In an opinion filed on August 24, and certified for partial publication on September 22, 2021, the Third District Court of Appeal reversed a judgment upholding Placer County’s EIR for a 94-acre resort development project in the Olympic (formerly Squaw) Valley area – site of the 1960 Winter Olympics near the iconic Lake Tahoe. Sierra Watch
Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction Rejecting Challenge to Office of Renewable Energy Siting Regulations
On September 22, 2021, Justice Peter Lynch of the New York State Supreme Court, Albany County denied the petitioners’ application in Town of Copake v. New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting, No. 905502-21 (Sup. Ct. Albany Cty. Sept. 24, 2021), rejecting a challenge to regulations promulgated by the New York State Office of
Plaintiff lessors bear burden of proof in royalty breach claim
In the Tennant v. Range Res. Appalachia decision issued on Sept. 21, 2021, Judge Hardy of the Western District of Pennsylvania determined that unless an oil and gas lease expressly shifted the burden to the defendant lessee, the plaintiff lessors bore the burden of proof on their claim of underpaid royalties.
Biden EPA Rescinds Trump Guidance on Clean Water Act “Functional Equivalent Test”
In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in County of Maui V. Hawaii Wildlife Fund addressed when a permit is required under the Clean Water Act for discharges to groundwater. Prior to Maui, it was a long standing debate as to when the Clean Water Act (CWA) in order to discharge to groundwater. Traditionally, impacts
State and Federal PFAS Drinking Water Standards
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) are a group of man-made chemicals that contain nearly 5,000 different compounds. PFAS are ubiquitous and can be found in a variety of everyday products, including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, cookware, paints, and fire-fighting foams.
While PFAS compounds remain largely unregulated at the federal level, the
Record £90 Million Fine for a “Flagrant Disregard” of UK Environmental Law Calls for Boards of Directors to Take Note
On 19 August, the sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Johnson were published in relation to the recent £90 million fine issued to Southern Water for sewage pollution. The remarks provide a full breakdown and description of how this record fine was calculated, and provide comments and conclusions on a number of issues that are likely
Ohio Dormant Mineral Act claim may waive attorney-client privilege
In the camp of be careful how you plead and intend to prove a claim, those asserting an Ohio Dormant Mineral Act (ODMA) claim should pay careful attention to their pleading so as not to waive the attorney-client or attorney work product privileges. As the plaintiffs in Riccardi v. Jackson found out, waiver is a
CCUS and Property Rights: Considerations Facing Potential Storage Operators in Louisiana
The current administration’s focus on climate change has prompted a renewed interest in carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS). In July of this year, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a report to Congress stating the Biden administration “is committed to accelerating the responsible development and deployment of CCUS to make it
Third District Affirms CEQA And Attorneys’ Fees Judgments In Favor Of Department Of Water Resources In Monterey Agreement And Amendment Litigation
Against the backdrop of another severe drought, water supply and impact issues continue to be points of contention for water agencies, water users, conservation groups, and the state. And, of course, litigation over water is not limited to water rights and usage, but extends to related environmental review under CEQA. On September 22, 2021, the
The Prop 65 Annual Conference: Notes from the Front 2021
(Virtually – once again) Live from San Francisco, Kelley Green Law Blog is reporting today from the Prop 65 Clearinghouse 2021 Conference … the largest annual gathering of stakeholders from the full spectrum of actors involved with California’s “Proposition 65,” including state regulators and legislators, plaintiff enforcers, defense and corporate counsel, tox and risk assessment