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) from taking effect within...more
Relying on the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to block recently adopted executive branch regulations, Congress on Wednesday approved a resolution to overturn the Biden administration’s planned protections for...more
4/3/2023
/ California ,
CERCLA ,
Clean Water Act ,
Congressional Review Act ,
Drinking Water ,
Drought ,
Joe Biden ,
PFAS ,
State and Local Government ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Waters of the United States
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Tuesday proposed the first federal limits on certain PFAS compounds in drinking water, a long-awaited protection the agency said will save thousands of lives and prevent...more
President Joe Biden unveiled a sweeping $6.8 trillion budget plan on Thursday that would increase federal spending on climate and clean energy programs while boosting pay for federal workers....more
Idaho has joined a Texas lawsuit over a new interpretation of the Clean Water Act’s “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule, alleging that it is too vague, oversteps the bounds of federal authority, and puts the liberties...more
3/6/2023
/ Air Pollution ,
Clean Water Act ,
Contaminated Properties ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Oil Spills ,
Soil ,
Storm Water ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) ,
Water Pollution ,
Waters of the United States ,
Wetlands
A Ninth Circuit panel on Tuesday revived a Trump-era Clean Water Act regulation, finding that U.S. District Judge William Alsup erred when vacating a Trump administration revision of the “Clean Water Act 401 Certification...more
Facing an onslaught of criticism that water was “wasted” during January storms, Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday issued an executive order authorizing the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to “consider modifying”...more
The Biden administration called for regulatory changes this Wednesday to encourage voluntary conservation projects on private land, partly by shielding owners from punishment if their actions kill or harm small numbers of...more
Companies that generate a billion dollars or more a year doing business in California would be required to publicly release their carbon emissions data under a bill introduced Monday by State Senator Scott Wiener. Supporters...more
The fossil fuel industry is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve a legal battle over hydraulic fracturing off the California coast — a fight companies say carries “enormous practical and legal significance.”...more
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and numerous industry associations on Wednesday filed lawsuits in Texas district court over the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ definition of...more
1/23/2023
/ California ,
Clean Water Act ,
Contamination ,
Drought ,
Endangered Species ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fishing Industry ,
Natural Gas ,
PFAS ,
State and Local Government ,
Waters of the United States
Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday unveiled a 2023 state budget proposal that includes significant cuts to climate investments due to an estimated budget gap of $22.5 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year....more
1/16/2023
/ California ,
Clean Air Act ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Drought ,
Endangered Species ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Investment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding
The U.S .Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing tougher standards for fine particle pollution, sometimes known as soot. The proposed regulations announced on Friday would set maximum levels of 9 to 10 micrograms...more
1/9/2023
/ Air Pollution ,
California ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Conservation ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Levees ,
State and Local Government ,
US Geological Survey ,
Water Management ,
Wildfires
The Biden administration today finalized its definition of which wetlands and waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act. The rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers...more
1/3/2023
/ California ,
Clean Water Act ,
Contamination ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Improper Disposal ,
Monsanto ,
Natural Resources ,
PFAS ,
State and Local Government ,
Toxic Chemicals
EPA floats sharply increased social cost of carbon -
E&E News – November 21 -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new estimate for the social cost of carbon emissions, nearly quadrupling an interim...more
12/6/2022
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Water Act ,
Climate Change ,
Critical Habitat ,
Department of the Interior ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Violations ,
Methane ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Salton Sea ,
Water Supplies ,
Well Drilling
California unveils plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 - Los Angeles Times – November 16 The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Wednesday released a scoping plan outlining in broad strokes how the state intends to...more
Bonta announces lawsuit against 3M and DuPont over PFAS contamination Bullet The Hill – November 10 California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday announced a lawsuit against 3M and DuPont, manufacturers of per- and...more
Attorney General Bonta asks plastic bag producers to prove that bags are recyclable - San Francisco Chronicle – November 2 - On Wednesday, Attorney General Rob Bonta sent letters to seven plastic bag producers that supply the...more
Modesto wins $4 million in suit to clean up PCE-contaminated site - The Modesto Bee – October 27 - After 24 years in litigation, the Superior Court of San Francisco awarded the City of Modesto $4 million in damages against...more
UPS to pay $5.3M fine, correct hazardous waste violations in settlement with EPA - ABC News – October 19 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced that it reached a settlement with United Parcel...more
Biden administration outlines plan to pay for Colorado River water cuts as crisis looms - CNN – October 12 As concerns grow over the future of the drought-plagued Colorado River system, the Biden administration has announced...more