The ever-vigilant Sam Hess of Inside EPA has posted an August presentation by an EPA official at the Association of Clean Water Administrators’ Annual Meeting. That presentation says that EPA has drafted new guidance based...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) on Tuesday released a new rule that reduces the number of federally protected waters by more than half following a Supreme Court...more
Notwithstanding the increasing size and severity of wildfires over the past decade, certain plaintiff groups have sought to constrain the government’s response to wildfires. Brownstein was honored to have the opportunity to...more
A few months ago I told you about the United States Forest Service's decision to resolve a citizen suit accusing it of violating the Clean Water Act by obtaining a Federal permit and as many as 47 State permits authorizing it...more
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is seeking Clean Water Act (CWA) Permits from the EPA for anticipated discharges from aerial firefighting efforts that may reach federal water. The Plaintiffs in the suite, Forest Services...more
Inside EPA is reporting that the United States Forest Service is going to work with EPA to obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage under the Federal Clean Water Act authorizing it to...more
“A controversial natural gas pipeline in West Virginia appears dead for now after it failed to make next year’s spending bill from Congress.” Why this is important: With apologies to Mark Twain, the reports of the...more
President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) into law on Aug. 16, 2022, following its passage along party lines in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The comprehensive legislation is the...more
The Act promises to touch on almost every aspect of US climate policy. On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (the Act), which expands clean and renewable energy production,...more
Industry groups and seven states lose bid to reinstate rule limiting scope of Clean Water Act - Courthouse News Service – December 7 - Seven states and a collection of industry groups fighting to revive a Trump-era...more
Federal court rejects continued application of Trump-era water quality review rule pending adoption of alternative regulation - Courthouse News Service – October 22 - Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for...more
As drought worsens, regulators impose unprecedented water restrictions on California farms - Los Angeles Times – August 3 - Amid intensifying drought, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) voted on Tuesday...more
Consuming the forest in a red blaze just about a mile north of downtown Flagstaff, the Museum Fire Wildfire had many Arizonans on edge, especially fire management officials. Flagstaff is a popular destination year-round, and...more
The United States Forest Service (“Service”) published a proposal in the June 13th Federal Register that contains a package of revisions to its National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) regulations. See 84 Fed. Reg. 27544. ...more
Focus - Half Moon Bay Ritz-Carlton ordered to stop impeding beach access - San Francisco Chronicle – June 13 - The California Coastal Commission on Thursday fined the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay $1.6 million—the...more
The Environmental Protection Agency announced, in a 121-page prepublication decision on December 1, 2017, that it will not issue final regulations under Section 108(b) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Trump EPA pick: still 'some debate' over human role in climate change - The Guardian - Jan 18 - During a combative Senate confirmation hearing this week, Scott Pruitt,...more
EPA has revised its procedures for making certain changes to its “Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods,” also known as SW-846. The test method and its compendium of guidance documents provide...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Community and environmental groups sue South Coast Air District over rules adoption - Los Angeles Times - Mar 9 - Community groups and environmentalists filed suit this week...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Governor Brown authorizes streamlined groundwater: Allen Matkins - Oct 13: On Friday, October 9, 2015, Governor Brown signed a suite of bills that has the potential to significantly...more
NEW REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS - Federal - Final 2014 Effluent Guidelines Program Plan and 2014 Annual Effluent Guidelines Review Report EPA is announcing the availability of its Final 2014 Effluent Guidelines...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Army Corps jurisdictional determinations subject to pre-permit judicial review, Eighth Circuit says - Allen Matkins - Apr 13: EPA and Army Corps of Engineers imposition of federal...more
In This Issue: Environmental and Policy Focus - U.S. top court rules for timber industry over road runoff; U.S. Supreme Court grants review of plan by forest service to manage Sierra Nevada; Federal Appeals Court...more