Yesterday, Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer issued a report detailing how “to implement the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis.” The report identifies trends, barriers, and gaps in Massachusetts climate policy, establishes guiding principles for whole-of-government climate action, and offers recommendations to strengthen the “climate-related practices and policies of executive department agencies.”
Webcast — Expansion of Transmission Grid Needed to Support Reliability and Renewable Integration: Why It Matters for a Decarbonized Future
We discuss key regulatory trends and strategies to consider when pursing US transmission and interconnection opportunities.
By Tyler Brown, Marc T. Campopiano, and Jennifer K. Roy
Renewable energy production has grown at an exponential clip over the past decade, with continued strong expansion expected because of declining costs, numerous governmental incentives, and long-term
Enforcement of the South Coast AQMD’s Warehouse Rule Is Coming
Two recent developments indicate that enforcement of California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Warehouse Indirect Source Rule is coming soon.
State and Federal PFAS Litigation – 2019 to Q3 2023
PFAS-related litigation continues to climb and to diversify as to claims and parties. See the attached graphics, updated through the third quarter of 2023. We will continue to update these graphics on a quarterly basis.
European Union Advances Mandatory ESG Reporting Standards
A set of mandatory environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting standards, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), are set to enter into force in the European Union (EU) at the end of this year. These standards require mandatory ESG reporting for certain companies that do business in the EU. This summary provides an overview of
EPA to Increase Air Monitoring at Marine Ports
In a recent report, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) describes steps the EPA should take to increase air monitoring at marine ports and neighboring communities. While not agreeing to adopt all of the OIG’s recommendations, EPA has agreed to assess the air-monitoring network around ports and in near-port communities and
Key Takeaways from EPA’s EPCRA PFAS Rule
On October 20, 2023, EPA released a final rule under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (“EPCRA”) relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). The Rule makes important revisions to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (“TRI”) program relating to 189 specified PFAS.
As Snow Season Approaches, OSHA Focuses On Rollover Protection For Tractor Operators
By Daniel R. Birnbaum, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Image from OSHA.
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has recently highlighted tractor operator safety by increasing use of rollbars or cage frames.
Employers use tractors to clear winter snows. As snow season approaches, OSHA warns that many older tractors are in use that are not
Brazil’s Supreme Court rejects time limit requirement for indigenous land demarcation
On 27 September 2023, Brazil’s Supreme Court concluded the trial of Extraordinary Appeal No. 1,017,365, which discussed a cut-off date for indigenous occupation as a requirement for demarcation of indigenous lands. Based on a strict interpretation of the Brazilian Constitution, the time limit thesis tried to implement a cut-off date to restrict indigenous land claims,
The Last Year in CERCLA: Practitioners Should Take Note
I was asked earlier this month to condense into an eight-minute presentation what a particular group of senior environmental lawyers “ought to know about developments in Superfund since October 2022 had they been paying attention.” It was, of necessity, an incomplete survey. This is my effort to record a slightly modified version. Practitioners may want