Search Results
Use the filters on the left-hand side of this screen to refine the results further by topic or document type.

Strengthening Superfund Cleanups With Land Use Institutional Controls

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) established the “Superfund,” which allows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up contaminated sites. It also forces the parties responsible for contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for the EPA-led cleanup work. The Superfund program relies on several tools to protect against lasting contamination.

EPA’s New Particulate Matter Standard

On February 7, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule imposing a stricter limit for the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The annual exposure standard for PM2.5, currently set at 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air, will now be 9 micrograms per cubic meter, marking the first time in over eight years that EPA has strengthened any NAAQS. The rule is predicted to have many health benefits, such as preventing 4,500 premature deaths by 2032, which may particularly affect overburdened communities.

Multnomah, County of v. Exxon Mobil Corp.

A district court adopted a magistrate judge's findings and recommendations to remand to state court a climate liability lawsuit brought by an Oregon county against oil and gas companies. The county initially sued in state court, arguing the companies failed to warn consumers about the negative effec...

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance v. Port of Tacoma

The Ninth Circuit reversed in part summary judgment for the operators of a marine cargo terminal on Puget Sound in a CWA citizen suit concerning stormwater discharges. An environmental group argued the operators were liable for discharges from the facility's entire footprint, including an area known...

Center for Environmental Health v. Regan

The Fourth Circuit affirmed dismissal of a TSCA citizen suit concerning EPA's decision on a petition to require testing for 54 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Four citizen groups argued that EPA's decision, which granted the petition and agreed to require testing on PFAS as a class throu...

Tohono O'odham Nation v. United States Department of Interior

A district court granted BLM's motion to dismiss tribes' and environmental groups' challenge to the Bureau's approval of a 550-mile transmission line route through the San Pedro Valley. Plaintiffs argued BLM violated the National Historic Preservation Act by failing to identify the San Pedro Valley ...

Mid Valley Pipeline Co., L.L.C. v. Rodgers

The Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of a constitutional challenge brought by a pipeline company concerning a 1949 permit a local levee board granted to the company to construct and maintain two pipelines across a levee in Mayersville, Mississippi. The company argued the board violated the Contracts...

New York, City of v. Exxon Mobil Corp.

A district court granted New York City's motion to remand to state court a climate deception lawsuit brought against fossil fuel companies. The city initially sued the companies in state court, arguing they violated the city's consumer protection law by misleading consumers about the impact of their...

G.B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

A district court granted EPA's motion to dismiss for lack of redressability a climate liability lawsuit brought by a group of minors in California. The plaintiffs argued EPA violated their constitutional rights by intentionally allowing dangerous levels of pollution to enter the atmosphere from sour...