Regents of the University of Minnesota v. United States, No. 17-cv-3690 (D. Minn. June 21, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CERCLA defendant would pay $13,000,000 for environmental response actions and payment of response costs at a property owned by the University of Minnesota and formerly part of the Gopher Ordnance Works Site. 

FWS determined threatened species status under the ESA for the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle and finalized a rule issued under §4(d) of the Act that provides for the conservation of the species. 

EPA entered into a proposed administrative settlement agreement under CERCLA that provides for the performance of response actions and the payment for certain response costs incurred by the United States and the state of Colorado in connection with the Broderick Wood Products Superfund site. 

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration amended the Hazardous Materials Regulations to require railroads that carry hazardous materials to generate in electronic form, maintain, and provide to first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel, certain information regarding hazardous materials in rail transportation to enhance emergency response and investigative efforts. 

FWS announced findings that the Kiamichi crayfish, Rio Grande chub, and Rio Grande sucker are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the ESA. 

United States v. Pope Resources, No. 3:24-cv-05470 (W.D. Wash. June 13, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree concerning the release of hazardous substances from the former Pope & Talbot sawmill facility in Kitsap County, Washington, settling CERCLA and CWA defendants must construct, implement, maintain, and monitor a habitat restoration project; fund future long-term maintenance, monitoring, and stewardship of the project; and pay past and estimated future costs for natural resource damages assessment and restoration implementation and oversight. 

NMFS announced the initiation of a five-year review for the Maui’s dolphin and South Island Hector’s dolphin.

United States v. Santolubes, LLC, No.24-cv-807 (E.D. Mo. June 10, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CERCLA defendants must pay $300,000 for response costs incurred at the Findett/Hayford Bridge Road Groundwater Superfund site in St. Charles County, Missouri.

EPA entered into a CERCLA settlement agreement with LPC Holdings, Inc., concerning recovery of cleanup costs at the Aberdeen Contaminated Groundwater Superfund Site in Aberdeen, North Carolina. 

EPA proposed to enter into individual CERCLA settlements with seven additional parties concerning the recovery of cleanup costs at Bennett Landfill Fire Site in Chester, South Carolina.