Environmental Law Monitor

LATEST INSIGHTS

April 9, 2020 • COVID-19, Environmental Law Monitor, EPA

NGOs Petition U.S. EPA for “Emergency Rule” to Require Disclosure of Environmental Noncompliance Due to COVID-19

On April 1, a group of twenty-one organizations sent a petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking accountability for companies that utilize a recently announced non-enforcement policy. The policy pertains to a relaxation of U.S. EPA enforcement of environmental testing, monitoring, and other compliance-related activities. The petition requests that EPA publish a new rule that requires public notification …

April 9, 2020 • Automotive, Environmental Law Monitor, EPA

The Last Step – EPA Finalizes Rollback of Obama-era Automotive Pollution Targets

On April 1, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its final rule to rollback Obama-era automobile fuel efficiency standards. The new rule will allow vehicles on American roads to emit nearly a billion tons more carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the vehicles than they would have under the prior administration’s standards. The new rule, …

April 2, 2020 • Climate Change, COVID-19, Environmental Law Monitor

COVID-19’s Side Effect on Global Climate Change

As many individuals read this from the safety of their homes, significant time and energy is focused around the impact on human health, the economy, our families, and so many other areas that have been impacted by COVID-19. However, while the thought of entire cities, trains, airports, and public businesses being shut down indefinitely has evoked fear among …

April 2, 2020 • COVID-19, Environmental Law Monitor, EPA

COVID-19: EPA Limits Enforcement of Environmental Laws During Coronavirus Emergency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a temporary policy regarding EPA enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On March 26, 2020, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler stated: “EPA is committed to protecting human health and the environment, but recognizes challenges resulting from efforts to protect workers and the public from …

March 26, 2020 • COVID-19, Emerging Issues, Environmental Law Monitor

COVID-19 Alert: Challenges And Tips For Companies Facing Ongoing Environmental Remediation Projects

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the nation, states throughout the country are ordering citizens to stay at home and not report to work. All orders, however, contain carve out exceptions for essential or life-sustaining activities, such as providing health care, medicine, and food. Yet, these orders have created much uncertainty as to what …

March 26, 2020 • COVID-19, Emerging Issues, Environmental Law Monitor, Regulations

Energy Regulators Dial Back Grid Reliability Standards Amid COVID-19 Concerns

Last week the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jointly announced the suspension of certain rules through July 31, 2020, in an effort to allow utility operators to “focus their resources on keeping people safe and the lights on during this unprecedented public health emergency.”[1] NERC, a nonprofit …

March 19, 2020 • COVID-19, Environmental Law Monitor, General, Water Contamination

COVID-19 and the U.S. Drinking Water Supply: What We Know Now

As the nation grapples with COVID-19, we wanted to pass along information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that may not be relayed as frequently as other critical details and advice on prevention and awareness. Presently, the CDC states that COVID-19 has not been …

March 19, 2020 • Clean Air Act, Environmental Law Monitor, General

Trouble in Paradise: Honolulu Brings Climate Change Lawsuit Against Fossil Fuel Companies

Last week, the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii filed a lawsuit against major corporate members of the fossil fuel industry, alleging they knew the negative effects their products would cause via climate change but obscured the information from public knowledge in order to reap greater profits. According to the complaint, the fossil fuel companies worsened …

March 12, 2020 • Clean Water Act, Environmental Law Monitor

Clean Water Act Alert – U.S. EPA Releases Its Proposed 2020 NPDES Multi-Sector General Permit

The regulated industry needs to be aware that the U.S. EPA, last week, published its proposed 2020 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The MSGP authorizes stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities in areas where EPA is the permitting authority. Under Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act, EPA has been …

March 12, 2020 • Agriculture, Environmental Law Monitor, Illinois

Butt Out – Illinois EPA Looking at Improper Disposal of Vaping Products

While the recent focus on electronic cigarettes and vaping products has been on their potential health effects on users, the Illinois EPA is looking at a potential new issue – the improper disposal of their waste products. A team at the Illinois EPA is developing methods to prevent toxic materials in discarded e-cigarettes and vaping …