U.S. EPA Releases its PFAS Strategic Roadmap
On Monday, October 18, 2021, U.S. EPA released its PFAS Strategic Roadmap (Roadmap) outlining the agency’s three-year strategy for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
How To Straighten the Long and Winding Road that We Call NEPA
So CEQ has proposed to amend the NEPA regulations in order to eliminate some of the changes made by the Trump Administration in 2020.
Sembcorp on a corporate journey to go from brown to green
It aims for its sustainable solutions portfolio to comprise 70% of the group's net profit by 2025, up from around 40% in 2020.
Existing Laws Offer Environmental Justice Tools, Official Says
The Justice Department has plenty of options under existing environmental laws to help local communities long suffering from air or water pollution even without an environmental justice statute, the head of a new federal environmental justice litigation team said Tuesday.
EPA Honors 2021 Green Power Leaders
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Green Power Leadership Award Winners for 2021, honoring five Green Power Partners across the United States: Boston University; Dane County, Wisconsin...
Environmental Justice Comes Early to New Jersey
New Jersey is no longer waiting to implement environmental justice requirements following surprise action by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
CERCLA – EPA Sharpens CERCLA Enforcement Tools to Focus on Environmental Justice Communities
The Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or “Superfund”) imposes strict, joint and several liability on responsible parties for remediation of contaminated properties.
The Cannabis Industry’s Environmental Compliance Conundrum
Operators in the nascent cannabis industry have a lot to worry about on a daily basis, but compliance with state and federal environmental laws hasn’t been an issue of concern for most.
Practical Tips for Managing the Risks of PCBs in Building Materials
Even though polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have not been manufactured in the U.S. for over forty years, they continue to be present in building materials, including in caulk and joint materials, paint, siding, roofing, and light ballasts.
PFAS Enforcement and Liability Is on the Rise—Insurance Can Help
A key component of a company’s risk management function is to keep a close eye on new and developing sources of liability and to put in place appropriate insurance to respond in the event those liabilities ripen.
National Contingency Plan now requires monitoring of chemical dispersants
The US government promulgates a “National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan” – more commonly referred to as the National Contingency Plan (NCP) – as the blueprint for responses to spills of oil and hazardous substances.
NIMBYs plague rezonings in the Hamptons, too
Plans to revitalize the Hampton Bays downtown district hit a snag after an unlikely legal challenge to halt rezoning succeeded in state court.
Mapping the Movement: The Future of Identifying and Addressing Cumulative Impacts
Charles Lee, long-standing activist, advisor, and policymaker, is in a unique position to assess developments within the environmental justice (EJ) movement by virtue of his nearly 40-year career dedicated to advancing EJ.
Federal Government Takes More Steps Toward Regulating PFAS
On July 21, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to designate two PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, commonly referred to as the Superfund law.
The Darker Side of Tree-Planting Pledges
Campaigns to plant millions of trees have become popular urban responses to climate change. But many have fallen far short of their goals.
Mapping the Movement: The Future of Identifying and Addressing Cumulative Impacts
Charles Lee, long-standing activist, advisor, and policymaker, is in a unique position to assess developments within the environmental justice movement by virtue of his nearly 40-year career dedicated to advancing EJ.
The US EPA’s proposed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting rule would impose a myriad of obligations on business, and apply to those not usually subject to TSCA’s requirements...
Two states that have long had environmental transfer laws are making some changes – in seemingly opposite directions.
NGOs and PFAS: A New Element of Disclosure
Non-governmental entities are applying more public pressure on regulators and companies regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
New TSCA Section 8(d) Rule Adds 50 Chemicals to Reporting Requirements
Section 8(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) had been effectively a dead provision of TSCA for over a decade.
