By Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA recently unveiled an online tool allowing the public to access severe injury reports, injury trends over time, geographic trends, and trends specific to each employer.

OSHA’s new Severe Injury Report dashboard allows the public to

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) published guidance regarding registering and permitting storage tanks that contain perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”). This change comes in light of a recent EPA rule under Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), which added PFOA and PFOS substances to the hazardous substances list.  The

In a published decision filed September 6, 2024, the First District Court of Appeal (Div. 5) reversed the trial court’s judgment granting a writ of mandate and upheld the use of CEQA’s Class 1 categorical exemption (CEQA Guidelines, § 15301) by the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Geologic Energy Management (“CalGEM”) in approving a project to convert an oil well that previously pumped oil and water from a deep aquifer into an injection well that would pump excess water produced from oil extraction back into that aquifer.  Sunflower Alliance v. California Department of Conservation, et al. (Reabold California, LLC, Real Party in Interest) (2024) ___ Cal.App.5th ___.  Because the project involved only minor physical alterations to the well, and the factual record showed the environmental risks from the well’s changed use – i.e., injecting water into the aquifer instead of pumping it out – were negligible, the project fell within the exemption. 

In a notable move to address growing concerns about contamination related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), New Hampshire recently enacted a law obligating real property owners to notify prospective purchasers with a general warning of the potential presence of PFAS due to various sources, including PFAS in domestic, commercial, institutional, and industrial products. House

In an opinion filed on July 24, and later ordered published on August 19, 2024, the Second District Court of Appeal (Div. 4) affirmed the trial court’s judgment denying a writ petition challenging actions taken by the Los Angeles City Planning Commission (“CPC”) to facilitate and implement three components of the Westside Mobility Plan (the “Mobility Plan”). Westside Los Angeles Neighbors Network v. City of Los Angeles (2024) ___ Cal.App.5th____.