[WEBINAR] Fairly (or Unfairly?) Traceable: Are Discharges Through Groundwater Subject to the Clean Water Act?
Federal officials announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a three-year-old rule — known as the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule (Rule) — targeting air pollution linked to Southern...more
The city of Fresno announced this week that Shell USA, Dow Chemical, and other oil and chemical companies have agreed to pay the city $230 million to settle the city’s 2007 lawsuit against them for allegedly contaminating...more
Key Takeaways - • What Is Happening? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule requiring certain facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans (FRPs) for responding to worst case discharges...more
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) and Delta Oil Services, Inc. (“Delta”) entered into a February 16th Consent Order (“CO”) addressing alleged violations of Alabama regulations focused on used oil...more
As climate change rightly has dominated recent discussions of environmental policy, it’s been easy to forget how much progress has been made in the past fifty years. I was reminded of the extent of that progress by the story...more
In a significant environmental crime enforcement action, the Justice Department resolved criminal charges under the Clean Water Act against Summit Midstream Partners LLC, a North Dakota pipeline company that discharged 29...more
On January 15, 2021, the US Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) announced that it approved an application from the State of Texas to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program for...more
New EPA rule aims to limit tough clean air measures under Biden - The New York Times – December 9 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this Wednesday completed a rule that could weaken federal authority to...more
We are pleased to publish the Third Edition of our Energy & Infrastructure Insight, providing information and analysis of the current issues facing the energy and infrastructure sectors across the globe. In this latest...more
Montage Healdsburg resort faces $6.4 million fine for construction stormwater-related violations - Bullet The Press-Democrat – September 15 - The developer of the Montage Healdsburg hotel in Sonoma County is facing...more
On August 13, 2020, EPA released two rules changing the volatile organic compound (“VOC”) and methane emissions requirements for new sources in the oil and gas sector, which alter or roll back some of the requirements put in...more
New estimates from the Congressional Budget Office suggest that the “U.S. economy could take the better part of a decade to fully recover from the coronavirus pandemic and related shutdown” and see as much as a 3% contraction...more
N. Plains Res. Council v. United States Army Corps of Eng’rs, No. 4:19-cv-00044-BMM, 2020 BL 35412 (9th Cir. May 14, 2020) - Oil and gas pipeline construction may no longer proceed under Nationwide Water Permit 12 (“NWP...more
On Thursday, May 28, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to stay on appeal a lower court ruling which has already had a nationwide impact on permitting of oil and gas pipelines that cross streams...more
Industry Expert Insights - We reached out to a well-known expert in Mexico in the energy and legal industries to get his thoughts on the current energy climate. Juan Serra is a partner in the Mexico City office of...more
On January 1, 2020, the new International Maritime Organization’s regulation—dubbed “IMO 2020”—for sulfur reduction from 3.5% to 0.5% will go into effect. The regulation stipulates that oceangoing vessels must use either a...more
That’s a good thing if you like what the EPA is doing, not so much if you are its sworn enemy. In Center for Biological Diversity v. US EPA the plaintiff did not have standing so sue the EPA over the granting of a water...more
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Remains Halted as Developers Wait on Court Decisions - "There are currently two federal permits under review--one issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and one issued by the U.S. Forest...more
In a potentially substantial move for the oil and gas industry, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (“ODEQ”) are seeking delegation from the U.S....more
In mid-May 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment its draft Study of Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management under the Clean Water Act. The purpose of the study was to document EPA’s...more
The Region 6 Office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Redrock Energy, Inc. (“REI”) entered into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CA”) addressing an alleged violation of Section 311 of the...more
Trump Eyes Action to Limit States' Powers to Block Pipelines - "The Trump administration is considering taking steps to limit the ability of states to block interstate gas pipelines and other energy projects, according to...more
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ”) issued a news release stating that the Criminal Investigation Section of the agency arrested Dean Garrett Domingue on two counts of knowingly disposing of gasoline. ...more
On September 11, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to amend various provisions of a key Obama-era regulation that sought to reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in June 25th Federal Register notice states that it will establish no additional regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act 311(j)(1)(C) for hazardous...more