Health & Safety Developments
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New Climate Change Lawsuit: Publicity Stunt or Reasonable Effort to Protect California Property Owners?
On July 17, 2017, Marin County, San Mateo County, and the City of Imperial Beach filed separate but similar environmental suits in California state court claiming that 37 oil, gas, and coal companies caused billions of dollars in climate-change related damages as a result of their extraction and sale of fossil fuels in California. The… Continue reading
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Using GRI Framework Improves ESG Disclosures
New research confirms that the quality of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) disclosures is greatly improved when companies use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Framework. The Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A), the data partner for GRI, also confirms that more companies than ever before are developing and disclosing sustainability reports. Continue reading
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U.S. EPA’s Stay of Methane Rule May Have Hit a “Speed Bump”
On July 3, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an opinion which vacated U.S. EPA’s stay of certain provisions of new source performance standards (“NSPS”) relating to fugitive emissions of methane and other pollutants by the oil and natural gas industries. Continue reading
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State of the Great Lakes 2017 Highlights Report
The Governments of Canada and the United States recently released the State of the Great Lakes 2017 Highlights Report. Overall, the Report characterizes the condition of the Great Lakes as Fair and Unchanging. While progress to restore and protect the Great Lakes has been made, including the reduction of toxic chemicals, challenges remain with issues… Continue reading
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NEW EU REACH Importer Guidance
Yesterday, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) released new REACH guidance for companies that import goods containing hazardous substances above a 0.1 percent by weight. While aimed at importer notifications, the guidance also addresses registration, notification and communication obligations under the REACH law related to substances in articles. Continue reading
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Nanomaterial Reporting Rule Update
EPA recently extended the effective date of the final reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed at the nanoscale. EPA has delayed the effective date of the January 12, 2017 final rule from May 12, 2017 to August 14, 2017. Continue reading
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Exelon and Jenner & Block Beach Cleanup Day!
Exelon and Jenner & Block partnered today with the Alliance for the Great Lakes to cleanup 12th Street Beach, near the Adler Planetarium. Team members worked together to police the beach front picking up and disposing of waste and other discarded materials. The litter was identified, logged, recorded and weighed to aid in understanding the… Continue reading
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You Are Invited: June 12 Environmental Ethics CLE Luncheon
On Monday, June 12, 2017, Jenner & Block is hosting a special program targeted at environmental lawyers titled Drilling Down on the Risks: Ethics and Liabilities for the Environmental Practitioners. The program will be held from 11:45-1:30 at Jenner & Block’s offices, 353 North Clark Street, in Chicago. You may participate in the program in… Continue reading
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World Environment Day 5 June 2017
Today we celebrate World Environment Day—a global celebration of nature and a day to reconnect with the places that matter most to you. Initiated in 1972, World Environment Day is the United Nations’ most important day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for protection of the environment. Continue reading
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News of OECA’s Demise May be Greatly Overstated
President Trump announced his intent to nominate former U.S. EPA waste chief Susan Bodine to head up the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (“OECA”). Continue reading