The Court’s decision has prompted the US Army Corps of Engineers to freeze jurisdictional determinations for permitted activities pending additional guidance. By Michael G. Romey, Lucas Quass, and Peter R. Viola On May 25, 2023, by a narrow 5-4 majority, the US Supreme Court ruled in Sackett v. EPA that the Clean Water Act (CWA) … Continue Reading
The record-low health advisories form part of the EPA’s 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap, which forecasts further regulatory action at both state and federal levels. By Julia Hatcher, Kegan A. Brown, Thomas C. Pearce, Taylor West, Andy Landolfi, and Phil Sandick On June 15, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued interim, updated drinking … Continue Reading
Limited water supply, restrictions on use, and higher costs may be in store for next year if the state’s drought conditions persist. By Michael G. Romey, Cody M. Kermanian, and Lucas I. Quass This year has been critically dry and hot for California, resulting in déjà vu as the federal and state governments reinstituted drought … Continue Reading
The decision could complicate states’ ability to pursue groundwater natural resource damages actions. By Kegan A. Brown, Gary P. Gengel, Thomas C. Pearce, and Taylor R. West On November 22, 2021, the US Supreme Court held that equitable apportionment applies to a dispute between states about their respective interests in groundwater that flows through multiple … Continue Reading
Project applicants and agencies alike should think carefully about developing robust analyses that demonstrate the adequacy of water supply. By Marc T. Campopiano, Diego Enrique Flores, and Lucas I. Quass Mark Twain is often credited with saying, “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” This remains true in California, where drought conditions, climate … Continue Reading
California Natural Resources Agency adopts final amendments to CEQA Guidelines, providing additional clarifying revisions to GHG impacts, baseline, and deferral of mitigation amendments. By Marc Campopiano, Winston Stromberg, and Samantha Seikkula The California Office of Administrative Law recently approved a suite of amendments to the CEQA Guidelines, which are now in effect. Latham wrote about … Continue Reading
WIFIA program — no longer a “pilot” — is set to grow. By Joel C. Beauvais and David J. Penna On October 23, 2018, President Trump signed into law the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA 2018). This bipartisan legislation, among other elements, reauthorized the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). WIFIA, which … Continue Reading
Fourth and Sixth Circuit decisions give power plant operators additional defenses to citizen suits pending potential Supreme Court review of “groundwater conduit” theory. By Joel C. Beauvais and Stacey L. VanBelleghem Over the past month, two US Courts of Appeals have rejected Clean Water Act (CWA) citizen suits seeking to hold power companies liable for … Continue Reading
Companies may need to carefully consider practical business concerns to comply with the updated Prop 65 regulations, effective August 30. By Michael G. Romey, Lucas I. Quass, and James A. Erselius New regulations governing the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop 65) will go into effect on August … Continue Reading
Officials seek to “improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness” of NRDAs — which could help expedite the resolution of claims. By Janice M. Schneider, Gary P. Gengel, Joel C. Beauvais, Kegan A. Brown, and Thomas C. Pearce On August 27, 2018, the US Department of the Interior (DOI) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking … Continue Reading
Latham lawyers discuss the forces driving transformation in the market and the key legal and regulatory issues. By Tommy Beaudreau, Joel Beauvais, Joel Mack, Ryan Maierson, and Janice Schneider Water management is becoming increasingly critical amid increasing oil and gas production in the Permian Basin and other regions of the United States. In particular, many … Continue Reading
Polluters of one of China’s most polluted waterways are increasingly facing prosecution through coordinated local and national efforts. By Paul A. Davies and R. Andrew Westgate Chinese authorities have been increasing their efforts to prosecute environmental offenders along the Yangtze River, the third-longest river in the world and the longest in Asia. The crackdown reflects … Continue Reading
Upstream entities will need to shoulder more responsibility in the warning process after August 30th. By Michael G. Romey and Lucas I. Quass As discussed in Latham’s previous post, August 30, 2018 will mark a significant change in the enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition … Continue Reading
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California leadership increases the possibility of much-needed relief for California’s aging water-supply infrastructure. By Paul N. Singarella, Daniel P. Brunton, and Lucas I. Quass The California WaterFix is the most expensive, important, and controversial water infrastructure project in California, and perhaps the country, in decades. At a price tag of … Continue Reading
Upcoming regulation will require online and catalog retailers to implement product warnings. By: Michael G. Romey and Lucas I. Quass Enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as Proposition 65 (Prop 65), will change significantly on August 30, 2018. Two years earlier, on August 30, 2016, California’s Office … Continue Reading
China’s uneven distribution of water sources presents unique difficulties to China as demand for water is increasing rapidly. By Paul A. Davies and R. Andrew Westgate China’s water supply problems are well-known globally. However, the main problem facing China is how to distribute its water, rather than lack of water per se. 80% of China’s … Continue Reading
By Chris Garrett, Diego Flores, Lucas Quass and Samantha Seikkula CEQA Case Report: Understanding the Judicial Landscape for Development[i] In an unpublished opinion issued March 26, 2018, Golden Door Properties, LLC v. Vallecitos Water District, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s judgment sustaining the Vallecitos Water District’s (District’s) demurrer from Golden Door, … Continue Reading
China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection’s increased authority over climate change and pollution control issues indicates a greater enforcement role for central government. By Paul A. Davies and Andrew Westgate The Chinese government has announced a major reorganization of China’s ministries that comprise the Chinese central government at a session of the 13th National People’s Congress in … Continue Reading
By Joel Beauvais Can a discharge “through” groundwater violate the Clean Water Act? If a pipeline spills fuel that travels through groundwater into a stream, is it a discharge in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA)? What if pollutants leach out of a coal ash impoundment into groundwater and later end up in a nearby … Continue Reading
By Paul Davies and Andrew Westgate On 22 June 2017, Chinese legislators released draft proposals to combat soil pollution in China at a bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The legislation complements the State Council’s ambitious plan to address soil pollution – an area not specifically covered by Chinese environmental law … Continue Reading
By Paul Davies and Andrew Westgate In reforming and updating its environmental laws, China has until recently been focusing on air pollution. Attention is now turning to addressing water and soil pollution as well. For example, the Chinese government is now considering more robust penalties for those responsible for water pollution, indicating that the government … Continue Reading
By Paul Davies, Elisabetta Righini and Rosa Espin On 28 April 2017, the European Commission (the EC) published a “roadmap” on the strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment, particularly in the aquatic environment. Concurrently, the EC launched a 12-week open public consultation to address the environmental pollution caused by human and veterinarian pharmaceutical substances. … Continue Reading
By Janice Schneider, Joel Beauvais, Stacey VanBelleghem, Jennifer Roy, and Francesca Bochner On March 19, 2017, 52 new or reissued nationwide permits (NWPs) for discharges into “waters of the United States,” issued pursuant to Section 404(e) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act went into effect. The … Continue Reading
By Joel Beauvais, Claudia O’Brien, Bridget R. Reineking and Andrew Westgate. Since assuming office in January, President Donald Trump – with the support of Congress – has stated his intention to roll back “burdensome” U.S. environmental regulations. The White House and Congress aim to reverse several of President Obama’s regulations on air and water pollution, land … Continue Reading
