In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) took significant steps to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”...more
Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the federal Superfund law (PFAS Designation Rule) in September...more
On December 15, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Final Rule, entitled "Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries," updating the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment...more
A United States District Court (District of Columbia) (“Court”) in a March 4th Opinion addressed the Farm Service Agency’s (“FSA”) compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). See Dakota Rural Action, et...more
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (“ESA”) is the quintessential environmental diligence tool for transactions involving real property. A Phase I ESA includes a site inspection and review of current and past uses and...more
On Dec. 15, 2022, after a yearlong wait, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took final action to approve the new ASTM International standard for conducting Phase I environmental site assessments, officially known as...more
On December 15, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its All Appropriate Inquiries Rule, publishing a final rule that incorporates an updated Phase I Environmental Site Assessment standard...more
On December 15, 2022, EPA issued a final rule amending the All Appropriate Inquiries Rule (AAI Rule), 40 CFR part 312, to recognize the updated ASTM International standard for conducting Phase I environmental site assessments...more
On December 15, 2022, the U.S. EPA took final action to amend the Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries to reference ASTM International’s E1527-21 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I...more
It has taken a year to obtain greater certainty of what is required to satisfy the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) all appropriate inquiries (AAI) rule (40 CFR part 312). Earlier this year, EPA issued a direct...more
ASTM E1527-21 to Replace ASTM E1527-13 - On December 15, 2022, U.S. EPA published in the Federal Register its final rule updating its AAI Rule, recognizing ASTM E1527-21 as a method for meeting the AAI requirements for...more
On December 15, 2022, the EPA published a Final Rule to amend EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiries Rule to allow the use of the revised American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1527-21 Standard Practice for Environmental...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has received to date 14 comments addressing both a proposed rule and direct final rule amending 40 CFR Section 312.11 which would amend the Comprehensive Environmental...more
On March 14, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a direct final rule approving the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standard E1527-21 for Phase I environmental site assessments...more
On March 14, 2022, EPA published a Direct Final Rule and a Proposed Rule that would incorporate ASTM International’s (“ASTM”) updated standard for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (“Phase I ESAs”) into EPA’s...more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to amend its standards and practices for all appropriate inquiries (set forth at 40 CFR part 312) to include the ASTM International’s E1527-21 “Standard...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on March 14, 2022, issued both a final rule incorporating revised ASTM International standard practices, ASTM International’s E1527–21 ‘‘Standard Practice for Environmental Site...more
On Nov 1, 2021, ASTM International (“ASTM”) released the revised standard for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (“Phase I ESAs”). The new standard, ASTM 1527-21, which revises the 1527-13, is intended to...more
After a lengthy committee process, ASTM International revised its standard practice for Phase I environmental site assessments (ASTM E1527) for the first time since 2013. Phase I environmental site assessments facilitate...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: With the EPA adding the consideration of vapor intrusion in its Superfund site investigations, hundreds of sites that previously would not rank high enough to qualify for listing on the National Priorities...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has at long last issued a Final Rule which provides clarification to prospective purchasers of contaminated property regarding the standards and practices that are to be used for...more
On October 6, 2014, EPA issued a final rule mandating the use of the 2013 standard, ASTM E1527-13, for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for satisfaction of All Appropriate Inquiries ("AAI") under CERCLA. . ...more
On June 17, 2014, EPA published a Proposed Rule to no longer acknowledge the 2005 version of ASTM International’s recently updated version of its standard for environmental site assessments – Standard 1527-13 – to meet the...more
As indicated in our latest blog post, here, on US EPA’s adoption of the new ASTM E1527-13 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, US EPA has taken the step...more
On June 17, 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published a proposal to delete reference to the 2005 version of the ASTM Phase I environmental site assessment standard from the federal “all appropriate...more