OSHA
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OSHA Issues New “Recommended” Permissible Exposure Levels For Chemicals In The Workplace
Instead of engaging in notice and comment rulemaking, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) recently issued new “voluntary” standards for workplace chemical exposure. These new voluntary exposure limits can be found on OSHA’s website in a tabular format, allowing for side-by-side comparisons of OSHA’s existing permissible exposure limits (“PELs”) with these new, voluntary exposure… Continue reading
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EPA Proposes Increased Oversight Of State Enforcement Activities
U.S. EPA recently issued a draft strategy document intended to address a December 2011 Inspector General Report that found inadequate enforcement of environmental laws by the states. U.S. EPA’s draft “National Strategy for Improving Oversight of State Enforcement Performance” outlines several enforcement options, including U.S. EPA overfiling and/or removal of a state’s delegated authority to… Continue reading
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Live: Costa Concordia Salvage Operation – Italy Anticipates Minimal Environmental Impacts
Follow live as the Costa Concordia, which capsized off Giglio Island, Italy, is raised in the biggest salvage operation of its kind in maritime history. Progress has been made and the ship is slowly rightsizing with efforts expected to continue at least through Tuesday. Continue reading
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EPA, OSHA and ATF Issue Ammonium Nitrate Chemical Advisory
EPA, OSHA and ATF have issued a chemical advisory that provides information on the hazards of ammonium nitrate (AN) storage, handling and management. This action supports the goals of President Obama’s August 2013 executive order on “Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security.” The advisory provides lessons learned for facility owners and operators, emergency planners and… Continue reading
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NIOSH Study Finds That Workers’ Silica Exposure At Fracking Sites Exceeds Occupational Health Criteria
A groundbreaking recent study authored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica During Hydraulic Fracturing, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, discusses the harm related to an employee’s exposure to respirable crystalline silica during hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). The study also includes recommendations for companies which utilize… Continue reading
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Jenner & Block Program: “Professional Responsibility And Ethics For Environmental Lawyers” – May 8th
You are invited to join us on Wednesday, May 8, at 12:00 noon on the 45th Floor of the Chicago office for a program entitled “Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Environmental Lawyers.” This professional responsibility and ethics program will focus not only on a general update of these issues but discuss legal scenarios and situations… Continue reading
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ELI and Jenner & Block Program: “Obama’s Second Term: Implications For Environmental Practice” – April 24th
You are invited to join us on Wednesday, April 24, at 12:00 noon on the 45th Floor of the Chicago Office, for an important luncheon program we are co-sponsoring with the Environmental Law Institute (“ELI”) entitled “Obama’s Second Term: Implications for Environmental Practice.” This program will bring together three speakers, each of whom played a… Continue reading
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Navy Shipbuilders Avoid Asbestos Product Liability Claims
On October 3, 2012, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania decided two questions of firm impression under maritime law: (1) does maritime law recognize the sophisticated user and/or sophisticated purchaser defenses and (2) is a Navy ship a “product” for purposes of the application of strict product liability law. The… Continue reading
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Sequestration To Cut $716 Million From U.S. EPA Budget
By Steven M. Siros If budget sequestration takes effect on January 2, 2013, U.S. EPA will face a $716 million budget cut. According to a September 14, 2012 report from the White House Office of Management and Budget ("OMB"), U.S. EPA's budget would be reduced from approximately $8.4 billion to $7.7 billion. The OMB report projects that the… Continue reading
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September 11th CBA and ISBA Environmental Networking Reception
The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) Environmental Law Committee, the CBA Young Lawyers Section Environmental Law Committee, and the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Environmental Law Section are hosting an Environmental Networking Reception on September 11, 2012, from 4 pm to 6 pm. The networking reception will be held at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 South… Continue reading