April 2020
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U.S. EPA Extends Comment Period on PFAS Safe Drinking Water Act Regulatory Determination to June 10, 2020
As discussed in more detail in a previous blog, on February 20, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”) announced that it was seeking public comments on its preliminary regulatory determination that seeks to implement regulatory limits for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in public drinking water across the United States. Continue reading
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Illinois Judge Blocks Current and Future Extensions of Illinois Stay-at-Home Order
On Monday, April 27, 2020, Illinois Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney temporarily blocked enforcement of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s March 20, 2020 stay-at-home order, which had been extended through April 30, by granting a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) sought by Illinois State Representative (R) Darren Bailey. As issued, the judge’s decision prohibits Governor Pritzker from… Continue reading
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USEPA Warns E-Commerce Platforms to Scrub Fake Coronavirus Disinfectant Products
As discussed in a prior post on Corporate Environmental Lawyer, on January 29, 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) activated its “Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides” (the “Guidance”) to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the cause of COVID-19, in the United States. Continue reading
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Supreme Court Expands the Reach of Clean Water Act Permitting Authority
On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision on the reach of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). The Court’s decision in County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Case No. 18–260, addresses whether the CWA requires a permit when pollutants originate from a point source but are conveyed to navigable… Continue reading
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Supreme Court issues Landmark CERCLA Ruling Finding that State Law Challenges to USEPA Cleanup Can Be Raised in State Court (But Plaintiffs Still Lose)
On Monday, April 20, 2020, the United States Supreme Court issued a key opinion regarding the preclusive effect of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Recovery Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. Section 9601, on state common law remedies within Superfund Sites. In Atlantic Richfield v. Christian, Case No. 17-1498, the Supreme Court affirmed in part and… Continue reading
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OSHA Promises Relaxed Enforcement during Pandemic if Employers Make “Good Faith Effort” to Comply with Non-Achievable Recurring Requirements
On April 17, 2020, OSHA posted an April 16, 2020 enforcement guidance, which, for the first time, recognized that due to COVID-19, employers were not able to feasibly comply with a wide-range of OSHA regulatory requirements. Continue reading
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White House Reopening Guidelines: How Will Workplaces Open Up Again?
On April 16, 2020, the White House issued “Guidelines: Opening Up America Again” (Guidelines), with criteria for how state and local officials, employers and individuals should approach reopening segments of their communities after various stay-at-home orders, essential-business regimens and other social distancing measures that Federal, State and local governments have issued in response to the… Continue reading
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Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Releases Compliance Guidance for COVID-19 Pandemic
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (“IEPA”) posted a Compliance Expectations Statement (the “Statement”) as guidance during the COVID-19 crisis. As discussed in the Jenner & Block Corporate Environmental Lawyer previous blog post, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”) recently issued its own temporary guidance regarding exercise of its enforcement discretion during the COVID-19… Continue reading
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OSHA to Manufacturers: Coronavirus “Safety Tips” in an “Alert” to Manufacturing Employers
By Gabrielle Sigel, Co-Chair, Environmental and Workplace Health and Safety Law Practice On April 16, 2020, OSHA released an “alert” with “safety tips” that manufacturing employers “can follow to help protect manufacturing workers from OSHA liability.” (“Manufacturers Alert”) (emphasis added). Although the “alert” is not a regulation which OSHA can directly enforce, OSHA may attempt… Continue reading
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EPA Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Impacts for Ongoing Cleanups
Following up on its March 26, 2020 temporary enforcement policy, on April 10, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued an interim guidance regarding new or ongoing cleanup activities during the COVID-19 situation. The interim guidance focuses on decision making at emergency response and longer term cleanups sites where EPA is the lead agency… Continue reading