The Ninth Circuit reversed a lower court decision denying the award of attorney fees to an environmental group in their lawsuit against a town for discharging toxic pollutants into a bay in violation of the CWA. In that case, the court held that the town must apply for an NPDES permit for its harbor...
The Fourth Circuit upheld a lower court's fee award in favor of environmental groups in their CAA case against an energy company. Below, the groups moved for summary judgment on the basis that the company was violating the CAA by constructing a new major source of hazardous air pollution without f...
The D.C. Circuit denied a petition for review challenging EPA's decision granting California a waiver from federal preemption under the CAA that allows the state to implement its own regulations requiring automobile manufacturers to reduce fleet-average greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicl...
A district court denied two aviation associations' motions to intervene in a case asking the court to order EPA to use its authority under the CAA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from marine vessels, aircraft, and other nonroad vehicles. The aviation associations filed the instant motions to in...
EPA extended the reporting deadline for data required under the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule until September 30, 2011.
United States v. Northern Indiana Public Service Co., No. 2:11-cv-016 (N.D. Ind. Jan. 13, 2011). Settling CAA defendants responsible for violations at four coal-fired power plants in Indiana must pay a $3.5 million civil penalty, must install or upgrade air emission controls at three of the plants and cease operations at the plant in Gary, and must perform environmental mitigation projects costing at least $9.5 million.
United States v. Gasco Energy Inc., No. 2:10-CV-01282-PMW (D. Utah Dec. 30, 2010). A settling CAA defendant responsible for violations at its Riverbend compressor station in Uintah County, Utah, must pay a $350,000 civil penalty, must comply with regulatory requirements, and must make additional emissions reductions.
United States v. Pennsylvania, No. 4:10-cv-02672-CCC (M.D. Pa. Dec. 30, 2010). A settling CAA defendant responsible for violations at state correctional facilities in Bellefonte (Rockview), Huntingdon, Muncy, and Somerset, Pennsylvania, must pay a $300,000 civil penalty and must control PM emissions at the facilities.
EPA announced the availability of a final document titled, Policy Assessment for the Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur.
SIP Proposal: Virginia (lead standards and related updates; see above for direct final rule)