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Federal and State Efforts to Address Synthetic Microfiber Pollution from Textiles
Microplastics, plastics less than 5 millimeters in length, are becoming a growing concern due to their ubiquity and persistence in the environment and potential effects on ecological and human health. A 2017 publication by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources suggests that between fifteen and thirty-one percent of plastics in the…
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Earth Week 2024, Round Two – Inhance Technologies LLC v. USEPA
As our Earth Week blogging event continues with our theme of Planet versus Plastics, today we will cover the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s recent decision in Inhance Technologies, L.L.C. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which relates to EPA’s ability to regulate the fluorination of plastic containers under the Toxic Substances Control…
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Earth Week 2024, Round One – Nationwide Initiatives to Implement a Single-Use Plastics Ban
This year’s Earth Day theme is “Planet versus Plastics.” When most people think of plastic pollution, their minds likely conjure up an image of single-use plastics—such as grocery bags, beverage container rings, or discarded bottles—laying along a beach or public parkway. Yet even with these images in everyone’s mind, the United States has yet to…
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Let’s Get Ready to Rumble—Earth Day 2024–Planet versus Plastics
As we kick off Earth Day 2024, we look to this year’s Earth Day theme–“Planet versus Plastics.” Planet versus Plastics seeks to focus attention on the challenges that plastic pollution poses to the planet. In recognition of this theme, Jenner & Block’s Environmental, Workplace Health and Safety Practice is proud to present an entire week…
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U.S. EPA Finalizes PFAS Drinking Water Standards — Now What?
In what should come as a surprise to no one, on April 10, 2024, U.S EPA finalized its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). These final standards are summarized below: Compound Final MCLG Final MCL (enforceable levels) PFOA Zero 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) (also expressed as ng/L) PFOS…
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MethaneSat Joins Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Constellation
On March 4, 2024, MethaneSat, a satellite developed by a subsidiary of the Environmental Defense Fund that will locate and quantify methane emissions from oil and gas operations, was launched into orbit. According to the MethaneSat website, the satellite will be able to quantify regional-scale methane emissions from oil and gas operations down to areas…
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EPA Lowers the PM2.5 NAAQS
On March 6, 2024, EPA published its final rule lowering the primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for fine particulate matter (“PM2.5”) to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter (“µg/m3”). The new, more stringent standard replaces the prior primary annual PM2.5 NAAQS if 12.0 µg/m3, which were established in 2012. In support of lowering these…
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Environmental Regulations to Watch in 2024
Several federal agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Trade Commission, Department of the Interior, and Securities and Exchange Commission, have a slew of pending environmental regulations that they anticipate finalizing in 2024. When issued, these regulations will affect a broad swath of regulated industry groups, creating a host of new compliance obligations.…
