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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.…
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Remote Sensing as a Supplement to Emissions Monitoring and Quantification
According to a recent Bloomberg article, a company did not report an August 2023 air emissions event to state environmental regulators until December, just days after the company was asked by Bloomberg Green about a methane plume detected in August over one of its compressor stations. The methane plume was observed via a remote sensing instrument onboard the International Space…
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EPA Proposes Revisions to Lead and Copper Rule
On December 6, 2023, EPA published a proposal to revise the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for lead and copper under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The proposal would apply to public water systems, including community water systems and non-transient, non-community water systems, and would require affected systems to replace all lead service lines and certain galvanized…
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An Analysis of California’s Landmark Climate Disclosure Laws
California recently enacted two landmark climate disclosure laws that will require companies doing business in the State above specified revenue thresholds to report their Scope 1-3 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and climate-related financial risk information. Notably, the laws do not define what constitutes doing business in California. While the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”), the…
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Justice Department Issues First-Ever Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy Report
On October 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) released its Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy Report (Report). The Report outlines what OEJ considers to be its environmental justice successes over the past year since OEJ’s creation, as well as its enforcement strategy moving forward. Regarding successes, the Report highlights the Civil…
