March 2011
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NRDC Report Highlights 42 Disease Clusters in 13 States
A recent report issued by the Natural Resources Defense Council (“NRDC”) and the National Disease Clusters Alliance (“NDCA”) has identified 42-alleged disease clusters in 13 states. Continue reading
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Department of Interior Approves First Deepwater Exploration Plan Since Deepwater Horizon
On March 21, 2011, the U.S. Department of Interior approved the first Gulf of Mexico deepwater exploration plan since the Deepwater Horizon incident last year. Continue reading
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Earth Hour 2011
This Saturday, March 26, 2011, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour, starting at 8:30 pm, in honor of Earth Hour, described by its founding organization, the World Wildlife Fund, as “a worldwide collective display of commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all – the planet.” Continue reading
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U.S. EPA Proposes Mercury And Air Toxics Standards For Power Plants
Coal and oil-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States, currently accounting for approximately 50% of the country’s mercury emissions. With this statistic in mind, U.S. EPA issued a proposed rule on March 16, 2011, which would create emissions standards for all Hazardous Air Pollutants (“HAPs”) emitted from coal… Continue reading
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Contamination in Excess of State Standards Insufficient to Demonstrate RCRA Imminent and Substantial Endangerment
A Colorado federal district court recently rejected a plaintiffs’ efforts to demonstrate RCRA imminent and substantial endangerment based solely on the presence of contamination in excess of applicable state standards and ongoing regulatory oversight of remediation efforts. Continue reading
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World Water Day – March 22, 2011
International World Water Day is held annually to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. A recommendation of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the United Nations General Assembly responded by designating March 22, 1993 as the first World Water Day. Continue reading
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EPA Extends Deadline for Greenhouse Gas Reporting to September 30, 2011
On March 17, 2011, the EPA issued a final rule that extends the deadline for reporting 2010 data under the Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Reporting Program to September 30, 2011. Continue reading
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Ninth Circuit Relies on State Law to Determine CERCLA Owner Liability
On March 14, 2011, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that found that BCI Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (“BCI”) was not liable as an owner under CERCLA. In Los Angeles v. San Pedro Boat Works, the city of Los Angeles sued BCI to recover response costs it had incurred to remediate contaminated sediments in… Continue reading
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Water Disclosure Issues Addressed In ABA Newsletter
The March 2011 edition of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Environmental Disclosure Committee Newsletter includes an article by E. Lynn Grayson about the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) first water related information request. The article details growing concerns about climate change and water scarcity and the potential material risks posed by these matters. Continue reading
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According to New EPA Assessment, U.S Population Continues to Face Increased Cancer Risk From Airborne Emissions
On March 11, 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released its fourth version of the National Air Toxics Assessment (“NATA”). Continue reading