Environmental and Natural Resources

Breaking News:  Phoenix AMA Has Abundant Groundwater and Will Still Have Abundant Groundwater in 100 Years

On June 1, 2023, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs revealed the results of a new groundwater model prepared by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (“ADWR”) that predicts the future availability of groundwater for pumping throughout most of the Phoenix Active Management Area (the “Phoenix AMA”) over the 100-year period mandated by ADWR’s Assured Water Supply […]

| 12 min read | Tagged: , , ,
FB
JB
JH
Associate
WS

Perchlorate…. It’s baaaack

While various States have enacted various regulations covering a wide variety of differing standards over the years, the EPA never created a national standard for remedial or drinking water levels. Finally, after decades of considering proposals and counter proposals, the EPA made a “final” determination in July 2020 during the Trump administration that perchlorate was […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , ,
MK

So, What Exactly Is A Water Of The U.S.?

by Patrick J. Paul The federal Clean Water Act created federal jurisdiction over “navigable waters” defined as “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). Since becoming law in 1972, debate over what is, and is not, WOTUS has been robust.  The Supreme Court’s 2006 decision in Rapanos v. U.S. epitomized the challenges in finding consensus on […]

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PP

Supreme Court Grants Cert On GHG Regulation Of Power Plants

by Patrick J. Paul On January 19, 2021, the last full day of President Trump’s tenure at the White House, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals essentially said “good riddance” to Trump’s “ACE” (the Affordable Clean Energy Rule) in American Lung Association v. EPA, No. 19-1140 (D.C. Cir. 2021). More to the point, the D.C. […]

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PP

Environmental Justice: A Focus in Air Toxics Data Reporting

by Lucas J. Narducci & Amanda A. Reeve We all have been waiting to see what new course or approach will be taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) in regard to environmental justice.  Rather than a major new program or enforcement initiative, the recent declaration from USEPA in this area provides clarity and […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , ,
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AR
Environmental & Regulatory Policy Advisor

EPA to Collect PFAS Manufacturing Data

by Patrick J. Paul On June 10, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announced three actions demonstrating its commitment to help reduce the potential risks to the public from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). RELEASE Those actions included issuing a proposed rule that is designed to gather comprehensive data on more than 1,000 PFAS manufactured […]

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PP

NASA Flies First Drone Ever on Another Planet

By Patrick J. Paul On April 19, 2021, America’s civil space program – the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made history when its Mars Ingenuity helicopter made the first ever powered, controlled flight on another planet.  With it, the once comical world of the Jetsons becomes increasingly real. The solar-powered helicopter first became airborne […]

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PP

LA County to Adopt Green Zone Ordinance, Environmental Justice Initiative

by Sean M. Sherlock Environmental justice is a principle that has been around since at least the 1990s, with roots back to the 1960s. The US EPA describes environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and […]

| 5 min read | Tagged: , ,
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In California the Housing Crisis Yields to Luxury Spas

by Sean M. Sherlock A recent court of appeal opinion out of San Diego demonstrates how the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) has once again been used to impede housing development—this time to the benefit of a high-end luxury spa. For CEQA practitioners the case provides two important lessons. First, it demonstrates how a permitting […]

| 7 min read | Tagged: , ,
SS

COGCC Issues New Rules on Flowline Disclosure

By Frances Folin With the booming population in Colorado, more and more people have found themselves moving closer to oil and gas operations. This has had some grave consequences in recent times, but the industry has been quick to respond to local concerns. Following last year’s fatal home explosion in Firestone, Colorado, the Colorado Oil […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , ,
FF
Former Associate